Of Water and Madness (9 page)

“Okay.” He nodded, still smiling.

But when she stepped out of the dressing room and into full view, his grin faded and his eyes widened.

“Wow,” he managed, sitting up to focus on her. “Seriously, Rhia. Wow.”

She bit her lip skeptically and spun around so he could see the whole thing, all the while examining herself critically in the tall mirrors that covered the walls.

“I don’t know, I think it may be a bit too long in the back. It should probably be taken up a few inches, and definitely taken in a bit at the waist…”

He was already rising to his feet as she continued to critique the dress, unable to take his eyes off her. He thought of the ring that was still tucked away safely in his pocket, and the desire to give it to her then and there washed over him in one all encompassing wave. But he pushed the feeling aside, knowing there would be more opportune moments to come…

The dress was made of dusty rose colored silk, and fell long to her feet. It hugged the slender curves of her hips and cinched in at her waist, tied back with an elegant oversized bow at the back. The bodice was v-necked and hung seductively low, with thin straps hanging on her shoulders. She’d swept up her dark hair with a clip on top of her head, revealing the smooth curve of her neck and the arch of her back.

Though she hadn’t stopped talking, he stepped toward her and spun her around, capturing her mouth with his and cutting off her words instantly. She gave in, a burst of surprised pleasure coursing through her.

When he pulled away, he eyed her seriously. “If you don’t get this dress, I might have to kill myself.”

She laughed and laid her head against his shoulder, curling into him as his arms came around her.

“I guess I’ll be getting it then.” She looked up at him and smiled. “I wouldn’t want to have to explain to your father why you couldn’t stand to live anymore.”

“Trust me, if he could see you right now, he’d completely understand.” He grinned and kissed her again, his hands trailing down along her sides. She shivered beneath his touch and deepened the kiss as his hands made their way seductively to the open back of the dress.

“Ew, God, get a room,” Blythe groaned, coming out of her dressing room and immediately covering her eyes as Liam and Rhiannon separated.

Capri came out at the same time, but what she saw had happy tears coming into her eyes.

“You guys are so perfect,” she sighed, clasping her hands together with a bright smile.

But they were all suddenly staring in silent reverence at the gown Capri was wearing, which was the same one from the window display. It had a full tulle skirt graced with tiny white flowers, and a heart shaped, strapless bodice with a scattering of tiny pearls and more flowers on it.

Liam couldn’t hold back a smile, and he was touched by the purity of her, the quiet loveliness that only she could capture with such grace.

“You look beautiful,” he told her, walking over to kiss her on the cheek. “Rian’s not going to know what hit him.”

Capri blushed, brushing at the full skirt nervously. “Really? You guys like it?”

“Honey, you look like a dream.” Blythe had to brush back the tears in her eyes as she walked over to hug Capri. “It’s so perfect for you. I knew it the moment I saw it.”

“I feel very...pretty.” Capri laughed, turning around to look in the mirror. “Do you like it, Rhiannon?”

Rhiannon watched her friend and had to fight back the urge to cry. “It looks like it was made for you,” she said serenely, resting her hand on Capri’s shoulder as their eyes in the mirror. “I guess I should cancel our appointments at the other bridal stores.”

“Yeah, I’m happy with this dress,” Blythe said suddenly, twirling around to showcase the knee length dress made of the same dusty rose silk. It was strapless and whimsical, with a flower made of the same silk material pinned to the middle of the bodice. “Are you happy with yours, Rhiannon?”

Rhiannon nodded, and Capri reached out to wrap an arm around each of the girls. “We all look beautiful. Right, Liam?”

They all turned to look at him, each smiling in their own unique way, and he felt his heart fill with love for all of them. Capri with her quiet, caring nature and dry humor. Blythe, wild and restless but loyal to the bone, always ready to fight for what was right. And Rhiannon…serious natured but generous and kind, with a backbone made of steel and a sharply intelligent mind.

They were his family and he loved all of them.

And seeing the three of them, standing together with their arms around each other and smiles on their faces, he couldn’t help but feel both pride and relief that they were no longer divided. Those days were in the past and all they had left was what would hopefully be a bright and glorious future.

“I have never seen three more beautiful women in all my life.” He tucked his hands into his pockets and grinned at them. “So, do I get to try on tuxes now and have you girls fawn over me?”

Blythe rolled her eyes but laughed all the same. “Sure, if that’s what you want. Now come on, we gotta get shoes and jewelry and then we can hit up the tux section for you.”

While Blythe and Capri spoke with Eileen about accessories, Liam reached for Rhiannon’s hand and kissed it, eyeing her suggestively.

