Page 24 of Untamed Billionaire
Chloe pulled back, keeping her hands on her sister’s shoulders. “I’m crying because I’m so happy! And you look lovely! This dress is perfect for you!”
Emma’s smile instantly returned after Chloe’s reassurance and the “girl” pulled her dress out with her fingers and spun around. “Isn’t it pretty?” she asked, letting the wind pull up the filmy dress so it billowed around her legs. “Marco brought it to me yesterday. He said that it was very important for me to be here today. Is it important?”
Chloe wiped the tears from her eyes and nodded. “Yes! Oh Emma, yes! I’m so happy that you’re here today!”
“Good!” Emma looked at Chloe’s slacks and blouse. “You don’t look like you’re going to get married. Shouldn’t you be dressed to be married?”
Chloe laughed, glancing briefly down at her dark slacks and silk blouse before dismissing her clothing. “I’m okay just like this.”
“No you’re not,” Marco interrupted. He pressed the box into her hands. “Go into that tent there and change clothes.”
Chloe blinked back the next bout of tears and took the box. “What’s this?”
“Your wedding dress. I suspect that you’ll like this one better than what your mother chose for you.”
Once again, Chloe wiped her tears away, tucking the box under her arm. She lifted up and kissed him softly. “Thank you!” she whispered because she couldn’t speak over the emotions roiling through her at this moment.
Before she could embarrass herself further, she turned to Emma. “Want to help me?” she asked.
Emma nodded eagerly, then took Chloe’s hand and they rushed over to the tent.
Five minutes later, Chloe felt…awed. The dress looked like something out of a fairy tale. The sweetheart neckline framed her face. It was sleeveless, cupping her small breasts lovingly and cinching in at her waist before flaring out to a floating skirt of lace and chiffon. There were so many layers, it was too many to count.
“You look like a princess!” Emma whispered.
Chloe laughed as they both looked in the tall mirror that was set up in the corner. Marco had thought of everything!
Turning away from her image, she lifted Emma’s hands. “And you look like a fairy!” she said, laughing when Emma bounced with delight.
“Let’s go get married!” Emma exclaimed, clapping her hands with childlike enthusiasm.
Chloe bit back a sob of regret that her lovely sister would never have this. She still had the mind of a five-year-old, but Emma was wonderful! She was so full of hope and happiness and Chloe loved her.
She hugged Emma close, then pulled back and smiled. “Let’s go get married!” she whispered conspiratorially.
Chloe found the shoes, but dismissed them since she’d be walking in sand. Her mother would be horrified, but Chloe walked out of the tent barefoot, more than ready to come to her future husband feeling free and happy!
A violinist began playing the moment that Chloe stepped out of the tent. Emma waved happily as she was led to the others and sat down in one of the wooden chairs. Chloe laughed as Emma bounced in her chair as she held a bouquet of yellow roses and white lilies surrounded by evergreen magnolia leaves. All of the flowers were tied with a yellow satin ribbon.
Chloe wished she had time to repair her makeup, but when she looked over at Marco, she didn’t care about anything except becoming this man’s wife. Silently, Chloe vowed to do everything possible to help this man in any way she could.
As she stepped up to the flowered archway, a minister smiled benevolently at both of them. “Dearly beloved,” he started out.
Marco took her hands in his and they stared into each other’s eyes. Vaguely, she heard the ocean’s waves crashing against the surf. But in her mind, it was just herself, Marco, the minister leading them through the vows and her heart pounding against her ribs.
“I do,” she whispered and felt Marco’s fingers tighten on hers.
The minister said something else, and then her heart sped up as she waited for Marco to respond. “I do,” he replied.
Chloe’s smile brightened and she wanted to throw herself into his arms. Goodness, she loved this man! As soon as the thought was finished, she started making a list of the people she could speak with, people who could help him in business. She was going to do so much for this man!
And then he was kissing her. As soon as his lips touched hers, all thoughts, all lists, flitted away from her mind. This was Marco, and she loved him more than she’d thought possible to love another person.
She kissed Marco with all of the love inside of her, needing him to understand how much he’d come to mean to her in such a short period of time. In a mere four weeks, he’d not just helped her find the way to protect Emma, he’d given her precious moments like this, moments she would savor long after he’d departed and moved on with his life.
The clapping and cheering alerted her that they weren’t alone, but Chloe was still disappointed when Marco pulled away. He didn’t release her though. He merely shifted his body and turned, keeping one arm around her waist so that he could lift his hand in thanks to the small crowd who had witnessed this ceremony.
Chloe felt as if she were glowing! Literally sparkling!
