4. Ryder
Hush Now - VOILA
Stepping into the dress shop was a risk, but it was a risk I was willing to take. Superstitions don’t exist when the marriage is arranged, right? The image of Devina Sullivan invaded my mind for most of the night. I wasn’t planning on meeting her face to face, but I did have the overwhelming need to see her in person.
First thing this morning, I set this appointment and sent Declan a message to have her here. He didn’t respond, but I’m glad he followed my instructions.
I was greeted by the shop owner and informed her that I would be waiting for my fiance to select a dress.
“I promise I won’t look,” I assured her, “I just can’t stay away from her. Please keep this between us.” I gave her my best smile and a wink.
She gave me a conspiratorial look and gestured for me to have a seat in the unoccupied lobby behind the fitting area.
“It’s OK, it doesn’t hurt.” A velvety voice carries through the small shop. My thoughts pause. My pulse races. Devina.
I consider peering around the wall to see her, but something stops me. Moments later Penny comes back to check on me.
“Everything going well?” I quietly ask my co-conspirator.
“The poor dear. I don’t mean to pry, but she seems a little self-conscious about displaying her arms.” I tilt my head wondering what she is referring to. “But not to worry, sir, she will find the perfect dress.”
“Thank you, please let me know when she is done and I’ll settle the tab.” I take a seat again.
She nearly swoons. “Lucky girl!” She scurries back to the viewing room.
Watching her leave, I can’t help myself. I peek around the corner. I catch her as she drops the hair she was holding. Soft, copper and gold tresses cascade around her shoulders. From this angle, I can see her, but I’m sure she can’t see me. She stares at herself in the mirror. I wonder if she feels as stunning as I think she is.
She says something about a dress with sleeves. I can’t focus, I’m overwhelmed by the beauty that the photograph didn’t portray accurately at all. She is truly a vision. And she will be mine. She turns right to exit and I duck back behind the wall. She walks past me as I press myself against the wall.
My phone vibrates in my pocket and I let Penny know I’ll be back in a moment before heading outside to take the call.
“What is it, Luca?” I would be irritated, but I shouldn’t be here anyway.
“Declan sent over the final paperwork. I’m sending the funds. You sure you want to go through with this right?” Luca is the youngest of us and of the four of us, he’s by far the most reserved.
“Send it. I have to go. I’ll meet you at the office in an hour.”
I hang up and sneak back in.
“Look, I love the last one, but if I’m not wearing that, I don’t really have a preference…” She’s only feet away from me at the counter and I have to duck behind a rack to not be seen.
Penny tells her she will send the finalized dress to her address and she makes her way out of the store.
“What was that about?” I ask Penny as I make my way to the front counter.
“It seems your bride is a little self-conscious about showing her arms, Mr. . . .” she trails off.
“Totaro. Mr. Totaro.” I look at the dresses that have been hung on the rack next to her. They are not nearly as glamorous as the dress I saw Devina wearing moments ago.
“I can assure you, she will still be a beautiful bride, but I wish she would have picked the last dress. She was stunning.” She sighs.
“Penny, I know there is a quick turnaround on this, but how fast can you add sleeves to the dress she tried on last? I’ll pay whatever it costs. Just let me leave a note so she isn’t too upset,” I say, pulling a wad of cash from my suit pocket.
“Well, I’m sure I can put something together,” she beams, “What a lucky girl she is to have a man who loves her this much.”
“You have no idea.” I smile and count out the total before thanking her again and heading out.
Every ounce of me wants Declan to pay for what he did, but being within a foot of Devina Sullivan rocked me to my core in a way that I can’t quite explain. Her striking green eyes, her sultry voice, and the scent of birch wood and lavender that lingered in the shop after she left. It was all more than I was prepared for. The combination made me want to reach out and touch her.
The plan was simple. Marry Devina. Make her fall in love with me. Make her sign over her shares of the company. Put a bullet between her eyes. With the Sullivans in my pocket and my father out of the picture, we’ll be unstoppable. We’ll own this city. In doing so, we’ll start taking out the trash that has been making its way past our borders and legitimize more of the unsavory parts of this business.
I pride myself on my ability to obtain whatever I set my mind to. In this case, it’s Ms. Sullivan. But as I leave the store and head to the office, the idea of keeping her for my entertainment and pleasure is becoming more enticing than anything. Fortunately, once this arrangement is sealed with a kiss next week, I’ll have plenty of time to decide what to do with her and to her.