“You should do that then.”
“Maybe I will. I guess I’ll have to get married now.” I shift around and find Ryan watching me with curious eyes. I’m about to move closer to him when a short salesgirl with a blond pixie cut suddenly enters the showroom.
“Would you like to try that on?” she asks, reaching for the lace-trimmed veil I was just admiring.
“What? Oh, no,” I tell her, stepping away. “I’m not a bride, I’m just here to pick something up. The manager went to get it for me.”
“Come on, try it on. It feels so good. Sometimes, I wear one through my entire lunch break.”
“Really?” I ask, inadvertently stepping back towards her and the veil.
“Unless my manager is here, like today. Then I can’t. And I swear, on those days, I always feel significantly less alive. Okay, here we go.”
Before I can stop her—not that I’m actually trying to stop her—my veil fairy godmother slips the bridal comb into the top of my hair and pulls the front tulle down to cover my face.
“There,” she says, stepping back to appreciate her work. “I knew the antique lace would suit you. You have a bit of that old-fashioned glamour about you.”
“Do I?” I’m set on believing her whether she’s lying or not. Full disclosure, there’s a solid chance I’m walking out of here with a veil to wear while sitting at home. This girl is a good saleswoman.
I have the distinct suspicion she’s on the verge of selling me a festive tiara when the salon’s phone rings.
“One sec, I’ll be right back,” she says.
I turn to the mirror as she skips back behind the counter.
“Okay,” I say to my reflection, “I need to find a valid excuse to justify the purchase of this veil. I’m thinking I either use it for character research or I become an elegant beekeeper.”
Ryan chuckles as he steps into view behind me in the mirror.
“What do you think?” I ask, quickly realizing just how important his answer is going to be.
“I think,” he says, stepping closer, “you look incredible.”
“Thanks.” A smile crosses my face and I bite my lip to try to contain it. “Honestly, fashion designers need to figure out a way for people to wear these in everyday life. I feel like my entire gait has changed. Something about the comb going into your hair activates the spine to correct your posture to make you inherently graceful.”
“Look at you, changing the future of fashion and making major medical breakthroughs. And here I thought our sexy-time was going to be the most memorable part of your week.”
“I’m a gifted multitasker.”
“It would seem so.”
I fluff the veil a bit in the front as I continue to watch Ryan’s reflection behind me in the mirror.
“So, as a guy who’s said he’s trying to get married and have kids in the very near future, how does it feel to be in the presence of a veil-wielding lady? Are your hands clammy? Are you on the verge of buying a one-way ticket to Indiana?”
“I’m fine,” Ryan says calmly. “Cool as a carrot.”
“You mean a cucumber.”
“No, I hate cucumbers. Carrots are delicious and they do great things for your vision.”
I laugh and turn around as Ryan approaches. Despite claiming to be cool as a carrot, I catch a nervous flash in his eyes as he reaches out and grabs the bottom of the veil. I have to remind myself to breathe as he slowly lifts it up to uncover my face, pushing it behind my head to fall across my shoulders.
“I know this is sudden,” he says, “but I have to ask you something. Kara Sullivan...do you want to take Duke for a walk with me when we get back to the apartment?”
I give my smile free rein as I take his hands. “I do. I do want to take Duke for a walk when we get back to the apartment. Do you?”
“I do,” Ryan answers with a grin.
A second later, we jump apart when the store manager walks back in carrying Cristina’s veil in a white garment bag.
“Here it is,” she says, handing it to me while pulling off a note that’s attached to the hanger. “Please apologize to Cristina for us and wish her a very happy wedding day.”
“I will, thank you so much.”
Mission complete. Breaking further away from Ryan and our strange wedding vow imitation, I hold the bag up high enough so it doesn’t drag as I head for the store’s exit. I’m halfway across the room when he forces a cough.
“Hey, Sullivan. Do you feel like your posture is uncommonly straight right now?”
I freeze and turn around. “As a matter of fact, I do.”
“I thought you might.”
“I promise I wasn’t actually trying to steal the veil.”
Ryan walks over, looking like he only half believes me.
“If that’s the story you’re sticking to, I’ll go with it. But just know, I crack under pressure, so if the DA starts hammering me, don’t be disappointed when I sing like a canary.”
“Just help me take the veil off and we’ll talk about your snitching ways at a more convenient time.”
“Sounds good.” Ryan reaches up and pauses. “Is there a release button I should be looking for here or is there a pull string?”
“What? Neither.”
My head is suddenly yanked back and I wince as he tries and fails to remove the veil.
“Ouch! Just ease the claw out of my hair.”
“The claw? That sounds violent.”
“You’re the one making it violent and you’re giving me a bald spot.”
“Hold on, I think I got it. Boom.” Ryan eases the veil off and hands it to the manager. “All right, problem solved. I bet people accidentally walk out of here with veils on all the time, right?”
“Not really,” she answers, completely immune to his boyish charm. “Your fiancée would be the first.”
“My fiancée,” he echoes uncomfortably, flashing me a worried look before turning back to face
