The man shook my shoulders and I wanted to tell him to cool it. I didn’t like bragging especially in front of my friend. Before Rich could hit the ground running, I cut him off. “Ryan and I were actually about to head off to lunch so…”

  “Oh,” he said, cutting me off by lifting his hand. “That’s why I came to get you. You’re not heading back with the team. Mickey’s out at the airport with a jet, we got some last minute contracts to discuss. Gotta get you moving, my friend.”

  I didn’t really like that. For many reasons, but the main one being was all I’d been doing was making and going over deals since I took Rich on, which was why he came to Toronto with me. He was prepping me for the upcoming weeks. I had a few print ads and commercials lined up. All with sports apparel. Nothing major but it was more work.

  “Nice meeting you, Ryan.” Rich patted his back before facing me. “Meet you out front.”

  He left me with a point of his finger and another grin before leaving as quickly as he came. I let out breath, turning to Ryan. He was still watching the man leaving. I shook him out of it. “Sorry. Rain check? I’ll text you. Got to get your address and stuff. You know I’m getting married. I’ll need you up there with me. And D.”

  They were my two closest friends and they had to be my two main guys along with my three brothers of course. I’d have a hell of a long line up there and I thought myself nothing but lucky. Talk of the wedding brought the grin out of Ryan’s face. Reaching out, he shook my hand. “Yeah, it’s going to fun. It will be nice getting us all together again.”

  “Damn right,” I told him. We all hadn’t been in the same room since my draft party back home in Texas last summer. It was due time. I’d be seeing D soon as I would be playing his team, Indiana, in the upcoming weeks but it would be great for us all to just be the fellas again. No game. No work. And the fact we were getting together to celebrate the most important day of my life only made it more awesome.

  I gave Ryan one last hug, guy style. Before we broke off he told me something though. “Just watch that guy,” he said, nodding toward the door where Rich left. “Just watch him.”

  Mickey’s head popped up when I stepped on the jet. My sports bag in hand, I gave him a shake before taking a seat across from him. I’d never ridden in his jet, and wow, thing was massive. Plush, creamy leather seats and carpeted interior throughout. He even had T.V.s stationed on the back of every seat in the wide cabin.

  “My whole team could probably fit in here,” I told him setting down my bag. The stewardess who let me in took it shortly after, asking me if I wanted a drink or anything before she left. I didn’t so I stayed put.

  Mickey sipped a brown liquid, no doubt scotch, from a tumbler, toasting me before placing it down. “It can all be yours you know? You make enough.”

  His light chuckle hit the air. I knew I did. But I couldn’t justify a reason for one. As a team, we all traveled together anyway so I didn’t see the point. I had more important ways I wanted my money spent. Besides investing, I had family. Both Roxie and my immediate. I wanted myself and the people I cared about to be okay. I wanted them to be okay not just today, but tomorrow and well into the future too.

  I lifted my hands. “I’m good. So what’s up? Rich said you wanted some stuff finalized.”

  He gestured toward Rich as the guy came in. He set a folder on my lap, and then put two fingers in a steeple, watching me. They both did. Eyeing the pair, I opened it. I saw the company name first and my jaw dropped, then I saw the figure to go along with it and nearly died of cardiac arrest.

  “Armani?” I asked flipping pages.

  I was surrounded by chants and howls of excitement from both my agent and Rich, but I couldn’t join in. I was still in shock. “You seriously got me a deal with Armani?” I asked pushing my fingers through my hair.

  “Rich is the best, Griff,” Mickey said lifting a hand to him.

  Rich simply bowed. “I try. Look good to you then?”

  More than, I thought, nodding. I could definitely rock some suits.

  Rich slapped my shoulder, pleased. “You start today. Hence, the quick transport.” He lifted his hands to the jet. “Photo shoot just after we land. We’ll get you prepped and—”

  “Eh, uh,” I said closing the document. “Today?”

  He nodded. “Is that a problem?”

  I rubbed the back of my neck. “Kinda, sorta. I just haven’t seen Roxie in a couple days so… yeah. I wanted to spend some time with her today. Maybe take her out to dinner.”

