The Accidental TV Star (12 page)

Garrett made a motion with his first two fingers and a servant dressed in full uniform came to his elbow. He looked at me. “Tea? Soda?”

“Either. Thanks.”

The servant nodded and backed away. He brought both. The tea was served hot with milk and sugar and the soda came in a tall thin glass, without ice. A sliver of lime floated on top. I glanced at Garrett and he grinned at me and took the tea. His expression dared me to mention the lime or ask for ice. Not wanting to be labeled the picky American, I drank the lukewarm, fizzy cola without complaint, ignoring the fruit.

The other guests, all age ranges, filled in around us, and the first course was served. It consisted of a small potato garnished with rosemary, bland but pretty. I ate it and sipped my drink. Half a glass of caffeine in and the first course done, I became awake enough to take a closer look at my fellow diners. Guests separated Garrett from his brothers while his parents sat at either end of the table.

The bridal party had coordinated. The bride wore a white sundress and her thirteen bridesmaids wore pale yellow sundresses. From the conspiratorial looks the bride was giving one of the bridesmaids, and the stares from Garrett to me, I’d guess she’d intended to set Garrett up this weekend, and I’d gotten in the way.

As if noting my attention, the bride turned to me. “Where are you from, Marissa?”

“Trallwyn, Texas.”

“Hmm, never heard of it.”

“Is that by Disneyland?” a bridesmaid asked and snickered.

“No.”

“So how do you know Garrett?” The bride raised her pale eyebrows and tilted her chin. Her tone was borderline rude, but here, as in America, the bride ruled, so no one challenged her.

“He answered my fan mail.”

Garrett choked on his spoonful of vegetable soup, the second course, and shook his head. “She’s a school friend of Caz’s girlfriend, Ashley.” Garrett seemed to have lost his sense of humor around his family.

One of the bridesmaids sighed and got a dreamy expression in her hazel eyes. “Caspian.”

Another bridesmaid elbowed the sigher. “Stop drooling.”

A third bridesmaid, the most polished-looking of the thirteen, said, “You’ll get your chance when Caspian drops the American and comes home.”

The slight to Ashley annoyed me, but men were unreliable. The server chose that moment to set the next course: braised beef cooked medium well with a side of English peas. I dug in.

The bridesmaid’s shiny blown-out hair swung as she turned to the bride. “Just like your groom did. He lived in America for…how long was it, Deirdre? A year?” The bridesmaid’s tone had a malicious edge.

The afternoon sunlight revealed the bride’s pinched mouth. “Two.”

“And he came back to you, right? Well, eventually.”

Ooh. Someone was cheated on.

The bride turned to me instead of answering. “So you go to University with Ashley?”

“No, I start University in the fall in Houston. Ashley’s going to UCLA. We grew up together.”

“University,” Garrett’s oldest brother, Colin, said. “Not much in common with Garrett, then.”

Garrett’s fingers tensed on his fork. His brothers had made several jabs at the start of the meal about him not being in school. Not only were they not impressed with his career choice, they actively mocked it.

No wonder Garrett let their calls go to voicemail. I said, “I like to cook.”

“Ah,” all of his brothers said at the same time and nodded. That made sense to them.

I was halfway through my entree when Garrett and his brothers finished theirs. The bride had taken two bites. I wished she’d eat up. Then again, with these bridesmaids around her, I doubted even food could help her mood.

Garrett’s dad leaned forward as the server put dessert in front of everyone. “Maybe a smart lass, like you, can talk some sense into my boy. Get him into university.”

“Hmm,” I said, and shoved a strategic spoonful of the dry, un-sweet cake with the liquid cream into my mouth. I chewed while his dad lectured on the virtues of higher education.

Garrett grinned at me. His eyes gleamed as he turned to his dad. “Marissa’s on a reality show.”

His dad sat back in his chair and blinked. The polished bridesmaid looked away and snickered. The bride leaned in and whispered to her. I wanted to smack her. The remainder of the bridesmaids seemed split, half were impressed, half superior.

“
Scoop Out
,” I said.

“Never heard of it,” the bride said.

Archie said, “We get it over here. I watched the first one and laughed and laughed.”

Garrett’s youngest brother barked at me. Vicious people. No wonder the clans were always fighting in the history books. I didn’t know where my Steele family fell along the ancient geographical borderlines, but if this group was indicative of what they’d faced here, I could see why they ran to America.

