Page 85 of Tainted Love

‘Fine.’

‘Fine.’

‘Stop trying to have the last word.’

‘I’m not trying to have the last word.’

‘You just did it again.’

‘Didn’t.’

He chuckles.

‘Did,’ I say, stomping my foot like a child.

‘Stop it.’

‘Okay, I’m done.’

‘Fine.’

‘Fine.’

‘Okay.’

19

I picked everything I knew he’d love on me and for the first time, Julia and Lucas didn’t say it looked ‘all wrong.’ In fact, they said nothing. Julia held her perfectly manicured fingers to her lips and Lucas fanned his face. I took that as meaning I’d achieved my goal. Amanda confirmed as much as she sat on the plush sofa of the style room facing me, sipping a virgin cocktail, compliments of Harrods – or rather compliments of Gregory’s account.

‘You look fit to be the fiancée of a bazillionaire,’ she said with a proud, sort of mothering smile.

Now, Amy helps me into the gown. She lowers the crimson silk base layer over my arms and down my body, being careful not to touch my hair, which has been curled and pinned low at the back of my head, the front swept softly across my brow. As the silk reaches the floor and pools around my high-heeled shoes, Amy adjusts the deep red lace layer over top and fixes the train, the lace overhanging the silk by two or three inches. She fastens the invisible zip, then adjusts the half-inch straps – lace, silk and a white-gold chain entwining across each shoulder.

I’m grateful for her help but missing Sandy. Remembering how she had helped me into the blue gown Gregory bought and had delivered to me the first time we went to an event together. Jumping beans dance in my stomach. It’s our coming-out night. There’ll be cameras, eyes of jealous women, catty whispers like there always are when I’m seen with Gregory. But tonight, I don’t care. I glance down at the rock on my finger. He’s mine.

Amy turns me to face the floor-length mirror in the walk-in wardrobe, then moves behind me and hangs a necklace against my chest. Three thin rows of shining diamonds grace my skin above the structured sweetheart finish of the dress. He’ll love it.

Amy holds up two long diamond earrings to match the necklace. Once I’ve secured them myself, she fastens a matching bracelet around my wrist, then Amy hands me a small silk bag.

‘Knock ’em dead, peaches.’

I take a deep breath and exhale slowly, watching my shoulders move up and down in the mirror, the dancing beans in my stomach fiercely trying to escape. ‘Let’s do it.’

I hear Gregory winding up a call. By the time I make it to the staircase, he’s standing in the lounge, watching me descend, gown trailing the steps behind me.

I will never get used to how striking this man is.

He has one hand in the pocket of his trousers, holding his dinner jacket back, exposing his black waistcoat. His bow tie sits against a crisp white shirt. His hair is slicked back, making his strong, dark features seem more intense. And he only has eyes for me.

He offers a hand to guide me down the final steps. As his skin meets mine, fireworks burst from my chest, a charge running through my blood, as if it’s the first time we’ve touched.

As I reach the lounge floor and stand, hopelessly lost in him, he raises my fingers to his lips.

‘You’re going to make my dreams come true when you agree to be mine forever.’

‘I’m already yours, Gregory. Every part of me. There’s no going back from you.’

‘Forever,’ he whispers, before pressing his mouth to mine with a gentle, lingering kiss. ‘You’re beautiful,’ he tells me. ‘This dress.’ He takes my hand and pushes me away from him, twirling me under his arm.