Beautiful Rose (Elixir Billionaires #1)

60. Rose

60

ROSE

“Time to go.” Kristy enters the bedroom where I’ve been waiting since the makeup artist left after she was done dolling me up. The bouquet of pink and white roses that my hair stylist gave me—a nice lady with rainbow hair—feels heavy in my hands.

“Kris, thank God you’re here.” I get up and turn around. “There’s something wrong with my dress. It’s itchy.” I put the bouquet on the chair and show her my red palms. “Who made this bouquet? It weighs too much! And this veil is so tight.” I’m about to rip the pinned veil out of my overly tight bun when Kristy grabs my hands.

“Rosie!” Bringing my arms to my sides, she says, “You look lovely.”

Hearing her words, my tense shoulders drop slightly.

“Just breathe.” She squeezes my lace-covered forearms, and I close my eyes before releasing a heavy breath, taking comfort in her familiar touch.

“Nothing is wrong with the dress and veil.” She turns me around to look in the floor-length mirror. The pink roses embroidered on the skirt of my dress shuffle as I shift on my feet. “You’re getting married, Rose.” Her teary eyes meet mine in the mirror as she rests her chin on my shoulder. “Zander is a lucky bastard to have you.”

My eyes meet her watery gaze in the mirror. “You look so pretty.” Dressed in a blush gown with her heavily pregnant belly sticking out, she looks amazing.

“Thank you. But today, no one holds a candle to you.” She adjusts my sapphire earrings, which are a gift from her—also my something blue and something new. Opening her clutch, she takes out Zander’s cherry-red tie.

Any remaining anxiety in my heart ebbs at the sight of it. It’s a tie Zander wore when we first met in the closet, when he declared to a room full of people that I was his girlfriend, and even that morning when he proposed to me.

Wow! How far we’ve come.

“I have your final something—something borrowed. Your fiancé gave it to me.”

A smile breaks on my face, my mood already better. “As much as I love it, I think Clem will kill me if I wear a tie with this dress.”

“She sure will. You and me both.” Kris laughs as she picks up my bouquet and wraps the tie around the stems. She hands it to me and whispers, “The flowers won’t feel heavy anymore.”

We walk down the stairs to find Mom and Dad waiting. Mom has been teary all day. It’s like all her emotions that were bottled up over the years are finally finding an escape.

“You look lovely, my Rose girl.” Dad kisses my cheek and then Kristy’s. “You both do.”

“I’m so happy. I never thought I’d see this day.” Mom removes some invisible lint from the lace covering my shoulder, trying hard to hide her wet eyes.

“Mom—” My throat closes with emotion, but Kristy pulls us away.

“Okay! We’re all happy.” My sister tries to patronize us, but by the way her misty eyes shine, she’s not fooling anyone. “ Come on, Mom, it’s time. Don’t ruin your makeup, or Rose’s.” She leads Mom to the backyard where the wedding ceremony will take place.

Minutes later, beautiful piano notes flow, and that’s our cue. Dad puts my hand over his arm. “I’m so proud of you, my baby.”

My throat constricts at his words. I never imagined my wedding day would be filled with this much love—a doting mom, a dependable sister, and an affectionate father. And the man waiting for me beyond these doors.

A teardrop rolls down my cheek, and Dad quickly takes his handkerchief out. “Time for tears is over. There are only smiles from now on.”

He leads me to the backyard, where Zander is waiting for me under the gazebo. On his left stand Zach and Zane, his two best men. On my side is Kristy, smiling and holding a bouquet of blue and lavender roses from our garden.

My mom sits at the piano, playing the song that was played at her own wedding. Tears run down her cheeks, but she doesn’t miss a note. Dad’s strong but trembling hand guides me through our guests—Lukas, Oscar, and Clementine, with other members of the Hawthorne family; my previous landlord, Mr. Hart, and his wife; and a few of Zander’s acquaintances.

Everyone greets us with smiles as we reach the altar.

Reverend Marsh says something, but I only have eyes for my groom. Warmth spreads from my heart through every part of my body at the sight of the most handsome man. My man.

Zander blinks rapidly as if he can’t believe it’s me. That makes two of us.

