What the Heart Wants

Chapter 1-2

Adrenaline coursed through Heaven as she stepped through the glass-paned doors and into the boutique. Sequins and silk danced before her eyes. She moved farther into the room and peered into another section, just off the main entrance. Wedding gowns in different styles hung from the racks, and every single one was breathtaking.

Maybe one day she’d be lucky enough to wear one.

Yeah. Right.

She pushed those thoughts aside and smiled at Chelsea, who pulled her into another hug. “I still can’t believe you’re here. It’s been too long, Heaven.”

“I agree.”

“Come on.” Chelsea tugged her arm. “Let’s go find Ms. Cheryl. She owns the boutique and she’s assisting us today.”

Heaven nodded before following Chelsea and her sister, Brooke, through the building. Their platinum blond ponytails swayed with each step they took. From behind, they looked like identical twins. Both walked in sync as they approached an older woman standing near a rack of flower girl dresses.

“Good morning, ladies,” the woman said with a kind smile. Gray streaks blended with her strawberry blond hair. Laugh lines outlined her thin lips. Those same lips stretched wider when she noticed Heaven staring.

“Good morning, Ms. Cheryl,” Chelsea said. “I’m sorry we’re late. I had to pick up my friends from the airport.”

“It’s okay, dear. You can’t do a fitting without your bridesmaids.” She motioned them to follow her.

Heaven glanced at the diamond sparkling on Chelsea’s finger, envious of what it signified. Her friend would be married soon. Not only was their bond changing, but Chelsea was also getting something Heaven desired—a soulmate.

Before Heaven’s thoughts got away from her, Ms. Cheryl led them to a different section of the boutique. It reminded Heaven of a dressing room, except it wasn’t partitioned walls on either side of the hallway. Doors lined the path as far as she could see.

The moment the shop owner opened one, they entered another area. Inside were two changing rooms, three chairs, a sofa, and a wall of mirrors. Hope claimed a chair and placed her purse by her feet while Faith and Brooke sat on the sofa. Heaven remained at Chelsea’s side, two feet from the entrance.

Everyone watched Ms. Cheryl drag a large garment bag into the room. She hung it on a hook next to one of the changing rooms, then pinched the zipper. It growled on its journey to the floor. Ivory lace peeked from within, grabbing Heaven’s attention, and she sucked in a breath.

The tulle fabric caused her heart to throb harder. Though the dress wasn’t the classic style she envisioned for her own wedding, it would look fabulous on Chelsea. The corseted empire waist would hug her friend’s body.

Chelsea clapped her hands together as she looked at her dress. Like a blushing bride-to-be, her smile lit up the room. “It’s perfect.”

“You will look amazing.” Heaven assured her.

“I can’t wait to wear it.” Chelsea surveyed every inch of the gown. “Will you help me get into it?”

Heaven nodded and exhaled. It wasn’t the best reaction. Chelsea noticed.

“Are you okay?” she asked.

“I’m fine,” Heaven lied. “Just struggling with reality.”

“You and me both. It all seems surreal, yet seeing this,” Chelsea touched her gown, “makes it more real.”

“Knock, knock.” a male voice sounded through the room.

Heaven glanced at the intruder. A sudden coldness hit her core.

You’ve got to be kidding me.

Kyle Winters, the devilishly good-looking lead singer from Long Cold Winter, closed the door and glanced at everyone in the room.

“What are you doing here?” Chelsea asked. She motioned Heaven to block the dress from his sight.

When she advanced toward him, Brooke joined her. “You are so lucky my sister isn’t wearing her dress.”

“I swear I am not here to sneak a peek.” He raised his arm and shook an oversized shopping bag. “I came by to drop off this. It’s the gifts.”

“Oh, that’s right. Thank you.” Chelsea accepted the bag from Kyle and escorted him into the room. They walked toward Heaven first. “Guess it’s time I introduce you. The one with the dumbfounded expression is my best friend.”

Heaven’s heartbeat swished in her ears. This was the first celebrity she’d met. She didn’t know whether to scream or pass out.

“Hi, Kyle.”

He grasped her hand. “Hey. It’s Heaven, isn’t it?” He waited until she nodded before he hugged her. “It’s great to meet you. I feel as though I already know you. Chelsea talks about you a lot.”

Heat rose in Heaven’s cheeks. As if meeting her best friend’s fiancé wasn’t awkward enough, now he was hugging her.

When Kyle released her, his smile faded. “Sorry for my over-exuberance. It’s just that I know how excited Chelsea is to have you here. When she’s happy, I am too.”

Heaven watched the space between Kyle and Chelsea disappear. The tender kiss they shared reminded her of the void in her heart.

“Save it for the wedding,” Brooke interjected. “My bestie is here, too. This is Faith Lewis.”

