Filed to story: Submitting to My Bestie’s Daddy Read Online >>???
Olivia, Dahlia, and Mia were snacking on cheese and crackers and sipping sparkling wine while they watched the show I was putting on.
I was relieved to see that they were having so much fun. I had been a little worried that the outing would be boring for them. It seemed like Mia had won them over just as quickly as she had won me over.
None of the bridal gowns stood out above the rest, so we moved on to the evening gowns.
The first few were too simple. We all agreed that they would blend in with the guests’ dresses.
I was feeling discouraged. We were almost through all of the dresses, and we hadn’t found any that felt right. The shop attendant handed me a long, silky black evening gown. I put it on and looked into the mirror. It was very flattering, and I knew that Tallon would find it sexy.
I walked out to show the others.
“That’s sexy,” Dahlia said. “Very edgy and cool!”
“It’s still a wedding. We don’t want to jinx anything,” Olivia pointed out.
“That’s true,” Mia said. “It’s bad luck.”
I sighed. “I guess you’re right,” I agreed.
There was only one dress left to try. I tried not to let on how disappointed I was when I went back into the dressing room.
It was a strapless, A-line evening gown with red embroidery along the top of the bodice and the bottom of the skirt. Once I had it on, the moment I looked into the mirror, I felt my eyes well with tears. I twirled around and couldn’t keep my eyes off the mirror. The way it swayed around me was perfect. I could picture the way it would like on the dance floor, and a thrill of excitement passed through me.
I still had to show the others, but I was pretty sure this was the dress.
The colors were a subtle nod to Russia, but it wasn’t a traditional choice at all.
The shop attendant could see the excitement on my face.
“I know that look,” she said kindly. “Let’s go show them.”
I nodded enthusiastically and followed her out to the viewing area. Before I stepped into sight, the shop attendant stopped me.
She stepped out and said, “Can I have everyone close their eyes for a moment?”
“Oh, that’s promising,” Olivia said as she set her wine glass aside and put her hands over her eyes. Dahlia squealed in excitement and did the same.
“Oh, I already know I’m going to cry,” Mia said in distress. She covered her eyes and lowered her head.
The attendant led me out and helped me step onto the raised platform in front of the couch where they were waiting. Then she motioned for me to wait and ran out of the room.
I straightened the dress and made sure that it looked perfect in the mirror. It fit me exactly, which meant if we bought it, I wouldn’t even need to worry about getting alterations done.
The shop attendant returned and hopped onto the platform. She carefully placed a long white veil with red embroidered roses around the edges onto my head and pinned it in place with a small silver tiara inlaid with sparkling jewels.
I looked into the mirror in awe. It was perfect.
“Open your eyes!” she said in excitement as she stepped away from me.
I heard the others inhale sharply as they looked at me.
“Red is certainly her color,” the attendant said happily.
“You need red heels,” Dahlia said automatically.
“And a good necklace,” Olivia added, “something to match the tiara. Then, the look will be complete.”
Mia jumped out of her seat and ran to me. She threw her arms around me and started to jump up and down in excitement. I put my arms around her shoulders and hopped with her.
“We found it!” she said. “It’s so much better than the last one!”
“It’s perfect,” I agreed.
Mia released me and stepped back. She straightened the veil then looked at me with the brightest smile I’d ever seen on her face.
“I’m so excited for you,” she said.
“Who picked this dress?” I asked curiously.
Dahlia jumped out of her seat in excitement. “I did!” she shouted.
Everyone laughed as she and Olivia stepped onto the platform and started to fawn over the dress and discuss where we could go to get accessories.
I couldn’t take my eyes off the mirror. This was it. This was the dress I would wear to marry Tallon.
I was ready for the wedding.
*Tallon*
“I have to admit, I never thought this day would come.” The older man in front of me raised one of the fancy glasses filled with simple ice water, slouching comfortably in the leather chair across from the desk, a smile on his lips despite the creases around his eyes and the gray that was slowly overtaking the black in his thin curls.
“You mean me getting married or finally settling the feud with the Russians? And here I thought you had faith in me,” I snorted, sending him a grin.
Giovani had certainly aged in these years. But unlike how stressed and cold he was as the Don, this version of him was relaxed and open—happy.
I was a bit jealous.
“Of course, I did. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have left the family to you, Tallon.” He smiled, the lines around his eyes curling and despite his age, even I had to admit he still looked handsome. “I’m proud to see how well you’ve both handled the family. It was a shock for both me and your father to hear that you’d managed to settle the feud, but even more so to hear you finally wanted to settle down.”
“Here, here,” Alessandro agreed, rolling his eyes as I sent him a glare from where he sat in the chair opposite from Giovani.
The study was empty except for us. Dahlia and Olivia had arrived, beaming and still full of life as they had practically kidnapped my fiancée for a shopping trip.
Natalia had been nervous to meet them, but I was glad they were as accepting as they were. No one had brought up the past or her family, thankfully, and I trusted that they wouldn’t.
But that didn’t stop Natalia from being anxious. But I had to admit, it had been adorable watching her nose crinkle as she ranted about her worries to me right before they arrived, her blue eyes swimming as she told me how much she wanted to be liked.
I knew they already liked her. After all, she was the woman I loved.
“Yeah, well.” I smiled at my brother and cousin, thinking of my beautiful, soon-to-be wife.
From that very first day I’d seen her when she fell into my arms, when I saw her beautiful blue eyes reflected in mine, I knew she was the one. I had probably fallen for her right then and there and though I couldn’t put a name to it, from the beginning, I’d always been hers.
She’d captured my heart and soul without any effort, and she hadn’t even realized it. Despite everything else, all the lies and troubles with her family, the hurt and anger we’d directed toward each other, I knew I wouldn’t change it for a thing.
