Page 112

I had spent a long time curling my hair to perfection. I had two thick braids on each side pulling the top front part of my hair back and away from my face. They were pinned together at the back of my head, and the rest of my hair was down and curled beautifully. I had tiny white flowers weaved into the braids, giving me a very sweet version of a crown.

My dress fit me like it was made for me, which it was. I hoped Damien made me more clothing in the future because he was so damn good at it.

Though he might not ever make me anything again when he found out I decided against wearing shoes for the night. He’d had several very fancy expensive pairs sent to me in the last couple of days, but none of them had felt right. We were doing this outside, and I wanted to be able to feel the grass beneath my feet. I hoped he would forgive me, and I would eventually find the time to wear all the shoes he’d sent me.

Just not today.

I had no idea what the guys were wearing, but I knew no one outside of Damien would have any issue with me showing up barefoot.

Besides, it was not like you could see my feet beneath my dress, and given how beautiful my dress actually was, nobody wanted to look at my damn feet anyway.

Rain’s phone chimed and he pulled it out of the inside pocket of his suit jacket to check the screen.

That was right. Rain, my surly, angry, hate most people’s guts dad was wearing a suit. Black on black. He looked like a very well dressed, high-class assassin or perhaps more like an arms dealer.

I thought he looked fine as all get out and I knew—because he told me—that he’d taken Romero out to pick his outfit as well. They both wore the same exact thing.

I wasn’t going to lie, Romero looked fine as all get out too.

There was a knock on the door, and I started to sweat. If I was going to make a break for it and run, now was the time to do so. I knew I wanted to spend the rest of my life with them, but that didn’t mean today didn’t slightly intimidate me.

This was the biggest commitment I would ever make in my whole entire life. I had a right to be a little nervous.

Isobel stuck her head inside the room. She didn’t even so much as glance in my direction. She was too busy undressing my dad with her eyes to notice me.

Instead of being annoyed, I chose to be amused. She wasn’t going to put a damper on my day by being a perv.

I didn’t like the new way Romero was looking at her. It didn’t fill me with glee.

“The guys say they’ll be ready in half an hour,” she informed Rain.

“Great, thanks,” Romero practically purred. “We’ll see you out there, sweetheart.”

Sweetheart?What in the actual fuck was going on here?

She backed out of the room without bothering to look at him or me, and I finally let it get under my skin. She could have at least told me she liked my damn dress!

What an asshole. Seriously.

I scowled at the closed door and almost wished she would come back so I could throw my hairbrush at her stupid head.

She was clearly blinded by her lust and laser focused on it and nothing else. I was over it in a really big way.

“Jesus, baby girl.” Rain laughed. “If looks could kill.”

I closed my eyes and took a deep breath so as not to turn my death glare on him. It wasn’t his fault Isobel was obsessed with him. He couldn’t help it.

“Everything is going to be fine, Ariel,” Romero said in a soothing voice. “I have a really good feeling about this.”

Oh good! Romero had a good feeling about this. That just made everythingperfect.

Someone tugged on my hand and my eyes flew open. Rain grinned down on me. “Let’s get out of here, baby. We’ve got half an hour. We’ll take your ‘Vette out for a ride. It’s the best magic for your soul right now, and it’ll make everything alright in your world. You’ll see.”

Rain didn’t give me the chance to tell him no or resist him. He pulled me out of my chair and dragged me out of my room. I looked to Romero for help, but he just smiled and shrugged at me. No help there. Great.

Rain dragged me out of the house and into the garage. Thankfully we didn’t run into anyone because they were all out back getting things ready.

Rain ushered me over to the passenger seat of my car, and I allowed him to buckle me in. I hoped the car didn’t break down and I was expected to walk anywhere, because I wasn’t wearing any shoes.