Page 17 of Set In Stone

“Well, you said that you asked for my input. You really haven’t, Alex. The conversations were always about decisions you alreadymade.”

“Suchas?”

“Take the house in Westchester for example. You and the architect worked on the plans. You’ve designed the layout of everything. We are almost ready to break ground, yet I haven’t even seen the blueprints. There is also the wedding. You decided it should be a small intimate affair, which I’m not opposed to. However, for all you knew, maybe I wanted to fly to Las Vegas toelope.”

“That’s out of the question,” he stated firmly. “Vegas is such a cliché. Not to mention, I think it’s a foul city. We would never get marriedthere.”

His statement just further proved mypoint.

“Do you see what I mean?” I asked and gave him a small I-told-you-sosmile.

His eyes narrowed before the comprehensiondawned.

“You’ve got me there, angel. Well played. What do you propose wedo?”

He flashed me a sexy, crooked smile. I knew then that I got through tohim.

“I think we should start with the basic fundamentals and take things one step at a time. I’m pretty sure we are in agreement about the size of the wedding. I really don’t want to go to Vegas, and a big flashy wedding just isn’t me. So, a smaller, more intimate affair is good for me if that’s what youwant.”

“Whatever works, angel. I just want to make you Mrs. Alexander Stone. To officially claim you as mine,” he said with a coy smile as he reached up to cup mybreasts.

“Stay focused,” I scolded and pushed his hands away. “I’m going to have to talk to my mom about all of this too. As much as she drives me crazy, I want her to be a part of itall.”

“Wow, I didn’t realize you wanted me to stop touching you so badly. Bringing up your mom? Talk about a moodkiller.”

I shook my head and chose to ignore him, continuing to talk since I finally had his attention about what Iwanted.

“I was also thinking about the stylist that’s supposed to come here tomorrow. Can I cancel theappointment?”

“Why would you want to dothat?”

“Well, I thought I could text Ally. I haven’t seen her in a while. If she’s free, I thought maybe she and I could go shopping tomorrow for a dress for Matteo’s grand opening. She probably needs to get one too. And…” I paused, suddenly feelingsheepish.

He looked at mequizzically.

“And what,angel?”

A slow grin spread across my face, the abashed feeling being replaced by unexpectedexcitement.

“We can’t have a wedding if I don’t have a dress,” Iexplained.

“I suppose you’re going to tell me that I can’t go withyou.”

“Of course you can’t go! You’re not allowed to see the dress before the wedding!” I exclaimed, totally aghast at his suggestion. “I’ll just be trying to get ideas anyway. Who knows? I might not even find anything I like. And then there’s the issue of bridesmaids and groomsmen. If we decide to have them, I haven’t really thought about a color scheme. A shopping trip might give me a starting point at the veryleast.”

“You’re rambling, Krystina,” he said and began to laugh. It was a full, throaty sound that was contagious and I found myself laughing aswell.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to get so carriedaway.”

“I don’t mind at all, angel. Your enthusiasm is a welcomed change. But if you insist on shopping without me, I do have onecondition.”

The sudden wave of laughter I had a moment before came to a screeching halt and I immediately sobered. I knew what he was going to say, but I askedanyway.

“What’s yourcondition?”

“Hale and Samuel have to accompanyyou.”

I knew it. So much for a girls’day.

---