Reconnected (15 page)

"Just don't expect me to come out looking like your Hollywood friends, k?", I tell him as we step out of our room and into the hallway.

"Of course not.", he says with a shrug, "You'll look way better."

I just roll my eyes and walk down the hall looking for Krista.  I smile when I see her with a fidgety looking Scott.

"You ok, Scott?", I ask looking between him and Krista.

"For some unknown reason, he's a panic attack waiting to happen.", Krista crosses her arms, "He says he's just feeling anxious about security, but come on! We're in the middle of an island!"

I shake my head and pull her with me, "Ready to make some friends with hair and make-up?", I ask.

"Yes...Let's go!", she grabs my arm and pulls me down the hall to the lounge area where Elize is standing with a Hispanic woman and a bleach blonde guy.

"Krista, Kate...this is our hair and make-up team. Alicia and Billy. Alicia will take care of your make-up and Billy will style your hair for you."

Krista squeals and grabs my arm, "The perks of dating a celebrity, huh?"

I laugh, "Something like that."

We each take a seat and get comfortable.

"So tell me...what's it like to date such a hot shot?", Alicia asks me slyly.

I laugh and shrug as she hands me a wet toilette to wash my face before she gets to work on my make-up.

"I wouldn't really say he's much of a hot shot. He's a real guy, ya know? And I've known him since well before he had Hollywood camera watching his every move. At the end of the day, he's not whoever he is in front of the cameras; he's just plain old Liam."

"I don't think there's anything plain on that man.", she smiles and asks me to close my eyes as she applies eye shadow, "You girls are very lucky."

I smile softly, "What about you? You work with all these celebrities, don't you? Have you ever..."

"Oh, a lady doesn't kiss and tell.", she laughs, "I've had my fun, trust me."

I grin and sneak a peek over at Krista and can't contain my laugh at seeing her hair filled with curlers. "Wow, Kris...real hot."

She mock glares at me, “You know, your next sweetie. I might just have to take a couple pictures on my phone to show Liam."

"Don't forget I can take the same kind of pics of you to show Scott.  That blackmail works both ways."

She sticks her tongue out at me and I laugh and lean back to let Alicia finish up her work on me.

"Ok, what color is your dress?"

"Black."

"Alright then...black mascara and eyeliner and a darker blush will look amazing on you."

"If you say so....I'm not much of a make-up person."

'Stick with me honey....I'll teach you how to love it. You can be a totally different person."

"That's what I'm afraid of.", I mutter.

She clicks her tongue, "Don't worry, I'll just make you an even better you. These hands work magic.", she wiggles her fingers, "If you saw some of the Hollywood stars before I put their make-up on.", she shakes her head and gets down to business finishing up my face. "Alright...open your eyes and check out the mirror."

I do and gasp, "Whoa....you're right. I look like someone else."

"You look amazing, Kate.", Krista says from behind me. "Time to switch!", she laughs and pushes me to Billy's chair.

"Love your hair, Kris!", I yell over to her.

"I know.", she beams and sits back.

"Hello Mrs. Warren. What would you like to do with your hair tonight?"

I frown, "I don't really know. Nothing big, maybe just curls all around?"

He smiles and plugs in his curling iron, "I can do that. Some jeweled clips and things can really jazz it up."

Shrugging my shoulders, I smile, "If you say so."

I sit back and relax as he begins twisting and turning my hair, criss crossing it to pin it in one way or another and then I feel pins being pushed in and flinch at some hairs being pulled.

"Sorry...alright, might want to cover your eyes so none of the hairspray gets you or your make-up.", he glances over at Alicia, "She'll kill me for messing up her work."

I laugh and cover my face trying to be careful not to smudge anything.

"Voila!", he laughs and tugs my hands down, "You like it?"

"I love it!", I laugh and stand up to get closer to the mirror, "You two are miracle workers...seriously."

"Nah, you just clean up real nice."

"Thank you so much, Billy. I need to put your number on speed dial if I ever have to go along to any of Liam's events. Same goes for you Alicia!"

She grins as she finishes up with Krista, "Good deal...I'd like that. What do you think Ms. Quinn?"

"If you’re going to be around more often, sweetie...then please, just call me Krista and her Kate. We aren't the up and up type people.", she assures her patting her arm. "Seriously, you guys are amazing!"  She steps up to the mirror and looks over at me, "I think there's a couple sexy dresses calling our name now, Kate."

"I think your right", I walk over to her and look back at Billy and Alicia. "Thanks again guys...expect a call from us in the future!"

"We'll be waiting.", Billy says with a smile and they both wave as we walk out the door.

"You ready?", I ask Krista hooking my arm with hers.

"As I'll ever be."

Chapter 23

Shortly after we're all dolled up, we walk down to the formal dining area and find the boys standing there all tuxed up.

"Wow...you look red carpet ready.", I tease Liam and walk over to his out stretched arm.

"I could say the same about you, baby...you look beautiful.", he kisses my forehead and guides me over to a chair.

Scott sticks his arm out for Krista, "Red is so your color.", he looks her up and down and pulls her against him as he kisses her.

She lightly pulls back and jokingly reprimands him, "You'll ruin my make-up, Scotty."

He blushes the shade of her dress and escorts her to sit across from Liam and I.

"So, tell me", Krista says leaning forward with her arms crossed on the table, "What's this whole set up about?"

