EllaElla knocked on the bridal suite door, hoping that her knock sounded more confident than she felt. The initial shock of excitement had quickly worn off as she changed. The dress pants she now wore didn't fit quite right and she was fairly certain that the blouse was so old that it was close to being back in style, but they were the only “nice” clothes that she owned. It had taken her nearly ten minutes of staring bleakly into her tiny closet wishing something new would show up before she had given up and put on what she had. Tomorrow, she would have to ask Allison if she could borrow something. Maybe one of Maria's daughters had something...The door swung open and Madelyn beamed at her. The tears were long gone and her makeup replaced. She looked radiant and happy. Just as a bride should. Jace would be happy to know his future bride was no longer upset.“Thank heaven you're here!” Madelyn exclaimed, reaching out and pulling her into the bridal suite.Ella nearly didn't recognize
JaceBeautiful.That was the only word that Jace could think of to describe what he had just seen. Even as Ella fled, spilling champagne all over the carpet, she was stunning. He didn't know it was possible for someone to be so breathtakingly lovely.He looked at the three women staring at him, trying to figure out why Ella had just run from the room. They all shrugged at him, concern filling their eyes.“Hey, Cousin. Madelyn is in there with her. She'll be fine.” Clarissa asked, settling back on the couch. He was surprised she could find it given the amount of tissue paper filling the room. “What's up?”“Just coming up to check in on Madelyn,” he replied. He had always like Clarissa. She was one of the few people that Jace was actually glad to have at the wedding. “What are you all doing for lunch?”“We have a tea service planned for this afternoon,” Clarissa told him. She crossed her arms. “No boys allowed.”Jace was instantly transported back in time to when the three of them were
Ella“Are you sure I should be wearing this?” Ella asked, straightening one of the oversized purple sequins on the dress Madelyn had her wearing. The bride had insisted that Ella join them on her bachelorette party.“Yes,” Gwen answered, putting the finishing touches on her lipstick in the bathroom mirror beside her. “You're coming with us, so you need to dress like it.”“It's just so... sparkly.” Ella looked in the mirror and needed sunglasses. Purple sequins the size of silver dollars flashed and gleamed on the strapless, tight dress. “I feel like a disco ball.”“A sexy disco ball,” Gwen corrected. She handed Ella a tube of lipstick. “Here, put this on. It'll look great on you.”“It's a bachelorette party,” Clarissa added stepping into the bathroom. Her hair and makeup was already flawless, but she messed with it anyway. “We're all supposed to look like sexy objects tonight.”“What sexy object are you?” Gwen asked, looking at her in the mirror. “A wine glass?”Clarissa's dress was b
EllaIt was the day of the wedding and Ella had more to do than she had time. The morning was flying by and she was just glad she had stopped drinking the night before when she did. The caterers were going to be late, the seating wasn't set up like it was supposed to be, the flowers were arriving an hour early, and the gardener forgot to turn off the sprinklers to the outdoor reception area. Despite all of that, Ella was excited. Those things could be handled. The wedding would go on, and even if they weren't exactly perfect, she could fix just about anything.She pushed the loose tendril of hair that had escaped her pony-tail as she knelt next to a chair for the bridal table. She was in the main reception hall, getting everything ready for the big party after the wedding. She pinned the bow to the back of the chair a little tighter, knowing there would be a breeze later on with the doors to the courtyard open.Chair decorations. Who would have thought that chairs needed to be decorat
JaceAll those stupid love songs were right, Jace thought as he watched Ella flee out the ballroom door. His heart was soaring and his brain was mush. One thought kept repeating through his mind, slowly repainting the horror that had been his sorrow just hours ago.She wasn't engaged.Except, and this part made Jace chuckle, she thought he was this wedding's groom. Jace and Jason. It was an easy enough mistake to make, particularly since the press knew him as Xavier. Jace was only for close family and friends.Jace sagged into an overdecorated chair, unsure if his knees were going to give out or break into happy dance. He shook his head, smiling. She thought he was the groom. That was why she pulled away every time he tried to kiss her. It wasn't that she was engaged or didn't want it- she was being honorable.The idea that she thought she was saving him from her warmed his heart. His soon to be brother-in-law was almost as wealthy as Jace, and the two of them had often spoken about h
EllaAt least the kitchen fire was out. It had only been a small grease fire and nothing serious.Ella pulled her hair back into a ponytail and hurried down the hallway. She still wanted to check the chairs one last time and needed to make sure the florists had the centerpieces set in the reception area. Then she was due up in the Bridal Suite to check on Madelyn and make sure everything was going well upstairs before the ceremony.“Excuse me, miss...”Ella turned to see a man in a dark suit with a thin tie. She recognized him from the other day when the billionaire family arrived. She was in a hurry, but she would always make time for customer service.“How can I help you, Mr....?”He ignored her attempt at a name. “Do you know where I could find Delores Phillips? She is the owner of this inn, correct?”“If she's not in her office, I'm not sure where she is. If you give me a message, I'd be happy to deliver it for you,” Ella offered.“Thank you. I've been unable to get in contact wit
Jace“You ready?” Jace asked, grinning widely at his soon-to-be brother-in-law. Jason was busy fixing the cuff links on his tuxedo and hadn't seen the crowd yet. Jace peered out the door at the wedding area. Guests were seated and waiting patiently for the wedding to start. The white wooden frame of the gazebo was perfect against the blue of the lake and Jace could only imagine how pleased Madelyn was going to be with the pictures.“Hell, yes.” Jason's voice was strong and sure, but his hands were shaking as he pulled at the bow-tie encircling his throat.“Good.” Jace opened the door from the hotel and pushed Jason through it. The other man managed not to stumble, but he did blanch slightly at the sight of the crowd awaiting him. For as long as Jace and Jason had been friends, Jason had disliked standing in front of large crowds.Jason straightened his shoulders and held his chin high as he walked down the aisle to stand and wait for his bride. He showed no fear, just excitement. Jace
Ella“Make this place a success, baby girl. If anyone can do it, it's you.”Ella's father's words echoed across her mind as she looked out at the reception and watched the celebrities mingle and smile for the cameras.The wedding was a complete success. People would be talking about the beauty and perfection of the ceremony for years to come. Nothing had gone wrong. No one tripped, nothing was lit on fire, and absolutely no ambulances had been called.“I'm doing it, Dad,” Ella said softly. She smiled, feeling proud of her work for the first time in months. Her plans for the inn were finally in motion. Everything she had worked so hard for the past few years was finally within her grasp. She was going to make her father proud.So far, the reception was going exactly to plan. The largest meal they had ever served at the inn had gone off without a hitch. Only three plates were returned to the kitchen, and considering the palates of the guests, Ella was sure it was some sort of record. Ac