Page 378 of The Christmas Wife

"The only other time I had to stitch a wedding dress faster than this was my own," she murmurs.

I shoot her a sideways glance. "You stitched your wedding gown overnight?"

She laughs. "Let’s just say, I was not a willing bride."

"And Michael, he?—"

"Kidnapped me and forced me to marry him, yes."

I blink. "But the two of you are?—"

"So happy? Yeah." She rubs her massive belly. I swear, the woman seems about ready to pop. She winces, and Summer touches her shoulder.

"You okay, sis?"

"Of course." She waves a hand in the air. "Baby’s kicking, is all."

"And everything else is fine? Your heart?—"

"It’s all good," she insists.

I heard about Karma’s heart condition and how being pregnant put her in the life-threatening zone. But Karma was adamant about carrying another child.

"At least, sit down." Gio drags a seat over and Karma sinks into it.

"Thanks, that's much better." She places her hands on her belly and surveys my mermaid dress. "If I’d had more time, I’d have designed you a more spectacular one. But given the urgency I had to go over the dresses I had in stock and choose one and alter it to your measurements."

"This is perfect." I turn around, glance over my shoulder and take in how the neckline dips down almost all the way to the crack of my butt. "Is it too sexy?"

"Nope," Gio says with conviction.

"The long sleeves down to your wrists and the modest neckline that only hints at your cleavage make the entire effect even more startling." Summer nods.

"And sexy." Gio’s eyes gleam. "Priest is going to swallow his tongue when he sees you."

"I doubt he’ll even notice," I murmur. I rub my fingers lightly down the silky fabric. I mentioned to Karma that I’d always wanted an unusual wedding dress. To consider it my last standat being independent. I wanted to break from what's customary and have a dress in a shade of purple for my wedding. She’d used that as a guide and while the dress looks different from a normal wedding dress, her genius is such that the pale lavender color is both demure and sexy, at the same time.

"Oh, he’ll notice all right." Summer laughs.

"You do realize, he couldn’t take his gaze off of you earlier," Karma says slowly.

"What do you mean?"

"He went all protective when Arthur announced the wedding was today. If I’m not mistaken, he was upset on your behalf."

I don’t comment. I sensed the same, but my thoughts were all over the place, so I wasn't sure.

"Arthur swore us to secrecy. I was tempted to break it, but the man has so much power and connections—" Gio shakes her head. "I should have told you what he was planning."

"I don’t think it’s advisable to go up against a man like Arthur," I say slowly.

"But it’s your wedding, your life, Mira." Gio takes my hand in hers. "If you don’t want to go through with it, say the word, and we’ll get you out of here."

"We’re on your side," Summer says softly, but there’s a hint of steel in her tone.

"Only you know what’s right for you." Karma rubs her belly. "No one knows what’s happening in a relationship except for the people involved, so if this isn’t what you want?—"

"I do." I draw in a sharp breath. "I know it seems strange. But I believe Edward has—feelings for me—" It’s half true. He’s not impervious to my presence, as he’s demonstrated, but he’s good at hiding behind that wall he’s built around himself. "I know he’s not very demonstrative?—"

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