Chapter 21
Chapter Twenty-One
CANDY
Istare at myself in the mirror and do a small sway to watch how the dress moves. The white satin is the softest thing I have ever worn. The woman who stares back at me radiates sophistication in a way I never thought would be me. It's romantic too; it reminds me a bit of a wedding dress.
The skirt cascades down with a touch of volume to it.
It’s why I keep swaying back and forth to watch it move.
Not to mention the discreet side pockets.
The top part is strapless, but it's secured by some inner structure that's way too fancy for me to understand.
I do know it's perfect and allows for my baby bump to show.
I rest my hand on it, the light hitting my ring.
I truly do feel like a princess in a fairy tale.
"Candy." I turn at the sound of my name to see Hollis.
"I've turned vain. I can't stop staring in this mirror." I laugh.
"I don't blame you." Hollis makes his way over to me, wrapping his arms around me while laying a kiss on my neck. “You’re stunning. A vision.” His eyes meet mine in the mirror.
“Thank you.” I feel myself start to blush and glance down.
“None of that.” He kisses my shoulder before turning me in his arms. "You have no reason to look away. You are stunning. Anyone who disagrees would have to be blind."
"Thank you," I say again. "I'm a little nervous," I admit.
"If you don't want to go, we could ditch and—"
"I'm going," I cut him off, making him smirk. "It's a good kind of nervous. Not one I'm dreading. I want everyone to like me."
When I went with Max to events, I was only worried I'd make a fool of myself and upset him.
I hadn't actually cared what his college friends or whatever you want to call them thought of me.
Most of them were rude and turned their nose up at anyone they didn't think met their standards.
I didn't want to meet them if it meant being like them. Always rude to the staff and so on.
"Everyone adores you already. Except maybe the sheriff." I press my lips together. "Do you know anything about that?" I shake my head no. "You didn't try to frame him for a crime he didn't commit?"
"I don't know what you're talking about, and maybe I need a lawyer." Hollis lets out a low chuckle.
"I think you're already fitting in just fine."
"I love everyone here. Check out my nails. Tins—" I cut myself off this time. “I, uh, did them myself." They're sparkly gold.
"I wouldn't bust Tinsley for her rogue traveling nail service."
"She's adorable."
"She's also a master of mischief; she clocks in that adorableness."
"I can see that." We had so much fun at the salon together.
"Now, are you ready?" he asks. "Guests are already arriving."
"I think so." Hollis leans down, pressing a kiss to my lips as he slips his hand into mine, linking our fingers together.
"I'm ready to show my fiancée off." Hollis leads me out of the bedroom and down the hallway to the stairs, where I can see the party is in full swing already.
The entry is full of people lingering and taking their coats off while getting the drinks we have set out at the entrance.
My eyes meet with Kindred's, who winks at me as we come down the stairs. She is sipping a glass of champagne. I see the sheriff not far from her. He’s not staring at her but everyone around her.
Before my foot hits the bottom step, Mary is there. “You look like a winter princess,” she gushes.
“Queen,” Hollis corrects her sweetly, making his mom smile bigger.
“And I might also say a bride.” I’m not shocked she’s quick to add that one.
"Thank you," I tell her.
"Come, you have to see everything. It was perfect before, obviously, because we're the best at making a party."
"Obviously," I laugh.
"But seeing people enjoying it adds to it."
"You're taking her from me already?" Hollis is almost pouting.
"You're the mayor. You have to mingle. I'll bring her back."
"Fine." He lets out a deep breath. His hand comes to my chin, tilting my head back. "Don't go far."
"You think I'm going to the moon?"
"Even twenty feet can be unbearable." I snort a laugh, but his face remains serious. I swear he can be ridiculous but in the sweetest of ways. I don't think he's possessive because he wants to control me. Hollis wants me close because he simply wants me.
"Not far," I agree. Hollis leans down, giving me a deep kiss. For a moment I forget we're surrounded by people. He has that effect on me. It can be rather freeing. The whole world melts away, and it is only the two of us. All my problems are gone.
When he lifts his head, I have to suck in a few gulps of air. "That was naughty."
"He's already on that list, honey," his mom jokes.
"Take care of her," Hollis tells her. She rolls her eyes at him before taking me with her.
"If anyone thought you were single and hadn't heard the news, they know now."
"I think the whole town knows. I heard there were emails."
"That, and there are people from the city here too."
"Really?"
"Yes, he invited some associates from his old life, and all were eager to come. People have been wondering about him. Nosy shits wanting to see if he's had a downfall or is living it up."
“They are stupid if they ever thought there would be a downfall of Hollis.”
