“What do you mean, I have to leave?” Bishop asked later when Arabella pushed him toward the bedroom door. She and Greer were both helping me get ready for the wedding.
“Just that. You have to leave, so she can get ready. Kyle has your clothes and stuff in one of the upstairs bedrooms.”
“Why can’t I stay?” Bishop argued as I covered my mouth with my fingers to hide my smile.
“Just because this is your second time marrying Abby, it doesn’t mean you can see her before the wedding. Some traditions need to be kept,” Greer stated. She looked so cute with her arms crossed over her chest and an expression of pure determination on her face. Bishop let it slip to me that Hudson had bought Greer an engagement ring, and he planned on asking her to marry him on New Year’s Eve. It killed me to keep it a secret, but I would never want to ruin anything for her and Hudson. I was over-the-moon happy for her though.
“But—” Bishop started, only to have Arabella cover his mouth with her hand.
“Go away, Bishop.”
He frowned. “You know, I liked you better when you weren’t all bossy.”
Greer crossed her arms and said, “You’ll like me less when my foot kicks you in the ass to get you out of this room! We’re running out of time, Bishop Harris!”
He held up his hands in surrender. “Fine. Fine. I’m leaving.”
His eyes met mine across the room and butterflies swarmed in my stomach. I placed my hand to my mouth, kissed it, and then sent it to Bishop.
“I love you, Abs. See you soon.”
I fought to keep the tears at bay. “I love you, too, Bishop. See you soon.”
He’d barely stepped one foot out of the bedroom before Arabella shut the door in his face.
“Jesus, Arabella!” Bishop shouted through the closed door.
She turned, and I gave her a hard look.
With an innocent smile, she said, “What? He wouldn’t leave!”
“Okay, let’s get you ready,” Greer said, coming at me with a brush.
The door flew open and Candace walked in. “Stop! Do not touch her with that brush. Are you trying to break off her hair with that thing?”
Greer looked at the brush, then back at Candace, who walked in, shut the door in Bishop’s face again, and tossed a large bag down onto the bed.
“Women!” Bishop called out before I heard him head down the hall.
“Okay, I’ve been studying the picture of the dress you bought.” Candace unzipped the bag and started to pull out a curling iron, a straightener, and every kind of eye makeup ever sold, along with mascaras, eyeliners, blushes, and some weird-looking sponge that looked like a teardrop. “I’ve got an idea for hair and makeup. We’ll do an updo and put some baby’s breath in to make it feel light and airy. You’ve got plenty down in the kitchen leftover from the table arrangements.”
I lifted one brow and looked at Greer. She gave me an I-don’t-know-how-to-stop-her look.
“The dress has a very wintery snowflake feel to it, so we’ll keep the makeup light, but I think we’ll make your eyes smoky. Nothing says ‘fuck me until morning’ like a good smoky eye.”
Arabella leaned closer to me and whispered, “Why is she working at Turning Pages again?”
I shook my head. “I don’t know. I feel like she missed her calling.”
Candace clapped her hands, causing both me and Arabella to jump and let out small yelps.
“I also took a look at the greenhouse. I have one word to describe the theme I’m feeling.”
The three of us stared at her as we waited.
“For Pete’s sake, Candace, what’s the word?” Greer asked, when her dramatic pause went on for too long.
Slowly looking between the three of us, Candace let her eyes land on me as she smiled and said, “Enchanting.”
I giggled. “I love it! Do your best with me.”
Candace threaded her fingers, pushed her arms out, and cracked her knuckles.
“Should that scare me as much as it does?” Arabella asked.
Candace ignored her. “Alright, ladies, let’s get to work.”
Before I knew it, she had me sitting at the vanity in the bathroom as she brushed, curled, twisted, and pinned up my hair. Soft curls fell down my back while Arabella carefully placed sprigs of baby’s breath in my hair.
“Okay, now for the makeup,” Candace said, turning me away from the mirror and getting to work. Greer and Arabella were doing their own makeup and hair while Candace worked her magic on me.
“Candace, if you love fashion so much, why aren’t you working in that profession?” I asked.
She gave me a one-shoulder shrug as she concentrated on my eyeliner. “This is just something I love to do. I feel like if I did it for a living, I’d grow tired of it. What I’m truly passionate about is cooking and baking. I love to read, as well, so that helps with working at Turning Pages. And helping Arabella out at the café on the bee farm gives me a chance to play around with my baking and cooking skills.”