by Lucy Kevin
“I’d like to play a new song for you. One even the rest of the band hasn’t heard. Actually, it’s not that new, since it’s the last song I started working on before I hit a long dry spell with my songwriting. I didn’t realize, until a little while ago, that was because I wasn’t ready to say what I really needed to say.” He paused. “I call this one Whitney.”
And then he started to play.
Chapter Fifteen
The song was heartfelt and catchy and amazing.
It was about a man who had lost the woman he loved, and who kept on losing her, thinking that he would get close to finding her but never quite managing it. But he never gave up, either. Because, no matter what happened in their lives, or if they were apart, he loved her then, loved her now, and would love her forever.
He loved her.
Whitney moved forward through the audience as Tyce sang, listening to every word and knowing with each one just how difficult it must have been for him to let her go to pursue her dreams.
She reached the front row and set down Clementine’s carrier just as Tyce reached the end of the song. The lights were so bright, she knew he couldn’t see her. Until, finally, the room lights came up a little bit and he looked at her, his eyes wide, as though he couldn’t quite believe that she was there.
Even though he was in the middle of his show, Whitney couldn’t wait any longer. She jumped up onto the stage, took Tyce’s face in her hands, and kissed him. She kissed him sweetly, lingeringly, wanting to savor the moment as much as she could, and loving the taste of his mouth against hers.
“I love you, too,” she whispered.
At least, it was meant to be a whisper. It was only when the assembled audience cheered that she realized with the microphone on, they’d all heard it.
Once, that might have embarrassed Whitney, even shocked her. Right then, though, all she could think to do was say it again. “I love you, and the song was beautiful, and I don’t want to wait any longer. I want to be with you.”
“But Colorado…”
“I want Colorado, but I want you too. I’ll do whatever I have to so I can be with you. Travel across the country, come to San Francisco on weekends.”
“Or I could come to Colorado,” Tyce suggested. “If you’ll let me.”
By way of an answer, Whitney kissed him again.
“We should talk about this,” Tyce said. “I could end the show.”
“Don’t you dare!” Whitney insisted. “I’ll be right here. Listening to my favorite singer. Now and always.”
“And possibly trying to catch your cat,” Sebastian said from behind her. “I think she just got loose.”
Whitney got down off the stage before the crowd got too angry with her for interrupting the show, and was about to go after Clementine. But then Tyce and his band started playing again, and a couple of nice looking teenagers scooped up her cat and started spoiling her, which was a very good thing since Whitney couldn’t have moved away from the front of the stage for the world.
The band played with so much energy, and while Whitney had thought Tyce was amazing before, now every word he sang came straight from his heart. She danced until the music finally faded on the last song.
When Tyce finally jumped off the stage, she met him with another kiss. He kissed her back so thoroughly that it was all Whitney could do to keep from suggesting that they should abandon the party to rush back to his place.
His family and friends came up to tell him how great the music had been, and in the back of the room, she saw Sebastian kissing a girl about his age on the cheek. Whitney grinned thinking that her brother’s friend from school had obviously appreciated the performance, too. And she was beyond thrilled when the journalists all assured Tyce that their write-ups were going to be spectacular.
One female journalist turned her attention to Whitney while the others were crowding around Tyce. “It occurs to me that ‘Banning Heiress in Relationship With Up-and-coming Star’ makes a much bigger headline than ‘Local Musician Releases Album,’” the woman said, “but I thought I’d check with you before I went with that one.”
Not that long ago, Whitney would have worried about what her family would say, or what it would do to the Banning corporate reputation. Now, she just laughed. She wanted the world to know about her and Tyce. And she was beyond proud to be linked to him.
“If it means more people will hear Tyce’s music, it sounds good to me.”
Whitney felt two sets of warm, familiar arms come around her and belatedly realized that, of course, her parents had come to see Sebastian play.
“He’s not the reason I broke up with Kenneth,” Whitney said quickly. “Although the truth is that I never should have agreed to marry Kenneth in the first place.”
Her mother smiled at her. “Tyce seems like a great guy, honey.”
“All we’ve ever wanted was for you to be happy,” her father said. “And we’re so sorry we didn’t realize you were putting your dreams on hold for us.”
She hugged them back. “All of my dreams are coming true now.”
It was true, she thought, as Tyce moved beside her and she introduced him to her parents. She was finally learning how to put the pieces of a wonderful life together.
A family she adored.
Work she thrived on.
And a love she couldn’t live without.
After her parents left, Whitney and Tyce walked back into the main hall holding hands. Most everyone had left apart from the band...and Clementine.
Whitney’s cat was sitting in the middle of the floor washing herself sedately while Milo padded his way across the floor, obviously intent on sneaking up on her. The little dog kept low to the ground before barking in a way that made it clear he wanted Clementine to run away so that he could chase her.
Only, Clementine just kept licking herself, barely even bothering to look at him.
Milo crept closer, and Whitney started forward to interfere before Clementine ended up as the little dog’s chew toy. Only, just then, the cat whirled around and batted Milo with one paw, catching him squarely on the nose.
