Moonlight Kiss

Mia arched one eyebrow. “I could introduce you to some really cute Cougar players.”

Addison shook her head. “I’m done with dudes for a while.”

“Did you just say dudes?”

Addison had to grin. Mia was already making her feel better. “California has left its mark in more ways than one. If I start saying hella you can smack me.”

“Well, before long you’ll be saying y’all and bless your heart.”

“I love a good Southern twang,” Addison said, but then shook her head. “But I have to admit that the mere fact that I’m here is still sort of surreal. A week ago I was planning my wedding . . . again.”

“Yeah, I got my invitation. Oh, Addison, I’m so sorry.” Mia’s smile faded and she shook her head. “You don’t have to, but do you want to tell me about the whole Garret Ruleman thing? I saw some stuff on TV but I know it’s not true. I won’t breathe a word.” She made a show of crossing her heart just like they had done when they were little. Before Uncle Mitch’s first marriage fell apart they used to see each other on a regular basis. And then everything had changed.

“I don’t mind talking about it.”

“It might help.”

Addison took a swallow of her cold tea and then began. “After Aiden cheated, I found myself mourning the loss of our friendship much more than the romantic side. I know now that something neither of us realized was missing. Something important called passion. But still, the whole thing tore me up and I fell into a blue funk.” Addison sighed. “When I met Garret he brought laughter back into my life. He had me trying new and crazy adventures like skydiving, swimming with dolphins . . . even silly stuff like karaoke.” Addison shrugged. “I simply adored being with him and assumed it was love. When he proposed it was a no-brainer, or so I thought.” Addison looked across the table at Mia. “So, how, tell me—how do you know when it’s the real deal?” Addison leaned forward with a hand to her chest. “Apparently I don’t have a clue.”

Mia frowned for a moment. “I don’t know if I can really explain it but I guess it’s the intensity of everything. Everything about being with Cam is just . . . more. I love him more, miss him more, and even get angrier than with anyone else I’ve ever known. I even get jealous from time to time, and I’m not that kind of person except with him. It’s because I care about Cam more than I’ve ever felt about any other guy before.”

Addison nibbled on her lip, thinking.

Mia grinned. “But do you want the easy answer?”

Addison nodded hard. “Please.”

“The kiss.” Mia closed her eyes and sighed.

“The kiss?” Addison sat back in her seat in disbelief. “Like, being a good kisser is the key to happiness?”

“Yeah . . . for real . . . it’s how you know.” Mia gave her a dreamy smile. “The kiss, especially the very first one, just blows you away. You can’t stop thinking about it, reliving it over and over. At the risk of sounding corny, you just sort of . . . melt.”

Addison looked at her while trying to recall if she ever felt like she was melting. Nope. But really, come on . . .

“Don’t roll your eyes at me.”

“I didn’t!” Addison laughed, while Sunny refilled their tea and put down a basket of crackers.

“Internally, you did. But anyway, finish your Garret story. What really ended the engagement?”

By the time Addison finished telling Mia about the reality-show idea, Mia was shaking her head. “Yeah, two broken engagements in less than five years is too many,” Addison lamented. After Sunny delivered the soup and sandwiches, Addison said, “I have enough wedding stuff to open my own store.” Addison took a sip of her soup and pointed to the bowl with her spoon. “Oh, this is so good.”

“Wow . . .” Mia raised her eyebrows. “Wow . . .” she repeated, and then smiled slowly. “You should totally do it.”

“Do what?” Addison asked absently as she scooped up another bite of the savory broth.

“You should open up a bridal shop.”

“I was kidding.”

“I’m not,” Mia said as she opened a pack of crackers. “No, seriously. Dad put in this gorgeous strip of shops down by the river called Wedding Row. The buildings are new but look like an extension of Main Street in Cricket Creek. Nicolina’s jewelry shop is next door, along with a bakery specializing in wedding cakes. There are a tuxedo shop and florist and soon there will be a photographer, but Dad has been searching for someone to open a bridal boutique, without any luck.” She lifted her palms toward Addison. “Voila!”

“Mia . . .” Addison warned in a low tone, but there was no stopping her bubbly cousin.

“The shop is ready to go. I mean shelving, lighting, and everything. All it needs is inventory and someone to open it up.”

“Mia, I’m only here for a visit.”

“Yeah, so was I.” Mia raised her hands skyward. “So was my father, and look how that turned out.”

“But my family lives in LA,” Addison protested, but a tiny bit of excitement blossomed in her stomach.

“They would visit. It would force your mom to take some time off.” Mia took a drink of her tea and then tilted her head. “There aren’t paparazzi here in Cricket Creek.”

Addison took a bite of her sandwich and chewed slowly as she actually started to consider this crazy suggestion. “I do have a degree in business, but what do I know about running a bridal boutique?”

“Don’t you help your father run his art gallery?”

“Yes.”

“There you go. Same concept. Just different inventory.”

“But would there really be that much demand for wedding dresses in a small town? I wouldn’t know where to begin.”

“I’ll be your first customer. Cam has been bugging me to set a date. Well, okay, next September after baseball season is over. I want to get married here at Wine and Diner, I think. There’s a beautiful courtyard and gazebo. Cam and I met here, so it would be perfect. Granted, Cricket Creek is small, but we’re within a few hours of Nashville, Tennessee; Lexington, Kentucky; and Cincinnati, Ohio. And those are just a few of the urban areas close enough to drive from. Weddings are big business these days. That’s why Dad and Nicolina thought of Wedding Row. But you can think small and then grow. Hey, I rhymed.”

Addison chuckled. “You are very persuasive. You know that? I bet you’re good at your job.”

“Well, I used to plan lots of charity balls back in Chicago. I had more skills than I gave myself credit for. . . . Wait. . . .” Mia paused and then gasped. “You could plan weddings too!”

“Well, I do have experience in planning a wedding,” Addison said with dark humor. “Make that plural.” She held up two fingers.

“I could help in the baseball off-season. Actually, with Cam gone so much I could find time to help you even now. We could have the boutique stocked and ready to open inside a month, maybe sooner. Dad wants to add a hotel and convention center down by the stadium, so that could eventually bring in out-of-town guests. The marina is going to expand too. This little town is continuing to grow by leaps and bounds. I even heard that they are expanding Whisper’s Edge, the retirement community down by the riverfront. The owner, Tristan McMillan, teamed up with his mother, who just moved here and opened up a real estate office on the corner of Wedding Row, and it’s doing well. As a matter of fact, Maggie McMillan is in charge of leasing the remaining space left in Wedding Row, so we’ll get the key from her later. See? No one wants to leave Cricket Creek once they come here,” Mia said before happily sliding a spoonful of soup into her mouth.

“Oh, Mia, I don’t know. I mean, I don’t have a place to live. . . .”

“Well, there are a couple of choices. You could lease a condo high-rise where I live. Dad checked and there is one available. But there are really cool lofts above the shops in Wedding Row. Nicolina used to live above her jewelry shop before she and Dad built their own house. She still uses it as an office. Maggie McMillan lives above her real estate agency as well. The lofts have a big open floor plan and view of the river, hardwood flooring, exposed brick walls, and beamed ceilings. The appliances are stainless steel and the countertops are granite.”