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3454 Words
Dominic ushered Nicki into a shop. They had gone for a drive and were enjoying the day when he pulled over outside a boutique. “What are we doing here?” She asked as they entered.
“I thought we might do a little shopping.” He said. “I know you don’t like wearing my Mother’s clothes so I figured we could fix the problem and buy you some of your own.”
“I don’t have the money to go shopping.” She reminded him.
He just rolled his eyes. “I got enough money for the both of us. Money is no object. I want my woman properly outfitted, especially when you meet my Mom.” He said in an afterthought as he started to look through the mannequins.
“Wait, when am I meeting your mother?” She asked following him through the shop. They were only in Florida for two more days and then his tour was over, and Nicki just logically assumed she’d be going home. “Is she in Florida?” She asked alarmed.
“No.” He shrugged her concern off. “She’s in New York; I figured since my tour was over I’d go home to New York and take you with me.” He casually suggested. “You know to meet the folks.” He said running his hand over a pair of white slacks. He was awfully nonchalant about the idea.
“I thought I’d be going home.”
“Why? Aren’t you enjoying yourself?” He asked with all seriousness.
“Well yes but-”
“But I want my parents to meet my girl.” He said taking her hands in his and placing a kiss to the back of her right hand.
Nicki frowned and he looked concerned. “Yeah about that…”
“Oh no,” He groaned, “It’s never good when a woman starts a sentence that way. Are you dumping me?”
“No, well I don’t know. I’m just wondering how feasible this relationship is. I live in Montana; you live in New York, that’s like two thousand miles.”
“Two thousand-two-hundred-ten miles to be exact.” He corrected her.
“That’s not helpful.” Nicki scolded.
“Sorry,” Dominic said with a boyish grin.
“My point is once I go home and you go home the likelihood of us maintaining a long-distance relationship like that is slim. It almost never works out.”
“That doesn’t mean that it won’t. Unlike most couples, we have an advantage. I’m my boss, I can work from anywhere, and I have a private jet and can afford to travel at the drop of a hat. I can be in Montana in less than five hours.”
“Do you have any idea how much that will cost jetting back and forth across the country like that?”
“I travel all the time mostly on a whim so yes I know how much it cost to jet back and forth, and I’m willing to pay for it.” He declared. “It’s only money.”
He said it like it was nothing. She’d been dirt poor all her life she didn’t understand how anything could be only money. Money was the very life’s breath of the modern world. “It’s just money? I don’t think you appreciate the gift you were given. Not everyone is born with a silver spoon in their mouths. You blow money frivolously, money that could feed a family of five for a year and you drop it like it’s nothing. You don’t understand what people would do for that money.” She said with annoyance. “I could have someone killed for the price of that dress I wore last night. You’re spoiled.”
He looked surprised. “I’m spoiled? Let me get this straight you’re mad because you think I don’t know the value of money? That I don’t appreciate the hard-backbreaking work that goes into making a dollar? Well, I do.” He said trying to keep the harsh tone out of his voice. “My life is not all glitz and glam. It may look like it from the outside looking in, but you don’t know how hard it is to be me. Sure, I don’t have the same problems as poor people do. I don’t struggle to put food on the table of a roof over my family’s head, but I’m a Sanchez,” He said like that name meant something, “You have no clue how much pressure comes with that name. What people expect from me.”
“Oh, poor you, you’re a prince among poppers. You have it so rough.”
“Heavy is the head that wears the crown. I grew up in a f*****g spotlight. I graced the cover of magazines and tabloids twenty times before my first birthday. I’m expected to be perfect. Everything I do has to be golden. Growing up if I got anything less than an A or I got dumped it was front page news. I couldn’t go to my senior prom because the paparazzi had it staked out. I have to smile when I don’t feel like it. I have to laugh at jokes that aren’t funny. I have social obligations that force me to go out when all I want is to sit home and watch TV. I don’t represent myself; I represent my whole family. My transgressions affect more than me. They affect everyone that shares my name. People want to watch me fail because it sells more magazines. I can’t fail; I don’t have the luxury of failure; if I don’t succeed at everything that I am nothing. So yeah I enjoy the luxuries I do have because I’ve earned them.”
“You don’t earn anything by being born lucky.” She snapped back. She was tired of hearing how hard his life was he didn’t know adversity. “You don’t know hardship. Hardship is being stuck on a farm and unable to help. It was being twenty-one and struggling to walk. It is killing yourself to feed your family and failing. It is being unable to afford to get sick because it would bankrupt your family.” She said with tears; she was getting far too emotional about the subject. Damn him for upsetting her this way. Nicki couldn’t even look at him. She turned away and limped a few feet away from him. A tear rolled down her cheek.
