What the Heart Wants

Chapter 1-1

Chapter 1

Darkness ejected Heaven from its icy grasp as her eyes fluttered. The last fragments of her dream faded with each passing second, but a voice called to her. Its pleading tone stung her heart.

Stay…

She struggled to recall the man’s face. It was impossible, but it felt like he haunted her dreams every night. This sure as hell wasn’t the first time it had happened, and each time it did, she couldn’t shake the pit of despair in her stomach.

No matter how much she wanted to linger inside her subconscious and find answers, she couldn’t.

A nudge at her side ripped away the last dark fragments.

An elbow met her ribs once more. “Ouch!”

“Get off me,” her sister, Faith, grumbled as she pushed her away. “It’s hot enough without you lying on me.”

Dazed by the dream, Heaven glanced at her surroundings. The plane seats were uncomfortable, but at least Faith’s was next to the aisle. She should try sitting in the middle.

How much longer until they arrived in Los Angeles, anyway?

Heaven leaned to her other side to give Faith her space but invaded her other sister’s space instead.

“I’m cramped over here too,” Hope said. “Faith can deal. Just ignore her. Trust me. It’s easy.”

It feels like we’re six again.

The thoughts tumbling in Heaven’s mind reminded her she was every bit of twenty-one. The dream man’s chocolate eyes, square jaw, and warm lips captivated her. And yet, something deep within her said this was wrong. Even if he were real, it didn’t mean she should fantasize about him. His presence, no matter how much it drew her to him, held something dark

“Why didn’t Chelsea fork out a little extra for first-class seats?” Faith’s leg shook ninety miles a minute. “She’s marrying a celebrity, for Christ’s sake. Is it too much to—”

“Shut it, Faith,” Hope cut in.

On the verge of exploding, Faith gripped the armrest. Heaven didn’t want to play referee, but someone would have to before this disagreement turned into a full-blown fight.

Despite reaching adulthood and going to college, the rivalry between her siblings hadn’t changed. Perhaps it was a triplet thing. They’d never had much time apart.

A bony finger poked her shoulder. Then again. Her muscles burned from the assault. She glanced at Faith, teeth sinking into her bottom lip. “What?”

Faith smirked. “If you’re too worried about offending your best friend, I’ll ask Chelsea why she skimped on the seats.”

Hope leaned forward. “Do it! Please, give me a reason to help Chelsea toss your ungrateful a*s on the street. Stop being such a—”

“Whoa!” Heaven raised her hands, separating her siblings. Her face heated when the man sitting in front of them turned around and glowered. “Listen, you two. This may be our last trip together. I want it to be exciting, something we’ll tell our kids someday. Can you two get along?”

“Sure.” Hope brushed back her hair as she reclined against her seat. “Once Faith gets out of b***h mode.”

“Says the kettle to the pot,” Faith retorted while fanning herself with an airplane safety manual. The air stirred as her lavender perfume rushed through Heaven’s nose.

And they say lavender relaxes you. Pfft. A field of it couldn’t reduce my frustrations with Faith. But that guy’s lips…

Her skin tingled. If she concentrated enough, maybe she’d remember the rest of the dream. Not that it mattered when he wasn’t real.

“He must be hot.” Faith teased.

“Who?” Heaven didn’t need to ask. Her gut warned her to tread with caution.

Faith exaggerated a sigh. “Don’t play stupid.”

Her sister’s badgering forced Heaven to face the window. She stared at the fluffy clouds lining the cerulean sky. Perhaps if she ignored Faith, her sister would leave her alone. She didn’t want to talk about the dream guy, how his face held both passion and pain, how a simple touch had sent tiny jolts throughout her body.

“Well?” Faith’s voice had the same effect as a bucket of ice water. “I’m not asking you to solve Fermat’s Last Theorem. You had the dream again, right?”

“Yeah,” Heaven whispered. When she met her sister’s gaze, she thinned her lips. “I mean no.”

“Bullshit. You just confessed. Besides, I heard you talking in your sleep.”

“Leave Heaven alone.”

Faith glared in Hope’s direction. “Keep your nose buried in Truth Newspaper. Catch up on the latest celebrity catfight. Just stay out of this. I’m trying to help our sister.”

“You’re majoring in fashion, not psychology,” Hope grumbled. “Worry about your portfolio and your upcoming internship in New York. Heaven’s dreams should be the least of your concerns.”

“There you go again, trying to coordinate my life.” Faith faced the seat in front of her. “You need to find a project to manage that doesn’t involve me.”

God, where’s a muzzle?

Heaven massaged her thumping temples, blocking out the voices, except the one calling to her soul.

Stay.

A shiver ran up her spine.

Faith tapped her fingers against the armrest. “If we don’t get off this plane soon, I’ll lose it. Chelsea better have a stiff drink or a straitjacket waiting at the gate.”

“Can we be so lucky?” Hope snickered. She licked her fingertip before turning another page in the tabloid she read. Why did she have to stir the proverbial pot?

“Keep it up,” Faith warned while pointing a finger at Hope. “You’ll have a gurney waiting for your exit.”

“With some hot EMT to help ease my pain.” Hope’s body shook from a stifled laugh.

As Faith angled herself in her seat, she kicked the one in front of her. Even the man in the chair turning and glaring didn’t faze Faith.

Heaven said a silent prayer when the intercom buzzed to life.

“Good morning, ladies and gentlemen, this is your captain speaking. We have arrived at LAX airport in sunny California. The time is now nine forty-five a.m., and the temperature is pleasant at seventy-four degrees. We hope you enjoy your stay in the Golden State. Thank you for flying with us on American Airways.”

As if someone had shut off the faucet, the flowing anger ceased. Frowns turned to grins, even for Faith.

Excitement raced through Heaven’s veins. Despite her sisters’ bickering, she planned to make the most of their vacation. She was here to support Chelsea during the biggest event of her life.

Yet she couldn’t shake the nagging feeling that fate had led her to L.A.