Page 21 of Theo
I walked halfway up the stairs."Lacey!Lacey, c'mon.Let's blow this mausoleum!"
"What the hell is going on here!"a woman shouted from the top of the stairs.Something told me I was looking at the mother-in-law.She looked venomous as she stared down at me.
"I'm here for Lacey."
TWELVE
LACEY
My mom's fingers trembled as she helped me put on the diamond necklace."Mom, it's all right.I'm pretty sure you can't break them."
"I want to make sure the clasp is tight."
"I think I'd notice if they slipped off."I lifted the necklace off my chest."It must weigh three pounds."I'd opted for a plunging neckline, but no one would notice the neckline now because it was filled with sparkling diamonds.I was pretty sure people wouldn't even notice the bride beneath the strands of diamonds glittering under the lights.
Mom leaned back and looked at me.For the hundredth time, tears filled her eyes."You're so beautiful, sweetheart."
"Thanks, Mom."
Concern creased her brow, and she took my hand."It's just the jitters.You'll feel better once the ceremony is over."
"Lacey!Let's go."A deep, familiar voice called up the stairs.
Mom's eyes rounded."Who on earth is that?"
"Uh, I'm not sure," I said, but I knew damn well who it was.The long, silky train of my dress flowed behind me as I hurried out the door.
"Your dress, sweetie.No one should see it!"Mom called.
I reached the landing.Joan was standing at the top, speaking angrily into her phone.I was sure the police were on the other end.And there in the middle of the massive staircase stood the boy who'd stolen my heart in high school.Heck, he stole it long before that.As I looked down at Theo Stone with his thick, dark blonde hair and dark brown eyes, I realized he'd never given it back.He'd always made my knees weak and standing just feet from him again, they were pure jelly.
"Theo."It was the only word that came out.
George and a few of the brutish looking security personnel were standing a few steps below, trying to decide how to handle this without causing a spectacle in front of the wedding guests.Theo's brother, Cormac, and his cousin, Crusoe, were standing at the bottom of the stairs, looking ready to jump in if needed.
"The police are on their way," Joan said sharply.She shot me a menacing glower."Friends of yours, I suppose," she said with disgust.
"Oh my," Mom said behind me.Dad came out from the crowd, too.He stayed at the bottom of the stairs.Cormac nodded politely at him, but Dad didn't return the greeting.
"C'mon, Ace, this isn't for you."Theo walked up a few more steps.George and his guards did the same.And then the strangest thing happened.I was surrounded by people, everyone staring up at me, but they all faded away and for a brief moment, it was just me and the boy I'd loved for what felt like my whole life.
Theo ignored them too, even though I knew we were just seconds from the security team grabbing all three Stones and removing them from the property.He held out his hand."I'm serious, Lacey.You belong with me.We've always belonged together."
"Come now, Theo, why don't you three boys go before you get into trouble," Mom said.
"So, you know these hoodlums, too?"Joan asked sharply.
"I've known them since they were babies, and they're good boys.They're not hoodlums," Mom spoke back just as sharply, and if my heart and mind hadn't been in an utter state of turmoil, I would have turned around and hugged her.
"All right.That's enough.You're going to be escorted off the property and held until the police arrive," George said sternly.He was always good at keeping his composure.It was part of his surgeon's training, but his voice cracked just enough to let me know he was worried.
"Lacey, go back to the room.You should never have come out."His order made me bristle.
One of the guards moved up to the step below Theo.
"Uh, you don't want to get any closer," Cormac called from below.He plastered on a smug grin."Trust me."
The guard actually seemed to take pause from Cormac's warning.
