Total pages in book: 94
Estimated words: 92140 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 461(@200wpm)___ 369(@250wpm)___ 307(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 92140 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 461(@200wpm)___ 369(@250wpm)___ 307(@300wpm)
“Do you have any friends who’d fill in for you?”
“None that are the right size.”
“What size does the model need to be? Could you fill in?”
“Me?” I shrank back. “No way—I’m strictly behind the scenes.”
“But I’ll be here behind the scenes. And wouldn’t that be better than cutting dresses from the show?” Her eyes lit up and she clapped her hands. “Come on, it will be fun! Remember that fashion show you were in with Dad when you were a kid?”
I laughed. “When I forced him to wear the homemade T-shirt covered with glittery pink and red hearts?”
“Yes!”
“That was the extent of my modeling career, Winnie. I’d probably fall flat on my face walking this runway in wedding gowns.” I frowned and dropped into a chair. “Although I hate to think of those dresses not being in the show—they’re some of my favorite looks. I don’t understand why the agency isn’t getting back to me.” I reached for my phone to try them again, but Winnie took it away from me.
“I think the best plan is to do it yourself. The chances of finding the perfect model last-minute are slim to none, and at least if you fill in yourself, you might have time to do some quick alterations if necessary.”
I chewed the inside of my cheek. “I can’t do them myself. I’d need Diane.”
“Get her on the phone right now.” Winnie handed my cell back to me.
“She’s at the shop,” I said, placing the call. “We’re fully booked with fittings. She might not answer.”
But she did, and she said if I hurried over to the store and put on the dresses in question, she’d see what could be done. She wasn’t sure she could rework all four of the dresses to fit me in time, but she thought at least one or two might be possible.
“Go,” said Winnie. “I’ve got things covered here.”
“Okay. I need to run home and grab some heels and undergarments.” I grabbed my bag and hurried for the door, waving at Winnie. “Call me if you need anything.”
“I will!”
If I hadn’t been so distraught, I’d have noticed the sneaky, satisfied little smile on her face.
ZACH
My cell phone buzzed just after nine a.m., right on schedule. “Yeah?”
“Done,” Winnie said breathlessly. “She just left, and she’s headed over to the shop.”
“And she doesn’t suspect anything?”
“Not a thing. I was very good in my role.” She laughed. “Keeping this scheme a secret was much harder for me than convincing her!”
I laughed. “Thanks for your help.”
“My pleasure. Are things all set with my dad?”
“Yes. He’ll stay out of sight until Felicity gives him the cue. I’ll be the one to tell Felicity when to get him, which I’ll do after you give me the signal.”
“Got it.”
It had been Winnie and Felicity’s idea to involve Mack in the plan, and even though Millie’s dad still made me a little nervous, I went to him and asked if he’d like to take part. I knew how much it would mean to Millie.
It took some convincing from his younger daughters, but eventually he agreed. When he shook my hand that day, he said he was happy for me, and told me he knew his daughter would be in good hands—even if I was a Navy man and not a Marine. “I once told her she deserved the best,” he said, “and I think she found it.”
I’d never forget the morning I met him and Frannie for the first time. It was New Year’s Day, and Millie insisted we attend the usual January first gathering at her parents’ house. I tried not to show it, but I was terrified—this guy, a former Marine, was about to hear that his daughter had fallen for a man closer to his age than hers. How would he take it?
Luckily, after a few sidelong glances and some stiff conversation, he’d warmed up to me. I didn’t blame him for being wary—I wouldn’t trust my daughter to just anyone either, especially if she had a heart like Millie’s, huge and giving. Frannie had been welcoming from the moment we met, and her sisters were great too. Eventually, there was some teasing about the whole situation, but they always did it affectionately.
“Perfect.” Winnie squealed with delight. “I just cannot wait to see her face! This is the best plan ever, and we totally pulled it off!”
“Not yet we didn’t,” I reminded her. “This was only part one. You’re sure that dress she really loves can be done in time?”
“Diane has already been working on it. She pretended to have an issue with a seam the other day and asked Millie to put it on—she says it’s all under control.”
“Good.” I took a deep breath. “I’ll see you later.”
“Okay. And Zach?”
“Yeah?”
“Good luck.”
After we hung up, I went over to my leather laptop bag and pulled out the small hinged box, opening it up to reveal the ring I’d chosen—an Art Deco-inspired style with an emerald cut diamond in the center and two smaller ones on each side, set in shiny platinum. The stones caught the light coming in from the bedroom window and sparkled the way I hoped Millie’s eyes would when she saw it.