Chapter 1
Nina
I took my position up on the stage, with Jake, my guitarist standing behind me as usual. The wedding venue was gorgeous, and one I’d never performed in before. It was at the waterfront, with the stage flanked by tall palm trees swaying in the night breeze. Facing us was a stage for the dance, where the beautiful happy couple had already taken up their place, hand in each other’s hand. The entire venue was decorated with fairy lights and red roses. It must have cost them a fortune. A venue like this in Las Vegas! I didn’t even want to imagine what something like this could cost.
Either way, I had a job to do and I unhooked the microphone from its stand and brought it closer to my lips.
“Ladies and gentlemen…our couple’s first dance!” I announced and the guests clapped and cheered as I readied myself for the song I was about to sing. I heard the guitar’s first chord strike and I closed my eyes. Van Morrison’s Have I told you Lately…a common first dance pick. I sang it with my eyes closed, allowing the music to engulf me and everyone who was in attendance.
No matter how many times I sang at weddings, a romantic moment like this always gave me goosebumps. I concentrated on the feelings, the ambiance and how much in love the couple looked as they stared into each others’ eyes and swayed slowly to my singing.
Towards the end of the song, other guests had joined in on the dance floor as well and my songs transitioned into the couple’s other picks for the evening. Four romantic songs back to back, had filled me to the brim with yearning and mild hysteria. So, when I did eventually stop after the first set, I felt slightly breathless with emotion. In my head I was always planning my own fairytale wedding.
“I need a drink,” I whispered to Jake, when I hinged the microphone back and I promptly stepped off stage. Recorded music started playing in the background, as I walked swiftly towards the open bar on one side of the venue. Some people graciously smiled at me and I smiled back. All the women here was well dressed in designer outfits, carrying expensive purses and with glittering jewels at their necks.
I felt slightly out of place in their presence, in my simple black satin cocktail dress, with my blond curls messily held up in a bun at the side. I weaved through the throngs, till I finally reached the bar.
“A gin and tonic, please, barman,” I said, who nodded and turned to pour me one.
“You should help yourself to the champagne,” I heard a voice beside me and I whipped around to find a man grinning at me. I hadn’t noticed him before, but he looked like the perfect guest for a wedding like this one. In a sharp undoubtedly bespoke tuxedo, with a bow tie at his neck, I noticed that he had the most steely gray eyes I had ever seen on anyone before. His face exuded sophistication and wealth, with high cheekbones and a sharply chiseled jaw. He looked like he had been freshly carved out of a piece of marble. A dark one-day stubble covered his jaw and chin, to match the dark wavy hair on his head that was neatly brushed to the side.
“Excuse me?” I said, realizing that I had been gawking at him silently for several moments.
“You should have asked for champagne, it’s on the house,” he repeated himself and I felt my cheeks flush severely. I didn’t need his permission to make use of handouts!
“I’m at work, not here to celebrate,” I said and took a sip of my drink, allowing the fresh taste to overpower my senses momentarily. The man had turned sideways to study me. I could see his eyes drinking in the shape of my body, his gaze lingering for a few moments on my breasts and suddenly I felt very self conscious.
“I know. I heard you singing,” he said in a deep low voice. I noticed now that he had an immensely powerful voice. “You’re very good,” he added and I blushed some more.
“Thank you, now if you’ll excuse me,” I said and made to walk away from him.
He had grabbed my wrist suddenly, twisting me around to face him before finally letting go of my hand.
“You deserve a break,” he said, with a grin tugging at the corners of his lips. I had my brows furrowed and could feel my breasts rising and falling. Wasn’t it good enough that just with his sudden appearance, he had managed to make me uncomfortable? I drew away from him, and my back hit against someone else behind me.
“I’m so sorry, I’m sorry,” I apologized profusely when I noticed that I had knocked over that man’s drink. He gave me the evil eye before walking over to the bar to ask for a tissue paper.
“Looks like I should give you my arm, you need the support,” the handsome stranger said when I turned to him again. This was his fault and he had the audacity to mock me!
“I’m fine. I can walk on my own impressively,” I snapped and jutted my chin out towards him, and he laughed.
“Looks like your guitarist is trying to catch your attention,” he said and I whipped around again, to see that Jake was silently indicating to me to join him on the stage. I held the glass of gin and tonic to my lips, threw my head back and gulped most of it down in one go and then turned and thrust the glass back towards the man.
“You can have this,” I said and started walking away from him.
“I’ll keep it safe for you,” I heard him call out to me as I hurried away, and despite myself a gushing smile appeared on my face.
Weddings were always full of surprises, I thought.