Page 5 of Mind

Chase ignores her and turns to Kat who looks a bit intimidated and leans back in her chair. “How long will it take you to make Gillian’s wedding gown?”

Kat assesses me. I’m sure all three of them can see my kiss-swollen lips. I look down and my skirt is askew. She grins and then looks up at Chase. “Not sure. It will be done in a year; I can promise you that.”

Chase huffs, which is unusual behavior and less than gentlemanly. “And if I want it in a month?”

Kat’s eyes widen and her mouth gapes. “I uh, that’s a really short amount of time.”

“How much time do you need exactly?” That jaw of his is clenched, working overtime.

“Depending on the work at the theatre…”

“I’ll hire you an assistant to help at the theatre so you can focus most, if not all, of your attention on Gillian.”

“You can’t do that—” I start, but he squeezes my hand and talks over me. The Controlling Chase is in full swing.

“I’m on the Board of the San Francisco Theatre.” What? When the hell was he going to share that tidbit of information? Maria looks just as surprised as I do, so it’s news to her as well. Chase continues undeterred. “I can, and will, do whatever is necessary to make you my bride immediately.” His tone is sharp and unrelenting. “Kathleen, timeframe?”

She looks shocked but resolved. “Probably six to eight weeks depending on whether or not I can get the fabric and the cost is within the budget.”

“Money is no object. I will have fifty thousand wired into your account within the hour. Make it six weeks, and I’ll throw in an extra twenty-five thousand for your trouble.”

“Holy shit! You weren’t kidding.” Kat flits her chin in my direction. I smile weakly hating the fact that Chase is throwing his weight and money around with my best friends. He can’t help it though. It’s his way. At least his intentions are in the right place. And everyone knows the road to hell is paved with good intentions.

He waits patiently for Kat to ponder his request. “You got yourself a deal, buddy.” They shake on it to make it official, which I find ridiculous and unnecessary.

Chase turns to me. “Now that that’s settled...” He smiles wide showing even, white teeth. His smile is so pretty it could turn any dark day bright. “You will be all mine,theMrs. Davis in six weeks. I can hardly wait.” He grins and pulls me into a hug.

His enthusiasm is contagious. Behind us, the girls whoop and holler as he swoops me in for a searing kiss. It almost becomes indecent when his hand covers my ass and he grinds his growing erection into my belly.

Maria blows past us and comes back with a glass. She fills it half-full and hands it to Chase. He takes it and nods his thanks.

“To the soon-to-be Mr. and Mrs. Chase Davis!” she says. “¡Salud!”

Chapter 2

Gillian

Chase left me at the apartment after I insisted that it would be weeks before I officially moved into the penthouse, if he didn’t let me finish packing. Although I wasn’t sure staying behind was a better plan than escaping to our tower in the sky. The girls were merciless in their joking and digging for information. Kat was ecstatic over the new monetary windfall, but nervous about pleasing his highness with that amount of money and time limitation. Six weeks for a couture gown was a heavy burden, but I did my best to reassure her that I was less interested in a fashion masterpiece and more concerned with feeling beautiful and comfortable on the most important day of my life. She started sketching designs while the rest of us packed. On top of being a skilled seamstress, she was actually a very gifted designer.

“So you want fitted at the bodice and protruding out from the waist like a princess gown?” Kat asks while I store framed pictures of Maria and me on our drive through California several years ago. We were on a soul-finding mission. In the end, we mostly agreed that as long as we had the love of our friends and believed in our own self-worth, we’d survive anything life threw our way.

“I’m not really sure. Fitted on top, I think. Open in the back. Chase loves a bare back.” She nods as a mental image of white lace danced across my thoughts. “I want sexy elegance, nothing that’s going to push up my boobs or be too revealing.”

Kat brings her legs up into a cross-legged seated position on the couch and lays the sketch board over one knee. “I have an idea. What if we do lace arms into a perfect v shape in the back?” She draws the back showing a scalloped edge going into a deep triangle shape right above the butt cheeks. “We could have a tiny line of sparking gems holding up the top at the shoulder-line running across. I’ll have to build a bra into the front.” I nod starting to feel like this was really going to happen.

“I really like that idea.”

“And if you wear your hair up, it will show off the back perfectly.” She is ecstatic already sketching the front of the gown. I bite my lip and crinkle my nose.

Her caramel eyes twinkle when she stops sketching and catches the unease in my gaze. “What?” She cocks an eyebrow. Like Maria, annoyingly cool.

I shrug. “It’s just that Chase likes my hair down. Always down.” I know my face is turning bright pink, and for the millionth time, I curse my Irish heritage. “He always pulls it down when he kisses me.” Kat’s lips twitch into a sly grin.

“Okay, what if we compromise? Have some up on top and have it pulled over to the side so we can still showcase the back but your caveman will be able to paw your hair at his whim.” She giggles and goes back to work.

“Perfect!” I squeal and clasp my hands together at my chest. Even with the wedding rush, it’s still going to be the best day of my life. It’s the day I agree to be Mrs. Chase Davis, forever. He’ll officially be my past, present, and future. Just like my soul sisters.

Kat continues undaunted, making sketches at the speed of light. The best I can do is a few good stick figures. Her fingers move over the sketch pad putting touches here and there. She makes a sweetheart shape at the front of the bodice, and then adds a sheer lace piece over just the swells of what look to be my breasts. That sheer piece had the same scalloped edge as the back. The more I look, the more I realize how incredibly talented Kat is. I wish she’d have more confidence in her ability.

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