  Rich’s eyebrow slowly moved upward. He looked to Mickey for reference, who laughed. “Roxie is his fiancée.”

  The publicist couldn’t have looked more shocked and I didn’t understand why this was such a thing with everyone who found out I had a fiancée. When Rich didn’t say anything, Mickey leaned forward. “You’ll see her tonight, Griff. Might be late but you will. Hell, invite her to the photo shoot.” Crossing his leg at the knee, he tipped Rich a nod. “Make it happen.”

  Without another word, Rich stood pulling out his cellphone. He muttered that Roxie’s name would be added to the list of those allowed into the shoot, and Mickey winked at me. Maybe I would have to watch Rich, but at least I knew I had my agent as a buffer.

  The last round of models exited the room when my phone beeped from inside my purse. Still on an adrenaline rush from the fashion show of silk and chiffon, I pulled it out seeing a text.

  Hey, baby. I’m back early.

  My heart jumped. It was from Griffin.

  Mickey and Rich flew me back in for a photo shoot. Gotta make that money, right? lol.

  I could imagine his goofy grin while he typed that out and I smiled at the thought.

  Get this: It’s with Armani. I’m still blown away by that. Don’t know what you’re doing today, but you should stop by the shoot if you got some time. I wanna see you. Here’s the address if you can.

  “What’s that smile?”

  In a chair next to mine, Troy rested on the arm of it; his look, with his legs crossed my way, appeared inquisitive.

  My face warmed that I had a “look,” but I couldn’t help it. Griffin always brought that out of me. I slipped my phone back into my bag. “Griffin. He’s home early and wants me to stop by a photo shoot he’s doing. Armani.”

  “Oh,” he said. “Very big deal. Did you want to reschedule today? We haven’t really hit the ground running yet.”

  He was right. I hadn’t gotten to try on anything. I just got a glimpse of the beautiful dresses. I tapped my notepad against my lap. “Maybe… one or two dresses. Then I’ll go?”

  He winked. “I like that idea. Your favorites?”

  Though I had seen dozens of dresses in a short amount of time, a couple stuck out immediately in my mind. I never thought I’d be the type of girl to really get into all this, but Troy was making the whole process so exciting. I told him dress seven and twenty-five.

  “Good choices,” he confirmed. “Stasha?” She came to him like a worker bee. “Please pull seven and twenty-five for Roxie.”

  She went to move away, but he called out one more number. “And fifteen, I think.”

  I flipped to a page in my notebook, studying my scribbles on the dress and frowned. I looked up at him. “I wrote that one was kind of plain.”

  “Ah.” He stood, guiding me to do the same by my hands. “Sometimes the most beauty can be found in simplicity. But if you loathe it you don’t have to try it on. It’s just my special pick for you.”

  I got another wink from him, which made me laugh before an attendant interrupted us. She brought out a phone on a platter. “Mr. Daniels, you’ve received a call from a Ms. Chelsea.”

  He sighed a bit. “I’m with another client. Can you tell Ms. Chelsea I’ll call her back?”

  I stepped forward. “Troy, you can take it. I don’t mind. I’m just going to be trying on dresses anyway.” If that was another bride she should have his attention. He looked unsure, but I urged him again. “Seriously, it’s fine.”

  He approached and gave me a kiss on both cheeks making me laugh once again. “I’ll be quick. Stasha will meet you back there. She can help you dress until I get back.”

  An attendant helped me to my dressing room though it reminded me more of my living room with the sheer size. Stasha met me back there just as Troy said she would. She explained all the pieces I would have to get into before I could move on to the gown, a special bra and skirt. She asked if I needed help, but I said I could manage. I didn’t really know her so I blamed that on modesty. I pressed the bra to my chest, but she did have to help the rest of the way. There were lots of ringlets. She didn’t mind, but I did kind of. I sucked in a breath at the discomfort, holding the spot tight at my waist.

  “Is it supposed to be this tight?” I asked watching her struggling a bit in the mirror.

