Page 149 of Free to Fall

Laura:

Trust me. You have less than five minutes.

Trust is something that’s next to impossible to come by and so easy to demolish with a couple of carefully placed words.

Earning back Laura’s has been next to impossible. It’s consuming every waking thought I have when I’m not with Bailey. Still, it’s the middle of a workday, hours after Bailey’s done with school, and I’m waiting for the two of them wearing a tuxedo, wondering if they plan on punking me. All I was told by Caleb and Keene was, “Don’t be late and cancel everything for the rest of the afternoon.” And by each of them, “Be in formal attire.”

“I swear I will make sure their annual tax bill gives them both heartburn if this turns out to be an ‘oops!’” I grumble to myself.

That’s when I spy a limousine pulling into the drive off Main Street. It parks directly in front of me before the driver alights. “Mr. Payne?”

“Yes?”

“Phew. Good. Your date is in the back.” The young man grins. He leans forward conspiratorially. “I only took her around the block once we knew you were here because Aunt Cass and Laura didn’t want her to be alone.”

“What is going on?” I bellow, my patience at an end.

That’s when I hear a snick. The mahogany door behind me opens, and my jaw drops at the sight before me. Dressed in a white, shimmering gown that’s identical in cut to her gala dress, long locks of her hair twisted up, gloved hands cupping the tiniest wrist corsage I’ve ever seen, is a Laura I’ve only spotted in news clippings.

She’s magnificent.

She’s untouchable.

She’s mine.

If I have anything to say about it.

It’s been just a few days since she came to the house, but I’ve missed her with every breath of air I take.

Absorbing every inch of her essence as she moves in my direction, I don’t miss the way her eyes roam me from head to toe. If it wasn’t for the sparkle in her aqua eyes, I’d be concerned her full lips aren’t smiling. Once she reaches the top of the stairs, she curtseys, as if I’m some kind of royalty, when all I want to do is haul her into my arms. “Liam.”

Just the sound of her raspy voice sets my nerve endings alight. A fire begins at the base of my spine even as I notice an honor guard has formed behind us—all decked out as if royalty is about to be unveiled. “What’s happening?”

Laura lifts her skirt and begins to descend the steps. Immediately, I step forward and take her free hand so she doesn’t fall. With a quick nod, she aligns herself next to me before calling out, “Mike, can you prepare to open Bailey’s door, please?”

“Will do, cuz.” The young man snaps to attention before leaping from where he was stationed near the steering wheel. It leaves Laura and me a few precious seconds alone.

Laura spends that time straightening her skirt. When her hand accidentally grazes my thigh, I capture it, never wanting to let go.

Her eyes lift to mine. In them, I find a torrent of emotions—excitement, nerves, both overlaying some other emotion I can’t quite pinpoint. I cock my head and ask her directly, “What’s going on, Laura?”

Laura takes in a deep breath, collecting herself. “It started because Bailey asked as part of her ...” Laura swallows hard before she continues. “There were items on her summer wish list we didn’t have a chance to finish. One of which was to feel like a princess. I brought the idea to my family and it evolved into this.”

“What’s this?”

“Making Bailey feel like a princess.”

My whole body seizes. My voice is hoarse. “What?”

A trace of a smile graces her lips. “Of course, Bailey’s transformation is being hosted by Amaryllis Events and Company.”

My heart trembles as I turn back toward the mansion behind me. “Your family did this?”

“Uh-huh.”

“For Bailey?”

Laura gives me a non-committal response as she passes me the corsage. On auto-pilot, I take it. The second I do, Laura steps away from me. I immediately miss her presence by my side. Instinctively, I hold out a hand. Pleasure rips through me when she takes it and gives it a comforting squeeze. “Now, as a former member of her medical team, I’ve been advised Bailey can dance on her legs for one dance if you bear the brunt of her weight, Liam.”

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