Secret Bridesmaid

by Victoria Pinder

  “So.” She repeated like that was her answer and then continued, “I needed to change and become the woman you see now. I used to be… I don’t know, different. Plain, like Emily.” Jennifer lowered her tone, giving the impression that she had something else to say that he’d better listen to. “If you bring Emily into your world, she’ll change.”

  Change happened every second of every day. He pushed his hands into his pockets and asked, “That’s bad?”

  “It depends.” Jennifer pursed her lips like she had words of wisdom to dispense. “If you love her and she loves you, then be happy, Axel.” She took a pause like this was a line in a movie for impact and then finished, “But Emily doesn’t know fashion, or care to change. She clearly eats a little too much and your family all marries exceptionally pretty women.”

  He glanced across the tent to the tables where the Morgans were all seated. His brothers’ wives all seemed varied to him. Axel pulled his arm from Jennifer. “That’s not nice, Jennifer.”

  “I’m not trying to be mean.” She placed her hands on her hips as if to hold up her big belly. “I’m trying to protect her, from you. Don’t break my bridesmaid’s heart.”

  Right. Emily was Linsey’s sister. Linsey and Jennifer might actually be friends though he doubted that they trusted each other. One of the most refreshing aspects of Emily’s character was how genuine she was and in many ways the opposite of the music and acting crowd he’d been surrounded with all his life. Axel nodded at Jennifer and walked away. He wrapped his arms around Emily and held her tight as he said, “Emily, Matthew, sorry about that.”

  Matthew grimaced and eyed Axel’s hug. “My brothers always find the pretty ones before I do at a party.”

  Axel’s spine became like steel. He didn’t want anyone else sniffing around his girl, so he tightened his grip and said, “Emily and I met last night.”

  Matthew bowed to Emily as he said, “Even better. Emily, it was nice meeting you.”

  Her hand went to her heart like in a movie where the girl vowed to never wash her hand again. Axel’s stomach twisted when Emily turned her full attention toward him and said, “Your brother Matthew is really nice.”

  Matthew had his life way more together than Axel and was ready to put down roots, if he found the right woman. The gnawing sense of something missing grated on his nerves as he let her go and asked, “Is that your word for men, Emily?”

  “What word is that?” She stared at him and blinked like she had no idea what he meant.

  “Nice.” He spit the word out like he expelled poison from his body.

  She shook her head and took his hand. “No, just you and your brothers, it seems, despite being rich and famous. I hope that doesn’t sound shocking. But I’m judging based on my sister.”

  Tension eased across his shoulders and he ignored Jennifer’s voice in his head. “Ah, well if that’s the comparison you are judging by, I understand.” Linsey struck him as an opportunist, not that he’d say that out loud. “Are you ready to go now, Emily?”

  She pulled free. “Two minutes.”

  Did she want to go talk to Matthew for another second? His heart skipped. “What’s the hold up now?”

  She pressed her lips together like she wouldn’t speak but then she took a breath and finally said, “The truth?”

  “Yeah.” He nodded and braced himself.

  She pointed toward the house and whispered, “I have to go the bathroom.”

  Relief ratcheted down his spine. Perhaps he’d been jealous because he knew there was little chance for him and Emily, and yet he wanted her anyway. He walked beside Emily and motioned with his hand toward the house as he said, “Then let me go with you. My sister Victoria sent a few items over for you to wear to the concert.”

  She tugged her pink dress. “So I shouldn’t go like this?”

  Tonight he’d show her a good time. He could offer fun and honestly he’d missed out on fun for a while with all his family responsibilities. He gave her a huge smile as he opened the balcony doors to lead her inside Peter’s house. “You’re dressed for church. Tonight jeans are preferable in case there is more glitter near you.”

  He led her to the rooms set aside for family and where his sister’s staff would have left the clothes as she accepted his teasing with a grin. “I shouldn’t jump into another vat? I mean, it was so much fun last time.”

