The Wedding March

by Tara Randel

  “Oh, no, you actually saved the day.”

  Just a cliché, but he liked hearing it.

  “Where was I?” she said under her breath.

  “Pardon?”

  She looked up, her grin sheepish. “My father interrupted my preconcert ritual.”

  Artists. He’d forgotten how they worked. Or how much they were rattled if that ritual was cut short.

  “Anything I can do to help?”

  “No. Dad’s gone and I was mostly ready anyway.” She grabbed the open water bottle and took a quick swallow.

  Good for her, because he wasn’t.

  Practicing with Cassie had put him in closer contact than he’d envisioned when he’d agreed to this benefit concert. He kept waiting for her to talk about her songwriting problems, but she’d never mentioned them once. Instead, she’d focused on practicing with the band. Made sure they were at ease with her music. Visited with the kids at the Klub. Initially he’d decided to keep his distance but found he was drawn to her like a moth to a flame. Soon he looked forward to her bright smile when she walked into a room. He had to admit, his reaction caught him off guard, in a good way.

  At first, running through Cassie’s music with the guys had been fine. Luke analyzed her writing. She was good, he’d give her that. The melodies flowed and the instrument parts complemented the vision of the song. Nothing overly ambitious, just straightforward and catchy. There was a depth to her lyrics he’d previously overlooked.

  He saw now why she’d become a popular artist. He wondered what she was thinking to let the record label change her sound, but he’d seen it happen more often than not. Record labels were out to make money. And in the beginning, most artists went along, hoping for a major push in their careers. This must have been the case with Cassie, which was a shame, since her first record rocked. He really wanted to see her get back to her roots.

  Once the guys were comfortable playing her songs, Cassie joined them. Meeting in the Klub music room had made sense since all the instruments they needed were there. Luke expected the practice to be all business, until she sat down behind the piano and began to play and sing.

  He hadn’t expected to be moved by her.

  Nor had he expected his gut to twist with nerves at the idea of performing in front of her fans.

  The guys had all exchanged wide-eyed glances, as if to say, she is so out of our league. So he’d put on his band leader hat and led a very rough practice. Read the panic on Cassie’s face, ignored his own doubts and made sure the group calmed down enough to get through the session.

  Soon, the guys’ concerns had begun to fade. Cassie, the consummate professional, made sure to interact with each one, even laughing at their goofy jokes. Before long, they were playing as if they toured together regularly. His reservations faded.

  Until the sound check earlier. Monitors crackled. Cords came loose. His guitar string broke. All a musician’s nightmare. Yet Cassie weathered it all with calm aplomb. Or so he thought until he glimpsed her stricken expression.

  “Are you thinking what I’m thinking?” she asked him.

  “About the shaky sound check?”

  “Yeah.”

  “Some of the best jam time I’ve ever experienced was after a rehearsal we cringed over. You’ll be fine. Tonight will be no different.”

  Her face looked less strained after his pep talk. She fished a water bottle from the tub and tossed it to him.

  Luke caught it midair. “I’m not thirsty.”

  She grimaced. “I needed to do something.”

  “And chucking bottles works?”

  “Apparently.”

  He laughed. Cracked the seal and drank, not realizing how dry his throat was.

  Cassie brushed her braid over her shoulder before checking her hair in the mirror. He’d first found the strip of color crazy, but it had slowly grown on him. Just like she had.

  Cassie backed away from the makeup table. “Do you guys do anything special before performing?”

  “Usually we spend the minutes before we start playing in a frantic search for Sonny.”

  Cassie smiled, her beautiful eyes lighting up. “I seem to remember that from my father’s wedding reception.”

  “I guess we can call that our preshow ritual. How about you?”

  Her gaze dropped, then rose to meet his, a flash of humor catching him unaware. “I usually say a few words to the band.”

  Leaning his shoulder against the tent pole, he crossed his arms over his chest. “I’m intrigued.”