  Her reflection smiled over my shoulder. “Yes, Ms. Peterson. Super tight.”

  I grunted as she got the last one fastened. I was stuck in it so no turning back now I guess. She left me again and I slid on the skirt. That was easier but only because it had an elastic waist and could stretch.

  “Everything all right?” called Stasha’s chipper voice outside the door.

  Besides not being able to breathe I supposed. She said this was normal so…

  Walking around, my movements calculated with slow breaths, I made my way to the hanging dresses. I spotted my picks immediately, heavy ball gowns with sparkle and tulle. Troy’s pick hung next to them.

  Beauty with simplicity, he’d said.

  I grabbed that one. Seeing the size on the tag, I called Stasha in. She was by my side right away.

  “I’m uh,” I paused, chewing my lip. I looked up at her. “I’m not a size ten.” And upon further glances, the dresses I picked out were in the same size. “There must be some mistake. Did Troy give you my measurements?” I recalled sending them over to him the other day as his questionnaire asked that information.

  Her pleasant expression never left. “He did, ma’am. But these are the store’s sample sizes. Not many of them go beyond a size ten. That’s to fit the range of various size and body types of the store’s customer base.”

  Last I checked, the average size of an American woman was a twelve. I wasn’t much bigger than that but the size would by far be more comfortable to try on.

  “Don’t worry,” she continued. “The back of this particular dress has lacing. I’ll let it out so you’ll be more comfortable. It will fit like a glove.”

  My options at this point were limited as I was short on time today. I still wanted to see how this dress would look though as Troy recommended it.

  Nodding, I gave her the okay to help me into it. Surprisingly, her technique to get me in worked and when I walked the dress wasn’t as tight as I thought it would be.

  In small steps, I let Stasha guide me out of the room for a look in the salon’s mirrors.

  “Watch your step, Ms. Peterson,” she said, taking my hand to help me on a carpeted pedestal. She adjusted my skirt and the pedestal disappeared under the dress. “Being up here will give you the full view of the skirt. Most brides wear heels, but if you don’t the excess will be hemmed.”

  Stepping away, she saw me in the mirror before I did, and her lips lifted just in the corner. “Exquisite.”

  Kinda afraid, I didn’t take myself in at first. The woman practically needed the jaws of life to get me into this thing. That couldn’t have resulted in what she’d said. Exquisite. But the gasp that was made into the room didn’t come from her.

  It came from me.

  “A strapless, sweetheart neckline,” came a voice from behind. “And a flawless satin adorned by only a sheer layer of lace. The material is designed to sway with each sashay, every delicate move the bride makes through the night.”

  Troy came to a halt beside me, staring at my reflection in the wall-length mirror with me. “The drop waist highlights every smooth curve, every beautiful angle. An elegant mermaid style dress,” he concluded.

  Placing my hand on my waist, I felt that smooth line. The soft satin glided underneath my fingers and hugged all my curves just like Troy said. I gave a light laugh, but not because I found anything funny. I was awed, surprised I could feel so… wonderful like this, a beauty so often felt in Griffin presence, but not so much on my own.

  “Is it possible to fall in love with the first dress you try on?” I asked Troy, turning to him.

  He settled his hands in front of his waist. “It is. Because you just did.”

  I laughed again. I guess I had. Ending the laugh, I exasperated my breath a bit. With a gasp, I tried to get it back but couldn’t exactly in the tightness of the dress. I bent holding my waist.

  “Roxie.” Troy touched a hand to my back. “Dear, are you all right?”

  I righted myself. Or I suppose Troy did when he helped. Alarmed, he lifted a hand to gain attention from an attendant but I settled my hand on his arm. “I’m fine. Fine.”

  He held my arm helping me down from the pedestal. “You don’t look it.”

  “It’s the dress. It’s just…” I paused, taking a breath. Finally, I could get something into my lungs again. “It’s just a bit tight that’s all.”

  He blinked once. “Tight? What size do they have you in?”