  Emily laughed until tears formed in her eyes and she held her stomach--she practically shimmered. He stood near the dressing room door and said, “See, that’s interesting.”

  “What is?” She stopped and wiped her eyes.

  He pressed his forehead to hers and clasped her hand. “You can laugh at yourself.”

  She narrowed her gaze and straightened in front of him like he’d just said something strange as she pursed her lips. “Don’t most people?”

  “No. They don’t.” He claimed her lips.

  Emily’s kiss was sweeter than chocolate or ice cream and more addicting than coffee.

  As the kiss ended, she caressed the back of his neck. “Well, maybe that’s another thing about our worlds that differ. My friends can all laugh at themselves. It’s healthy, I think, to see that you’re not the center of the world every so often.”

  He opened the door and noticed the clothes were in bags near the settee. He pointed toward them and the adjoining bathroom. “Everyone I know tends to think of themselves as the most important person in the universe.”

  She stepped through the door but then turned and stared up at him. “Yeah, I don’t think that is 100% healthy.”

  They weren’t meant to be long term—he shouldn’t want the impossible anyhow. Most women were easy to forget but he had a feeling Emily would be on his mind forever. He stepped back and said, “It probably isn’t. Meet you in five minutes.”

  “Be right back.” She stood on her tiptoes and kissed his cheeks.

  He didn’t move until she closed the door and then he pressed himself against the wall.

  There was something seriously wrong with him. Forever was for regular guys and he’d never been that. He closed his eyes and told himself to get it together. At the end of the day he and Emily would have a great weekend. That was all he wanted. That was all he’d ever wanted.

  But that didn’t stop the gnawing at his heart that he couldn’t explain.

  Emily checked herself in the bathroom mirror. Her pink and white dress was proper for an afternoon rehearsal, but Axel was right. This wasn’t what she’d wear to a rock concert.

  Jeans sounded heavenly, especially since she’d ruined her miniskirt she’d worn last night.

  She rebelled against taking his handouts—then she remembered that he said he got the clothes for free.

  Maybe she’d try them on and see. She picked up a pair and slipped into the jeans.

  They were skin-tight, yet comfortable, and showed off her hips. The mid-rise didn’t push at her stomach and gave her a flattering silhouette. The jeans were perfect and that was hard to find.

  She reached into the bag and took out a black silk shirt.

  For a second she didn’t want to touch the soft material, but this was left for her and perfect for Axel's show.

  She studied her image and smiled. Amazing. This was a more expensive version of what she’d have chosen for herself.

  She headed out and met the blue eyes of Axel, who waited in the hall.

  Only in her dreams would this have happened, and now that he was here, for her, everything around her dissipated and she felt like she walked in the clouds. She reached out and touched him, needing to know he was real and that she hadn’t imagined it all. “I’m ready.”

  He winked and looked her up and down, clearly checking her out with a smile of approval. “You’re perfect.”

  Her nose wrinkled, and she shook her head. Perfection was overrated so she countered, “I’ve never been that, but I’ll take pretty.”

  “Emily, you’re beautiful.” He kissed her hand and led her out of t
he hall.

  Walking beside him made everything better. “That is good to hear.”

  As they moved through the main house, she froze as she recognized a Monet. Her skin tingled that the painting was an original and not a replica.

  This entire place seemed more like a museum than a home. She stayed next to Axel as he led her toward a waiting limo. He held the rear passenger door for her to get inside and she patted his trim stomach. “I’ve always been curious about your life.”

  She settled into her seat and noticed the champagne bottle and two glasses in front of her.

  He came in beside her and closed the limo door. “How? Ask me anything.”

  For a moment she imagined herself brilliant and witty as she gazed at him with anticipation. “Anything?”

  “Yeah.” He gave her a slow smile that made her melt a little.

  This was it. Yeah! Oh no. Seriously? I have no wit at all. Teasing was a stupid idea. She folded her hands in her lap and ignored the heat in her cheeks as she asked, “So what’s it like to live from hotel room to hotel room every night on tour?”