“As an American, what are you wearing to the wedding?” the bridesmaid with the most makeup on asked. “I mean, as a courtesy, I’m wearing the Campbell tartan with a touch of my own.” She lifted her fingers to a purple and yellow plaid hairpiece worn high above her left ear.

“It’s a surprise,” I said.

Garrett finished the last bite of his cake, released his fork, and touched my shoulder. “As my date, she’ll wear Campbell colors, of course.”

The bridesmaid said, “Ah, I can give you a lesson on traditional kilt draping. Pleated wool skirt over a white ruffled blouse. You’ll love it.” The expression in her eyes said I wouldn’t.

I conveyed with my own gaze that if I didn’t enjoy the process, neither would she. Then I latched onto my one hope. “Thanks, but Garrett’s mom is sorting me out.” I hoped Garrett’s mom hadn’t meant she’d sic this bridesmaid on me.

I touched Garrett’s arm and pulled his head down so I could whisper in his ear, “No ruffles, no lederhosen, no clogs.”

“You’re mixing your countries.”

“And if your brother barks at me one more time, I’m taking him down. I’m not an only child. I’ve got little brother takedown moves you can’t even imagine.”

Garrett’s lips curled up and his eyebrows rose.

***

My green and blue plaid dress was stunning: silk, with an M-shaped bodice, fitted to just below my waist with a full skirt. Ashley’s had a heart-shaped neckline, natural waist, and equally full all the way to the hem. Garrett’s mom had style when she dropped the pearls. Crazy, high-end fashion style. More style than either Ashley or me.

“I’m so glad his mom is close to our size,” Ashley said, adjusting the dried heather wreath on her head, the one questionable feature of our outfits.

“I know, right?” I put the curling wand down and bowed to receive a similar wreath.

“I crown you Queen of all wreath wearers.”

“A dream I didn’t know I had.” I snickered. “Did you see the strip of wool they’re throwing on the groom’s guests who didn’t show up wearing plaid?”

Ashley touched the circlet. “We got lucky. What are we in for? What’s his family like?”

“They’re pretty nice about having extra guests sprung on them. His brothers are typical brothers. All of them give him grief for being an actor instead of a college student.”

“Caz’s family pushes him to act
more
.”

“And mine wants me home. What does yours want, Ash?”

She laughed. “They’re happy as long as I’m not rolling around on a bed on the big screen.”

Ashley had met Caz while working as an assistant on his set. Her family had not been thrilled when she’d ended up doing a love scene in his movie, even one rated PG-13.

I picked up my skirts, admiring the flash of fuchsia nail polish against the dark silk. “Let’s go find the guys. I’ll tell you about the bridal party on the way.”

We stopped at the top of the balcony and looked down. Garrett and Caz stood on the white marble floor just below us.

“OMG, look at our dates,” Ashley whispered. They wore kilts in the same blue, green, and black pattern as our dresses with white shirts and black tuxedo jackets.

All those romance novels growing up or some genetic memory sparked a crazy reaction. It stopped me in my tracks while at the same time made me want to throw myself at Garrett. “My fake date looks so hot.”

***

I’d been to weddings in backyards before. This was different. The grounds behind Garrett’s house held the remnants of a ruined castle on the edge of a cliff overlooking the ocean. Twinkle lights draped the stones in the late afternoon light and an open air stage had been set up for dancing. Magical. Music from the band rocked through the night air, fast, slow, country, rock, classic, local. Some songs I recognized, some I didn’t. Each new song added to the surreal nature of the evening.

The more polished bridesmaid came up to me. Her mouth pinched as she took in my gorgeous gown. Then she looked over at Garrett and Caz, laughing at something Ashley had said. “Like I said, Garrett will come home where he belongs and marry a girl from here. So will Caspian. Warn Ashley, won’t you?”

“No.”

“You won’t be on my continent much longer, and you won’t give us another thought. But memories and events like tonight will pull Garrett home.” She spoke in a heavy accent, her words hard to understand.

“Sorry, was that English?” I asked to piss her off.

Her head jerked back at the insult. She slowed her speech and repeated it.

I wondered for a moment if I’d feel insecure or threatened if I was actually dating Garrett, but since I wasn’t, I didn’t. “Why wait? Go ahead and make your move. Garrett’s a big boy. He can make up his own mind.”

