Holiday Wishes: Shepherd Moon\Wishing on a Starr\A Christmas Serenade by Rochelle Alers

Author:Rochelle Alers
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2013-12-15T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 7

The streets of Manhattan were a madhouse while Starr, Neve, and Daniel shivered and quaked for nearly five hours on Fifth Avenue, waiting for the lighting of the Christmas tree. As the time neared 9:00 p.m., the night was abuzz with excitement.

“Are you girls ready?” Daniel asked, draping his arms around each of the girl’s shoulders.

Starr nodded. She would’ve answered, but she was more concerned about her inability to feel her toes.

“How cold do you think it is?” Neve asked as she tried to huddle closer.

“Like fifty below or something ridiculous like that,” Starr answered and leaned against her dad.

“Hey, you’re the one who wanted to come down here,” Daniel reminded her with a chuckle. “We could’ve stayed in the comfort of our nice warm home and watched this whole thing on television.”

“Yeah. How come we couldn’t make our wish at home?” Neve asked.

“Because we had to be here in person for it to work,” Starr reasoned with a flash of annoyance.

“Said who?” Neve challenged.

“It’s common sense,” Starr said. “Whoever heard of making a wish via a television set?”

“Girls, girls,” her father interrupted. “Calm down. We’re here, so let’s make the best of it.”

The friends’ narrowed gazes softened and seconds later, they flashed each other smiles.

“We have less than five minutes,” her dad announced after a glance at his watch.

“So how come you didn’t invite your new lady friend to come here with us tonight?” Starr asked. “And when am I going to meet her?”

“Whoa. Whoa.” Daniel held up his hands. “Please tell me that my daughter isn’t butting her nose in grown people’s business.”

“C’mon. You know you like her.” She elbowed him. “You’ve been out with her several nights in a row.”

He shook his head. “I don’t hear you.”

“Yeah, you like her. I heard you singing in the shower this morning. It must have been some date last night. Where did you go?”

“Starr, I’m not going to discuss this with you,” he reprimanded out of embarrassment more than anger.

In response, she twinkled a smile at him.

A minute later, he nodded. “Yeah, I like her.”

“Ten, nine, eight…”

Starr turned expectant eyes toward the tree. “Don’t forget to make your wishes exactly when the lights come on,” Starr shouted.

“Four, three, two, one…”

The lights flashed on—and the Christmas tree was an instant glorious sight. Starr, Neve, and Daniel squeezed their eyes closed and made a wish…

* * *

Gia opened her eyes and sighed into the night.

“What did you wish for?” Bernie asked, leaning toward her. “Please tell me it was for the winning lottery.”

Gia shook her head and exhaled a long stream of white frost. “Don’t be silly. You know I don’t believe in such nonsense.”

“Oh, no?” Bernie’s smile widened. “Then why were your eyes closed?”

“I’ll tell you what I wished for.” Tonya turned and popped into the conversation. “A car.”

Bernie groaned at the major hint her sixteen-year-old daughter tossed her way. “The only car you’re getting after those pathetic grades you’ve been pulling is a Matchbox car.”

“Amen.” Bernie’s husband, Vinny, tossed back his head with a hearty chuckle.

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