  He settled back in his seat and stared at the ceiling. “Long and lonely.”

  Not the direction she wanted to go. She needed to figure out something, anything, to keep him smiling. Her heart pounded faster as she pushed forward with her next question. “But you’re with your band and all your people?”

  He shrugged. “They make it easier but their closeness is oftentimes a bandage to block the loneliness.”

  Wow--she'd never heard him say that in an interview. That was how she felt about her job. It covered for the fact she needed to be the serious one, as her sister had the star quality. “I thought you had parties every night?”

  Axel grimaced like he thought the idea was against his moral code. “Most nights, or I should say mornings, before we hit the road or head to the airport, I’m reading.”

  This was something new about Axel. She loved to read, almost anything. She ignored the goosebumps on her arms that came from seeing this as a real connection. “What do you like to read?”

  “Thrillers these days.” He spoke with an enthusiasm that she hadn’t expected.

  Her stomach knotted. She hadn’t read one of those in years as she repeated, “Thrillers?”

  “Yeah, where there is a chase.” He grinned.

  A book that made her react like that was usually a romance. “I’d think you’d want something to read that is relaxing.”

  He rested his hand on hers as they pulled into the arena and the crowd surged around the car. He ignored the fans and kept the tinted windows closed as they drove inside.

  Screams echoed around the car as people realized Axel had arrived. Fifteen years ago she’d have done anything to see Axel live, so the preteen girl inside her was all mushy with nostalgia. “Getting out of my head in a story is relaxing.”

  The imagination of a book always took her out of her humdrum times. Her leg rested against his. “So, you’re fielding books for Matthew to pitch for Hollywood?”

  His face went white when she said his brother’s name, but then he shrugged. “I could tell him about the good ones, I guess.”

  “You don’t then.” The limo stopped and fans crowded around. Security created a path to the arena door.

  “It’s my downtime.” He nodded at her to see if she was ready while he said, “We’re here.”

  She adjusted her shirt to ensure she was fully covered and then scooted out first.

  Shouts for pictures and bras that were thrown almost whacked her in the eye.

  Seriously, who wears spikes? Comfort was always first for her.

  And what if that spike had hit Axel and stopped the show?

  Before she could say anything, Axel had his hand on her lower back, leading her inside. “You can wait in my dressing room.”

  They passed the room, but she stayed beside him. “Can I watch from the sidelines? I had so much fun last night.”

  “Absolutely.” Hair and makeup people worked on Axel as he stood in the hall. He ignored them as the other members of the band all found their equipment backstage. A woman who must work at the venue unbuttoned Axel’s shirt, taking it away as Axel said, “Luca, Dwayne, Jackson, and Ethan, this is Emily.”

  The same woman handed him a black t-shirt as Dwayne, who used to scare her on TV when he’d been a child actor next to Axel, now gave a huge nod of approval. “Rock on. Your mother’s been asking us about a secret wife. Is that Emily?”

  Her body tightened.

  Axel answered fast. “No.”

  She wrung her hands in front of her and wished she had a better answer but she couldn’t stop herself as she explained, “We just met last night, after the show.”

  Ethan checked that the spike of his blond hair stood tall while he said, “After the show… wow. Axel, we thought you were above all that now.”

  Axel’s face sort of blushed though the flashing lights made it hard to tell. He said, “It’s not… we’re not. We went to dinner and I saw her home, as a gentleman.”

  "Hmm." Another member of the band spoke behind her and laughed. “And now she’s back. I’m sure Axel’s mother will be happy to meet you.”

  A hum in her veins grew and she swore it was in tune to the intro song they were about to perform. Axel looked like the same rock god she'd watched perform last night and her lips tingled for a kiss. “Why wasn’t your mom there this afternoon?”

  Axel waved off hair and makeup and returned to her side, brushing against her as he said, “My mother was helping Pilar. You’ll meet her tomorrow.”

  Dwayne asked, “You’re bringing her to meet your mother?”

