Loves Billionaires and Corgis: A Feel Good Romance

by Gina Robinson

  On one call, he asked about the wedding business, giving me a little promo opportunity, as per the contract. I got a chance to gush about it.

  "I bet none of the weddings you've worked on have been as dramatic as ours," he said.

  Here came the runaway bride stuff again. I had to handle this delicately. "Most of them are more traditional. And have a longer engagement with plenty of time to plan the ceremony."

  "Yeah, ours was quick. But when you know you've met the one, you know. Why wait? Why screw around?" He'd purposefully put the sexy in his voice. He was playing to the women in the audience now. "I bet none of your brides have had a puppy for a bouquet. I was pretty genius getting you one on such short notice."

  And there was my money shot. I couldn't believe my good luck.

  The crew seemed excited by our calls. Something was up. They had big plans for our date. Luke was excited by our "romance." He had ratings stars in his eyes.

  I had other ideas. I had what I wanted now—Jesse on film saying he'd bought Bella for my bridal bouquet. And I wasn't a lawyer, but I was a wedding industry professional. And here's the deal—it's traditionally the groom's responsibility to pay for the bridal bouquet.

  So here was my case for the court of public opinion, or the actual courts, should it come to that—I hadn't stolen Jesse's puppy. I'd run from the wedding with my wedding bouquet. Which was my property as the bride. Paid for by the groom, according to tradition. But given to the bride. To do with what she would. Usually to either toss it to the unmarried woman at the reception or dry it as a remembrance. But who was going to toss a puppy? There was no wedding/marital tradition of giving the bouquet back if the wedding didn't take place.

  I rest my case.

  I was going to break up with Jesse on our first date, have a frank talk about our incompatibility. But I wasn't heartless. As a wedding professional, I had contact with many matchmakers. And I had a connection to Seattle's best, Ashley Harte of Pair Us, through Dex. In my calls with Jesse, I'd cleverly asked questions to develop a match profile. I had every intention of convincing him, and the show, to give matchmaking a try, and suggesting Pair Us. All part of my plan to save my reputation and show my dedication to the wedding industry and true love.

  Shelby

  Friday evening

  The evenings are long in the summer in Seattle. The show wanted the date between Jesse and me to start at a park on Alki in West Seattle, not far from where I lived. Alki had a great view across the water to Seattle's skyline. They'd timed the date to start romantically at sunset (my suggestion) in the park. The backdrop of the view of the city and the sunset on the water would be beautiful. Afterward, we'd have dinner at an Alki restaurant on the waterfront nearby with an equally beautiful view.

  Jesse, and the show, had requested I bring the very pregnant Bella with me. They wanted her to reunite with Jesse. I played to Bella's vanity, telling her she'd be a TV star if she did it, and promising her an assortment of gourmet doggy treats if she performed well.

  "All you need to do is strut your stuff," I told her. "And play nice with Jesse."

  For our date, I dressed in a short coral sundress, with a pair of sexy heeled sandals. I put a matching coral collar on Bella.

  The show sent a car for us. I rode to the date with Bella in my lap and my heart pounding—and a cameraman filming my case of nerves.

  Bella and I had been practicing my human version of the Corgi momo walk—a butt swing that Bella had naturally, but took a lot of practice on my part. The car pulled to a stop at the park. A crew was waiting for us. The driver opened my door for us. I stepped out, showing a lot of leg, Bella in my arms. I set her down, holding on to her leash.

  Jesse was waiting for us, silhouetted against the Seattle skyline and the water. He wore slacks and a sports coat. A dress shirt open at the neck. He was holding a red rose.

  Mirroring, I thought. The show was mirroring that tragic shot of Jesse holding a rose after I'd left him at the altar. But this time he looked happy and excited. Put together.

  "Here we go," I whispered to Bella. "Work it, baby."

  The camera crew followed behind us as we strutted our stuff toward Jesse, hips swinging, butts wiggling. The skirt of my dress blew in the soft summer breeze. Romcom theme music played in my head.

  As we approached Jesse, I got a bad feeling. Something was up. I sensed an ambush.

  He got down on a knee. I panicked.

  Until I realized he was kneeling to meet Bella at her level. He held his arms out to her. "Here, girl, here." He clicked his tongue and clapped.

  Bella stopped in her tracks, eyed him up and down, and bared her teeth.

  "There, there, girl," I whispered to her. "Remember the plan—play up to him."

  She ignored me and barked at him. Her defensive, angry bark. Oh, no.

  I scooped her up. Rebuffed by Bella, I expected Jesse to get to his feet.

  A helicopter buzzed in the distance. I glanced at it. It was coming toward us. If the sound got too loud, it would ruin the shot.

  I had a brief fantasy of it coming for me. Of jumping onboard and flying away from this mess off into the sunset.

  Jesse remained on one knee as Bella and I approached, herded by the cameraman. When I stopped in front of Jesse, he pulled a ring box from his pocket and propped it open. An engagement ring sparkled inside.

  I froze, ready to bolt. Damn, carrying a pregnant Corgi would really slow me down this time. Was the jolt of running in high heels good for the puppies? I couldn't risk a premature birth.

  Before I could turn, Jesse grabbed my hand, pulling me toward him. "Shelby Hudson, you and I were meant to be together."

  The sound of the copter grew louder. The sound tech stuck the boom closer.

  Jesse spoke louder and louder. "This week has proved that. The way we talk so easily. The way you make me laugh."

  More copter noise, so loud I had to cup my ear to hear the dreaded words Jesse was in the process of saying.