Nicki heard Dominic sigh behind her. He came closer and placed his hands on her shoulders. “I know you’ve had it rough. I’m not saying I get it; I don’t, I’ve never been in that situation. You’re right I was born lucky, but I don’t see why that has to come between us. If anyone in this world deserves to be spoiled, it’s you, and I have the means to do it. Let me.” He whispered in her ear.
Nicki tried not to cry. “I’m scared.” She confessed.
“Of what?” He asked coming around her so he could look her in the eye.
“That I may get used to this and you’d realize you’re too good for me and send me packing. I don’t want to get used to this life. I don’t what to get used to you. Because one day both will be gone and I’ll be back on that porch alone and useless.”
Dominic’s hands came up and framed her face. He kissed her lips softly. “I’m not going to leave you, and you don’t ever have to go back to that porch if you don’t want to. You can stay with me in New York.”
“My family is in Montana.”
Dominic thought about it. “Then I’ll move to Montana.”
Nicki laughed. “You’re going to live in Devon? The middle of absolutely nowhere?”
“Well no but Helena isn’t that far away. We could get a place in the city, and we can visit anytime.”
She gazed into his bright eyes. “You’d move to Helena for me?”
“I’d move to Hell for you.”
“Why?”
“Why?” He repeated. “Because I can.”
“And if it doesn’t work out?”
“I can always move back. It doesn’t matter to me where we live.”
“We barely know each other, and you want to live together.” She pointed out the insanity of what he was considering.
“You’re right.” He said with all seriousness. “We should get married.”
Nicki broke out in laughter. “That’s insane.”
“Why?”
“We’ve known each other for like three weeks.”
“Six if you count all our online dates.”
“Those don’t count.”
“Why not?”
“Because we weren’t in the same room together.”
“But we were getting to know each other. Come on my folks were married three months after meeting one another and they have been together for thirty-four years.”
She supposed it wasn’t entirely insane. Lacy had met and married Bryce in six weeks, and they were very happy together. “You’re playing with me, right?” She asked with certainty.
“No. I’m serious. Let’s get married. We can fly out to Las Vegas tonight and be married by midnight.” He suggested.
Oh lord, he was serious. “Why would you want to marry me?”
“Why wouldn’t I?”
“Because I’m nobody.”
“You’re everything to me. I love you.”
Nicki smiled. “You do?”
“Yes.” He kissed her softly. “Do something crazy and spontaneous, marry me.”
“You’re serious?”
“Come on doll, don’t you want to be a Sanchez?” His dazzling smile made her laugh.
She must have lost her mind. “Yes. Let’s do it.”
“Awesome. So, here’s what we’re going to do; I’m going to leave you here with one of my credit cards, and you’re going to go through this store and pick out everything your heart desires because no wife of mine is going to be anything less than sophisticated and trendy.” Dominic said taking out his wallet. He removed one of many of his credit cards and handed it to Nicki.
“Are you sure about this?”
“Yes.”
“Where are you going?” She asked as he placed the card in her hand.
“I’m going to go make sure our flight is ready.” Dominic kissed her cheek and looked at the attendant. “See to it she leaves here with a white dress.” He was just about to walk out the door when Nicki grabbed Dominic and kissed him deeply. “What brought that on?”
“I love you too.” She whispered. She’d never said it to anyone before but looking into his eyes if felt right.
Dominic caressed her face. “I’m going to be so good to you. You’re never going to want for anything.”
“I’m going to be so good to you; you’re never going to want to let me go.” She purred back. He kissed her one more time before he left the shop. Nicki turned around and smiled at the attendant who had watched the whole scene play out. “I’m getting married.” She giggled.
“You’re going to need a white dress.”
***
Las Vegas Nevada…
Nicki’s pulse was racing as they stood in the little casino chapel. It wasn’t one of those cheesy Elvis impersonators either it was a very nice classy place. Nicki had bought a lovely floor-length white satin dress. They’d hopped on the family jet to Las Vegas and bought a bouquet of white lilies from the flower shop across the street.
Dominic had put on a suit, and they now stood before the officiant. This wasn’t exactly how she envisioned her wedding day, but she was still excited. Dominic had promised her a top-notch party with friends and family later. They were getting the legalities of marriage out of the way. She couldn’t believe she was doing this; it was so fast and so crazy. It was completely out of character for Nicki.
The officiant began the service and Dominic held Nicki’s hand the whole time. The officiant reached the vows and started with Dominic. He vowed to love and honour her for the rest of their lives. To take care of her and cherish her until death parted them. Dominic then took a white gold diamond studded ring they had bought when they reached Las Vegas from his pocket and slid it on her finger. She couldn’t believe this was happening.