“Whoa.” Kyle’s attention shifted from Heaven to Faith. “Chelsea told me you’re fraternal triplets, but you and Heaven could pass for identical twins.”

Faith snickered. “Yeah, but I’m the hottest of the two.”

And the mouthiest.

Kyle chuckled and turned to Heaven’s remaining sister. “I guess this means you’re Hope.”

“Yes,” she answered as they shook hands. “It’s nice to meet you, Kyle.”

“Likewise. Okay, I have to go. I have a few errands to run before I meet up with the guys.” He turned to Chelsea, cradling her face in his hands. “I will see you this evening, at the church.”

“I’ll be there.” She winked, giving him one more kiss before he walked toward the rear exit.

Clever guy. He’d probably grown used to slipping in and out of buildings unnoticed.

“Um, hello?” Faith remarked as she approached Chelsea. “McHottie is your fiancé? How the hell did you catch his interest?”

“Personality, Faith. He found mine charming.”

“Yeah, whatever.” Faith studied the bag in Chelsea’s hand. “So what’s in there?”

She tried sneaking a glimpse, but Chelsea jerked it away, hiding it behind her back. “Um, nosy much?”

“Don’t get your princess panties in a wad.” Faith crossed her arms. “Can’t a girl be curious?”

“You’re more than curious, Faith. You’re like Nancy Drew meets Sherlock Holmes curious, minus their brilliant minds.” Chelsea’s body jiggled with laughter as she walked over to a chair and set the bag on it. A second later, she shoved a tiny, pink box in Faith’s hands. “Enjoy.”

She gave Hope and Brooke exact replicas of the box before stopping beside Heaven.

“What is this?” Heaven untied the white satin ribbon.

“It’s your bridesmaid’s gift. Well, in your case, it’s your maid-of-honor gift.” Chelsea’s voice trailed off when Heaven glanced at her.

“Maid-of-honor? I figured you would choose Brooke.”

“I thought about it, but I’d rather have you,” her friend answered. “So will you?”

A smile as sweet as summer sunshine melted Heaven’s heart. Even though the thought of standing in front of the guests made her squirm, she couldn’t refuse.

“You know I will.”

Chelsea squealed and crushed Heaven against her chest. “Thank you! You just made my day. So, do you like it?”

Heaven forgot about the gift in her hand. She lifted the top of the box then gasped when she saw its contents—a beautiful pearl bracelet. Silver links separated each creamy orb. A round silver charm dangled near the clasp with an “H” engraved on it.

“It’s gorgeous, Chelsea. I love it. Thank you.”

Her sisters offered similar sentiments as they took turns inspecting each other’s bracelets.

Chelsea refocused on Heaven and then reached her hand back in the bag. “I have something else for you.”

When she removed a leather-covered book, it struck a familiar chord in Heaven’s heart.

“My god. Is that…?” She struggled to say the words as her best friend nodded and handed her the book. “How did you end up with it? I thought I’d lost it.”

Many private entries filled the pages of this book. The hobby she began when she was younger had turned into more. The journal had become her confidant.

“I found it when we moved. It was between my mattress and box springs. I can’t believe you don’t remember putting it there.” Chelsea thumbed over the book. “This journal meant so much to you. Even I got jealous of it.”

Heaven couldn’t recall why she’d taken her journal to her best friend’s house. Few people even knew she owned it. Then it hit her.

“Faith.” She double-checked that her sister wasn’t listening to their conversation before she continued, “She snuck in my room and took it. She was trying to embarrass me by reading the pages to everyone at school. Thank goodness Hope caught her with it before she could do any damage.”

“Sounds about right,” Chelsea said. “Anyway, I meant to give it back, but after we moved, it ended up in a box in the attic.”

Cackling erupted from her sisters and Brooke. She wasn’t sure why they were laughing, but Faith smacked Brooke’s upper arm and snickered.

“I guess we’d better rejoin our party,” Heaven said, clinging to the journal.

“Yes. I think it’s time to try on my wedding dress.” Chelsea winked before her smile disappeared. “Hev, for the record, I didn’t read your entries, but I won’t lie and say it wasn’t tempting.”

“You know all of my secrets anyway,” Heaven said with a smirk.

“And you know all of mine, even the ones I tried to hide.” Chelsea shook her head and chuckled. “Heaven Lewis’s intuition. Your feelings have never left me much privacy.”

“You know I can’t control what my instincts tell me.”

“Oh, I know, all-seeing one,” Chelsea snickered. “Guess that means you know that I matched you and your sisters with three of Kyle’s friends for the wedding.”

Heaven groaned at the thought. Getting paired for the wedding didn’t bother her. It was knowing this guy wouldn’t be the man from her dreams.