Page 106 of Accidentally, Scandalously Yours

“I’m canceling our breakfast tomorrow morning,” he growls when he’s done with me. “You won’t have gotten enough sleep to even think about getting up for breakfast.” He lets me go. “I’ll have a quick shower and then I’ll let Mom and Dad know there’s been a crisis. You take your time, and if I even sense you’re not ready when you join us, I’ll put you over my shoulder and bring you back in here to finish getting ready.” A dark look passes over his face. “And if I ever meet that neighbor of yours, she’ll wish I hadn’t.”

After he leaves me, I spend precious minutes I don’t have thinking about what our relationship would have been like if we’d found our way to each other sooner. I wonder if we would have been as right for each other when we were younger as we are now. I’ll never know but I think maybe our timing wasn’t always off; I think maybe it was perfect.

Jenna takes longer than she predicted to get here, flying into the bedroom with the dress ten minutes after Bradford finished showering and dressing. “I’m so sorry I took so long! Traffic was horrendous.”

She makes quick work of unzipping the garment bag and helping me into the dress. It’s a strapless red dress with a fitted bodice that’s adorned with floral lace applique. The long A-line skirt is made from layers of glitter tulle that float around me and make me feel like a princess.

“You look beautiful,” Jenna says from behind me as she finishes fitting the dress. “I’m actually glad the other dress was misplaced. This one is just perfect for you.”

I agree and I think about how she helped me today, and about how she always helps me. “Thank you, Jenna.”

She stops what she’s doing and smiles. “You don’t need to thank me, Kris. I just want—”

“No.” I place my hand on her arm. “Thank you for everything you’ve ever done for me. I couldn’t have asked for a better sister. And I know we weren’t always close because I held myself back, but I’m so grateful that we found our way here. I would not get through life without you, and I want you to know that.”

Tears shimmer in her eyes by the time I finish speaking, which causes my own tears to threaten. At my wide eyes, because makeup!, she flutters her hands in front of her eyes to stop herself from crying. “Sorry! No crying!”

I fan my face too. “No crying. I cannot keep Bradford’s parents waiting all night.”

Once we’ve got ourselves under control, she says, “I hate how you got here, but I love that we’re here too.” We spend another few moments just silently watching each other with our hearts wide open before she says, “Okay, I’m gonna go and let you wow Bradford’s family.” She gives me a huge smile. “I am so happy for you, Kris. And I expect updates throughout the night.”

I’m not sure why Jenna thinks I will even come close to wowing Bradford’s family but I adore her belief in me.

By the time I join Bradford and his family in the grand salon, I’ve kept them waiting for almost an hour. You wouldn’t know it, though, because they all greet me like I’ve arrived exactly when I should have.

Bradford’s mother is elegant and so beautiful with her high cheekbones, long shiny brunette hair, wide green eyes, and porcelain skin that makes her look barely a day over fifty even though I know she’s fifty-eight.

She smiles the minute she sees me and comes my way. “Kristen,” she says when she reaches me. “I’m so happy to meet you. I’m Ingrid.” She glances around at her sons who are talking with their father. “And these are my boys, but I suspect we’ll have a few minutes to chat before they finish discussing the skiing trip they’re planning for next month.” She smiles again. “I don’t know if you’ve spent much time talking about skiing with Bradford, but all my boys could talk for days straight about anything that involves the outdoors. Their father took them on camping trips a few times a year while they were growing up and they all take after him with his love of being out in nature.”

I suddenly realize why I’ve been so nervous about tonight. I was worried that all Ingrid would see when she looked at me is my mother. The woman her husband cheated on her with. But I don’t think that’s the case. The sparkle in her eyes and the genuine interest radiating from her makes me think she truly wants to welcome me into her family.

Her warmth puts me at ease and I return her smile. “Bradford’s told me about some of those trips but we haven’t really talked about his love of skiing yet. I have so much still to learn about him.”

“You’ve got forever to learn it all,” she says softly before admiring my dress. “This dress is gorgeous. Where did you get it?”

I look down at the dress at the same time Bradford appears by my side. “My sister is a stylist. She borrowed it for me, so I’m not sure where it’s from.” When I look up again, I find Bradford’s gaze on my dress and I decide that I need to buy it. My husband likes it alot.

“She’s good at her job,” Ingrid says. “It’s like that dress was made for you.”

The heat Bradford’s eyes meet mine with say he agrees.

I’m flummoxed by the desire he’s looking at me with while trying to navigate this meeting with his mother. My bad girl is fighting to be let loose and he really needs to stop looking at me like that.

“Yes,” I say to Ingrid, while making eyes at her son that saystop it. “She’s amazing at her job.”

Bradford slides his arm around me, resting his hand on my hip. His scent engulfs me and I make a mental note to tell him never to wear it when I need to stay focused. I also make a note to tell him not to stroke my hip like he is when I’m standing in front of his mother.

“You look beautiful,” he says.

“Thank you.” I lean into him and kiss his cheek but what I’m really doing is whispering against his ear, “If you don’t stop, there will be no hiking tonight.”

“So,” Ingrid says, glancing between us as Bradford’s mouth quirks, “Bradford told me he met you nearly a decade ago at a rooftop party you both gatecrashed.”

“Yes,” I say as he lets me go and finally stops scrambling my brain. “Did he tell you he carried me home that night on his back because my glass slippers were killing my feet?”

She laughs. “He did not. Do you still own those glass slippers?”

“No.”

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