A Kiss Upon A Star

by Tamara Ferguson

  Emily laughed softly.

  When the stylist who’d been working with Emily returned, Danielle stood by and suggested a few simple fixes.

  Emily watched as the stylist teased a few strands of hair near her ears into curls.

  “Hmm,” Danielle said, cocking her head and studying Emily further in the mirror. “What would you think about having some wispy bangs? I think the pull back is a smidgen dated.”

  Emily hesitated. “I’d love that. But my mom...”

  Danielle winked at her. “Let me take care of your mom.”

  “Are you sure?” Emily hesitated. “You’ve met her then?”

  Danielle grimaced. “I have.”

  “Then you know why I’m worried?” Emily laughed as, still grimacing, Danielle nodded her head up and down.

  “Alright,” she finally answered, grinning. “I’ll go for it. Whatever you think looks best.”

  A few minutes later, Emily was staring at herself in the mirror. She didn’t look fifteen anymore, that’s for sure. And her hair would look so much better than it usually did when she was wearing it down.

  “It’s a shame we couldn’t cut off some of the weight of that hair.” Danielle looked resigned. “But even I know better than to do too much. Your mom will probably be upset enough as it is.”

  Emily gave Danielle a wry smile. “Yeah, the bangs will be enough. But I’ve just turned eighteen. I should be able to decide how I want to style my own hair.”

  Danielle appeared startled. “Eighteen? I had no idea. I was kind of rebellious as a teenager—my grandmother ended up raising me after I lost my parents. When I think about all the trouble I gave her...” Danielle’s grin was rueful. “That was before I even turned fifteen.”

  Emily took in a deep breath. “I think I’ve decided I need to be a little rebellious. I can’t keep going along with whatever my mom says.”

  “Well, being that you’re eighteen, and not fifteen, like I initially thought when I saw you practicing yesterday morning, I think you deserve a little help with your transformation.”

  “Really?”

  Danielle smiled. “Really.”

  Emily felt like a weight had been taken off her shoulders, knowing she wouldn’t have to confront her mother alone. “Will you help me pick out something else to wear for the wedding today, Mrs. Loughlin? I was going to go shopping in the boutique next door.”

  “Of course, I will. And if we can’t find anything in the boutique, we can raid my closet. I’ll supervise your makeup too. Call me Danielle, Emily. Or even Danny will do.”

  Emily grinned. “Thank you, Danny.”

  Chapter Three

  Tim stared at himself in the mirror as he finally finished dressing in his tux after taking a run along the beach a few hours earlier. It was rather strange serving as an usher at Lucy’s wedding. But first and foremost they’d always been good friends, and he would have never felt right letting her down by saying no when she’d asked. She genuinely wished for Tim and her soon-to-be husband Gabe to become friends.

  When Tim walked downstairs into the kitchen, he handed his tie to his dad.

  As soon as he saw Tim, the puppy scrambled out from the bed that had once belonged to Scamp. His dad had brought it upstairs from the basement last night, along with a box of toys and Scamp’s food and water bowls.

  The pup slid across the floor, slipping through the water he’d spilled from the bowl, and bumped straight into Tim.

  Tim was startled when his dad began to laugh; he hadn’t been hearing much of that lately.

  Suddenly grinning, Tim reached down and rubbed the puppy’s head before standing back up so Jack could wrap and adjust his tie.

  His dad was studying him intently.

  Ignoring the question in his eyes, Tim looked at his father quizzically. “Thought of a name yet?”

  “Something will come to mind. Maybe you should be the one to name her, since she seems to be pretty attached to you? You look good, by the way.”

  Tim gave him a rueful smile. “I’ll never get used to wearing a suit.”

  “Yeah, well, that’s something we both have in common. I’m not so crazy about wearing one either.”

  Frowning, Tim muttered, “You’d think they’d want us groomsmen and ushers to wear something a little less formal than a white tux, since the wedding’s taking place at the Dragonfly Pointe Beach.”

  Jack grinned, standing back and staring at Tim’s tie approvingly. “That’s what I’d be saying too Kid, but grumbling about it ain’t gonna help.