  “Would they mind?”

  He shrugged. “It’s your show.”

  A frown wrinkled her forehead. “I don’t see it that way. We’re all working together for the Klub.”

  “Fair enough. Still, you take the lead.”

  “I have something...” Her voice trailed off as she crossed the room to dig through a large leather bag. She pulled out a piece of paper, bit her lip as she returned to his side.

  “Don’t tell me you’ve been holding out? New song?”

  He wanted to kick himself at her pained reaction. He’d asked her one other time in the past weeks if she’d uncovered any inspiration. She’d told him no then. Must be the same answer now.

  “I wish.” She unfolded the paper. “When I was a kid my mom always had these positive sayings she’d recite to us. No matter the circumstance, she’d tell us to buck up or don’t cry in our milk, which is weird, or tell us what doesn’t kill us makes us stronger.”

  “Your mother put you in situations that might kill you?”

  She laughed, just as he’d intended. “After a while I wrote them down from memory. I always quote one before we go onstage.”

  “Sounds like a great strategy.”

  “Thanks.” She set the paper on the nearby table, then smoothed her skirt.

  “You know we’ll be fine once we start playing,” he assured her again.

  “Doesn’t help the nerves right now.”

  “Are you always so antsy before a performance?”

  She shyly glanced at him. “It’s not every day I play with Luke Hastings.”

  “It’s no big deal.”

  “To me it is.”

  He didn’t want to be flattered, but he couldn’t deny the pleasure her words brought. After his ex had pretty much flattened his ego, Cassie was a breath of fresh air. She didn’t try to railroad him, didn’t go on and on about her place in the music business. She liked his friends. Had come up with this idea to raise money for the Klub using her own resources.

  “Anyway, I appreciate you going along with my idea.”

  A tiny crack fractured a portion of his emotional wall. He’d fought it. Fought his reluctant admiration of Cassie. Until now.

  As he watched her repeatedly ball up her hands and open then, he set down the water bottle. Took her hands in his.

  “Cassie, you’re good. And generous. Thanks for doing this concert.”

  She smiled up at him. “It’s my pleasure, especially since meeting the kids. Your Klub’s pretty special.”

  As he gazed at her, her floral perfume flitted about them. He got lost once again in the green depths of her eyes. So much for his resolve to stay unaffected by her.

  The air grew heated. Luke took a step back but still held on to her hands. She tilted her head, as if to say something, when voices came from outside and the guys barged into the tent. Sonny, in midsentence about a woman—no surprise—stopped short.

  Cassie quickly pulled her hands away. His lingered in the air for mere seconds, missing her warmth, before dropping to his sides.

  “Hey, you guys okay?” Sonny asked, rubbing a hand over his buzz cut as he watched them move apart.

  “Nerves,” Cassie answered.

  “Really? You ge
t gummed up before you play?” Brian questioned.

  “You bet. My manager says jitters are a good thing but my stomach disagrees.”

  “Take an antacid,” Ryan grumbled.

  “Okay, then,” Cassie said, swiping her paper from the table.

  “Guys,” Luke said, brushing off his reaction to holding her hands. He needed his wits about him. And besides, Ryan was closely watching him. He didn’t want to explain what he hadn’t quite figured out for himself. “Cassie has some words of wisdom to share before we go out there.”

  She cleared her throat, not meeting anyone’s gaze and recited her quote. “When life gives you lemons, pucker up, because life’s about to squeeze you dry.”

  The room went silent.

  “What happened to making lemonade?” Sonny asked with a straight face.

  Luke struggled to contain his laughter at the quip, drawing a reluctant grin from Cassie as she moved away from the guys to drop the paper back in her bag. Mission accomplished on her part.

  “I don’t get it,” Ryan griped as Sonny and Brian chuckled.

  “Dude, there’s nothing to get,” Luke replied. “It was meant to lighten the mood. It worked.”

