a hamburger joint for our wedding. Not even a glimmer of a spark of a reflection of any glamor whatsoever. I wonder what that younger, less cynical and stoic Lucas had been like?
The girls were talking about European vacations now. They were wondering what it would be like for us if we went “back” to the Netherlands where other branches of his aristocratic family lived. Mia had to chime in how much she’d loved her short stay in Amsterdam several years ago.
“His family reunion,” I muttered almost as if to myself. Heads turned.
“What?” Mia asked. “Are you going to the Netherlands? Meet the royal family?”
“No,” I shook my head. “Napa Valley. His family owns a vineyard and winery there.”
April and Mia met gazes, their mouths making perfect O shapes. Then both turned back to me. “When is that?”
I grimaced. “Week after next. I’m kind of jittery about it and I’m positive I don’t have the right wardrobe.” And that meant more now, after having seen his damn wedding on the internet and realizing how dazzling they’d looked together. I suddenly vowed that I’d show up there looking at least twice as dazzling, if possible.
April perked up, suddenly interested. “The doctor is in and I prescribe retail therapy.”
I rubbed my forehead. “I don’t know. I need some kind of Roaring Twenties attire.”
“For a theme party?” April’s eyes illuminated like the Disneyland fireworks. “A deco dress… low-waisted with lots of beads and sequins and a matching feathered headdress. With shoes died to match… and silk gloves that go up past your elbow! Oh my gosh you would look so cute with your hair pinned up, so it looks like a bob. Jewel tones—any color but red. With your hair color, emerald green or brilliant blue would look amazing. Black would wash you out too much with your pale skin.”
I blinked at her. “Can I borrow you to go shopping sometime soon?”
Her smile widened. “I thought you’d never ask. But I’ll only go if you back up my fib to Jordan that we’re going to look at wedding dresses.”
We all busted up in laughter and all heads turned toward Jordan who gave us a deer in the headlights look from across the pool. It made us laugh even harder. A short while later, we set a date to meet the following weekend for an excruciating little shopping trip. April was going to be my fashion advisor and Mia was coming along for moral support.
Thank goodness for my girlfriends.
As the pool party wound down, people started saying their goodbyes. Heath and Adan were the first to leave, obviously moving on to greener pastures—probably some hot club—for the evening. Heath enfolded me in one of his signature bear hugs.
“Remember not to think too much,” he muttered into my ear when no one was listening. “Just bust that disco-stick.”
I hit him. Hard. Then I laughed as he walked away, his hand on his date’s ass.
The following weekend, true to their word, Mia and April met me at Fashion Island in Newport Beach—which was often not-so-lovingly referred to as Fascist Island. The place was the very antithesis of me, who bought most of my clothes in second-hand and thrift shops.
I knew that Mia sympathized. She’d once been a starving student and was more in tune with my world at her core than she was to that of being a Newport Beach billionaire’s wife. She was there to be my moral support and hold my hand. April was acting as my own personal shopper and fashion advisor.
And man, did that girl have an eye. She asked the shop attendants to bring out a selection of what we were looking for based on her description. Then, with authority, she vetoed anything she didn’t approve of before I even saw it. I was happy to let her take over, and she was definitely very accustomed to this world.
And after a few hours of trying on things, I handed over my credit card. It might have squealed a little when they swiped it through the machine. My limit would allow it. And I had more than enough in my home purchase savings to cover it. But it was my condo fund… my dream of having my own home in a place where condos cost the equivalent of a small island nation’s GDP to purchase.
“All right,” April declared as she dusted her hands on a job well done. “Next we’ll hit up downtown Orange antique shops for costume jewelry and then we