Mad About You (17 page)

She swallowed. There were so many ways Elise’s scheme could go wrong, and it wouldn’t just be her own life she’d be ruining but Alexis’s wedding, too.

Elise breezed in, looking amazing in a flowing pink dress. It looked expensive, but not as expensive as the diamonds dripping around her neck and from her ears.

Julie would have turned around if her hair weren’t in a vice grip. “Will there be armed guards at the wedding? To give you a heads up, I may be tempted to commit armed robbery after seeing that necklace.”

Elise touched the cascade of glittery jewels. “My mother-in-law gave this to me the day I got married, to welcome me into the family. I’ve been saving it for Prescott’s bride.”

Alexis nudged her. “You better start doing my videos so you have the strength to stand up under all that weight.”

“Really, Alexis.” Elise focused on her daughter, frowning. “Why isn’t your hair done yet? The ceremony is in less than an hour.”

The stylist sighed, but it was Alexis who said, “Julie needed more primping time than I do.”

Julie shot her a glare.

“If you’re going to be my sister, you should get used to it now.” Alexis winked and then kissed her cheek. “He loves you, Julie,” she whispered in her ear. “It’s going to work out.”

Alexis gave her mother a hug as she floated out of the room.

Elise walked to Julie and wiped her cheek where Alexis had kissed her. “He does love you. You have nothing to worry about, darling.”

She had plenty to worry about. She’d been a bitch to him. He probably decided she was too high maintenance.

But then she remembered the way he looked at her, and the way he always kissed her, and she knew all the doubts were just her fears talking. He loved her, the same way she loved him. She just had to tell him she’d been misguided.

Okay—she’d been an idiot. She started to cover her face with her hand, but then she remembered she had makeup on and caught herself before she ruined an hour’s work.

“Julie’s hair looks perfect,” Elise said to the stylist. “You can focus on Alexis now.”

The woman sighed like she was put upon by the world and packed up her station to move to the room where Alexis held court.

“Now, your dress.” Elise walked to the wardrobe in the corner of the room and flung the doors open. Inside hung a silver sheath, simple, with a little sparkle to the fabric. A pair of silver strappy shoes sat on the bottom of the cabinet.

Julie reached out to touch the fabric. “It’s a fairy princess dress.”

“I saw it and knew it was the right one for you. It’s not fussy at all, simple and stunning.” Elise smiled at it, looking satisfied with herself. Then she faced her. “Which leaves your jewelry.”

She glanced at the necklace that could have doubled as a chandelier and shook her head. “That isn’t me, Elise.”

“Of course it’s not. I’d never give this to you. It’s not you at all.” The woman looked at her like she was insane for even thinking it. She opened a side drawer in the wardrobe and pulled out a small box. She opened it. “This is what I’d give you.”

Julie reached out to take the delicate chain. On the end a teardrop diamond dangled, small and simple.

“It was my mother’s. My father gave it to her,” Elise said. “It’s flawless. The best quality and quite rare, even though it appears unassuming. Like her. Like you.”

She ruthlessly suppressed her tears. There was no telling what’d happen if she messed up her makeup. “You’re like my fairy godmother.”

Elise took her hand and squeezed. “I’d rather be your mother-in-law.”

Julie swallowed thickly. “I’ll see what I can do about that.”

“I have faith in you, and Prescott.” Her expression became serious. “I wanted my children to have the happiness I never had. I couldn’t have asked for a better woman for my son.”

Julie hugged her. “Thank you for everything.”

“I did nothing, darling.” Elise squeezed her and then stepped back. “Now, I’m going to make sure my daughter is properly taken care of, and I believe you have a man’s hand you need to win?”

“Yes.” She took the dress from the hanger and, as soon as Elise closed the door behind her, completed the transformation.

She waited until she had the shoes and necklace on to look in the mirror. She gaped at the image, and then made a face just to make sure it was really her.

“I look awesome,” she said to her reflection, reaching out to touch it, entranced by the way she shimmered and glowed.

She still saw herself. Elise had been careful not to change her. She may not be wearing jeans, but her hair still had the careless look she was used to, even if it took an hour to achieve. She just looked like a different version of herself.

