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More Than Words, volume 5 HQN Books |
Five bestselling authors A little comfort, caring and compassion go a long way toward making the world a better place. Just ask the dedicated women handpicked from countless worthy nominees across North America to become this year's recipients of Harlequin's More Than Words award. To celebrate their accomplishments, five New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling authors have honored the winners by writing short stories inspired by these real-life heroines. We hope you're stirred by More Than Words to become a real-life heroine in your own community. Proceeds from the sale of More Than Words, volume 5 will be reinvested into the Harlequin More Than Words program to support the causes that are of concern to women.
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Excerptfrom "It's Not About the Dress" novella
Chloe hurried to her bedroom and hung the wedding dress on her closet door. Ted had been short of patience lately with her long hours at work and her preoccupation with the wedding details. Saturdays were usually more hectic, and sometimes she had back to back events. She told herself to make a special attempt to be more attentive during dinner, lest he was starting to feel neglected.
All would be forgiven the day of the wedding, though, when the most incredible production that Toronto had ever seen would unfold in front of five hundred lucky guests. Photographers from a bridal magazine and the Toronto Star would be in attendance to capture pictures of the twelve bridesmaids dressed in discriminating butter-yellow dresses, the tiny ballerinas who would spread flower petals as they danced and twirled down the aisle, and the white and gold horse-drawn carriage that would carry her and Ted away to the elaborately decorated reception hall for a sit-down seafood dinner and dancing to a string quartet.
Chloe smiled to herself. Ted would thank her for making their day so special.
She glanced at the bagged wedding gown and bit her lip. Why not give him a preview? When Melinda’s warning of bad luck flitted through her head, Chloe dismissed it as nonsense. All the phone calls, all the consultations, all the arrangements she’d made probably seemed abstract to Ted because she didn’t have anything concrete to show him.
But the wedding dress—that he could understand.
She quickly changed into the gown, contorting to close the long back zipper and to hook up the extensive train to form a bustle. She toed her feet into the matching shoes, and attached the veil to her hair. Then, with heart pounding, she swept into the living room and waited for his reaction.
When he glanced up, he did a double-take, his eyes wide, his mouth open. “Wh-what’s this?”
“It’s my dress, silly,” she said with a laugh, turning in a circle for effect. “I picked it up today—what do you think? Isn’t it amazing?”
He stood and nodded, his Adam’s apple bouncing. Chloe was filled with feminine satisfaction that she’d managed to render him speechless.
“I thought I wasn’t supposed to see it until the day of the wedding.”
She gave a dismissive wave. “An old wives’ tale. Won’t it look wonderful with the yellow bridesmaids’ dresses?”she asked, her excitement building. “And the charcoal gray tuxedos? And the yellow lilies—”
“Chloe,” he cut in, his face pale. “I….I’ve changed my mind.”
“About the dark gray tuxedoes? Because we can still go with dove gray if you want.” She retrieved her cell phone from her purse and began punching in numbers. “I’ll change it right now.”
Ted snapped her phone closed. “I’m not talking about tuxedos, I’m talking about the wedding.”
Chloe frowned, then laughed. “What do you mean?”
“I mean the wedding, Chloe. I’ve changed my mind.”
She shook her head. “I still don’t understand. You’ve changed your mind about what?”
His jaw hardened. “I’ve changed my mind about marrying you. The wedding is off.”
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