“You know what this means, don’t you?” The beaming princess bride, Her Serene Highness Christina Armstrong de Thierry of San Montico, didn’t give Kelsey time to answer. “You’ll be the next one to get married.”
“No.” Kelsey Armstrong Waters stared at the breathtaking all-white royal bridal bouquet in her hands. The sweet scent of the roses tickled her nostrils as if the flowers got the joke. The last thing she’d intended to do was to catch the damn bouquet, but before she knew what was happening she had. Her first thought had been to let it fall to the ground, but as maid of honor—not to mention a wedding consultant herself—she couldn’t allow that to happen. Nor would she allow herself to buy into that silly myth. Not even for her favorite cousin. “I won’t be getting married.”
“You say that now.” Christina gazed longingly at her handsome husband, Prince Richard de Thierry, and her smile widened. “Just wait until you meet Mr. Right. Trust me, you’ll change your mind. Fast.”
Kelsey didn’t want to spoil her cousin’s perfect wedding day so she held her tongue. The institution of marriage might be perfect for Christina and many others, but it would never be for Kelsey. “Why don’t you toss it again so someone else can catch it and not ruin any…traditions?”
“You won’t be able to stop this tradition from coming true.” Christina was practically floating three feet off the ground in the crowded ballroom. Given her fairy-tale romance and royal wedding, no one could blame her, including Kelsey. It was hard for even the most cynical not to get caught up in the magical atmosphere. No doubt this was one couple who would live happily ever after. Christina sighed. “There’s something about the magical power of love…”
Magic was one thing, but love? Forget it. Kelsey knew firsthand that the majority of marriages failed. Her parents and many of her clients were nothing more than statistics. Marriage was as easy as saying “I do,” but divorce was even easier. All it took was an “I don’t.” A sad but true fact of life. And one she never wanted to be a part of. Ever. “I only caught the bouquet. I didn’t get the royal engagement ring stuck on my finger like you did.”
“Doesn’t matter.”
As Christina waved her left hand in the air, the enchanted ring that had brought her and her prince together acted as a prism, sending a colorful spectrum of light flashing. The sparkles landed on wedding guests as if the ring were spreading its magic on all it touched. Kelsey took a step back to avoid being hit, but the light still managed to flash on the bouquet in her hands. Better the flowers than her.
“You won’t have any choice,” Christina continued. “One day your own Prince Charming will enter your life and the next thing you know you’ll be married.”
That only happened in fairy tales. And for Christina. Kelsey couldn’t help but smile at her favorite cousin’s good fortune. But she was another story.
Kelsey might want a boyfriend, but a husband?
Forget it.
Too much hassle.
Too much trouble.
Too much heartache.
She tightened her grip on the bouquet. “Don’t forget, I’m never getting married.”
“Never say never.” Christina grinned. “Trust me on this one, okay?”
Chapter One
January 31
A perfect match.
Kelsey Armstrong Waters stared at her reflection in the three-way mirror and grinned. The vintage lace veil she’d purchased in London looked as if it had been woven specifically for the pearl, diamond and porcelain flower wreath she’d found in Paris. A satisfied feeling settled in the center of her chest. Any one of Kelsey’s brides would consider herself fortunate to wear the exquisite pieces.
She adjusted the veil slightly. Oh, my. Kelsey blinked. Once. Twice.
The unbelievable happened. She looked like a bride and felt like one, too. Glowing, radiant, you name it. Love, happily-ever-after, even magic seemed to fill the room. An unexpected rush of emotion overtook her. Kelsey sighed.
Was this how all those brides felt when they found “the” gown to wear? Was this what caused the tears to spike their lashes and their smiles to widen? Was this it?
She took a deep breath and smelled the sweet scent of roses, but that wasn’t possible. The only roses in her office were the dried blossoms from the royal wedding bouquet she’d caught, preserved and put on display for her clients to see. It was her one perk for catching the flowers—the pop culture value of having a piece of history from the royal wedding.
Thinking about the bouquet made her think of her cousin. No doubt Christina would have a good laugh if she saw Kelsey right now. On second thought, Christina would probably be thrilled and tell Kelsey what a lovely bride she’ll be when she finally walked down the aisle herself.
But that wasn’t about to happen. Not even catching the wedding bouquet or wearing this breathtaking headpiece would change what she already knew in her heart to be true. Marriage wasn’t for her. Not now, not ever.
Frowning, she stared at her reflection once again. Trying on the veil and wreath had been a stupid idea. “Why didn’t I just eat a two pound bag of peanut M&M’s instead?”
“I prefer plain myself.” The one-hundred-percent male voice sent a shiver down her spine.
Even though she was alone, she didn’t feel threatened. Having a suite of offices in one of the most exclusive buildings in Beverly Hills afforded her some security. Kelsey turned.
Standing in the doorway of the reception area was a man dressed in a pair of khakis, a white oxford shirt and a brown leather jacket. Casual yet classic. A man’s man kind of outfit. And that hair…His deep brown—almost-black—hair fell just above his jacket collar and was brushed back off his forehead as if it were a careless afterthought.
He was, in a word—spectacular. Considering her aptly earned title, “Wedding Consultant to the Stars,” that was saying something. He could have been a model except for the slightly crooked nose that gave his face personality. Lots of personality. Kelsey smiled. His chiseled cheekbones could have only been sculpted by a great artist. His full lips hinted of hot, slow kisses. And his eyes made her feel as if she were the most important woman in the world.
This is the man I’m going to marry.
The thought came from out of nowhere, and she tried to understand the motivating factor behind it. She’d been surrounded by gorgeous men most of her life and knew better than to be taken in by a pretty face. Still, his relaxed stance and easy smile appealed to her on a gut level.
He’d hardly said five words, but his charm reached across the expanse of her office. Too bad she hadn’t heard bells when she first saw him, then she’d know…
Know what? That she was acting like a teenager with her first crush? “May I help you?”
“I’m looking for Kelsey Waters.” He smiled, a charming smile that showed off straight white teeth, and her legs turned