  Eyeing the dress, really studying it, his dark eyes flashed. Almost like he was seeing how tight the gown really was for the first time. His eyes closed slowly, and he called Stasha over. I raised my hand. “Troy, it’s fine. It’s just a ten. Not that small.”

  This didn’t help—at all. Holding onto me, his look went hard at his assistant. But only slightly. To most people this might look calm even, but Troy had such a soft exterior. He was pissed and I knew it.

  “Why is my bride in a ten?” he asked. The single question wasn’t loud at all. But it seemed to drum between the three of us.

  Stasha kept her cool, but her fingers locked tight in front of her, making them white. “The owner informed me they only had a sample size of this particular gown. I let it out as much as I could to make her comfortable.”

  “Comfortable?” he seethed behind wire frames. “She can barely breathe in it, Stasha.”

  She lowered her head. “I’m sorry, sir—”

  Moving a hand through his styled hair, he drew in a breath, nodding as he calmed down. “It’s not your fault I suppose. Please go get the owner.”

  She flitted away and my face warmed. I hated I was the cause of all this. I grabbed Troy’s arm as he turned in that direction. “It’s not that big of a deal. You don’t have to—”

  Before I could finish, the owner herself arrived before us. She wore a tight white dress and shiny heels. She didn’t even get to us before Troy explained the problem.

  “I sent the appropriate measurements to your office, Kathleen,” he said. “I’d like to continue bringing my clients here, but what happened today is very disheartening.”

  The owner, Kathleen, placed her hand on her chest. “I personally apologize, Troy. We sent the order to our sister store in L.A. They were to overnight the samples in the appropriate sizes for this consultation. I saw to it myself, but we were only able to acquire half the stock in our inventory.”

  My lashes flickered away. I didn’t know how many dresses I saw today but to have to special order them… Overnight them all just for me to try on…

  “There is no excuse,” she continued. “It was unprofessional and we understand your frustrations. We personally would like to give Ms. Peterson her dress free of charge, as well as her attendants with our sincerest apologies.”

  Moments later I could breathe again, though it wasn’t because I was out of the dress. Now outside the dress store, fresh oxygen from the situation never felt so great. I kept a smile on my face as Troy escorted me out to my car, but he didn’t seem fooled. I confirmed the face when he tilted his head at me.

  “I hope this didn’t spoil the day, Roxie,” he said with a sigh. “Today, was supposed to be special and…”

  “It was.” And I genuinely meant that. I found the dress of my dreams. I couldn’t regret that no matter how the consultation ended. “And please tell them they don’t have to cover the charges. I know today was a big inconvenience for everyone.”

  That I was an inconvenience.

  Reaching out, Troy squeezed my arm. “Never, and don’t ever say that. We are here for you. On your side. Remember that.”

  I did know he was there for me, which was why I couldn’t stay down, and I was happy when he realized that. He tipped my chin. “Enjoy your evening with your fiancé. We’ll chat again soon.”

  The photographer said, “Break for wardrobe change!” and I loosened my tie. I did so only with careful fingers. I may have been able to afford this suit I wore but I didn’t necessarily want to drop a couple thousand bones on it. I’d basically been by myself on this shoot, Mickey popping in and out on phone calls (other clients). The work didn’t stop just with me and I got that. Rich pretty much took his place, giving me the thumbs up after nearly every shutter, and I could only fight from rolling my eyes. Me making money meant he was. Of course the dude was grinning like a fool.

  I didn’t let that get to me. This was business. I got that too, and honestly, my thoughts were on Roxie, so I ignored his presence for the most part out of sheer distraction. She’d be here tonight and as I hadn’t laid eyes, or hands on her in a couple days, I looked forward to that like crazy. This photographer moved quickly so we’d probably wrap early tonight. I’d be able to take her out.

  Slipping my phone out of my pocket, I unlocked the screen on the way to my dressing room. I checked for a text from her that she’d be in soon but I hadn’t gotten anything. Distracted, I nearly tripped over a set of legs crossed in front of the sofa in the room, very much bare legs, and I followed those to their owner. A girl sat there, brunette, and she had very little on. In fact, from what I could see a simple cotton robe and heels.