Scott clears his throat and takes a big breath as someone walks in and pours each of us a glass of wine and Liam picks up his glass. "Here's to new beginnings, letting go of the past and making all new memories."

We all raise our glass and say "Cheers!"

Then Scott scoots his chair back and a soft song begins to play and I realize that there's actually someone in the corner playing a violin and my eyes widen. I steal a glance at Krista and see the same expression on her face. But the color drains from her face when Scott pulls her chair to face him and bends down on one knee.

"Krista Alayne Quinn...I love you more than I can ever express. You've become the center of my whole world and I want to keep you right there forever. Will you do me the honor of becoming my wife?", he asks as he opens a golden satin box and inside  a  gorgeous cushion cut diamond ring is sitting in the center.

"Oh my God.", she starts crying and nodding her head, "Yes! Yes! Yes!", she yells and throws herself into his awaiting arms.

"I love you so much Scotty.", she whispers through her tears and goes to wipe them, "You ruined the make-up anyways.", she shakes her head and kisses him again hanging onto him tight.

"I love you too, Krissy.", he whispers and helps her to wipe the tears away. "Now before I ruin your pretty dress along with your make-up, how about we get back in our chairs?"

She nods standing up and pulling him with her, and he puts the ring onto her finger, "Perfect."

"Congrats Kris and Scott!", I grin and walk over to hug them both, "Thank you for making my best friend so happy.", I pat Scott's shoulder and hug Krista again.

"I feel like I'm dreaming.", Krista shakes her head and takes a breath to calm herself. "Like this a movie scene or something. Only ya know, I'm not actress."

I laugh, "He sure made it feel like one.", I look around the room. "You know what? Now we get to plan weddings together!"

Her eyes get wide with excitement, "Oh my gosh we do!", She looks at each of and gets a mischievous grin, "I have a really great idea!"

I raise an eyebrow at her, "What?"

"A double wedding. We can do this all together, just like we have everything else.", she reaches across and squeezes my hand. "Hey Scotty?"

"Hm?"

"Do you want a long engagement?"

"Not really...why?"

She grins, "How about a super short engagement then? We're in the middle of an island. Lots of security around, and we have a private jet at our beck and call as well as stylist who have already approved of us calling them if the need arises."

Liam looks at her confused, "Krista, what are you getting at exactly?"

She crosses her hands and puts her chin on them, "Do you think it’s possible to send the jet to pick up all of our parents over the next week?"

"Yes..."

"So do it! And Kate and I can arrange for Elize, Becca, Billy and Alicia to come and find us dresses and every other accessory we need, and to do our hair and make-up."

I put my hand on her arm to get her to slow down, "What she's saying is....we can have our big wedding here. Like during this time we have the vacation booked. It's perfect!", my own eyes light up thinking  it all out.

"Are you ok with this, man?", Liam asks Scott.

"I am...the sooner I can call her Mrs. Adams the better.", he grins and leans over to kiss her before looking down at the ring on her finger.

"Ok."

"Ok? You’re really ok with this whole plan?", I ask Liam.

He nods and pulls me closer, "M-hm...Because that just means I get to take you on a proper honeymoon even sooner.", he grins and kisses below my ear.

I smile slyly at him and turn to Krista, "Sounds like we have a ton of planning to do in just short amount of time."

"Sweetie, I've been planning my wedding since I was 5 years old.", she laughs, "We can do this."

"Should I be scared?"

She pauses to think about it, "Nah...Unless you’re scared of doves? A dove release would be so pretty out by the water...", she gets a faraway look in her eyes and I shake my head.

"We might have a monster on our hands."

"Better a monster then a bridezilla.", Krista replies with a smirk.

A couple days later, I'm buried under my covers trying to sleep when I hear a pounding on our door.

Liam groans, "Who would be up this early?"

"I have an idea...", I mumble and flop over onto my back.

"Kate Parker-Warren! Get your butt out of that bed so we can get busy!", Krista yells through the door and I pull the covers over my head.

Liam laughs tiredly and pulls them back down, "Baby, I don't think ignoring her is going to make her go away."

"I heard that!...Kate, come on!", she pounds on the door again and I groan.

"Fine...Fine, Kris, I'll be out in a minute!"

"You better!", she yells back and I hear her retreating steps down the hall.

"She's trying to kill me, I swear.  Yesterday, we both tried on like 20 dresses and different heels. And then she had Billy come in and do some "practice" hair dos. Today, I'm in charge of calling around for flowers and finding a non-paparazzi photographer."

He kisses my forehead as I stand up, "She's just excited...remember, she's been planning this since she was 5."

I just nod my head and get up to hunt through my clothes for something comfy and pull my hair into a messy bun.

"You enjoy your sleep.", I walk over and kiss his forehead, "I've got a fun day ahead of me."

"I can't wait to see what dress you end up with."

I smirk, "I don't even know yet...none of the ones yesterday really screamed this is the one! We'll see.", I shrug and walk out and into the hall.

"About time, sleepy head.", Krista scolds me, "We have so much to do! I couldn't even sleep last night!'

"Kris...you need to remember to breathe, ok? This is exactly why we eloped the last time around. So many decisions to make!"

"Well sweetie, this time you have me to help you.", she beams, "Now! What should we start on first? Flowers, dresses or jewelry?"

I shake my head, "No more dresses...those can wait till our Mom's get here tomorrow. I guess we can tackle jewelry. Whatcha got?"