Page 53 of The Grump I Got Stuck With

“I’m glad to hear it. Just…”

“What?”

“I want to make sure you’re enjoying all this princess treatment for yourself, not because you think you have to change into someone fancier to please him. Even if he is a sexy Scottish recluse with a castle and private shoppers and whatever.”

I hummed in response.

“I know how you get, Mads. For your parents, for your boyfriends. Tripping over yourself to try to be exactly what they want.”

She was right. I always went all in, giving everything, and at the end of the day, my feelings, my wants, my needs went by the wayside.

“It’s fine to play dress-up for a day,” Emily continued. “Just remember you’re also the person who enjoys adventuring in a van where showers are harder to come by. Anyone who doesn’t love all of you doesn’t deserve any of you.”

I smiled, appreciating her protectiveness that I knew always came from love. And the reminder not to put myself into a situation again where I invested everything only to be disregarded. “Trust me,” I assured her. “I’m not jumping through any hoops or bending over backward or…” A smile caught my lips as I studied my reflection, twirling once. “Really, Em. It’s the other way around this time. I couldn’t even imagine a day as amazing as this in my wildest dreams. Alistair’s the one making a real effort here.”

“Good,” she said. “He should. Because you deserve it.”

I ran my hand down the silk fabric, lip caught between my teeth. Emily was right. I did deserve it. And it felt nice to not be the only one trying for once. More than nice. After everything I’d been through emotionally these last few months, this felt amazing and I intended to enjoy every moment, which was, of course, the dangerous part.

16

ALISTAIR

“Is everyone decent?” I called as I walked through the warehouse to the stylish seating area. The only one I found there was Alfie, scrolling through his emails.

He glanced up at me, grinning. “Hey, boss.”

“Daddy, you’re here!” Kenna cheered, appearing from a doorway in a shimmery pale pink dress with a full skirt and matching handbag. She’d even opted for tiny white gloves.

Alfie had already sent me photos of her, so I’d known what to expect, but it was even more adorable in person.

“I got my makeup done. See?” Kenna held her bangs out of her eyes, blinking at me slowly. Someone had, in fact, dusted her eyelids with a bit of sparkly, age-appropriate eyeshadow.

“You look amazing, sweetheart.”

She tossed herself around my legs, squeezing. “You want some too?”

“Oh, no, Daddy doesn’t wa—” The words completely dried up on my tongue as another door opened and Madison walked into view. My thoughts went haywire as my gaze raked up and down. Her hair had been curled and twisted into a fancy updo, showing off an enticing amount of neck. Smokey eyes stared back at me, cherry lips curling.

Bloody hell.

My eyes dropped further, taking in the silky turquoise gown, appreciating the way it wrapped around every brilliant curve the woman possessed. There was a tasteful slit in the dress, exposing an alluring amount of thigh. I liked that.

A lot.

So much that it was becoming a problem. All I could do was ogle the woman, and I needed to pull myself together before I started to look like an idiot.

Say something, my mind hissed at me. Use your words.

What were words?

“You look incredible,” I rasped, unable to take my eyes off her.

A pink flush disappeared into the dip of her cleavage. I chased it with my eyes like a dog drooling over a bone. “Thank you,” she said. “They’ve put me in, like, four-inch heels, and I’m trying not to fall on my face.”

I chuckled softly. “You did seem taller.”

“It’s so I don’t step on this very expensive fabric,” she said, smoothing her hand down the skirt of the dress. “I see you’ve cleaned up as well.” She nodded to my tux. “That’s new.”