The officiant then turned to her and asked her to repeat the vows he read. Nicki wanted to say them, but as she looked into Dominic’s face, the words just didn’t come. She was thinking about what he had said, that his life was very public, the whole world would scrutinize this hasty union. What would people say about her? The would say that she was a gold digger after his money and had trapped or tricked Dominic into a marriage for his wealth.
Dominic was starting to look nervous. “It’s your turn doll.” He prompted her softly.
“I…” She couldn’t say it. She couldn’t go into a marriage where her motives would be questioned. She didn’t want Dominic ever to wonder if the money motivated her. “I… I can’t.”
Dominic looked shocked. He asked the officiant to give them a moment to talk. “Why not?”
“People are going to think I’m marrying you for the money. I don’t want you ever to believe that.”
“I know you’re not.”
“But people are going to say it.”
“People are going to say all sorts of stuff.” He told her. “It doesn’t make any of it true. I never listen to what people say. If I did, it would drive me crazy.”
“Won’t there be controversy?”
Dominic laughed. “You truly honestly don’t know anything about my family, do you?” She didn’t see why that was funny. “My brothers and I have caused controversy all our lives. My father on his own has caused so many scandals in his lifetime that the public had dubbed him the Son of Sin. Believe me; there is nothing I could ever do that will be shocking enough to top my Father. But if it will make you feel better, we can sign a prenup.”
“How long would it take to draw one up?”
Dominic asked the officiant for a piece of paper and a pen. He quickly wrote down one sentence that read; if the marriage doesn’t work out, both parties leave with what they brought into the marriage. Then he signed it and offered her the pen. “It’s crude, but it will suffice.” Nicki took the pen and signed the piece of paper. Then Dominic had the officiant and both witnesses sign to make it legal. He thanked them and tucked the paper into his jacket. “Better?”
“Yes.”
“Ready?”
“Yes.”
The officiant picked up where they left off, and Nicki said her vows then she took the white gold band Dominic gave her, and she slipped it on his hand. The officiant pronounced them husband and wife and Dominic kissed her. Nicki was all smiles she couldn’t believe she was married to this wonderful man. She surely must be crazy, but she just kept hearing Millie’s voice in the back of her mind scream ‘do it, just do it.’
They then spent the rest of the night gambling in the casino. Nicki had never gambled before, but Dominic seemed fairly good at it. He dropped thousands of dollars on one game. At first, he lost, but then he made a comeback and tripled his money. He had made so much money they had drawn the attention of the hotel pit boss. The man came over to congratulate Dominic on his winnings and as a wedding gift offered to pay their hotel bill.
Nicki had heard of such gestures by casino owners to high rollers, but she hadn’t believed them to be true. She thought that sort of thing only happened in the movies, but she supposed it made sense. Keep the high rollers happy, so they stayed longer and came back. After cashing out, they took in a show and stopped in the jewelry shop in the hotel lobby. Dominic had wanted to buy Nicki a wedding gift. It was all so beautiful, but eventually, they settled on a lovely ruby necklace with matching earrings and bracelet. Nicki wanted something cheaper, but Dominic insisted. Telling her, she was wealthy now and had to start behaving as such.
They then went up to their room to consummate the union and made it official. The room was lovely and large. It was easily bigger than her home back in Montana. There were two levels. There was a living area with water features and a glass staircase that went up to a loft where the bedroom was.
Dominic shut the door and smiled at Nicki as she stood in the middle of the room taking the extravagance of the place in. “Well Mrs. Sanchez, how does it feel to be a wife?” He asked sashaying her way as he loosened his tie.
“It feels like a dream. I keep thinking I’m going to wake up. I feel like Cinderella at the ball. I’m in a beautiful palace, wearing a beautiful dress, dancing with a handsome prince.” She giggled as he removed his tie and shrugged off his suit jacket draping it over the back of a couch.
“You know how Cinderella ends don’t you?”
“She loses her glass slipper and ends up locked in the attic.”
“No, the prince finds her and makes her a princess.” He said unbuttoning his shirt. “Don’t you feel like a princess?”
She did. “How could I feel like anything but?”
“People call my family rock-n-roll royalty. So, I guess that makes you an American princess.” He said putting his arms around her. She felt his fingers find the zipper of her dress and slowly pull it down as Dominic kissed her neck. His lips sent delightful shudders throughout her body, and she melted against him.
They burnt away the night in each other’s arms. Making love until the sun rose. It was the most magical night of Nicki’s life. She had never been so happy.
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