Page 67 of Crazy Little Thing Called Love

The next half hour was filled with champagne, changes, and laughter. Some of the dresses were hilarious, some pretty, but none were the one. Silly. She didn’t need the one just a one. She simply needed a white dress. Why didn’t she just pick one?

Slipping on the seventh dress from the rack, she smoothed down the silk, loving the soft feel of the material. The changing room didn’t have a mirror, so when she stepped out she had no idea how the dress looked, but it felt wonderful. Not too tight, no itchy tulle or lace, but comfortable, like a second skin.

“Oh my God!” Charlie’s muffled gasp made Cassie’s head snap up. Her friend’s eyes filled with tears, hand going to her heart. “That’s the one.”

Cassie turned to the triple full-length mirrors beside the changing room and sucked in a sharp breath. Oh yes, the one indeed. The soft silk wrapped around her body, hugging all the right places while still keeping an air of elegance. The strapless bodice kept her cleavage tasteful but alluring, and the bottom of the dress flared out just past her knees allowing her the freedom to move. The gown was beautiful, wonderful—

“Perfect,” she muttered, and then to her utter horror, tears poured down her face. Not pretty, happy tears. Ugly, sobbing, wrenching tears.

“Oh, sweetie! What’s wrong?”

Suddenly she was enveloped in Charlie’s arms, and she couldn’t stop the flood of emotions from escaping. The dress was perfect; everything had been perfect until she’d ruined it. Spoiled it all with her stupid fear.

“I’m in love with Del.”

Charlie glanced at her, brow furrowed in confusion.

“I know. That’s why you’re getting married right?”

Drawing in a shuddering breath, she looked her friend directly in the eye. “No. Oh God, please don’t hate me.”

The woman who’d been like a sister to her for over a decade gave her a sympathetic smile. “I could never hate you. Now,” she guided them both to the sofa, “sit down and tell me everything.”

Dam now broken, Cassie unleashed the torrent of lies she and Del had been building for the past few weeks. Charlie sat, listening attentively, saying nothing. At one point, Lauren came back, but upon seeing them on the couch retreated tactfully, and Cassie noticed a moment later a large box of tissues appeared. Guess bridal breakdowns were common.

“Let me get this straight,” Charlie spoke, once Cassie finished her story. “You and Del hatched a plan to get married so you could get your grandmother’s house and he would get the start-up money for his restaurant, which I totally voted for by the way.”

Of course she had, because Charlie was a smart cookie and knew a good investment when she saw it.

“But now you’re saying you love my brother and he loves you?” Her friend shook her head. “I don’t see the problem.”

Of course she didn’t, because she’d been surrounded by love her entire life. The Jackson family was like a real-life Sunday night sitcom.

“I do love Delta, but…”

“What?” One dark brow rose, blue eyes—the Jackson family eyes—narrowed. “You think my brother isn’t good enough? Isn’t smart enough?”

“Of course not! Delta is the kindest, sweetest, smartest, most wonderful man I’ve ever known.”

A grin split Charlie’s lips. “Oh geez, you do love him.”

Knowing she’d been baited, Cassie frowned. “I do, but…how do you take a chance on love when it all can be taken away at a moment’s notice?”

Love had been a rarity in her life. Deep down, a part of her feared she was unlovable.

“I don’t know,” Charlie replied. “I guess you just have to ask yourself if the risk is worth the reward. If having someone’s love, no matter how brief it may be, is worth the pain and heartache that may come later.”

But how did one know that?

“I’ll share with you something my mother told me once,” Charlie said.

Cassie leaned forward, eager to hear anything that might help her sort out her turbulent thoughts.

“Once, I asked my mom if being with Dad was worth it. If she really loved him when he spent so much time away.”

Cassie’s heart cracked.

“What did she say?”

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