The little dog sat down sharply, almost falling over with the sheer shock of it. He whined and then lay down, looking up at Clementine as though not sure what to do next.
For her part, Clementine looked smug. She moved to sit beside Milo and pushed against him until he gave up the patch of floor he was on. Then she lay down with her head resting on the dog, using him as a pillow while she curled up and closed her eyes.
“I think we’ve worked out how that relationship is going to go,” Tyce said, wrapping his arms around Whitney so that his head rested on the top of her head. “Poor Milo. He never stood a chance.”
“I never did, either,” she murmured, turning in his arms to brush her lips against his. She pulled back to look up at the man she loved. “So, now that the animals are settled, have we worked out how our relationship is going to go?”
“We will,” Tyce promised. “I was thinking we could start with me moving to Colorado to be with you while you go to school.”
“You’d do that? Just uproot and leave? I thought you loved it here.”
“I love you more. And I can make music anywhere.” He smiled. “At least, anywhere you are. We could look for a nice little house with plenty of space for animals out back and close enough to the veterinary practice you’re going to set up.”
“Have you been reading my mind?”
Tyce put his hands in hers. “I know you, sweetheart. And I want you to have your dreams. All of them.”
She wrapped her arms around him. “I have one of them right here.”
“We both do,” Tyce assured her, pulling her close. But then, he was the one pulling back to stare down into her eyes. “Do you think the Rose Chalet might see another Banning wedding, after all?”
Whitney pressed tightly to him, loving the sensation of finally being so close when they’d been apart for so long. “I do,” she said softly, as a predic
tion of future vows. “After all,” she said with a smile, “I never did get that dream wedding.”
“You can have any dream you want, Whitney,” Tyce said, “Just as long as it doesn’t involve Gone With The Wind.”
Whitney laughed. “I think we can leave that one to Aunt Marge.”
And then Whitney kissed Tyce, standing right in the spot where so many brides had kissed their grooms before.
Epilogue
As Anne Farleigh headed off for home on foot after the concert, she couldn’t help smiling at how sweet and romantic Tyce and Whitney were together. They were clearly perfect for one another, and Anne was so glad they’d finally worked everything out.
She hoped their relationship would be as good as her parents’ had been. Her mother and father became childhood sweethearts after her father literally bumped into her mother in the high school corridor, helping her to pick up her books and asking her out on a date all at once. From there, they’d hardly ever been apart. They’d attended the same college, and married as soon as they graduated. He’d turned down a highly paid job opportunity so that he could be near her, and she later supported him while he wrote his novels.
Even when they’d died, their love had shone through. The emergency personnel had found their car at the bottom of a ravine, her parents holding hands, as though they’d reached out for one last touch of each other’s hands in their final moment.
One day, Anne hoped to find a love that pure and perfect with a man who would love her every bit as much as her father had loved her mother.
Anne liked to think that she took after them, though obviously the dresses she designed weren’t the same medium as her mother’s sculptures or her father’s novels.
It was why she did so much work with Rose and the brides at the chalet. Rose was her friend, and it was a wonderful opportunity to make beautiful dresses for people who really appreciated them. Ultimately, though, there was nothing better in the world than watching the love on the bride and groom’s faces when they were both saying, “I do.”
Anne was only a couple of blocks from home when Tyce’s van pulled up to the curb. “Why don’t you hop in so that Whitney and I can give you a ride the rest of the way.”
“Thanks,” she replied, “but it’s a lovely night.”
“Lovely?” Whitney said with both Milo and Clementine sitting on her lap looking out at Anne. “It’s raining. And your dress is getting wet.”
“Rain is lovely,” Anne replied. True, her dress was getting fairly wet, but she’d only made it for this party and would likely alter it completely before she wore it again. She smiled at both of them. “You gave a great show tonight, Tyce. I’m so glad you were able to make it, Whitney.” She waved them away. “Have a great night.”
Her house had once belonged to her parents but was now hers alone. It was a large Craftsman style home, not too far from the Rose Chalet, and built with a family in mind.
She was surprised to see a black SUV parked outside her house, a man standing in front of the car in the rain. He was wearing dark jeans and a dark jacket Even though he was staring at her without the barest hint of a smile, Anne couldn’t help but think that he was very good looking, with slightly long brown hair and piercing blue eyes that were hard to ignore even through the rain.
Assuming the shiver that went through her was simply a reaction to her cool, wet clothes pressing against her skin, Anne smiled over at him as she walked up her front steps to get out of the rain.
“Hello,” she called out, “are you looking for someone?”
“Are you Anne Farleigh?”
When she nodded, he moved toward her. When he reached the covered porch, he reached into his black jacket and held out an envelope.
Surprised, Anne took it and immediately reached inside to see what it was. Her eyes widened slightly as she read the document.
“You’ve made a mistake,” she said, holding out the envelope to the man in front of her. “You have the wrong person.”
“Your parents were Edward and Chloe Farleigh?”
Anne nodded. “Yes.”
The man shook his head crisply. “Then I’m afraid there hasn’t been any mistake. I’m here to serve you with legal papers relating to your father’s other daughter.”
