Always You (A Magnolia Falls Novel) Read Online Free PDF Page B

deliberate slowness he put down his pants and turned to her. They were now eye to eye, her five-foot-eleven height slightly towering over his five-foot-ten stature.
    “I don’t give a damn what ‘Princess Diana’ likes or doesn’t like. As for you, you should be grateful to me for defending you. Or maybe now that you have your sister back in your life you don’t need me anymore. Perhaps it would be best if I pack my things and leave now.”
    “No, don’t do that.’’ She threw herself at him. “I’m sorry. You’re right. I was ungrateful.”
    He wrapped his arms around her and stroked her hair. “You know I’m the only one who looks out for you, and I will never let anyone hurt you.”
    “I know, baby. You’re the only one I can count on”
    “That’s right, Lizzie. Don’t forget it.’’ He continued to stroke her hair.
    While he was gone Liz felt strong, as if she didn’t need him anymore. The moment he returned her strength crumbled, and she felt as if she couldn’t survive without him. She didn’t like the control he exerted over her, yet she didn’t know how to break it.

 
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
    CHAPTER FOUR
     
    Diana and Jessica donned their new dresses. Liz had excellent taste and had chosen the perfect dresses for them. Jessica looked adorable in her light pink, satin dress, with a layer of sparkly organza over it, peppered with deep pink, silk flowers and her matching hot pink shoes. Diana had managed to style her hair with little pink flowers in it. She looked like a princess.
    Diana’s dress was long, black silk that hugged her curves nicely. Strands of what Diana hoped were rhinestones, but she had a sinking feeling were diamonds, crisscrossed from the top of the bodice, over her shoulders to drape down her back like a necklace. The back itself dipped below her waist. She felt exposed, but Liz had insisted it was perfect. On her feet she wore silver strappy sandals she had borrowed from Liz. The sparkle on these were definitely diamonds, no doubt about it.
    Jessica twirled one last time as she looked in Diana’s full-length mirror. “We look like princesses,” Jessica said.
    “Yes we do.” Diana was stunned. She actually looked pretty. Liz insisted on taking Diana to her own stylist to do her hair and makeup. If only Diana knew she could buy beauty she would have used some of her hard-earned money to do so a long time ago.
    A knock sounded at her door. “That’s our ride. You ready, squirt?”
    “Yes.” Jessica jumped. She had been doing that since putting on her new shoes, ‘to test them out,’ she said.
    Diana picked up her black clutch with one hand and held Jessica’s hand with the other. “Let’s do this,” she said.
    Liz had sent a silver limousine to pick them up. The driver held the car door open for them. Diana had been in a limo before, but the plush seats in this one swallowed her. There was a bar with crystal champagne flutes, a bottle of champagne, and another of sparkling cider were chilled for them.
    “Wow, this is a palace car,” Jessica said. Her eyes were wide with wonder.
    “It’s Cinderella’s carriage, but the horses are under the hood.”
    Jessica chuckled. “There’s an engine under the hood, silly, not horses.”
    “Silly me.” Diana tweaked her nose. “Want a glass of cider?”
    “Yes, please.”
    Diana poured them each a glass. Their drive through the streets of New York was slow. Jessica looked out the window, a look of wonder on her face, as they drove through Times Square. The giant screens on the sides of the buildings lit up the night, making it bright as day. Jessica pointed to one of the screens.
    “There’s The Lion King,” said Jessica. “Can we go see it? Please?”
    “Sure we can. I’ll check the schedule and get us tickets.”
    “For Liz, too?”
    “Yes, for all three of us.”
    Satisfied, Jessica nodded and continued watching the lights as they drove by.
    Before they knew it they were pulling up to