  Pouring himself a cup of coffee, Tim smiled somewhat reluctantly. His dad knew exactly why Tim was irritable. It wasn’t so much about having to wear a tux as much as it was about the girl who was getting married.

  His dad sat down with the puppy in his lap. Picking up the mug that was resting in front of him on the table, he sipped his coffee. “Need anything to eat?” he asked.

  “Nah. They’re serving brunch at the inn for those of us in the wedding party who want to eat beforehand.

  Tim rested his coffee on the table and sat across from his dad. “Maybe I’ll ask the girl who rescued her to give her a name? She’s supposed to be at the wedding today.”

  “Uh, huh,” his father answered. Obviously distracted, he was grinning while the puppy chomped his fingers.

  The puppy was looking much better today, Tim decided. His dad had given her a bath last night, and she was actually pretty cute with her creamy coat and mottled brown spots. Her face and coloring reminded Tim a little of the springer spaniel belonging to one of his friends.

  Glancing at his watch, Tim stood up grimacing. “I guess I’d better go.”

  “I’ll see you there in a couple of hours,” his dad answered.

  Waving a hand in farewell, Tim opened the door and walked through the doorway into the garage.

  * * *

  Even though the wedding would be taking place at the beach, the Dragonfly Pointe Inn would serve as the wedding headquarters. There was a suite of rooms upstairs where the groom and groomsmen had gathered and another suite had been reserved for Lucy and her bridesmaids to prepare and dress for the wedding.

  When Tim arrived inside the inn, he found that half the wedding party had already been through the buffet. Tim sat and ate breakfast with Lucy’s brother Dan, who was a groomsman, and before long, Tim and the other ushers were being transported in a limo down the road toward the beach. The groom and groomsmen would be driven to the ceremony site half an hour before the wedding would begin.

  He’d avoided running along the Dragonfly Pointe Beach earlier today, knowing there’d be a bunch of activity with caterers, florists and inn employees decorating and reinventing the outdoor space for the wedding.

  Whoa, Tim thought, when they arrived at the beach. What a transformation. Decking had been laid atop the sand to make it easier for guests and members of the wedding party to walk, and there was a pier that led onto the water from the beach. Tim figured the ceremony was probably going to take place under the lavishly decorated trellis located at the end of the pier.

  Chairs were being rearranged atop the decking when Tim and the other three ushers made their way down the path toward the beach, and several people were taking turns pulling floral arrangements and potted plants from a couple of trucks parked in the beach parking lot.

  The wedding would begin at two and it was only noon, so the guests wouldn’t begin to arrive for at least another hour, Tim was guessing.

  He made small talk with the other ushers while they waited. Two of them were friends of the groom’s, and they seemed to be nice enough, Tim thought, reserving his judgement for later. The other usher was Lucy’s youngest brother Jeff, who Tim had known his entire life. Fifteen-year-old Jeff was Kelly Callahan’s twin.

  Noticing Jeff fidgeting with his tie for, what must’ve been, the fiftieth time in the last hour, Tim grinned. “Lucy’s your first sister to get married. So what do you think about all of this Jeff?”

  “I�
�m just gonna to be glad when this day is over so I can get out of this stupid suit,” Jeff answered gruffly.

  Everyone laughed.

  And then the guests began to arrive.

  Tim realized a platform had been set up near the edge of the water along with an array of speakers placed strategically around the perimeter of the beach. A musician was sitting behind a huge keyboard onstage, while a guitarist began strumming nearby.

  When a woman’s voice echoed through the air accompanied by a haunting violin, Tim stilled. The performance was incredibly moving.

  He listened in awe when the vocalist began expanding her range, singing an evocatively beautiful love song while Lucy’s bridesmaids slowly made their way down the aisle.

  Finally Lucy appeared, looking more beautiful than Tim had ever seen her.

  But what surprised him the most? He didn’t feel like moping around anymore about what he’d lost.

  Instead, he found himself mesmerized by the beautiful voice drifting through the air. Once the ceremony commenced, Tim was in a daze each time she performed a different song.

  Because each time she sang, it seemed more enchanting than the time before.

