Kiss the Bride (3 page)

“She's convinced our father this is what she wants. Her fiancé clerked for my dad. He introduced them, so the guy has the judge's seal of approval.”

Unlike Jenna when she'd been engaged to Ash. But an upcoming wedding didn't explain why Amber told the truth today of all days. “Is your sister in a twelve-step wedding prep program and addressing past wrongs?”

Ashton's mouth twisted. “I wish.”

“That bad?”

“Afraid so.”

Jenna didn't care about his sister's wedding. She wanted nothing to do with either one of them. Especially him.

He stood with one foot on the welcome mat. Too attractive for her to remain neutral. Not even picturing a color swatch of beige helped. The least he could have done was gain fifty pounds or have a receding hairline—not look better than he did before.

What patience remained evaporated like mist on a hot day. “Just say it.”

“Amber and Toby's photographer was placed on bed rest and can't do their wedding. A replacement was offered, but Amber wants to hire you. She said you'd never agree to the job if she didn't tell the truth.”

Amber's motivation didn't surprise Jenna. The young woman had been pampered and spoiled like a precious pet her entire life. She always got her way, but not this time. “Tell your sister I appreciate her admitting what she did, but I can't photograph her wedding.”

A beat passed. And another.

“If it's any consolation, Amber's sorry.” His tone contrite, he looked as if he'd rather be anywhere but here. “She would have come with me to apologize, but she had an important appointment.”

Jenna considered his words, then rejected them.

“If Amber was sorry, she wouldn't have waited until she wanted something from me to tell the truth. She would have come herself, not sent you to do her dirty work.” Jenna kept her voice steady and calm. He wasn't responsible for his sister's actions even if his doting had enabled her. She had no doubt that nothing had changed in the sibling relationship or Ash wouldn't have brought this up himself. “I understand if my decision means you don't want to pay—”

“You'll get your check.” The muscle at his jaw continued to throb. His facial expression grew serious, his lawyer face. “If I double your fee, would you reconsider photographing Amber's wedding?”

Oh, wow. Jenna inhaled sharply. She could use the extra money. But she didn't want to negotiate a contract with him. “Ash—”

“Let's talk about this. I'm positive we can come to an agreement.”

Tempting. She wouldn't deny she found the offer appealing. Her business was doing well, but the additional money would allow her to repay Colton for the months of mortgage payments he'd covered. He'd never asked for the money back, but he'd mentioned looking at new pickups. “An apology was more than I expected. You've offered to cover the wedding expenses.”

“This money will be for you. For your business or whatever you want.”

Jenna weighed the pros and the cons.

“I don't blame you for saying no. That would be most people's instinct.” Understanding filled Ash's voice, and the clock seemed to rewind, reminding her why she'd fallen for him. “But we can work this out. Your fee is only a starting point in the negotiation.”

A silver hatchback pulled to the curb and parked behind a shiny, new, blue sports car. Paying extra wouldn't be a hardship for Ash. Money had never been an issue for any Vance, unlike her family, who'd lived paycheck to paycheck, sometimes on food stamps or other assistance. She and Colton had received free breakfasts and hot lunches until they graduated. School supplies and weekend food packs too. But having money didn't equate to being happy.

Yes, the money would help her brother, but Jenna couldn't get past what Amber had done, then and now. Playing into the young woman's hands would show her she could get whatever she wanted no matter how she acted.

“June wedding, right?” Jenna asked, not really wanting to know the date in case she was free.

“Yes, on the twenty—”

“I don't think so.” The words came out of her mouth so quickly she could have been written a speeding ticket.

“You don't have to make a decision now.”

Ash reminded Jenna of a younger version of his father, the respectable and intimidating Judge Douglas Vance, not the eager young lawyer who did pro bono legal work at the community center. Had Ash sold out completely?

The thought made her sad. She didn't know why, given what he'd done to her. Memories rushed back. Arguments over the photo. Her denials. His disbelief. The breakup standing at the altar. A living nightmare she wanted to forget but couldn't.

Her throat tightened. She thought she'd put this behind her. Ash too. Maybe not, given the way she kept staring at his face and noticing little things like the lines at the corner of his eyes. She swallowed. One more reason to turn down his offer. “I've made my decision. It's no.”

On the street, Michael walked around the front of his car to the passenger side where Kerri sat. Perfect timing. “My clients are here. I have to go.”

Jenna hoped her words sounded calm when her insides trembled like a 6.0-magnitude earthquake. She wanted to grab a bottle of chocolate sauce, bypass the spoon, and squeeze the liquid straight into her mouth. Maybe that would stop the emotions—anger, sadness, relief—threatening to overwhelm her. She forced a wasn't-this-nice smile instead.

Ash glanced toward the couple getting the puppy out of her crate. “If you reconsider . . .”

“That probably won't happen.” She knew she'd left wiggle room with the
probably
. Maybe he wouldn't notice. “I appreciate your stopping by and apologizing.”

“Jenna . . .”

An elephant stomped on her chest. Okay, not really, but the imaginary weight made her take shorter breaths. Or maybe Ash was the problem. Either way, she couldn't do this any longer. She'd thrown away the pictures of them together. Time to close the door for good. “Hope life treats you well. Good-bye.”

Ash stepped from Jenna's porch onto the brick walkway
that split the neatly mowed lawn in half. He passed a smiling couple. The woman held a pink dog leash attached to a small tan puppy who wanted to sniff the grass. Ash's feet dragged as if he'd walked across quick-dry cement and was carrying ten extra pounds on each shoe. He and Jenna had been happy like her clients, gazing into each other's eyes, laughing, and picturing a future together.

