Authors: Jasinda Wilder
Stripped (34 page)
It’s a traditional wedding, for all that it’s a celebrity affair. In deference to my father, Dawson made sure of that.
I’m staring at Dawson, watching his face as he works to contain his emotions at the sight of me. He has never been more attractive than he is in this moment, dressed in a custom-tailored vintage tuxedo, his hair combed into a part that makes him look like he could have stepped out of a Clark Gable movie. His tuxedo is designed to enhance that look, and so is my dress. The whole wedding, in fact, is vintage, ’30s-inspired, right down to the car we’re going to drive away in: a 1937 Rolls Royce Phantom.
Daddy hands me off to Dawson, but before he does, he leans in to whisper to me, “I love you, Grey. I’m so proud of who you are.” My eyes water as I hear the words I’ve wished for my entire life. Daddy sniffs and blinks hard. “Go marry him. He’s a good man.”
I step up to Dawson and take his hands. I barely hear the pastor but when it comes time, I repeat the vows.
“I do.” Two words, and they hold so much meaning. I’ve been his, I’ve always been his, and he mine. From the first day I saw him in the VIP room of that awful place, we’ve belonged to each other. But now, now we’re completely and officially bound together, tied and linked and made permanent.
The reception is a happy blur. I’m on cloud nine, overcome and overwhelmed by joy. And then the time comes for the first dance.
A spotlight shines on the edge of the dance floor, bathing a single figure: Lindsey Stirling. She lifts a violin to her shoulder, pauses, and then launches into “Elements.” Dawson and I are off with the music, dancing a choreographed and rehearsed tango.
A boring old slow dance wasn’t going to cut it for
this
wedding, after all.
I’ve never danced so well in all my life; dancing comes from within, and inside, I’m alight with pure happiness. I’ve got everything I could ever ask for, and then some.
THE END
Playlist
“The Giving” by Michael W. Smith
“Ten Thousand Hours” by Macklemore
“Can’t Hold Us” by Macklemore
“Just Give Me A Reason” by Pink & Nate Ruess
“More Than Miles” by Brantley Gilbert
“Don’t Take the Girl” by Tim McGraw
“Our Solemn Hour” by Within Temptation
“Hibernia” by Michael W. Smith
“Marry Me” by Train
“Palladio” by Silent Nick
“Elements” by Lindsey Stirling
“David’s Jig” by Natalie McMaster
I know this is kind of a short and random playlist. I’m not going to pretend I understand how these songs came to fit into the story, but they do. They’re the songs that Dawson and Grey communicate with, and those two are eclectic people, musically. The song that Grey dances to, in Chapter 12, after Dawson opens up is “Our Solemn Hour” by Within Temptation. It’s not named in the text, but I wrote the scene listening to that song on repeat, so it’s important.
There was another song I wanted to use in this book. It never seemed to fit into the story, but I have a scene in my head, of Dawson and Grey dancing together. It’s early morning, still gray outside. Dawson wears a pair of gym shorts and is shirtless, and the hazy morning light makes him look like he stepped out of a Greek myth. Grey is in a pair of spandex shorts and a sports bra, and they’re whirling across the gym floor of Dawson’s house together. “David’s Jig” by Natalie McMaster plays, a skirling fiddle jig, lively and energetic and relentless, happy and joyful. Dawson’s chest glistens with sweat as he dances, and a wisp of hair falls across Grey’s face, and they dance as if nothing exists but the music, and each other, and motion. The scene reminds me of
Far and Away
, for some reason.
Anyway, after that random aside, I hope you enjoy listening to these songs, the brief and random, but wonderful, soundtrack to
Stripped.
COMING SOON
The Missionary
A cross-genre romantic suspense/women’s fiction/thriller from Jack Wilder
Coming in September
After Forever
A new adult/contemporary romance from Jasinda Wilder
Coming October
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