“This is true. Besides, there is only one thing that could be his downfall.” Mary turns toward me, giving me a pointed look. “You.”
“I don’t want to be his downfall.” That sounds ominous. I only want the best for Hollis, whether I’m in his life or not. He might be a grump at times to people, so I’ve heard, but I’ve never borne witness to that side of him myself. As far as I’m concerned, he’s a good man to his core.
“No, I don’t think you will,” Mary says with such confidence.
“I think you’re going to be his salvation.
You brought him back to life. He’s just been going through the motions since the accident.
I think he only took on being the mayor to keep himself busy.
When you’re busy, you don’t have time to doubt or long for things. ”
“This is true.” That’s how it had been for me in college. I was working, going to classes, or studying.
“Now, let’s introduce you to people and eat some of these hors d'oeuvres." Mary snatches a skewer off a passing tray, handing it to me, and then takes one for herself.
"We really nailed the food," I say, taking a second bite of mine. As I glance around the living room area, I see that she was right.
The party really brings everything to life. There isn't an inch of this place that's not coated in some kind of Christmas décor. Each room even has its own theme. This one is a winter wonderland.
Mary leads me around, introducing me to people. She wasn’t lying when she said there were going to be a bunch of people from the city here. A few of them appear vaguely familiar, and I wonder if I met them at a past event with Max.
"Precious girl" I hear said behind me before arms are wrapped around me. Hollis places a kiss on my bare shoulder. "How are you doing?"
"Perfect," I tell him. He turns me in his arms.
"Are you sure?" Hollis searches my face.
"What?" I drop my voice. "Was I fidgeting?"
"No." His brows pull together. "Not at the moment. But when you do it, it's rather adorable."
"Really?"
"It's sweet innocence. There is nothing wrong with it if that's what helps you. But it also gives me a clue on how you're feeling so that I can fix it." If I had any lingering effects of the years of Max's comments, this would wash them all away.
"You’re my everything, Hollis," I blurt out before I can think about what I'm saying.
“Candy—”
“It popped out.” His hands cup my face, and he leans down close.
“Good.” His eyes stay intently fixed on mine. “I want to be your everything and more. I wish I could take you upstairs and ravish you.” He drops his forehead to mine. “But it will have to wait.”
“I’m okay with that,” I tell him. “It’s not as though we’ve had to wait for much else in this relationship.” A deep, sexy chuckle rumbles from him.
"Maybe for you, but it's been a lifetime for me."
"Hollis," I whisper. "You're making it harder for me not to lure you upstairs."
"You wouldn't have to try hard." He kisses the tip of my nose. "But there are still plans for this evening, and I'm stealing you back from Mom. The music has started in the library, and I want to dance with my fiancée."
“Yes, please. I’ve yet to see that room fully done.” We had to have a lot of furniture removed from the house so that there was room for people to mingle. Hollis pulls me close as he leads us toward the library.
A few people try to stop us, but Hollis tells them he's taking his fiancée for a dance. I love the way the word "fiancée" sounds each time one of us says it. I can't imagine how I'll be when he calls me his wife.
I'd picked the theme for the library. Well, I had a hand in them all, really. Both Mary and Polly insisted I had to add touches to each of them, saying over and over again that this was my home now too. Everyone has gone out of their way to be so kind and make me feel accepted and welcomed.
I chose to have a woodsy, rustic feel for the library.
I thought that would fit. There are floor-to-ceiling wooden bookcases that wrap around the whole room.
We were able to wrap garland and white Christmas lights everywhere.
They are even on the ceiling, making it appear as though you are in a forest looking up at the sky.
Earlier, when I went upstairs to change and get ready, they were pulling out the last of the furniture in the library to lay down the dance floor. I don't think Mary was far off the mark when she told me that we weren't far from a wedding with all the details we'd put in for this holiday party.
The more she talks about a wedding and the more I get to know everyone in town, the more I find myself wanting one. I'd never given it much thought before.
"Is that a harp?" I ask. It's a silly question because I can see it. The rich chords fill the room. It's warm and soothing, giving the library a fairy tale-like quality to it now.
"You told me about how you loved to eat outside of the music hall at school to listen to them play, and the harp was always your favorite." It's true, and it was such an offhanded thing I must have said to him because I don't recall doing it. "Can I have this dance?" he asks.
The room is filled with people, but no one is on the dance floor yet. "Can we?"
"We can do anything you want, precious girl, but no one will dance until we do."
"Really?"
"Yes." He leads me onto the dance floor, and the song changes. Hollis pulls me close. I know everyone is watching, and it doesn’t bother me one bit. I don’t feel the sense of being awkward or out of place. I know this is right where I belong.