His hand rises, and he brings it closer to his heart. But as soon as he realizes we aren’t alone but in front of guests who are eagerly looking at us, his demeanor changes. He stands tall before fixing his cherry-colored bowtie. Tilting his head to the side, he grins at me and whispers, “I love you, Mrs. Teager.”

“Yes, Mr. Teager, we are all very aware of that fact. Let’s get you and Ms. Marlin-Miller married so that she can officially hold that title.”

Loud chuckles fill the space after hearing Reverend Marsh’s words.

In a daze, we say our “I do’s,” as we already decided to forego vows. Zander has promised and done so much for me since we met, that today, on our wedding day, I don’t want any new vows. We have a lifetime to say and fulfill our promises. I don’t need the presence of a reverend to know that Zander will hold on to his every word.

“How are you feeling, Mrs. Teager?” Zander whispers in my ear as he sways me in his arms.

“Amazing!” My head rests over his chest, and I look around the dance floor. Most of the guests are gone, and we’re left with just family.

Kristy is trying hard to dance with Charlie, but it’s a struggle due to their height difference and her swollen belly.

Mom’s head rests on Dad’s chest as they sway to the music like us. She blows me a kiss, and I smile.

In the center of the dance floor, Zach and Zane exhibit a perfect waltz. My lips pull up, and my insides shake as I suppress my growing laughter. But they dance effortlessly, their stoic gazes never leaving each other’s faces.

“I’m just waiting for them to crack.” Zander chuckles, watching his brothers’ theatrics.

“I don’t know. They look pretty serious to me.” I clamp my lips tight, swallowing my laugh.

Zander’s hands stroke my arms, pulling me closer. “I love your dress. ”

I look down at the perfection Clementine made for me. Pink embroidered roses adorn my mom’s wedding dress, altered to fit me and my taste.

“Shall we go inside?” Zander whispers in my ear.

“But we still have company!”

“They’ll all understand. Come on.” He pulls me toward the house, and when I look back, Kristy waves at me before giving me a thumbs-up.

Zander grabs my waist, halting my steps from walking inside through the back door of the house. Before I can ask him why, he throws me over his shoulder. “Time to officially walk my bride over the threshold.”

“Yeah, you don’t sound like a caveman at all!” I giggle as he passes by our living room and takes the stairs with me still over his shoulder.

Throwing me on the bed, Zander smirks. “I’m one hundred percent okay being a caveman, Mrs. Teager.”

I shake my head. This man will never get tired of calling me that.

“I have a gift for you,” he says, placing his tux jacket on the couch before removing his cufflinks.

Immediately, I sit upright, my perpetual smile dropping. “Zander, we said no gifts except these.” I hold up my hand, showing him my pretty wedding band.

“It’s something else, couch girl.” He’s already pulling his shirt out of his pants.

I don’t understand. His actions and words make no sense. Except for last night, when Kristy dragged me to her place, we’ve spent all of our nights together this past week. I mean, I do believe Zander is a gift in bed, but I already have that.

“It’s not sex, my lovely wife.” He smirks before yanking the shirt from his body.

Holy crab! My husband is hot.

I’m still drooling over his broad chest when he turns around. My gaze instantly slides to the shiny transparent bandage over his shoulders. It takes me a second to realize what’s different.

I suck in a deep breath at the sight of the small red roses on his tattoo where there used to be blood drops. There are even some small leaves drawn in black ink.

My hands skim over my wrists, hunting for some fabric to tug, but unfortunately, my wedding dress doesn’t have cuffs.

Zander looks at me over his shoulder. When he finds me scratching my wrists, he settles next to me and grabs my hands, halting my movements.

“What did you do?” My voice trembles, and it’s a task to force the words out around my constricting throat.

“A rose is now the most beautiful part of my life.” Zander opens my fists, and his fingers lightly graze my palms, effectively distracting me.

“When did you do this?” I nod toward his back, my pulse still wild.

“Yesterday morning when you were out with your mom and Kristy.” He caresses my cheek with the back of his thumb, and I can’t stop the tear that rolls down my face.

“I’m so scared, Zander.” My chest tightens with fear, and suddenly I’m ice cold. Zander presses kisses over my palms, silently urging me to continue. “I can’t believe there’s so much happiness and love in my life. I fear that this is a dream.”

“This is as real as it gets, couch girl.” He presses his lips to mine, savoring me.

I hold on to him like always and forever is now.