Fair Game Inc (2010) (30 page)

oWhat if heAEs still not sure, what if heAEs changed his mind?o

oIf RogerAEs changed his mind,o Amber snarled, oI have a very special revenge planned for him.o She cast Sandy a reassuring smile. oFree of charge. It would be my pleasure.o But when Sandy only smiled wanly in return, she added. oDonAEt worry, Grayson will make sure heAEs there.o

oI donAEt want him to be if he doesnAEt want to.o

oHe wants to marry you, Sandy. I can tell. IAEm a good judge of character.o

Sandy turned toward her in a whisper of tulle. oYouAEre not worried about Grayson?o

oNo.o

oNot even a little?o

Amber searched her soul, finding that in the depths of her heart the one thing she was certain of was Grayson.

During the long night she had been held hostage by James Heck, Amber had buried her doubts about Grayson forever. He loved her, she realized. Flaws, fears and all. oNot even,o she said with certainty.

oI wish I could feel that way.o

oItAEs just prenuptial jitters. Once we get there and you see everythingAEs fine, theyAEll go away.o

Sandy nodded nervously, pale as a ghost behind her white veil. oYou sure everything got delivered?o

oThe cake, the chairs and all the dishes arrived last night before I left. Mrs. Charles called me this morning to say the floral designer did a spectacular job. The caterers were due at four.o Amber counted off the many details on her fingers. oEven if the caterers donAEt show up, thereAEs enough cake and champagne to go around. WeAEll order pizza or something.o

The thought of pizza only served to make Sandy even more nervous. oI was only kidding,o Amber said.

oDonAEt mind me.o Sandy forced a smile. oLike you said, itAEs probably just nerves.o

She did look radiant, Amber had to admit. Like an angel in her pure white gown and head of blonde curls. The white dresses Amber had tried on only made her look twice as pale as usual. Though sheAEd banished thoughts of Eric from her mind, the thought of buying another wedding dress was surprisingly painful. Amber had given up, deciding instead on a tailored white suit. But Sandy, having her heart set on a long white dress and train, had dragged Amber with her to every bridal store in the city. And still Amber refused to be swayed, until in the very last store, sheAEd found a dress of ivory silk, with silk roses at the shoulder and in the bustle. It cost much more than she intended to pay. But in a moment of weakness, sheAEd pulled out her credit card and bought the dress, matching shoes and veil. She hoped Grayson would like it more than she wanted to admit.

The limousine turned off the highway, down the winding road that led to GraysonAEs house. Amber squinted to see the time on the dashboard clock. Ten minutes after six. Not bad, considering they were arriving in a blizzard.

Someone had gone to considerable trouble plowing the front yard so cars could pull up within easy access of the house. Stretching from the front door to the door of the limousine was a red carpet, already lightly dusted with snow. The limousine rolled to a halt. Amber waited as the driver came around to the side to help them out.

Frigid air gusted into the warm interior. Thankfully, her gown had long sleeves. Holding an umbrella to keep off the snow, the driver helped them down the red carpet to the door of GraysonAEs house.

Conversation hushed as they entered. Stepping into the warmth, they were greeted by a sea of smiles. A fire burned in the fireplace. Bows of pine and red roses decorated every available surface. At the far end of the aisle of chairs, she saw two black clad figures take their place, saw RogerAEs face light up with smile sure to melt SandyAEs doubts at the first sight of his bride. Grayson drew her gaze past him. She watched as his eyes widened in astonishment, then his face broke into a slow, certain smile as she made her way up the aisle toward him.

****

Nothing prepared Grayson for the sight of Amber. He expected her to look beautiful. All brides were beautiful and Amber was gorgeous to begin with. His field of vision narrowed to include nothing but the two of them and the beautiful woman walking down the aisle toward him. Beside him he heard Roger gasp as he saw Sandy, but Grayson couldnAEt tear his eyes from Amber.

Never would he have guessed sheAEd go for a traditional bridal dress. A white suit, she kept telling him, something practical, something she could wear again.

Well, she wouldnAEt be wearing that dress again. HeAEd see to it personally. His eyes dropped from the crimson curls to the roses of ivory silk at her shoulder, over the gentle gathers that off-set her petite figure perfectly.

He couldnAEt look away, even through the ceremony. Even as Roger and Sandy recited their vows, his gaze strayed back to Amber, to the calm certain love he saw there. Smiling up at him, he heard her say aeI doAE and echoed it with one of his own.

Amber was his he realized, reaching out to slip the gold band on her finger.

Forever.

The End