Page 77 of Solemn Vow

She laughs.

“I’ll leave aftercare instructions with samples for all of you. When you wash all this out, make sure you use it all up. It’s great conditioning after so much heat and product used.” I hand her the last bouquet of white lilies as she wiggles into the lavender pumps that match her dress. As far as bridesmaid dresses go, the simple slip dress is perfect.

“Great. Thanks!” She waves and hurries out of the suite to catch up to the other eleven bridesmaids.

“And that’s all of them!” Diana puts her hands up in the air and does a little dance. “Thank you so much for helping today, you did amazing work.”

“No problem. Thank you for giving me the gig.” I get started on the cleanup.

“Twelve bridesmaids.” She plops down on the loveseat against the wall. Looking around the room, she shakes her head.

The place is a mess. Bags, shoes, slippers, and empty coffee cups are all strewn around the suite. Clothes hang on the rack the event space provided and what didn’t fit there has been tossed over chairs.

“I’m glad we aren’t the cleanup crew.” I plop down next to her to get off my feet for a minute. We’ve been at this for five hours without a break.

Diana laughs. “Yeah. These ladies know how to have a good time.” She picks up the empty bottle of champagne on the end table beside her. “They went through six of these for their mimosas before their coffee order arrived.”

“I was happy for the coffee order,” I point out with a laugh.

My phone buzzes in the back pocket of my jeans. Viktor hasn’t texted all day, so I’m not going to ignore him now.

The door to the suite opens and two women walk in, the second pushes a cleaning cart.

“C’mon in, ladies.” Diana waves to them. “They’re doing pictures. We’ll get our stuff cleaned up and get out of your way.”

I swipe the message open as I get to my feet.

“Something wrong?” Diana asks as I shuffle to the area where I’d been working.

“Yeah. My boyfriend was supposed to pick me up, but he’s stuck at work. No problem.”

“Oh, I didn’t know you had a boyfriend.” Diana starts putting away her hot iron. “You didn’t mention him at all.”

My fingers freeze over my screen. I did call him that, didn’t I?

My boyfriend?

I don’t have boyfriends. That would imply an actual relationship.

But I did call him that and it didn’t feel bad. It felt… good.

I type back a response to him then put my phone away before I have a chance to really dwell.

“It’s pretty new.” Like I just admitted to myself a minute ago, new.

“Do you know what they would like done with all the clothes?” one of the maids asks while holding up a black lace bra.

“I think it’s safe to just hang whatever you can on the rack and maybe see if they have a second one to use?” Diana suggests.

“I’ll go downstairs, I think I saw another of these in that closet under the staircase. I’ll get it,” the other maid says and heads out.

“So, do you need a ride?” Diana asks when we’re almost all packed up.

“Oh, no. Thanks, but he’s sending a friend to get me.” A friend. One of his trusted men who will be carrying at least one Glock on him, and probably another stashed in the glove compartment, and will be driving a blacked-out SUV.

“Cool.” She zips up her bag. “I have another wedding gig next month. There’s only six bridesmaids, the bride, the mother of the bride, the stepmother of the bride, and the grandmothers ofthe bride and groom if you’re available, I’d love to have you with me again. It pays twenty-two hundred for the day.”

I stop short. “Of course! But are you sure you don’t want to bring your usual girl?”

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