The Lost Girl (44 page)
Authors: Lilian Carmine
I hugged him tightly, burying my face in his neck. He hugged me back as tightly as I had him, and we stood like that, hugging each other in silence while the music played in the background.
“Thank you for making this day happen,” I said quietly. “This is the most perfect day of my life.”
“You’re welcome. You deserve it, Joey,” he said, with a smile in his voice.
Tristan walked up to us then and it was his turn now to interrupt the dance. “May I have a dance with my wife?” he asked, with a glint in his silver eyes.
“Why of course, dear sir.” Harry faked graveness. “Mrs. Halloway, ’twas a pleasure!” He took a step back and tilted his imaginary hat before leaving us to dance alone.
Tristan turned to me with a gentle smile, his gray eyes twinkling as he looked down at me. “Have I told you already how beautiful you look today?” he asked softly, as he put one hand on my waist and pulled me closer to him, his amazing scent enveloping me as I pressed against him. Then he dipped his head and gave me a soft kiss on the lips.
“This dress makes you look even more magical than you already are,” he said, and leaned close to whisper softly in my ear, “But I have to confess that although it is really a lovely dress, I can’t wait to take it off you tonight.”
Okay. Blushing like a blooming ripe tomato now. I was so glad he couldn’t see my face. Just to be sure, I rested my head on his chest to avoid making eye contact, and continued dancing, but he knew what I was trying to hide and I could feel him shaking a little with laughter. He passed his fingers softly over my hair in gentle strokes as we swayed to the slow music.
“I wish we could stay dancing like this for ever.” I sighed in his arms, content to listen the amazing sound of his heart beating. “I wish you could feel how happy I am right now.”
“I can,” he murmured, his voice wavering with emotion as he tightened his grip around me. “I’ll remember this day always.”
I smiled and snuggled against his chest, while everyone around the plaza looked at the two of us dancing in the middle. My mom was wiping a few tears from the corners of her eyes, and I saw the smiling faces of my boys, and Tiffany, Amanda, Becca and all of our friends as they watched us as we danced.
I will always remember the overwhelming happiness I felt that day. For as long as I live and even after that. A love larger than life to remember.
I closed my eyes and everybody faded out, leaving only Tristan’s warm presence pressed against me, his arms enveloping me in a treasured embrace. It was only him and me dancing now, and that was all that mattered. A lovely ghost boy dancing with his witchy girl.
Who was to say it wouldn’t last for ever?
It had been a really extraordinary, memorable day, a real-life fairy-tale moment for me – for all of us. It almost felt like we were all under a love spell. It felt surreal and intoxicating, like we were all immersed in a summer dream’s haze.
I watched the smiling faces of everybody I loved the most celebrating. The sun was casting its last rays of vibrant, warm colors over the horizon and the night sky descended quickly with a bright moon in its wake.
As the party continued on, I knew people were talking to me, and part of me listened and even responded somehow, but another part of me never stopped searching the plaza for the sterling-gray eyes that I knew shone with the brightest light of them all.
I would find him somewhere, talking, smiling kindly or merely listening to a group of friends chatting, but his eyes would also drift away from time to time, searching for mine. Our gazes would dance endlessly across the square, always longing for the awareness of each other’s presence, and then when our gaze finally met, his eyes would shine for a brief second with an emotion so strong it took my breath away, each and every single time.
And I knew my eyes reflected the same emotion I witnessed in his, the same force, and the same undeniable truth.
Never ending love.
I dedicate this book first and foremost to the fans and to all the lost girls and lost boys out there.
I dedicate it also to my husband for sharing with me the good moments of my life, for helping me in the hard times and for being by my side always.
I’m brighter, stronger and happier when I’m at his side.
I dedicate this book to my two amazing editors Gillian Green and Emily Yau and I thank them immensely for all their help, encouragement and support.
Keep rocking always.
Lily.
This ebook is copyright material and must not be copied, reproduced, transferred, distributed, leased, licensed or publicly performed or used in any way except as specifically permitted in writing by the publishers, as allowed under the terms and conditions under which it was purchased or as strictly permitted by applicable copyright law. Any unauthorized distribution or use of this text may be a direct infringement of the author’s and publisher’s rights and those responsible may be liable in law accordingly.
Version 1.0
Epub ISBN 9781448176571
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Published in the UK in 2014 by Ebury Press, an imprint of Ebury Publishing
A Random House Group Company
Copyright © 2014 Lilian Carmine
Lilian Carmine has asserted her right to be identified as the author of this Work in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988
This novel is a work of fiction. Names and characters are the product of the author’s imagination and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior permission of the copyright owner
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