Page 3

MARLIE

“Can you get the door? I just know it’ll be Ridge, and he’ll ruin the whole surprise.

” Taylor points at herself, stopping me from answering the door to take in my beautiful best friend.

It took me days, nights, and hours attempting to convince her not to use me to design her wedding dress.

Apparently, we’re both stubborn and bull-headed because she’s wearing a dress that, you guessed it, I designed and painstakingly sewed every stitch, some by a machine but most by hand.

“Of course. You look so gorgeous, Taylor. I can’t believe you’re getting married.

I mean, I can. Shit, I’m butchering this.

I just love you, and I’m so incredibly happy for you and Ridge.

” I wave my hands in front of my eyes, from the veil—which, by the way, I will never, ever make another again—its intricate lace and sheer fabric, to her flowing hair, and the dress.

It’s a freaking masterpiece on Taylor’s body—capped sleeves, tight bodice, flowing at the bottom, handsewn lace flowers.

I guess she was right after all. My worry stemmed from her hating it and then being stuck with something she hated, therefore hating me.

“Shut up, Marlie. You’re going to ruin our makeup, but I love you just the same. Now, go answer the door before the knocking continues,” she says in a drill-sergeant voice.

“Aye, aye, Captain.” We both laugh. She moves to where the other girls are, away from the door, and I do her bidding. It’s been like this since we were in college, the two of us in a dorm room, sitting around talking about every hope, dream, and inspiration we could ever think of.

I open the door slightly in case Ridge is pulling a fast one on me and tries to barge in, because that would completely be what he does.

“Hey, you must be Marlie.” I squeeze through the opening, ensuring I don’t ruin my dress or hair in the process.

“Hey, that’s me. You must be the famous Tanner.” I hold my hand out to shake his.

“That’d be me. I guess I’m the lucky one to be Ridge’s chore boy today.

” Our hands slide in one another’s. My eyes haven’t left his face.

Sure, I saw the picture Taylor sent me, but it didn’t do him justice.

I repeat, it did not do Tanner one bit of justice.

Drop-dead gorgeous comes to mind, so does Greek god, as well as a tall glass of water.

I’m kicking myself in the ass right now for not making the time to meet him before now, because you guessed it, I am absolutely speechless.

Some of his hair is hanging over his forehead, soft brown in color, and his dark eyes are like molten chocolate.

He’s got lines in the corner of his eyes from either laughing or smiling, and I haven’t even gotten to Tanner’s smile.

It’s one that will make your knees quiver.

It’s a tease, a playfulness on the tip of his tongue, and he probably has no idea what he’s doing to my insides.

Full lips, a dimple on one side of his cheek, and you can tell he shaved earlier this morning, because he already sports a five-o’clock shadow.

My eyes rove down his body, and I’m secretly praying that I’m not acting like the weird girl by not saying a word, but seriously, this man is capital F-I-N-E.

Tanner’s shoulders are broad, his suit form fitting, showing off his muscular arms, chest, tapered waist, and that’s when my gawking stops.

Even I have standards, and I’m not going to blatantly stare at a man’s package.

“I guess we can both say we’re their delivery drivers, so to speak, today.” I finally figure out the right words to use.

“Yeah, not sure why they’re being so crazy on traditions, but I guess it is what it is.

I’ll be seeing you down the aisle.” Tanner winks as he wraps my hand around the handles of the bag, closing them around it, our fingers touching for a moment too long, leaving an awareness long after he takes his hand away.

“You sure will,” I snap out of my reverie, attempting to snoop in the bag.

“I wouldn’t do that if I were you. Ridge mentioned something about it being for Taylor’s eyes only and did it in a way that makes you know it’s sexual.”

“Oh my God, Ridge did not. He did, didn’t he?” I ask, but Tanner’s already leaving me with my mouth open, awkwardly, I’m sure, and is laughing his way down the hall.

“I guess Taylor can tell you, but I don’t ever want to know,” is the parting shot he tosses over his shoulder.

“Ugh.” I was totally having a moment and then Ridge just had to ruin a fantasy come to life with some crazy gift that I’m sure is nothing I want to do with.

“Taylor soon-to-be Charles, you owe me big time. I met the hunk of burning love and am left with this gift.” I hold it out to her.

“I didn’t do anything, you know. Take it up with Ridge.

” I shove the gift bag into her hands and watch as she snoops inside.

Redness takes over her porcelain skin, and I know it’s exactly what Tanner said, something sexual.

I guess if anyone’s getting it on, it may as well be the bride and the groom.

“Ugh, lucky little shit,” I tell her, but she’s already scurrying into the bathroom.

“Don’t I know it,” she says, slamming the door shut.

“If you ruin your dress, I’m going to murder your soon-to-be husband,” I shout out to her.

The other bridesmaids chuckle along with Taylor, and with that, I’m going to pour myself a glass of champagne.

I think I’ll daydream about Tanner until I have to deal with being partnered with him while not acting like a total idiot tonight.