“But—” Bishop started, only to have Arabella cover his mouth with her hand.
“Go away, Bishop.”
He frowned. “You know, I liked you better when you weren’t all bossy.”
Greer crossed her arms and said, “You’ll like me less when my foot kicks you in the ass to get you out of this room! We’re running out of time, Bishop Harris!”
He held up his hands in surrender. “Fine. Fine. I’m leaving.”
His eyes met mine across the room and butterflies swarmed in my stomach. I placed my hand to my mouth, kissed it, and then sent it to Bishop.
“I love you, Abs. See you soon.”
I fought to keep the tears at bay. “I love you, too, Bishop. See you soon.”
He’d barely stepped one foot out of the bedroom before Arabella shut the door in his face.
“Jesus, Arabella!” Bishop shouted through the closed door.
She turned, and I gave her a hard look.
With an innocent smile, she said, “What? He wouldn’t leave!”
“Okay, let’s get you ready,” Greer said, coming at me with a brush.
The door flew open and Candace walked in. “Stop! Do not touch her with that brush. Are you trying to break off her hair with that thing?”
Greer looked at the brush, then back at Candace, who walked in, shut the door in Bishop’s face again, and tossed a large bag down onto the bed.
“Women!” Bishop called out before I heard him head down the hall.
“Okay, I’ve been studying the picture of the dress you bought.” Candace unzipped the bag and started to pull out a curling iron, a straightener, and every kind of eye makeup ever sold, along with mascaras, eyeliners, blushes, and some weird-looking sponge that looked like a teardrop. “I’ve got an idea for hair and makeup. We’ll do an updo and put some baby’s breath in to make it feel light and airy. You’ve got plenty down in the kitchen leftover from the table arrangements.”
I lifted one brow and looked at Greer. She gave me an I-don’t-know-how-to-stop-her look.
“The dress has a very wintery snowflake feel to it, so we’ll keep the makeup light, but I think we’ll make your eyes smoky. Nothing says ‘fuck me until morning’ like a good smoky eye.”
Arabella leaned closer to me and whispered, “Why is she working at Turning Pages again?”
I shook my head. “I don’t know. I feel like she missed her calling.”
Candace clapped her hands, causing both me and Arabella to jump and let out small yelps.
“I also took a look at the greenhouse. I have one word to describe the theme I’m feeling.”
The three of us stared at her as we waited.
“For Pete’s sake, Candace, what’s the word?” Greer asked, when her dramatic pause went on for too long.
Slowly looking between the three of us, Candace let her eyes land on me as she smiled and said, “Enchanting.”
I giggled. “I love it! Do your best with me.”
Candace threaded her fingers, pushed her arms out, and cracked her knuckles.
“Should that scare me as much as it does?” Arabella asked.
Candace ignored her. “Alright, ladies, let’s get to work.”
Before I knew it, she had me sitting at the vanity in the bathroom as she brushed, curled, twisted, and pinned up my hair. Soft curls fell down my back while Arabella carefully placed sprigs of baby’s breath in my hair.
“Okay, now for the makeup,” Candace said, turning me away from the mirror and getting to work. Greer and Arabella were doing their own makeup and hair while Candace worked her magic on me.
“Candace, if you love fashion so much, why aren’t you working in that profession?” I asked.
She gave me a one-shoulder shrug as she concentrated on my eyeliner. “This is just something I love to do. I feel like if I did it for a living, I’d grow tired of it. What I’m truly passionate about is cooking and baking. I love to read, as well, so that helps with working at Turning Pages. And helping Arabella out at the café on the bee farm gives me a chance to play around with my baking and cooking skills.”
“That makes sense. You’re just so on point with everything. Your hair, your makeup, your clothes. Even your sense of humor.”
She dropped her hand and looked at me with a thoughtful smile. “Thank you for saying that. It means a lot to me. Now, stop talking so I don’t mess up your eyeliner.”
I pressed my lips together in a tight line and held my breath until I felt like I was going to pass out while she did the eyeliner.
Candace stepped back and nodded. “Yes. Yes, this is it. By God, I’m so good.”
I laughed and turned to look in the mirror. I gasped as I stared at my reflection. Somehow, Candace had managed to make me look beautiful, without making it look like I had a ton of makeup on.
“It’s time for the dress!” Arabella practically shouted.
“Do not mess up her hair, ladies,” Candace warned while Arabella went skipping out of the bathroom. It warmed my heart to see her truly happy. She finally had a brightness in her eyes I hadn’t seen in so long. Yet, there was still something missing. Love. Hunter. A partnership with a man who loved and cared about her.
I followed the three of them back into the living room and watched Arabella take down the dress and hand it to Greer.
“Why are you handing it to me?” Greer asked, pushing the dress back toward Arabella.
“The last time I helped her into a dress, it got snagged on a bobby pin and pulled half her hair down,” Arabella stated.
“Do you remember I was helping put the dress on when that happened?” Greer asked.
Candace gasped and reached for the garment. “Give it to me. Good God, between the two of you, I swear.” She held up the dress and nodded her approval.
I chewed on my lip nervously as I stared at it. “I really hope my boobs don’t sag since I can’t wear a bra with that thing.”
“Drop the robe and let’s put it on,” Candace said. After doing as she asked, she gave me a once-over. “Girl, please. You’ve still got perky tits. You’re going to rock this dress.”
I felt my cheeks turn hot as I glanced over to Greer, who gave me another one-shoulder shrug. It was as if she’d learned not to make apologies for Candace and what came out of her mouth.
Candace carefully gathered up the chiffon and tulle dress. “Arms up and bend down some.”
I did as she said and held my breath as she slipped the dress on. Once it was safely past my hair and makeup, I heard everyone in the room let out a sigh of relief.
Arabella buttoned up the dress in the back, then tied the ribbon that went around the waist in a bow in the front.
The top of the cream gown was lace with crystal embellishments, but not so many that they took away from the lace. The three-quarter-length sleeves also gave it a lighter feel.
I turned and looked at the deep-scooped back that led to covered buttons on the chapel-length gown. It was finished off by a side slit that went to the middle of my thigh.
“You look beautiful,” Arabella whispered.
Greer wiped a tear from her cheek. “Like a snow princess.”
Candace walked up behind me and smiled. “Bishop is going to take one look at you and start dreaming about the ways he’s gonna fuck you in this dress.”