  And then it was over. Tim shook his head dazedly, watching as the bride and groom began walking along the pier toward the guests who were seated on the chairs with smiles on their faces.

  Lucy and Gabe halted near the front row, where Lucy reached for the flower girl’s hand.

  Her new stepdaughter.

  Tim cleared his throat, glancing at Jeff, who was looking slightly teary eyed.

  Tim nudged him with an elbow. “I know that you and I couldn’t help Lucy very much two years ago after she was assaulted, but Gabe came along and did everything that we couldn’t do. We need to be grateful that Lucy found herself again. And from everything I can see, Gabe is a great guy.”

  Jeff nodded, swiping his eyes with a hand. “Everything is just so different than it used to be. I always thought that you and she...”

  Jeff stared into Tim’s eyes, obviously sympathetic. “Thanks, Tim.”

  Tim grinned, slapping him on the back. “Let’s get to work and usher everyone back to the reception.”

  Jeff smiled as he and Tim began walking towards the guests in the front row.

  * * *

  A few hours later, Tim was speaking with friends at the reception being held at the Dragonfly Pointe Inn. The down time since the wedding had been spent taking pictures of the bride and groom and their families at the beach, and most of the guests were here at the inn helping themselves to appetizers and drinks.

  As the large orchestra continued to run through a series of upbeat rock ballads, Tim was curious. What’d happened to the amazing vocalist he’d heard at the beach?

  And then Tim noticed a woman wearing a smoky lavender gown who was standing behind the orchestra. She looked like she was thumbing through some sheet music.

  Glancing up, she gave him a hesitant smile as he approached.

  Whoa, was she lovely.

  Wait a minute, Tim thought suddenly—wasn’t this the woman he’d just been thinking about, who’d been singing earlier at the wedding? Even though he hadn’t seen her up close, he was almost certain it was because of the color of her gown.

  It clung to her slim figure like a second skin with its off the shoulder scalloped neckline and a belt around the waist.

  “Hi, Tim” she said softly. Her eyes were beautiful and the exact same color of the gown she was wearing.

  He looked at her quizzically. How would someone this hot even know his name?

  “Hi. Do I...yi...yi...yi...” Tim’s jaw dropped. “Em?”

  Her smile went wide. “Yes?”

  It took a while, but Tim finally managed to regain control of his senses. “How old are you?

  She laughed softly and gave him what was definitely a mischievous smile. “I’ve just turned eighteen.”

  “But I thought you were Kelly’s friend? She’s only fifteen.”

  Em rolled her eyes. “We’ve shared so many modeling sessions, we practically grew up together. Besides, she’s awfully mature for her age.”

  Tim nodded his head up and down, still feeling like he was in shock. And then, out of the corner of his eye, he noticed Lucy and Gabe walking towards them.

  Reaching out, he pulled Em into his arms.

  She blinked.

  But looking slightly nervous, she gazed into his eyes and finally wrapped her arms around his neck.

  For a moment he stared into her eyes, thinking about the little bit of time they’d spent together yesterday. He’d been instantly drawn to her when they’d met at the beach and he’d even had a silly dream about her last night. She’d had the puppy in her arms while he’d been rowing her around on the lake in a fishing boat. Assuming she was only fifteen, he’d been feeling a little guilty once he’d awoken this morning.

  He was sure relieved to discover his instincts weren’t off.

  Her lavender grey eyes turned deep, dark and mysterious, and Tim suddenly realized she was probably the sweetest, most desirable woman he’d ever met.

  Nope, he just couldn’t seem to help himself when he found his lips covering hers.

  Chapter Four

  Her first kiss.

  Their lips blended, and sweet satisfaction invaded Emily’s senses as she sunk into the pleasure of the kiss.

  She would’ve gladly drowned. Her first ever kiss was just so much more than she’d ever expected, and falling into his arms felt like the most natural, the most right thing she’d ever done.

  When the kiss ended, she shivered. It was partly from pleasure, but more from the ache she’d experienced when they’d drawn apart.

  Along with her hunger and yearning for more.

  Tim seemed to be in shock as he stared into her eyes.