  Ryan glanced at Cassie and back, his eyes accusing. “You like her.”

  “What’s not to like? She’s helping Kids’ Klub.”

  “Are you sure that’s it?”

  It was all he was ready to admit to at this point.

  The tent flap opened and Denny came speeding in.

  “You guys ready?”

  “We are,” Sonny answered.

  “There’s a big crowd out there. The town really stepped up to help us.”

  When Luke mentioned the concert idea to the town council, there hadn’t been one minute of hesitation. Kids’ Klub had become a mainstay in Cypress Pointe and those serving the community were happy to facilitate any fundraiser that benefited the town.

  “Hey, Denny, I have an idea,” Luke said, the boy’s excitement becoming contagious. “As the ambassador of Kids’ Klub, why don’t you introduce the concert?”

  The kid’s mouth gaped open. “Are you kidding?”

  “No. You put more work in on this project than anyone.”

  Denny punched his fist in the air. “Awesome.”

  “Gather a few of the others kids who helped you and have them stand around when you introduce Cassie.”

  “And the band,” Cassie rushed to add. “Please include the band.”

  “You got it.” Denny sprinted outside to assemble his friends together.

  “Hey, Cassie,” Brian said after Denny left. “We want to thank you for including us.”

  “You guys are helping me. I’m glad I don’t have to be up there by myself.”

  “Then let’s kick this thing off.” Sonny held out his hand, palm down. “One for all?”

  Brian slapped his hand over Sonny’s.

  “What are you guys, five years old?” Ryan crabbed but placed his hand on top.

  Luke glanced at Cassie. “After you.”

  A warm smile crossed her lips as she set her hand on Ryan’s.

  “Okay, boss man, you’re next.”

  Luke moved in at Sonny’s command, close to Cassie, his hand resting gently over hers. When her body pressed next to his, it was all he could do not to bolt.

  Sonny counted, “One, two, three,” and all hands went up in the air, then separated. Cassie’s braid flew around her shoulder and landed on his arm, the sweet berry scent of her shampoo stealing his senses. He closed his eyes to savor the moment.

  When he opened his eyes, he met her searching gaze. “Um, sorry,” she said in a small voice, her breathy uncertainty washing over him.

  Minutes later, they climbed the steps leading to the platform. Denny stood center stage, thanking the crowd for coming out and supporting Kids’ Klub. Then Cassie was moving with the band, stepping onto the stage to wave at the fans. When she turned to take her place at the piano, their eyes met again, hers with a sparkle Luke wouldn’t soon forget. Gone were the nerves. In that one broad smile, the mild-mannered woman from seconds before melted away. This was the Cassie who’d been born to entertain.

  He lifted the guitar strap over his head and settled it on his shoulder. Cassie winked at him, the gesture sending a wallop to his gut, just as Sonny counted a three beat with his drum sticks and they launched into the first number.

  They played for an hour. Cassie entertained the fans not only with her music, but by engaging and laughing with them, as well. The urgency of her wish to overcome writer’s block struck him as she sang. If she didn’t come up with new songs, would her career truly be over? Glimpsing the joy on her face right now, he knew he wanted to help her move forward, even if it meant tearing off the bandage still covering his emotional wounds.

  As he considered the future, he couldn’t keep his eyes from Cassie as she regaled the crowd, and him, with the magic of her music.

  CHAPTER FIVE

  ERIN ATHERTON PULLED her knees up closer to her chest, resting her forehead on her damp tights. She’d missed her curfew again and her parents refused to let her in the house. Their tough love act was getting old. By the time she’d walked home and found she couldn’t get in the house, all her friends were home in bed. She was tired of searching for somewhere to sleep when she couldn’t get anyone to let her crash at their place. Tired of trying to get her parents’ attention when they should be concerned about their daughter.