The bridesmaid’s face tightened so much it ended her striking prettiness.

“Marissa,” Garrett called.

I joined him at our table.

“Try this so you don’t ever make it for me,” he said.

I opened my mouth for the dry oat cake. He was right. I’d never make it for him. I chewed with my eyes tracking the bridesmaid.

“What’d she want?” Ashley asked.

“To derail my true love with Garrett here.”

Ashley laughed.

“Don’t laugh too hard. She wants a piece of yours too.”

Ashley grinned. “Who doesn’t?”

Caz brushed a hand over her arm.

“Hey,” I teased. “I thought the British weren’t demonstrative.”

Caz laced his fingers with Ashley’s. “It’s the first day we’ve had away from her parents, the set, and baby Bray, the chaperone.”

Ashley kissed the back of his hand, and then spoke to me. “Speaking of dates…Evan emailed me yesterday.”

“And?”

Caz frowned. “Who’s Evan?”

“Marissa’s ex,” Garrett said. “Doesn’t know when to let go. He’s like the moss growing on the stones over there. The gardener tries to kill it, but it just keeps coming back. As if cursed by a long ago chlorophyll god to destroy the color grey.”

“Why’s he texting Ash?” Caz asked.

Ashley touched Caz’s arm. “He’s a friend. Anyway, he’s serious about driving down and getting you back.”

“Huh, uh,” Caz said. “She’s your chef now and your date. He’s out.”

Ashley pursed her lips and looked at Garrett. “Evan’s really hot. As Marissa’s fake boyfriend, you should worry.”

I drained my cup of cider. “Tonight, I’m just thinking about dancing.” I stood up.

Garrett rose too. “I like to dance.”

I smiled up at him. “Good, Cinderella, because you’re my date until midnight.”

“Until we return to LA.” His voice was low with a hint of insistence.

“Nope, just midnight. Then you’re my boss again and hands off.” A flash of light came from the left. I turned to the approaching photographer and gave a polite smile. Garrett yanked me off balance and I fell into him, laughing. The photographer took more shots and I led Garrett to the dance floor. “Is he getting more of our table than any other?” I shook my head. “Don’t answer that. Stupid question. Of course he is. You and Caz are there.”

We finished the dance and Garrett spun me through the twinkle-lit ruins. The setting was amazing. Pink rays lit the blue sky as the sun began to set. Beautiful. People had danced, married, and lived here for centuries and here we were, carrying on the same traditions in the twenty-first century. Magic.

“You should worry about one of the stealth bridesmaids stealing me away. She’ll use fairy dust to make me stray and I won’t be seen for decades. You’d miss me so.”

“Please. They’ve got nothing on me. And you haven’t dated until you’ve dated a cook.”

“Why is that?” he asked, his voice teasing.

How often in life do you get this type of opportunity? I wanted it. I looked up into his bright green eyes and lowered my voice. “Do you know somewhere private? I’ll show you.”

Garrett tightened his arms. “Aye.” He led me off the dance floor.

“Wait,” I said, detouring by the caterer’s table. I lifted a dessert and a cup of tea.

Garrett placed two sugar cubes on the saucer. “I like it sweet, no milk.” He grabbed a cut crystal tumbler of whiskey and motioned toward the cliff. “This way.” We walked through the ruins closer to the edge. Away from the band, the music softened and the sound of waves became clearer. I sank onto the grass, putting the dessert and drinks within reach. I scooted back, against one of the tall ancient stones and watched the water. A length of ruined wall gave the area some privacy. “Amazing.”

“It’s the sea, we have it everywhere. Show me why you haven’t dated until you’ve dated a cook.”

I patted the ground beside me and he joined me as the sun lowered into the ocean, leaving us in darkness lit by stars, the moon, and twinkle lights. Grinning, I turned my head and found Garrett watching me. I gathered the skirts of my plaid gown in my hands. “Get comfortable.” I inched closer. Garrett put his hands on my waist as if guessing my intent. I straddled his lap and my knees dug into the cool grass. The silk of my skirt dropped from my hands. “Cooking has many important dimensions.”

“Aye, ‘tis a worthy pursuit.”

“Some of the key components are appearance, temperature, taste, and texture.” My fingers brushed his and warmth tingled throughout my body. “Which do you want to learn about tonight?”

“All of them.”

My mouth curled up. “You have to choose.”