  Someone nearby was clearing her throat, and still somewhat dazed, Emily turned her head to see who it was.

  Lucy Callahan. Or rather Lucy Giordano with her husband standing beside her, grinning. Lucy was a tiny little slip of a thing with white blonde hair and big blue eyes. She looked positively regal with her hair swept up, and she was wearing a glittering gown of white with a sweetheart neckline. Although Gabe towered over Lucy, he was probably only a few inches taller than Emily at about five foot ten. But wow what a face. He was one of the most beautiful men Emily had ever met, with his curly black hair and violet blue eyes; although his looks were probably somewhat deceptive since he seemed to be powerfully built.

  “I didn’t have a clue that you two even knew each other,” Lucy was saying, wearing a smile that was ear to ear.

  Tim kept an arm wrapped firmly over Emily’s shoulders as he smiled at Gabe and Lucy. “I actually met Emily around seven years ago,” he answered, looking rueful. Glancing down at Emily, he winked.

  “You remembered?” she whispered.

  Tim nodded his head up and down. “Not right away. But how could I forget?” he answered softly.

  Emily was shivering again and wasn’t quite sure what to say to Tim, so she turned back to Lucy.

  Who was still wearing a huge smile on her face. “You were fantastic today, Emily. Truthfully? I don’t think I’ve ever heard a voice as amazing as yours.”

  Gabe finally spoke. “Danielle Loughlin claims you have the most beautiful voice she’s ever heard.”

  Emily’s eyes went wide. “Really?”

  “Really,” Gabe answered with a grin. “I was there when she said it.”

  Lucy appeared to be thoughtful as she glanced at Tim. “She’s thinking about talking to your mom about taking you under her wing.”

  Emily grimaced. “Well. It’s hard to say how Mom will take that news. She can make it pretty difficult for anyone who’s making suggestions about handling my career.”

  Tim muttered, “In other words, it’s her way or no way, huh?”

  Emily gave Tim a rueful smile as she nodded yes.

  “Well. We’d better get moving.” Gabe glanced a
t his watch first before grinning at Lucy. “Dinner will be served in about fifteen minutes, so it’s time for us to be seated. Nice to see you two.”

  Emily could swear Lucy was smirking at Tim, who was looking sheepish.

  Suddenly, Lucy wrapped her arms around Tim and patted him on the back. “I’m so happy for you, Tim. She’s a sweetie,” she whispered softly into his ear.

  Pulling away from Tim, she reached for Emily’s hand and squeezed it hard, giving her a teary smile before she and Gabe continued on their way.

  Emily’s heart sunk as realization kicked in. Tim and Lucy? Had he only been kissing her for Lucy’s benefit, to make Lucy think he’d moved on?

  Emily slipped her shoulders out from under Tim’s arm.

  Tim blinked before studying her face. “No,” he said firmly. “It’s not what you think.”

  Emily put her hands on her hips. “What do you think I’m thinking?”

  The musicians were beginning to take their seats.

  “Shoot,” Tim answered. “Okay, well. I’d like to tell you, but not here.” Laying a hand at her waist, he steered her gently a few feet away from the orchestra.

  “Just don’t look at me like that,” he pleaded.

  Emily nodded, still feeling glum.

  Tim whispered, “I’m pretty sure I would’ve kissed you anyway, whether Lucy was here or not.”

  Emily breathed in a sigh of relief, and couldn’t help smiling widely at Tim.

  Tim smiled back at her, staring into her eyes. “There’s never really been a romance between me and Lucy,” he said softly. “But we’ve always been good friends.”

  Tim looked like he was getting ready to kiss her again, but then he paused as his eyes searched the room. “Uh, oh.”

  Turning her gaze, Emily cringed. Her mom was barreling towards them with her eyes flashing fire. “Yeah. I’d better not introduce you. She’s ready to tear me apart as it is, anyway.”

  Tim’s look was quizzical. “Why’s that?”

  Emily looked down at her gown and waved her hand at her hair. “I decided to change my look.”

  When Tim’s eyes roved over her and his gaze became heated, Emily began to blush.