  Axel glanced over her head and stared at all his friends when he said, “Yes, Emily is a bridesmaid. Linsey Wilson’s sister.”

  Ethan, the pianist, then asked, “Linsey? The one that wanted you to have her agent talk to your brother’s agent?”

  So that was what Axel meant about making a deal with his brother. Now she understood. She froze for that second, but then relaxed--it wasn't like Linsey had tried to sleep with Axel. Her sister had been into the drama and acting scene since elementary school.

  Axel said, “The same.”

  Now was not the time to become a wallflower so she said, “Small world, I guess. I’m not an actress. I’m a legal secretary.”

  Ethan gently patted her shoulder as he passed her. “Well, that’s good. None of us really like actresses, except Dwayne.”

  Dwayne grimaced and reminded her of the character he always played again when he said, “I don’t like actresses.”

  “You still talk to Theresa.” Luca held his guitar higher.

  Axel told his friends, “Let’s just play.”

  The guys rushed the stage. Axel turned to go and her heart was crushed that he hadn’t said goodbye.

  She ignored the electricity, but then Axel pivoted back to her and took both of her hands. “Emily?”

  “Yeah.” She hoped her tone didn’t give away her feelings. Axel was only temporary. They were both consenting adults.

  Tonight, maybe, she’d find out what it was like to be his, even for just a few hours. His forehead met hers as the crowd cheered his name. He ignored them and said, “Wait here.”

  Nothing would tear her away--and then his lips captured hers.

  It was like she'd died and gone to heaven, until he let her go.

  Her body hummed with the chorus of the song. Axel winked at her and headed on stage as he asked the crowd in a roar, “Are you guys ready to rock?”

  Cheers must be like a drug to him. There was no way she’d ever be able to jump into a song in perfect pitch like him.

  If she tried, even in her shower, her voice cracked.

  She edged closer to the stage to watch him work the cheering audience.

  An older man in a black shirt held a clipboard and asked, “You’re here with Axel?”

  He looked official and bodyguards were everywhere. Instinct to run hit her but s
he'd been invited so she lifted her chin and smiled. “Yeah. He said I could stay.”

  He reached behind her and she froze until he handed her a lanyard that read "guest". “Not a problem. You’ll need this badge to get around. There’s a chair if you want to sit and watch from back here.”

  “Thank you.” She turned to the stage again. Axel Morgan had a gift for entertainment. For right now she could say he was hers, but he was too talented to ever bottle up.

  The world needed him. She got it.

  The next song was her favorite. She swayed on her feet but then her phone beeped in her back pocket. She took one more look at Axel and read her text from her sister. Where are you?

  Had Linsey not paid attention at the rehearsal dinner? She stepped into the shadow so she didn't get distracted by the strobe lights and type the wrong thing--she reread her message to Linsey and then hit send. Axel’s show. Why?

  Three dots. The song changed again. Her heart raced a little faster but then she read her sister’s words. He’s a bad choice sis.

  Had Linsey wanted Axel? For once in her life did Emily have something Linsey wanted? Probably not, but she wasn’t sure so she studied the message as if it might reveal some hidden meaning and then texted back. Why? We’re just having fun.

  Another song came on. You don’t know how to just have fun.

  The words read like her sister’s mocking voice. Emily typed back fast. Stop.

  She tried to put her phone back in her pocket but it dinged. Emily was compelled to read even as she told herself she wouldn’t respond. She reeled when she read Linsey’s message. Look Mom wants us to be closer.

  Wow. Emily’s heart had a sting to it as her sister didn’t get to act like the perfect daughter. She typed back fast and furious. Matthew was talking about a movie he’s doing with Jennifer.

  They didn’t cast me.

  Oh. Maybe she was the bad sister and hadn’t understood this conversation. Empathy should be automatic. She cringed and typed back, Sucks. I’m sorry.

  But then Linsey said, Let’s make a deal.

  Was her life like a television show with a price tag to be determined? She pressed her lips together as she asked, What deal?