  Except for sleeping outside, most of last night had been incredible. The concert rocked and Cassie Branford actually talked to her. Watching offstage with the group from Kids’ Klub had been a first for her. Afterward, she’d helped load up the stuff they’d brought over from the Klub and unloaded back at the warehouse. Then they set up tables for the appreciation breakfast Cassie had organized for today.

  If the experience was so great, what possessed you to pocket the money?

  She groaned.

  Denny had entrusted her with the zipper bag for the food sales. With shaking hands, she pulled out a wad of cash from her jacket pocket. Counted it. Grew horrified when she realized she’d taken two hundred dollars. She thought she’d only grabbed about fifty bucks.

  As she curled up on an uncomfortable bench in the park’s gazebo, tears leaked from her eyes. Her plans to make her parents acknowledge her, even for stealing, had worked. Until she’d had second thoughts. She’d taken too much money to explain it away as a mistake. Could she give it back without getting in trouble? Would Mr. H. call the police on her? How could she have been so stupid?

  She tried to sleep, but even for April, the nights were still chilly. The damp air and her guilt kept her awake. She’d hoped the tumbling waves rushing onto the adjacent beach would lull her to sleep, but when she closed her eyes, visions of the police dragging her to the station in handcuffs played over and over in her mind like a movie scene.

  Eventually she dozed, only to wake as the first streaks of light crept across the horizon. She covered a gusty yawn, trying to decide her next move. Cold and clammy, she hiked to the Klub and settled in to wait for the first person to show up for breakfast duty.

  Ten minutes passed. She’d just decided to head home since her parents would be awake now. But the thought of facing their disappointment, of them calling the police when she confessed her sin, stopped her. As she argued with herself, the sound of someone whistling a Cassie Branford tune reached her ears. Her head jerked up. Denny Price. Figured. The one guy she didn’t want to run into this morning, but the one most likely to be here early to unlock the doors. Could her luck get any worse?

  The whistling stopped short. “Erin?”

  Swallowing her pride, Erin slowly rose. “Yeah. It’s me.”

  “What are you doing here so early?”

&n
bsp; Finally, a break. Apparently he hadn’t noticed she was wearing the same outfit from last night.

  “Waiting. I volunteered to serve breakfast.”

  Keys jangled in Denny’s hand as he unlocked the main door. “I think we got it under control, but more hands will help.”

  She stuffed her hands in her jacket pockets, her fingers brushing the cash. Swallowing hard, she said, “Cool.”

  “You been here long?” Denny asked as they stepped inside and he flipped the bank of switches on the wall. The lights high above the gymnasium floor flickered to life.

  “Nah.”

  His task done, Denny looked her over. “I’ll be right back,” he said then sprinted to the guys’ locker room.

  Erin stood in the silence of the vast space, her arms crossed at her waist, hugging tight. Alone. She was so alone.

  Moments later Denny returned and held out a denim shirt. “Here.”

  It took a moment for her to register what he’d done. He had noticed her clothing. Slowly, she reached out to take the shirt, her pride taking a hit. “When was the last time you washed this thing?”

  “You’re welcome.” He turned and called over his shoulder as he walked away. “I’ll be in the kitchen.”

  Could this be any more mortifying? Why had she come here? She should have stretched out on a lawn chair on the back patio at home, but honestly, facing her parents was too daunting.

  She dragged her feet to the restroom, cleaned her face and tried to fix what was left of her makeup. What a mess. She ran her hands through her hair and shrugged on the shirt before joining Denny. The end of the shirt came to her thighs, covering the short skirt. She noticed a small tear in the black tights and tugged the hem of the shirt lower, not even close to covering it.

  “Who cares?” she muttered as she left the room.

  “I’m making coffee,” Denny said as she entered the midsized kitchen area. Pulling a cabinet door open, he peered inside. “Nick should be here soon with the breakfast food, but until then we’ve got oatmeal, crackers and some protein bars.”

  “Wow. Gourmet.”

  Denny chuckled. Why was he always so happy?