The wedding dress, in all its pristine, fairy tale wonder, was front and center. And there were more of them than Tessa could make sense of. Maybe part of her snow-blindness wasn’t just the billows of white fabric surrounding her, but the whole idea that she was actually in a shop like this.

And not because she was a bridesmaid.

Sure, this wedding wasn’t about her spending the rest of her life with the groom, although anything was possible, especially now that she and Sebastian had decided to see where things might go, but that didn’t mean she wasn’t a little excited about the process.

Regardless of the circumstances, she was still here to purchase a wedding dress. Happy little nerves danced through her. No sign of Jenna yet, but she’d be here.

“Hello there. You must be Tessa.” An older but very handsome woman extended her hand. “I’m Corette. Sebastian said to expect you.”

Tessa nodded and shook the woman’s hand. “Yes, I’m Tessa. Thank you for doing this on such short notice.”

Corette gave her a knowing look. “Fortunately, I didn’t have any other appointments. Although I still would have worked something out. It’s not good business to disappoint the Ellinghams.”

The door behind them opened with a soft chime and Jenna strode in, wearing her uniform. She grinned at Tessa. “Okay, you’re here. For a second I thought I might walk in and find out this was some elaborate joke.”

“No joke,” Tessa said. “This is happening.”

Jenna shook her head good-naturedly. “So I see.” She looked at Corette. “How does this wedding dress shopping work?”

“Normally, I’d have a rack of dresses already pulled, but that’s after I’ve already had a phone consultation with the bride. In this case, Tessa, why don’t you tell me what you have in mind?”

“Um…” Tessa blinked. She’d pretty much thought she’d be single for life after she’d removed herself from society in order to avoid intense situations that could result in her temper spiraling out of control. “Whatever I can take with me, I guess, since I have to have it for tonight.”

Corette smiled. “Yes, that is definitely a consideration for us today. It also means a floor sample is the best I can do, but I promise I won’t show you anything that isn’t in excellent shape. Now, about the dress. What sort of style do you like?”

Jenna snorted. “Style and Tessa aren’t two words that often go together. Although, I have to say, sis, you’re looking pretty good at the moment.”

“Thanks.” Jeans were Tessa’s new best friend. They made you look good and held everything in. She could see why they were so popular and she was getting over the idea that they were unacceptable for anything but farmers or ranch hands. They could be dressed up very nicely.

Corette tried again. “How do you want to look on your wedding day?”

“Pretty,” Tessa answered without thinking. She put her hand to her mouth. “Oh, that sounds shallow, doesn’t it?”

“No.” Corette smiled gently. “That sounds like a bride. Let’s take your measurements and I’ll pull a few things to get us started.”

Twenty minutes later, Tessa had been fitted into a bustier and was being zipped into her first gown. Corette used a few large plastic clips to secure the extra fabric in the back and form the dress to Tessa’s shape perfectly.

Corette turned her to face the mirror. “What do you think? Would you like to show this one to your sister?”

Tessa’s lips parted, but words escaped her. She’d never seen herself in a fancy dress before, let alone a wedding gown. It was like looking at another version of herself in the mirror. Someone who might as well have been a stranger.

“It’s…lovely.” And it was. Staggeringly so. “But it’s a lot of skin, isn’t it?”

“Most wedding dresses are strapless these days, but this has the single shoulder strap, so it actually covers more than most.”

Tessa’s fingers went to the strap and the delicate embellished flowers that covered it. They trailed down the bodice, ending at the waist. Other than that, the dress was unadorned. The soft, shimmering fabric hugged her body in a very becoming way.

“Maybe you don’t like the ruching?”

“I don’t even know what that is.”

Corette patted the small pleats that covered the dress. “It’s the way the fabric is sewn with these small gathers. Ruching can conceal a multitude of body issues, not that you need help with that. Maybe it’s too much? Would you prefer something simpler and a little more body conscious?”

“More body conscious? No, I like this. I’m just not used to seeing myself in anything like this, that’s all.”

Corette nodded. “I understand. Let’s show Jenna. See what she thinks.”

“Okay.”

Tessa walked out to where Jenna was sitting. The area had a bank of mirrors flanking a raised platform. She stepped up onto it and faced her sister. “What do you think?”

Jenna stared over the top of the bridal magazine she’d been looking at. “Holy Loki. Is that really you in that thing? You look like a supermodel.”

“I do not.”

Jenna nodded vigorously. “Yeah, you do. Wow.”

The phone rang. Corette clasped her hands. “I’ll just leave you girls alone for a moment.” With a smile, she left them.