Chapter 1
Tessa
It was the most beautiful wedding I’d ever been to, and not just because of the way my brother’s face lit up whenever he saw his soon-to-be wife.
And, okay, it was one of the only weddings I’d attended, but that wasn’t what I was focusing on. No, it was everything—the perfect fall vibes. Noelle’s beautiful white dress shimmered in the light, covered in delicate tulle and lace designs.
They were having it at a pumpkin patch outside of the city, with the reception being held in the barn. Last night at the rehearsal dinner, their love had been contagious.
Enough for me to admit that maybe I was wishing I had a special someone that looked at me like that, too. After I’d graduated college, love had been the last thing on my mind. Now… even I got lonely sometimes.
Two and a half years ago, I’d been finishing college in New York when my brother had met the love of his life on the college campus he worked on as a professor. Ever since, I’d gotten even closer to her, and now she was one of my closest friends—and soon, she’d be my sister.
“Matthew?” I knocked on the door to the room where the guys were getting ready, already dressed in my pumpkin orange silky bridesmaid dress. I’d been sent over here to make sure the guys hadn’t forgotten anything.
We’d spent all morning getting our hair and makeup done. Though I was pretty used to being pampered in a chair at this point, this was different. We’d all smiled and laughed the whole time, drinking champagne and sharing stories about the happy couple from the last two years.
I was excited when Noelle asked me to be in the wedding, standing alongside her best friends—Charlotte, Angelina, and Gabbi. It was fitting, I guess, that my brother had asked her cousin, Oliver, to stand on his side.
She was the closest thing Noelle had to a brother.
“Hey, Hollywood.” The man in question grinned at me as he opened the door, leaning against the frame. His eyes were heated as he looked at me, a blatant perusal down my body.
Standing at five foot ten, I was tall, but he was still taller, muscular, but not too buff.
And he took my breath away any time he entered the room.
It was almost unfair how gorgeous he was.
With the freckles that dotted his cheekbones and that beautiful auburn hair, I’d never been so attracted to a guy.
Since the first time we’d met, I’d tried to ignore my attraction to him. After all, I’d never been planning on staying in Portland. So besides a few visits a year, it wasn’t like we saw each other enough for anything to happen.
Not that I even knew if he liked me that way. Though there was the way he’d checked me out when he saw me standing at the door.
Still, he’d been a perfect gentleman ever since the day we’d met.
So I tried my best to do the same, to not give any indication that I was interested.
Except… it was really hard when he called me Hollywood.
It reminded me of the day we’d met. Of how sure he was when he’d told me.
You’re going to be the brightest star there, Hollywood.
I mean, what was I supposed to do with that? For the longest time, I just wanted to prove him right. Getting cast in my own show this summer had felt like I was doing that. So obviously, I’d been avoiding being alone with him all weekend.
“Hi, Oliver.” I cleared my throat. God, he looked good in a suit. “Is my brother here?”
He stepped back. “Of course.”
“Tess.” My brother’s voice caught my attention, and I pulled my eyes away from Oliver—a shame, really—looking at my brother in his wedding tux.
I gave him a thumbs up. “You look really handsome. Noelle’s going to lose her mind.”
He looked down at the cream colored suit. “Thanks. I tried to stick with the theme. Anything to make her happy, you know.”
“You’re such a sap.” I pushed at his shoulder. Watching how he loved Noelle for the past two years had been inspiring.
Because for the longest time, he’d been quiet and reserved, grumpy for everyone but me.
Part of it was that he blamed himself for our parents death.
After all, they’d been driving to visit him at college and the roads had been icy.
It took a long time for him to realize that it wasn’t his fault.
Time, and therapy, which had given me the lovable brother I had today.
Now, he was showing off that secret golden retriever side I’d always known he had. Because my brother was absolutely, completely obsessed with his girl.
“You look beautiful.” Matthew leaned in, pulling me into a hug. “I wish our parents could be here.”
I hugged him back tighter. “I know,” I whispered.
“They’d be so proud of you.” There was no doubt in my mind that if our parents had still been alive, they would have loved Noelle.
She was impossible not to love, with her sunshine personality, her love for all things sweet, and the way she always had her nose in a book.
He nodded. “Thanks, Tess.”
“I just came to check on you guys. See if you need anything.” I looked around the room, at the guys loitering around. Most of his groomsmen were his best friends since college—with the exception of Oliver, of course.
I caught his eye and looked away quickly, feeling the warmth rush to my face.
“Nah, I think we’re okay. Snowball’s still with you girls, right?”
Snowball, the samoyed I’d given Matthew several years ago when she was a little white fluff ball of a puppy, was hanging out under Noelle’s feet when I left. The dog loved Matthew, but she loved Noelle even more.