“You know, since Eileen is so busy, maybe I could come on in there and help you out of this dress,” he murmured, kissing her hand again before straightening and pulling her against him. “Whaddya say?”

She pursed her lips and frowned in Eileen’s direction. “I’m almost certain that’s a violation of store policy. We wouldn’t want them to kick us out.”

“No, I guess we wouldn’t.” He leaned in to kiss her nose playfully. “Well, then I fully expect you to slip into this thing the moment we get home so I can get you right back out of it again.”

She laughed and smiled up at him, one eyebrow cocked questioningly. “And if I say no?”

Humor flashed with the desire in his eyes. “I can be very persuasive.”

After the shopping was complete, they treated themselves to a late lunch at an elegant café, which according to Rhiannon’s carefully studied research, was one of the most popular spots in town. And Liam had to admit, it had great atmosphere.

The entire place was decorated like a Parisian café, with lush pink flowers hanging from baskets on the walls and wrought iron adorning the tables, chairs, and fencing in the outdoor patio. Well worn rustic tiles the color of sand laid on the floor, and a live band played soothing piano and violin in the corner.

They sat at a round table beneath a rustic chandelier with dripping crystals that caught the light, surrounded by people happily chattering away while they feasted on exquisite French cuisine.

Liam scanned the menu, passing over any item with a name he couldn’t understand. Settling on a sandwich, he ordered a beer to go with it and sat back to enjoy himself.

“I don’t know….” Capri was saying, eyeing the glass of champagne Blythe was forcing on her apprehensively. “We still have to get back to Central Park, and I don’t think me being drunk is going to help any.”

Blythe snorted out a laugh and shoved the glass into Capri’s hand. “Worse comes to worse, Liam will carry you. Now drink up and enjoy yourself, this is your day.”

Capri shot an embarrassed glance at Liam. “I won’t do that to you.”

He only grinned. “As long as I don’t have to carry more than one of you at a time, I’ll be fine.”

She still didn’t look convinced, but took a tentative sip of the champagne anyway. The bubbles burst on her tongue as she swallowed, and she took another quick sip before setting down the glass on the table. “Champagne has grown on me. I really didn’t like it at first.”

“Your tastes are more refined now,” Rhiannon said, taking a sip from her own glass.

“I still prefer beer, but because we’re celebrating getting our dresses I’ll stick with the bubbly.” Blythe downed her glass and grinned. “So, who wants to hear my plan to get Brogan laid?”

At Blythe’s words, Rhiannon started choking on her champagne, coughing into her hand as Liam patted her back and laughed at Blythe.

“What’s this, now?” he asked, rubbing Rhiannon’s back as the coughing fit subsided. She glared at Blythe with watery eyes, unsure if she was amused or mortified.

Blythe simply grinned. “Well, now that we’re getting along or whatever, I figured it was my step-sisterly duty to help him out. I don’t think he gets to meet too many people, and Jax knows some good girls down in Texas that I got to meet when I was there recently. I think there’s one or two of them that he might click with.”

“I don’t think Brogan would appreciate you playing matchmaker,” Rhiannon began, shaking her head and fearing for her quiet, good natured friend. “He’s very shy, I don’t know if he could handle you springing some girl on him.”

Blythe waved the thought away. “He’ll be fine. Besides, he’s gonna have to put himself out there eventually.”

Rhiannon looked momentarily stumped, and Liam had a feeling that she agreed with Blythe at least on that part. He shifted his gaze to Capri, who was sitting between the two other girls, glancing curiously from one to the other.

“I think it could do him some good. He’s gotta break out of his shell at some point,” Liam added, absorbing the skeptical look Rhiannon sent his way.

“I don’t know.” Rhiannon took a deep breath and let it out, working through all the angles of it in her head. “Maybe you should let me talk to him first. I think he’d be more willing to go along with this if I present the idea.”

“Good point,” Blythe conceded as the waiter came by to refill her champagne glass. Lifting it up for a toast, she smiled to all of them. “To working together for the first time in fifteen years.”

Rhiannon laughed, shaking her head as she held up her glass as well. “To working together, period.”

Liam sipped his beer and watched his fellow Dryads talking, laughing, and enjoying themselves in each other’s company. Just how long had he waited for moments like this? Too long, he thought regretfully. But now, everything was so perfect that it appeared as though nothing could destroy the peace they had finally found.

If only he had known then just how wrong he was.

As the days
went by, everyone was more preoccupied with the upcoming wedding than with thoughts of Dante. Liam was certain it was because it had been over two weeks without any real update on his whereabouts and therefore many of them simply brushed Dante’s threat off as nothing more than empty words.