No Strings Attached

Part 16 : No Strings Attached

"I love you Kimberley Rae Scott, do you know that?"

I flicked my eyelashes upwards expressively and he raked his fingers through his hair.

I didn't need to reply...

The waiter poured white wine into our glasses and departed down the flight of stairs.

Suddenly Rick stood up and came towards me, withdrawing something square and black from his pocket, and then he got down on one knee.

Was this actually happening? After the way he was in the car, after the way he acted on the ferry? I gasped, placing my hands over my mouth. We'd known each other for a few months, seeing each other for a few days... and he was proposing? Now?

He opened the box, "I know we haven't been seeing each other for long, but Kimberley, I have feelings for you that could drown me. I'm willing to give up everything I have for you. You jump off a cliff, I'm not jumping with you... I'll be there at the bottom to catch you... I don't have a way with words but what I'm trying to say is... well what I'm trying to say is... Marry me?"

I was shocked, blindsided, winded, everything and more.

"R--Rick..." I stuttered, "We've been dating...a day! Less than a day! Rick, what the hell?"

He sighed, shaking his head, "I know. I know this is crazy. It feels crazy. But it's right, Kimberley. It feels right. We have the rest of our lives to pace ourselves. But right now, even after a day, I know. I know I want to be with you. Forever."

"You're serious?" I asked, breathlessly.

He nodded earnestly, "Of course."

I took a deep breath, paused for a second as if I was standing on the edge of a cliff. And then I jumped.

"Yes!"

He just stared at me, his mouth slightly open, those teeth dazzling. A proud smile played around his lips.

"Yes Riccardo. I will."

He grinned, and kissed me before slipping the ring on my finger and returning to his seat without a word.

He was a great actor.

I sipped my glass of wine, looking down at the medium- sized diamond on my finger. It must have cost him an absolute fortune!

Riccardo was staring at me through his glass and I was almost dreaming of my wedding. And somehow, I knew, Rick was dreaming about it too....

Three Months Later...

Kimberley's P.O.V.

The wedding was in a week. It had been such a hectic journey, being in the public eye and all. I seemed to be in the magazines all the time.

Is this the new Queen of the Alonso Empire?

New York's most famous bachelor to wed Scott in million-dollar ceremony?

The new it couple?

Riccardo and Kimberley to tie the knot!

Rimberley: The new Brangelina?

I began to get depressed, I couldn't even think straight. Rick was busy. Busy doing nothing. He was always at a meeting or a function and somehow, I was never there. He never brought me along. He said that they were boring, that his wife didn't need to be going to functions about mergers and acquisitions.

The usual humdrum he called it.

Today, I was going for my final wedding dress fitting with September. My sisters Kaitlin and Kassiana had come down from California along with my other two best friends Rachel and Alex. We had all grown up together. My sisters were non-identical twins that were a year younger than me and Rachel and Alex were in the same grade at school.

I decided to dress casually today. I put on my tight light blue Abercrombie top which cut just above my newly pierced navel. Then I slipped on some black diamante studded jeans and some black heels.

I had to say I was looking particularly good today, not sexy or anything, just... nice. I wore my hair out, Rick said it emphasised my smooth jaw and the dimple in my left cheek which was particularly prominent this afternoon. Speaking of Rick, I hadn't heard from him all morning. He kissed me goodbye this morning, said he had business to deal with at AAC, and then he left. That was unusual. Although he had been acting strangely all week.

I put it down to wedding nerves. After all he is NYC's richest bachelor and now he's off the market. It will be strange for him, but I pray he'll be faithful.

So, I tried on the dress. It was okay I suppose. I had never had anything fitted before, well not this much. It was actually really nice, I guess....

I stared at myself for a few minutes. How did I manage to get a guy like Rick? Did he want someone to make him look better?

"Oh Kim!"

"Wow!"

"You look absolutely amazing!"

I smiled and tilted my head to the side, "Do you think so?"

September hugged me, "I know so. Rick's a lucky guy to have such a beautiful woman as his Mrs Alonso. You look stunning as usual Kim. You always do."

"Thanks you guys," I sighed, "So your dresses are ready!"

They all squealed in excitement, running to put on the dresses.

They were black with a white bow, tying in with the theme of the wedding. Just above the knee and they all fitted their varying body shapes to perfection. No one felt insecure or uncomfortable about the dresses and that is exactly how I wanted it.

After wedding dress fittings, I said goodbye to my girls and went home. I'd meet up with them later. It was my hen night tonight and Rick's stag. I told his brother Juan and his best friend Nigel that there were to be no strippers. I knew what my future husband was like and more... what his friends would be like.

Hopefully September and the girls wouldn't have too many surprises in store for me. That's why I had left a good week from the wedding just in case anyone did anything stupid.

Truth be told, I was scared as hell about marrying Rick. They'd talk. I mean, when we told the guys at the office it was more than awkward.

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________

"Guys, we have some news."

The whole company stood in front of us, eyes wide. I was so nervous, I couldn't do anything about my heart thumping out of my chest. What would they say? Did they even know me and Rick were an item? I was so confused. He told me that we were going to announce our engagement today and to be prepared, but absolutely nothing could prepare me for this moment. Not now, not ever.

I took a deep breath as Rick smiled at his 'audience'.

"We're engaged..."

There was a moment of silence.... then a huge cheer erupted from the crowd.

A group of people were suddenly upon us, kissing cheeks, patting backs, smiling, hugging.

This had gone better than I thought....

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________
Riccardo did warn you all that he likes to move fast with women!!! So what does this new and awfully quick step in their relationship mean?

Love,
B. X