Page 131 of Fire for Effect

“Put me down!” I said, even as I put my arms around his neck.

“You have no shoes,” Kai answered, as if I had asked a question.

“I have one shoe,” I corrected.

“And you have two feet,” he retorted. “I’ll carry you.”

Daria let out an annoyed sigh. “Okay, compromise. One week. I can plan your wedding in a week.”

I laughed, because she was being dead serious.

“You’ll need to wait anyway, because you have to file paperwork!” Daria crossed her arms, planting her feet, in a stance that said she meant business. “One week, and I will give you the perfect wedding.”

“Fine,” I said, with a laugh. “One week.”

Kai smiled down at me; his eyes bright. “One week?”

“Yes, one week.”

“Are you changing your name?”

“Do you want me to?”

“I don’t know. I’ve gotten so used to calling you Guerro,” he said with a laugh. “I guess that’s about to change, huh?”

“I guess so.”

“You look beautiful, by the way.” His eyes softened immensely as he looked into my face. “I didn’t get to tell you that, yet. The dress is perfect.”

“Covered in a dead person?”

“Yes,” he laughed. “You’re you, and you’re still breathing. That’s beautiful.”

Chapter 39

I Don’t

Taz

One week later

“I am a fucking genius!” Daria threw her hands up, after she placed the crown of Montauk daisies on my head. Fall blooming wildflowers.

Daria was right. She was a genius.

She found me a dress of sheer, delicate lace. The lining of the dress matched my skin and made it look almost see-through. On my feet were my black, leather riding boots. The dragonfly bracelet was on my wrist, and I had moved my engagement ring from my left hand to my right, leaving my wedding finger bare, ready to receive a new adornment that would symbolize my second marriage.

Daria was dressed in autumn red, with a slit that, in her words, rode scandalously high.

It all looked so perfect. Everything was right. All of it.

Except for the bride.

I didn’t belong here. I didn’t belong in this.

“I can’t do this.” My voice was barely a whisper.

I grabbed the crown from my head and threw it across the room.

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