She liked it, she realized with surprise. Straightening her back, she walked around on the heels, grateful that they were low. When she felt like she had the hang of it, she left the safety of the room and went in search of Scott.

She got to the top of the second floor landing and froze. The foyer downstairs was teeming with people, all elegantly dressed, their jewelry glittering in the dimmed light of the chandeliers and candles.

It was now or never.

Rubbing her hands on her magic dress for courage, she strode down the spiral staircase slowly, despite all the curious gazes on her. She went very slowly. She knew she must look haughty but she was more concerned with tumbling down the stairs in front of all the people than their opinion of her.

Any other time she might have felt like a fish out of water, but she was so worried about how Scott was going to react to seeing her that she couldn’t care less about the curious gazes of the San Francisco elite. At the bottom of the steps, she grabbed a glass of champagne from a circulating waiter and downed it before continuing to look him.

She found him to one side of the main parlor, talking to a stunning tall, thin brunette who was dressed in a sleeveless silky black jumpsuit.

Julie forced herself not to care about the woman and focused on Scott instead.

He looked up and met her gaze. Julie wasn’t sure how she expected him to react, but she was happy when she saw him light up with hope.

She took a deep breath, feeling hopeful herself, and strode to him. There were a million things she wanted to say,
I’m sorry
highest on her list. What came out of her mouth was “What’s your name?”

He looked at her like she’d lost her mind. “You know my name, Julie.”

The woman next to him snickered.

Julie shot her a look as Scott said, “Shut up, KT.”

“Sorry.” The woman didn’t look contrite at all. “Um, maybe you guys can move along? This is my hiding spot, and you’re calling a lot of attention to it.”

Rolling her eyes, Julie grabbed Scott’s arm and dragged him to the middle of the room, which was empty. “Just play along, will you? What’s your frickin’ name, Scott?”

His lips twitched, but he managed to say, “Scott Wright.”

She nodded, stepping toward him. “Scott Wright, I’m going to kiss you.”

His arms wound around her waist. “Are you a good kisser?”

“You tell me,” she whispered as her lips met his.

It was everything it’d been before. It was the stars and moon. It was fairy dust and magic.

It was a promise of the future.

Wrapping her arms around his neck, she pressed herself to him, liking the way she could feel his warmth through the thin barrier of her dress. As she kissed him, she said, “I think everyone’s staring at us.”

“They aren’t used to a woman mauling a gentleman in his own home.” He gripped her waist. “But maybe if we dance, they’ll forgive you.”

“There’s no music playing.”

“We don’t need music.” He looked at her sternly. “But I’m leading.”

“Are you going to be this bossy for the rest of our lives together?”

“Are we going to be together for the rest of our lives?” he asked carefully.

“Yes, we are.” She glared at him, daring him to say otherwise.

He nodded, sweeping her into an elaborate turn. “I take it you won the competition.”

“Actually I forfeited.”

“What?” He stopped suddenly, staring at her. “The competition was the most important thing in your life.”

She shook her head. “You were the most important thing in my life. I was just too much of an idiot to realize it. It took your overbearing mother and one crazy actress for me to see how much of an idiot I was.”

Scott was still, his gaze boring into hers. Finally, when he spoke, he said, “You really were an idiot.”

“I know.” She cupped his face. “I hope I can be your idiot forever.”

“I’d rather you be my wife,” he said, turning his head to kiss her palm.

“Okay.” She nodded. “Let’s do that, because I love you.”

“About time,” he said, grinning, as he lifted her up and twirled her around.

Epilogue

One month later…

Julie stared at herself in the full-length mirror. “I look so…”

“Beautiful,” Elise said reverently, adjusting the strap of the wedding dress.

“Stunning,” Alexis said from where she reclined on the couch drinking champagne.

But it was Sophie’s verdict Julie waited for.

Her best friend walked around her, her critical eye taking in every detail of the pewter-colored dress. It was made of a satiny material that clung to her body and flared at the bottom. Sophie had picked it out, saying that the color was great because Julie wouldn’t be able to pull off virginal white.