“She is.” I giggled. “I’m not sure she’s going to be very happy walking down the aisle without her.”
Snowball was walking in before all of us at the wedding, one happy pup as the flower dog. Matthew’s best friend’s toddler, Theo, was the ring bearer. I was pretty sure everyone was going to be melting from the cuteness. My ovaries were already screaming, and it hadn’t even happened yet.
My brother chuckled. “That would be a sight.” It sure would.
“Okay, well I should get back in there,” I said, pointing with my thumb at the door. “The photographer got pictures of you getting ready, right?”
“Yes, Tess.” He ran his hands through his long blond strands, messing them up. “Tell Noelle everything is fine and she doesn’t have to worry.”
“You really think that will help?” I raised an eyebrow.
He shook his head. “No, but tell her I’ll still be the one meeting her at the end of the aisle.” He grinned. “And that I can’t wait for her to be my wife.”
That would help, I thought. “Alright. Off I go.” I gave him one last hug. “Love you.”
“Love you too, Tess.”
Turning, I moved to walk out the door. Except there was a large ginger standing in my way, and I looked up, staring into his green eyes.
He hummed, hands reaching out to still me.
I couldn’t stop thinking about how he’d looked at me, his eyes skimming down my body.
Like he liked what he saw. I hoped he didn’t see my blush.
All thoughts fled from my mind, and I blinked. “Sorry. I—”
“See you down there, partner,” Oliver said, winking.
I blushed, even though we’d walked arm in arm together during the rehearsal yesterday afternoon.
Somehow, I still couldn’t believe we were walking in together.
Of all the people I’d been paired up with, that it was him.
I was pretty sure Noelle was playing matchmaker, like she didn’t have enough of that as a romance author.
Running my palms down my dress, I walked back to the bridal suite, feeling suddenly nervous.
When was the last time I’d been like this around a guy?
When was the last time I’d felt flutters in my stomach just from the sight of a beautiful man who seemed interested in me?
Years. Maybe the last time I’d been in a relationship.
But, if I was being honest with myself, it had been even longer than that.
Though I’d gone on a few dates while living in LA, it never felt right.
Thankfully in the last two years, I’d been fairly incognito.
No one had known who I was yet, acting in low budget films or getting booked for small parts on TV shows, so I didn’t get recognized at restaurants or stalked by the paparazzi trying to catch a glimpse of who I was with.
Would that change with the new show? I hated the idea that it would.
Because as much as I loved acting—and I always had—I loved my life, too.
Loved being able to come up to Portland to spend time with my brother without people on the street noticing me.
Loved that I could do this as a career and still be me.
Of course, I was lucky. Lucky enough to even be pursing this path, that I had something to fall back on even if I failed.
I’d been working a waitressing gig part time ever since moving to California, but hopefully after the show was out, I wouldn’t need it anymore.
It was a reminder that my life was anywhere but here. Portland might have been my brother’s home, but it wasn’t mine.
Shaking my head, I walked back into the dressing room with the girls. I definitely did not need to be focusing on Oliver—not today. Not when there was a bride to finish getting ready and a couple to get married.
And not when I was going to be leaving soon.
“How was it in there?” Noelle asked, running her hands through Snowball’s fur.
I gave her a small smile. “Good. Everyone’s dressed. No one forgot their corsage or tie.”
She let out a breath. “Thank god.”
“Oh, and my brother said to remind you not to worry, because hell still be the one meeting you at the end of the aisle.” Her best friends and my fellow bridesmaids—Charlotte, who was largely pregnant, Angelina, and Gabbi—all let out a chorus of awws. “And that he can’t wait for you to be his wife.”
Noelle dabbed at her eyes, looking up towards the ceiling.
“Don’t ruin your makeup, babe,” Charlotte practically cried, getting up and fanning her face, taking her matron of honor duties seriously.
“I can’t help it,” she laughed. “I’m just so happy. I love him so much.”
“I know, Noelle. I remember that feeling all too well.” Charlotte ran her hand over her bump. She’d married her best friend—Daniel, Angelina’s older brother—last year, and they were expecting their first baby this winter.
The two girls hugged, and then the door opened, the wedding planner stepping inside. “How are you feeling, bride to be?” She smiled. “Ready to go get married?”
Noelle nodded. “More than ready.” She grinned, all trace of tears from earlier quickly evaporated.
We all piled in, hugging her tight before heading downstairs, and I wasn’t thinking about Oliver Graham—not one bit. Not about how in just a few minutes, I’d be at his side, smelling his cologne. Definitely not thinking about what it would be like to kiss him, not at all.
At least, that was the lie I was telling myself.