~ THE END ~
Don’t miss the first two books in the Four Weddings and a Fiasco series
THE WEDDING GIFT
(Four Weddings and a Fiasco, Book #1)
THE WEDDING DANCE
(Four Weddings and a Fiasco, Book #2)
* * *
Watch for Anne and Gareth’s love story in
THE WEDDING DRESS
Coming Fall 2012
* * *
Please enjoy the following excerpt from Lucy Kevin’s books...
THE WEDDING GIFT
Book #1 in the Four Weddings and a Fiasco Series
© 2012 Lucy Kevin
After Julie Delgado’s restaurant closes, she temporarily takes over the catering position at the Rose Chalet, a full-service San Francisco wedding venue. She plans to dazzle the bride and groom so the chalet’s owner will keep her around, but fate has other plans for her when the bride’s brother shows up for the first food tasting.
Andrew Kyle is not only the Cuisine Channel’s Edgy Eats host and chef, but his recent review of Julie’s restaurant was the final nail in its coffin. Once he meets Julie at the Rose Chalet, he’s certain she’s playing it safe. And he wants nothing more than to be the one to break her guarded passions loose.
But despite the undeniable sparks between Julie and Andrew–and the fact that he seems to believe in her when no one else does–can she afford to be taking risks with her cooking, with her career…or with her heart?
Enjoy the following excerpt for THE WEDDING GIFT...
It wasn’t easy trying to finish off the main courses and desserts, knowing all the while that Andrew Kyle was probably out there telling the Rose Chalet’s owner exactly how awful Julie’s food was. And Rose would listen, of course, because what else would she be able to do in the face of a triple whammy: celebrity chef, the groom’s brother, and great dimples?
Enough about the dimples, Julie ordered herself. Just remember what he did.
It was pretty hard to forget. One review from the city’s most prominent TV chef, and her business had come crashing down around her ears. The faint trickle of new customers Julie had hoped would widen into a stream dried up completely. Her entire dream went south in a matter of weeks, all thanks to the man who was currently sampling Julie’s seafood platter.
Well, she couldn’t let him ruin this dream too. Which meant Julie couldn’t do anything horrible to his food, even if a small part of her wanted the revenge.
The truth was, the best revenge would be to show him just how wrong he had been. All she had to do was present him with the best plates of food in her life, and then force him to eat his words.
Easy.
Though if it was that easy, why was her hand shaking while she finished the duck? She needed to focus, take her time, and—
“Is everything okay?”
Julie jumped at the sound of Andrew’s voice, almost slicing a finger open in the process.
What was he doing in her kitchen? Had he finally realized who she was? Had he come to gloat?
Or, maybe, to apologize for what he’d done?
Knowing anything she really wanted to say to him would get her instantly fired by Rose, Julie settled for, “I’m not sure you should be in here.”
“No, it’s fine—”
“Julie,” she reminded him, like he hadn’t just been told her name a few minutes ago. “Julie Delgado.”
Was there a flicker of recognition in his eyes? Did he even vaguely remember her name?
Then again, why would he? He was a famous chef. She was a nobody who couldn’t keep her own kitchen open and was now cooking for scraps at a wedding venue.
“I asked Rose before I came in to see the kitchen where the food for
the wedding might be prepared.”
“Might be?”
“My brother and his fiancé deserve the best. I promised I’d cast my chef’s eye over it as my wedding gift to them. Which is why I’d appreciate it if you could bring the desserts out with the main courses and stay with us as we go through everything.” He flashed that brilliant smile of his. “After all, I’m sure the two of us will have a lot to talk about.”
For a moment, Julie wondered if he meant the review, but those darn dimples of his were turning her brain just enough to mush so that all she could manage was, “Will we?”
“Sure,” Andrew replied, with another smile.
Oh my God, after all he’d done, was he actually flirting with her?
Julie just barely resisted the urge to hit him with the nearest thing on hand, but only because it happened to be a saucepan full of steadily reducing plum sauce. Of all the arrogant…
Again, Julie forced herself to take a deep breath and reminded herself that since she obviously wasn’t important enough for the big star to remember, why wouldn’t he try out the charm that had everybody else fooled?
“I’d be happy to bring out everything at once,” Julie said, if only because it seemed like the quickest way to get him out of her kitchen. “Just give me a minute or two.”
Actually, it was more like ten, but at least for those blissful minutes, Julie didn’t have to worry about anything more serious than whether her gateaux had set properly, and how she was possibly going to balance everything. As fun as it might be to dream of ‘accidentally’ tripping and covering Andrew Kyle with food, Julie knew perfectly well that she wasn’t going to do it.
In the end, she was surprised when Andrew got up to help her with the plates and even made a trip to the kitchen to carry out the desserts.
Once they sat back down, Andrew examined the plates with a critical eye. Beside him, Rose’s expression was indecipherable. Of course, she was probably as concerned as Julie was that this should go well, and if she’d ever watched Edgy Eats–or read one of Andrew’s restaurant reviews–Rose would know how harsh his judgments could be.
