Alessia (Casella Cousins #4) - Kathryn Shay Page 0,8
their kiss went on longer. When they headed down the aisle, Kate linked arms with Rafe, Liliana did the same with Gideon. Alessia was escorted by her cousin Ronan. He whispered. “Hi, kiddo.”
She kissed his cheek.
Derek gave her a wink when she passed him.
What a wonderful day it was already.
* * *
Derek waited in the large narthex of the church where everyone had been told to meet and greet the new brides and grooms. As the guests formed a small group, he should spot Alessia easily. When she walked out on the arm of Ronny Case, she surveyed the small group and crossed right to him. Her eyes were shining.
Grasping his arm, she gave him another peck on the cheek. “Hello.”
“Hello.” Briefly he touched her bare shoulder. “You look like a super model, Alessia.”
“Thank you.” She smiled broadly. “I said you didn’t need to come to the wedding itself.”
“First, I live in Brooklyn,” the location of the service. “And second, I wouldn’t have missed that event for the world. What an absolutely uplifting ceremony.”
“It was. All four of them deserve their happiness.”
“So, you told me.” He watched her. “What was your wedding like?”
“Much different, but the tenor was the same. Happy and optimistic for the future.”
“Different, how?”
“It was in a church, of course, but the reception took place in the backyard of my parents’ house. Family and neighbors provided the food. Billy and I had spent what little money we had to buy a small house on the same street as our family home. We didn’t want my parents to mortgage that house to give us the traditional, expensive wedding.” She smiled wistfully. “We didn’t care about all that. We were only nineteen, and grateful to finally be married. We’d dated since freshman year in high school.”
“Ah, a real romance.”
“Like on TV.”
Someone touched her shoulder. “The limo’s leaving, Ali,” another bridesmaid informed her.
Derek stepped back. “Go ahead I’ll meet you there.”
“Or, you could ride with your friend…”
“Derek Davison, this is Liliana Ford, the sister of one of the brides.”
“Hello. And Alessia should ride with the wedding party.”
“All right.” She took his hand and squeezed it. “Make sure you come out.”
“Wouldn’t miss it for the world.”
When they left, Derek made his way to his car. He’d almost gotten to it when someone caught up to him. “Hold on a sec.”
Derek stopped and turned. Ronan, Alessia’s cousin.
“You’re Ali’s plus one.”
“I am. Derek Davidson.” He’d already recognized the guy. “You’re the movie star she told me about.”
“Was.” Ronan studied his face. Scanned him up and down. “I won’t keep you. I wanted to introduce myself to you.”
Check me out, you mean.
“Nice to make your acquaintance.”
The man hurried off.
Now that was odd. Besides his movie career, the other thing Alessia told him about her cousin was that he’d disappeared from their lives twenty years ago.
* * *
“This is a glorious day, don’t you think, Sis?” Seth and Julianne were making the rounds to talk to the guests at the cocktail hour. They both radiated happiness.
“More than.”
Alessia focused on Julianne. “You?”
“I couldn’t be happier.” She kissed Seth’s cheek. “Seems like we’ve been waiting for this day since we were five.”
They’d gone through some hard times with Julianne’s stalking and Seth’s issues with cheating. Few people knew about the latter.
“What’s with the guy you invited?” Seth asked. “We saw you talking to him in the narthex. Is he a friend?”
“More than that. But we can catch up later.”
Rafe strode over. “Seth, you need to mingle more.”
Seth rolled his eyes. “Still bossing me around, aren’t you, man?”
“Yep.”
The three of them left.
Alessia smiled when Finn and Millie joined her. “Hey, there, cuz.” Finn leaned over and kissed her cheek. “You look like a movie star, too.”
A supermodel and a movie star? In one day? Wow.
Finn’s blue eyes were darker than Derek’s. Coupled with his blond hair, he was striking. “You’re more handsome than ever.”
Millie leaned into him. “I think so, too.” She lifted her chin and boasted, “And it’s because of me.”
“I’d tease her, if it wasn’t so true. I’m more relaxed about everything, sleeping well…” Alessia saw him squeeze Millie’s waist “…and enjoying every minute of my life.”
“That’s terrific. I’m so glad you’re together.”
“Some of it’s due to you, sweetie,” Finn told her. “You gave me good advice.”
Millie looked around. “Where’s the hunk from the wedding?”
“He’s on his way.”
Finn studied her. “Your eyes light up at the mention of him.”
“Oh, God, is it that obvious?”
“Yes. Before he gets here, I want to thank you for the place