We take an elevator, continuing our banter as we go to exit and walk down a hallway where he glances at the glass doors beside us. I follow his lead to discover that we’re at the entrance to the store’s private bridal boutique.

My chest pinches with some unrecognizable emotion I don’t try to analyze. “No. No. We don’t have time to do this today.”

“They’ll bring you party dresses to try on.”

“We haven’t even decided on where we’re getting married. I don’t know what kind of dress I want.”

He pulls me to him, pressing me into a nook behind a wall of clothes that hides us from the open shopping area. “Let’s decide now. Baby, I want to marry you. The sooner we make decisions, the sooner I make that happen.”

“But we said New Year’s Eve?”

“Are you happy with that?”

“Yes. I love that idea.”

“Then we have a date. What about a location? Anywhere, Amy. On a plane. In Egypt. In Texas. Italy is romantic, or—”

“In our home. I want to be home. If that’s okay with you?”

He strokes the hair from where it has fallen over my eyes. “I said anywhere and I meant it. The time, the place, the details—they’re important because they’re what you choose. I just want you, Amy.”

It’s exactly the right answer. “I swear, Liam Stone. Somehow you manage to be bossy, arrogant, and demanding, and remarkably still say and do all of the right things.”

“Because you understand me the way I do you. We belong together, Amy. On some level, I believe I knew that the moment we first made eye contact. We were always heading to ‘I do.’ ”

The idea that I met him because my parents died and neither could exist in my life in unison is like glass in all my many open wounds. Tears pool in my eyes. “I swear, I’ve wanted to cry way too much the past two days.”

Liam cups my face and thumbs away the dampness. “What just upset you? Talk to me.”

“I wish we could share this with the people we’ve loved and lost. My mom and dad. Your mom and Alex.”

He turns his head a moment and I can almost feel his mood shift, before he looks at me. “We’ve both loved and lost too much, too young. It’s why we were both alone when we met. It’s going to impact who we are together. I know it’s why I’m overbearingly protective and impossible at times. You’re going to have to call me on it, Amy, but know that it’s because I love you.”

I smile. “Remember you said that, when I’m being overbearingly paranoid and worried.”

“I will. Right after I respond by being bossy, arrogant, and—”

“Demanding,” I finish, laughing, and loving that he can joke about himself.

“Demanding,” he concurs, his tone softening. “We’ll deal with whatever Godzilla comes our way, baby.”

I grin at the silly metaphor I’d made up the first night I met him. “And the sharks swimming at our feet?” I ask, reminding him of something he’d said.

“And the sharks,” he agrees, kissing my knuckles. “Now. What do you say we go get you a couple of dresses?”

“We?” I ask, appalled. “You can’t see my wedding dress. It has to be a surprise at the wedding.” He ignores my objection, dragging me out of the nook. “Liam,” I warn. “I’m serious.”

He opens the glass door to the bridal boutique. “I’ll stay in the waiting area inside the boutique.”

I glower despite the firm set of his jaw telling me he’s not going to give in on this. Still, I have to try. “If you’re worried about my safety, there’s only one door. You stay out here and guard the door.”

Looking amused at my efforts to dissuade him, he just stands there, not even bothering to argue, as if he’s already won.

My lips purse because he has won. “Fine. But I’m not showing you the dresses.”

His lips quirk. “Understood.”

“Miss me?” Tellar asks, appearing by Liam’s side only to have his eyes go wide at the view beyond the glass door Liam holds. “Clearly I’ve missed some big wedding news.”

I smile and hold up my hand and he whistles in reply. “That’s what I call commitment.”

I can’t resist a little teasing. “Want to be my flower boy, Tellar?”

“Only if I get a new dress, too,” he jokes.

I shake my head, grinning inside and out as I make my way past an elegant white leather love seat to a wall of dresses. Excitement bubbles inside me as I admire one gown after another, but most feel overdone for our small wedding. Deciding I had better focus on tonight’s dress first, I turn to seek out an attendant, and find Liam and a gray-haired woman with a measuring tape hanging over her shoulders in conversation.

The woman hustles away and Liam claims the love seat, and I close the short distance between us. Stopping in front of him, my hands on my hips, I start to ask him about his exchange with the attendant.

“Good news!” His hand closes over one of mine, sending tingles all the way down my leg. “I told the store attendant to make sure you spend a ridiculous amount of money.”

“I don’t need to spend a ridiculous amount of money!”

“Don’t say that to her; she works on commission. You’ll ruin her day. Choose what you love, baby. Don’t let price decide. You’re mine. You’re only getting married once.”

I cup his face and kiss him. “And you’re mine, Mr. Stone.”

“Indeed, Mrs. Stone,” is his reply.

“Mrs. Stone,” I repeat, loving how it sounds.

“Here’s the bride-to-be.”

At the sound of the attendant’s voice, I kiss him again and turn to find her smiling, crinkles forming around her eyes.

“Amy,” Liam says. “Meet Betty.”

“Hi, Betty,” I greet.

“Nice to meet you, Amy. Mr. Stone helped me estimate your size, and since the approach of tonight’s event is imminent, I’ve selected some evening gowns and placed them in a room for you.”

“Excellent,” I reply. “I’m ready.”

She turns on her heel and I follow her, waving over my shoulder at Liam before we disappear down a hallway. Betty opens one of the doors and then faces me, lacing her fingers in front of her. “While you try on the formal gowns, I’ll pull some wedding options. Can you share some details about the venue, and if you have a style or dream dress in mind?”

“The wedding is going to be very small and intimate.”

“Then I’d say understated and elegant?” she queries.

I nod and tuck a lock of hair behind my ear.

Her eyes go wide. “Oh my. Your ring is spectacular. May I?”

“Oh yes,” I say, proudly extending my hand.

She studies the stone, then says, “I have the perfect dress. I’ll be back.” She hustles down the walkway and once again I’m smiling, something that is becoming a wonderful habit today.

I walk into the giant dressing room and shut the door, looking at the six dresses displayed around the room. I’m instantly drawn to an aqua gown that closely matches the color of Liam’s eyes. Slipping my purse over my head, I drop it on a chair and move closer to view my choice, loving the embroidered bodice and the sheer sleeves and fitted, long skirt. I dig around for a price tag and find none, and when I move to the next dress and do the same, I come up empty. Liam’s doing, no doubt.

Sighing, I cave to the idea that I won’t know the prices unless I ask, and even that is questionable. Feeling rather excited to try on my choice, I undress. Once I’m zipped into the aqua dress, I inspect myself in the mirror, disappointed to find the dress clings to my hips and makes them look wrong in all kinds of ways. A knock sounds on the door and I open it to have Betty enter and hang up a pale pink one-shoulder, A-line dress. I gasp at the perfection of the color. “I love it,” I say. “I can’t wait to try it on. Oh please, let it fit.”

“We can alter it if we need to,” she assures me, and motions to an elegant white lace gown she’s also selected with a pale pink sash at the waist. “This could be paired with a pink veil, or you could go all white except for the sash.”

“It’s pretty. Very pretty, but I really love the pink one.”