Julie would never admit it, because Sophie would be insufferable after, but she secretly loved the dress. It was comfortable but at the same time made her look like an old-time movie star. Scott loved when she got dressed up, but what made her happy to do it was that when she puttered around in her ratty sweatshirt and shorts, he looked at her like he was the luckiest man in the world.

The only jewelry she wore was the necklace Elise had given her at Alexis’s wedding, earrings to match, and the rock Scott had given her when he’d officially proposed.

The ring really did rival Alcatraz. Big and glittering, it sat like a weight on her hand. Scott said he wanted her to remember without a doubt that she was his forever. Like she could forget.

Because Scott wasn’t a jewelry type of guy, she’d gotten him something else to mark him as hers for the rest of his life: a ball and chain. She was going to give it to him tonight, when they kicked off their honeymoon.

Sophie fussed at Julie’s hair, rearranging one of the clips, and then she nodded. “You’ll do.”

Elise gasped in shock.

Before her almost mother-in-law came to her defense, Julie said, “Thanks, Sophie. You look nice, too, even though you’ve gained a few pounds.”

Sophie laughed, the rich, deep laugh the entire world recognized. “You know I love you, right?”

“You know you guys are weird, right?” Alexis said as she stood up. “But that’s okay, because the Carrington-Wrights are weird, too.”

“We are not,” Elise said with a lift of her patrician nose.

“Sure we are, Mom. Have you seen what Scott’s wearing today?”

Elise froze. “He wasn’t serious about wearing a leopard-print tuxedo?”

“I don’t think so, but you never know with him. He’s so into animal print,” her almost sister said, putting an arm around Elise. Alexis winked at Julie as she guided Elise out of the room. “See you guys down there.”

“Really?” Sophie wrinkled her nose when the door closed. “Scott doesn’t seem like a leopard-print sort of guy to me.”

“He’s not. Alexis was giving us time alone.” She took a deep breath. “So I’m doing this.”

“Yes, and it’s going to be awesome, because I planned it all.” She rubbed her hands together. “I promised you the wedding of the century, and that’s what you’re getting.”

Julie remembered their bet and shuddered. “Please tell me there aren’t going to be any acrobats or people shot out of cannons or anything.”

“I promised you the wedding of the decade.” Sophie smiled mischievously. She picked up their wedding bouquets, which Julie had insisted on doing herself, and tossed Julie’s to her. “Ready to do this?”

“Yes,” she said without a doubt. She walked slowly out of the room, careful not to step on her dress. “You know how I know you love me?”

“How?”

“You let me wear wedged flip-flops with my wedding dress.”

Sophie nodded. “That’s certainly a sign of true love. Or else I didn’t want to be embarrassed when you tripped and knocked me down like a bowling pin.”

“I see your point.”

They reached the main landing and looked down.

There weren’t nearly as many people as at Alexis’s wedding. Scott had told Elise he only wanted people who cared about them to attend, and surprisingly his mom had agreed.

Still, there were almost two hundred people, including half of Laurel Heights. And somewhere in the crowd, her parents were hanging out awkwardly.

Whatever. She was glad they came. She wasn’t sure they’d step out of their comfort zone long enough to attend.

A chiming bell rang, signalling everyone to the ballroom for the ceremony. She’d wanted to have the wedding outside—the Carrington-Wright mansion had a gorgeous yard—but summer in San Francisco was dicey enough that Elise and Sophie had convinced her she’d be happier indoors.

They waited until everyone had filed into the ballroom to walk downstairs. Sophie walked her, arm in arm, all the way to the ballroom. At the entrance, her best friend turned to her and smiled. “I feel like I should tell you what to expect on your wedding night, but I suspect you’ve been doing some experimenting already.”

Her cheeks flushed, remembering that morning in the linen closet.

Sophie arched her brow. “You naughty girl. Good for you.”

“Shut up.”

Sophie grinned and hugged her tight.

Julie hugged her back, feeling so blessed that she had a friend like this.

“Be happy, Julie,” Sophie whispered in her ear right before she kissed her cheek. She rubbed off the lipstick that had transferred and then put her million-dollar smile in place. The music changed, and she nodded. “Let’s do this, shall we?”

“Yes.” Julie took a deep breath as she watched Sophie walk down the aisle. Everyone watched her, because Sophie was fabulous.