He'd messed up. Big time.

The sun beat down from a clear, blue sky, a taste of summer on this early June afternoon. The warm temperature had nothing to do with the sweat dampening his hairline and dripping down his neck.

Jenna.

Over the past two years, he'd thought of her—a flash of a memory during a deposition or an image of her pretty face, warm green eyes, and long blonde hair sitting in church. He
had thought about calling her. More times than he wanted to admit. But he hadn't. Couldn't. Not after what she'd—

She hadn't done anything.

That realization troubled him, as did the last words she'd spoken.

His shoes clicked against the brick, an echo of her goodbye, the sound of finality, the end. If only he'd listened to her, but he'd thought he knew best and put his belief behind his family instead of his fiancée.

Ash's cell phone vibrated, the third time since he'd arrived at Jenna's house. Amber's name and number were on the screen.

His heart ached, a combination of regret and frustration, over what had happened, what he hadn't done two years ago.

He should have believed Jenna. He should have stood by her. He should have done things—everything—differently.

But he would make amends. Pay her back with interest. Repair the damage to her reputation and business. Making things right for Jenna might make him feel normal again. Nothing—work, friends, church—satisfied him lately, but he had no idea why.

The phone vibrated again. He wanted to ignore the call. Talking to Amber would upset him more, but knowing his sister, she wouldn't stop until he answered.

Might as well get this over with. He tapped the screen. “Hello.”

“I've been calling for the last ten minutes.” Amber sounded annoyed. She should join the club. “Why haven't you answered?”

“I was speaking with Jenna.”

“Oh, good. When does she want to talk about the wedding?” Amber's words ran into each other. “Did you tell her about the reception location? And I'd like her to take photos of me in my gown after the final fitting? I need one for the
Sweetwater Post
's bridal page.”

His sister didn't pause to take a breath. She kept on talking.

“Ash?” Amber's voice rose. “Are you there? What did Jenna say?”

He loved Amber, but his sister had ruined everything two years ago. All because she thought he was too serious about his run for the state legislature and needed to loosen up and laugh.

Going to a comedy club would have accomplished the same goal better than leaking the photo of him walking out of the courthouse in a bunny suit with a trail of rabbits following him. That picture, courtesy of Jenna's Photoshop skills, hadn't made him laugh, but turned him into a laughingstock.

The Pied Piper of the County Courthouse.

The Bunny Guy.

The Rabbit Representative.

The nicknames were as bad as the photo.

Ash crossed the sidewalk and unlocked his car. “Jenna said no.”

“What?”

Amber's high-pitched, eardrum-bursting screech made his ears ring. He winced, lowered the phone.

“I can't believe this. Why would she say no? That's so rude. We were practically family.”

“Think about what you did before you start going off on Jenna.”

“I made a mistake. Two years ago. That's, like, forever.” Amber was probably shrugging, her favorite gesture, and one that rarely meant confusion or indifference. “Does she want more money?”

“I offered more. She still said no.”

“That makes no sense.”

“An in-person apology from you might have helped your cause.”

“Not possible. I couldn't be late to my spa pedicure.”

Unbelievable. A headache threatened to erupt. He rubbed his temples and decided against sitting in the car to continue this discussion. He wouldn't be tempted to raise his voice out here. “That's the important appointment you couldn't miss?”

“Don't go all cross-examining incredulous on me. Foot care is important.”

Ash gritted his teeth. “Finding a photographer for your wedding should be more important than your toenails.”

But he wasn't surprised by Amber's actions or her words. Their parents had divorced when she was three. Ash had been thirteen, not old enough to understand why his mother had left or why she hadn't wanted visitation rights, but his younger sister had been traumatized by their mother's absence. Nightmares, hunger strikes, tantrums. The behavior issues kept compounding instead of improving. He'd done what he could to make things better for Amber. So had their father. Maybe they'd gone too far indulging her all these years.

“Puh-lease talk to Jenna again.” Amber used her little-girl voice. “Offer her more money. I know. Ask her out on a date. You guys were a cute couple.”

“We were.” He remembered more good times with Jenna than bad ones. “But those days are over.”

“Second chances, bro.”

Not going there. At least not with Amber.

He should get in his car and drive away, but he didn't want to leave yet. “Jenna accepted my apology. If you want to change her mind about photographing your wedding, your first step is apologizing in person.”

Silence filled the line. Not surprising. Amber never liked being told she was wrong.

Something moved in his peripheral vision. He looked, but saw nothing.

“I made a mistake and didn't own up to it,” Amber said finally. “But you're the one who overreacted because of a joke.”

“I didn't overreact. My opponent used the photo in an ad. My campaign manager resigned. I had no choice but to drop out of the race.”

Or face the biggest loss in the district's history.

“You aren't cut out for politics. If Jenna had been the right woman for you, Dad said you would have stuck by her, not blamed her the minute something went wrong.”

Ash stiffened. “What are you talking about? Dad led the case against Jenna.”

Motive.

Means.

Opportunity.

The last two had been slam-dunks where Jenna was concerned. Only her motive seemed inconclusive. His father, who had sat at both prosecutor and defense tables, thought she might not want to share Ash with constituents and be thrust into the spotlight, given her upbringing, but the odds had been against Jenna from the start.

“Dad never liked her,” Ash continued. “Wrong family. Wrong part of town. Wrong schools. Wrong type of wife for a lawyer with political aspirations.”