Page 193 of Wicked Fantasies

“Your mother altered it.”

His answer caught her unaware. “She did?”

He grinned like the cat that ate the canary and she could tell he was very pleased with this particular surprise. “Yep. I also stole that pretty blue dress you wore to the company Christmas party last December and she used that to help her size it correctly.”

“I’m a little concerned with this new thievery tendency of yours.” Her joke was a weak attempt at stalling as her gaze drifted to the gown again and she chewed on her lower lip.

“It’ll fit just fine, Faith.”

She twisted her lips in a rueful grin. “I’m sure it will. I’m just sort of sorry my mom had to resize it. Guess it brings home the fact I’ve let myself go over the years.”

Troy narrowed his eyes. “You are not allowed to launch into any bullshit about gaining weight. You’re gorgeous. Prettier now than you were when I married you and a hell of a lot sexier. Now drop that towel and put on the dress. I can’t wait to see you in it again.”

She laughed, loving his laying-down-the-law voice. He thought she was gorgeous…and sexy. She certainly wasn’t going to argue with that. Taking the towel off, she reached for the dress, her pulse racing at the thought of trying it on. There was a small part of her that was dying to put it on again after all these years, just to see how it looked.

She’d lovingly had it preserved and then stored it under their bed, waiting for the day Jenna decided to marry. Who knew if her daughter would want to wear it? Given the old-fashioned style, she doubted it, but regardless of that, she looked forward to the day Jenna would say yes to some young man and she would let her daughter try it on to decide.

Putting the silky material over her head, she turned so that Troy could fasten up the row of buttons along the back. She smiled to herself recalling him unfastening these same buttons the night of their honeymoon. His fingers, so deft now, had trembled slightly the first night they’d spent together as a married couple.

She turned as he finished, blushing at his wholly male, fully appreciative stare. “Faith,” he said, his voice husky and filled with emotion. Her stomach flip-flopped when she realized he was speechless…just looking at her. She’d expected to feel fatter, older as she put on the dress, but instead, his gaze made her feel like the most beautiful woman on earth.

“Thank you,” she whispered.

He looked up at her face and shook his head. “Why don’t you take the bathroom to finish getting ready? I’ll throw on this suit out here. If we don’t get a little distance between us right now, we’re never going to make it to tonight’s grand feature surprise. I want you, Faith. So much.”

His face proved the validity of his words and she could see he was working hard to restrain himself.

“I won’t be a minute,” she said, giving him the space to pull himself together. She’d messed up his schedule last night in regards to the church social, and while she didn’t regret that, she also didn’t want to ruin any more of his lovely plans.

“How are we doing on time?” she asked as she headed to the bathroom.

“We have enough. Do what you need to do.”

Taking him at his word, she took her time fixing her hair and applying makeup. She suddenly wanted to be worthy of his appreciative glances.

Walking back into the bedroom, she sucked in an amazed breath when she caught sight of Troy in his tuxedo.

“Wow,” she said on a sigh.

He raised his eyebrows and flexed his muscles. “Still know how to fill out the old monkey suit.”

She laughed. “You look totally hot. Like I want to rip-off-that-suit-and-ride-you-all-night-long hot.”

Troy groaned, his eyes darkening with desire. “Damn, baby. I just managed to pull myself together after seeing you in that dress. Hold that thought because I’m going to take you up on it later.”

The image of him in his tuxedo sent her straight to Stupidville and all she could think about was stripping the sexy suit off him, one piece at a time. “Why later?”

He glanced at his watch. “Because we’re late.”

His words quickly reminded her he had plans. “For what?” She hoped he’d slip up and answer.

He grinned, not fooled by her attempt to ferret out the secret. Placing his hand on her back, he steered her toward the door. “For your next surprise and your next letter.”

Faith,

My memories of our wedding day are sort of spotty after all this time. I find that rather than recalling every moment, the day comes back to me in scenes. When I think of that day, there are three things in particular, that stand out in my mind.

First, I remember how I felt before the ceremony. I was a nervous wreck. My mouth was completely bone dry. I ended up getting to the church, fully dressed in my tuxedo way too early. The damn suit didn’t have any pockets in it and I didn’t have my wallet. I had to borrow a dollar from my mother so I could walk across the street in my monkey suit to buy a soda. I remember thinking here I am getting married and my mother’s rifling through her purse like she did whenever I needed lunch money for school. I felt very much like a little boy playing dress-up and for a minute I wondered what the hell I was doing there.

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