  Finally, Jesse resorted to shouting. "Will you marry—"

  Even shouting, his last word was drowned out by the whir of helicopter blades. A wind kicked up as the helicopter landed in the parking lot not far from where we stood.

  What was going on?

  Luke and the film crew looked as puzzled as I was.

  A man jumped out of the helicopter with a dog on a leash and ran toward us.

  Dex and Charlie!

  My hand flew to my mouth. I was too stunned to react. And for some silly reason, I was smiling.

  Jesse was still on his knee.

  Dex ran toward me, being pulled by his handsome Aussie.

  "Get this on film! Get this on film!" Luke yelled, struggling to be heard over the helicopter.

  Dex came to a stop in front of me. Charlie rubbed against my legs, barking happily at Bella and me. Bella barked excitedly at Dex and wiggled to get down to play with Charlie.

  Dex scratched Bella behind her ears. He pulled my hand from my mouth, took Bella, and set her on the ground next to Charlie.

  Dex went down on one knee and pulled a ring box from his pocket. He opened it, revealing the most gorgeous diamond engagement ring I had ever seen. It was the ring of my dreams. Prepared for the noise, he held up his phone and pointed at it for me to read.

  It said, in beautiful calligraphy, Shelby Hudson, runaway bride, heart thief, hard woman to pin down, will you marry me?

  I stared at him and yelled, "Are you serious?"

  He typed something on his phone and showed it to me and the camera. Cross my heart, baby.

  I had two men on their knees in front of me, each with a ring offered up to me.

  The cameras were rolling. Bella and Charlie were running circles around each other, threatening to tangle me up in their leashes. And the choice had never been clearer.

  I cupped my hand and yelled, "You said the words."

  Fortunately, Dex was good at lip reading. He grinned and typed another message. I had a good coach who t
old me to make my intentions clear.

  "Yes." I blinked back tears of joy, nodding to make sure he "heard" my answer. "I'll marry you, Dex Rushford."

  Or at least I'd plan a wedding.

  I held my left hand out to Dex.

  Dex slid the ring on my finger and got to his feet. He grinned down at Jesse and said at the top of his lungs, "Sorry, buddy. I brought a bigger ring." Dex pulled me into a kiss that curled my toes and melted my heart in front of the sunset and the orange skyline.

  The cameraman got up close, zooming in on us. And I didn't care at all.

  Charlie barked.

  "Jealous bastard," Dex said to him. He took my hand and Charlie and Bella's leashes. "Our carriage awaits." He clucked his tongue to Charlie and pulled me into a run toward the copter.

  Bella chased after Charlie, "running" as fast as her short legs and pregnant belly allowed. My hair blew. My skirt fluttered.

  At the helicopter, Dex lifted Bella, Charlie, and me in.

  As he climbed in after me, I looked back at the stunned Jesse. I blew him and the crew a kiss, waving as we took off.

  I put my headphones on. And then, because I wasn't a mean runaway-from-a-marriage-proposal-without-an-explanation bitch, I texted Jesse. I'm sorry. I didn't plan this. I can't marry you. You're a great guy. Just not the great guy for me. But I have a matchmaker who's dying to work with you.

  Dex put his headphones on and held my hand as we fly off.

  "Wow," I said into my mic. I wiggled my finger, staring at the ring twinkling on it.

  "I told you I had a plan." He grinned.

  "A bigger ring? That was your plan?" I teased.

  "And a helicopter. The way to beat a TV star at his own game is to upstage him."

  I looked at my ring again as I stroked Bella in my lap. "Are we really engaged? This isn't a gag?"

  His eyes danced. "You have to ask? You have my ring on your finger. We're definitely engaged. That's the part you love, right? The engagement. Planning weddings. Having wild bachelorette parties?" He looked me in the eye. "Look. Neither one of us are great at commitment. Who says there ever has to be a wedding? We can stay engaged forever if that's what you want." He leaned over and said over the headphones, "I love you, Shelby Hudson. And I don't care who knows it."

  "Good thing. 'Cause every Gold Digger fan is going to know now."

  His grin deepened. "My plan rocked. What was your plan?"

  "I'll tell you later." I pulled him into a kiss.

  Epilogue

  Gold Dust Woman

  Shelby (Reality TV star, matchmaking wedding letterer.)

  Because of Bella's imminent due date, Gold Digger rented a studio in Seattle for the interview show with me. They flew Jesse in from the Yukon to be there in person.

  Surprisingly, both Luke and Jesse were happy with the way things had turned out. They were sure they had ratings gold. They were eagerly rubbing their hands as they anticipated the airing. The promos were being exceptionally well received.

  In the week since the drama unfolded, Jesse and I had, surprisingly, become good friends. The show had even filmed some of our conversations.

  We both came to the conclusion that we weren't meant for each other. Even Jesse and Dex became friendly—after a brief confrontation where Jesse realized who Dex was and Dex promised not to sue him. No hard feelings. Gold Digger was going to fly Dex and me to the Yukon after the puppies were born and were old enough to leave with a sitter. Of which Dex knew quite a few good ones.

  Fortunately, Jesse was now happily looking forward to getting one of Bella's puppies—Corgi or Auggie. He'd be happy with either. But he preferred an Auggie. They were better Yukon dogs.

  Gold Digger was even going to do a show where Jesse picked up his puppy. He'd relinquished all claims to Bella. In writing. And given me Bella's papers, which he'd had in his tux pocket when I ran from our wedding.

  I'd made my wedding bouquet argument to him. But in the end, it hadn't been necessary. Now that he'd stopped making me into his fantasy girl and that his TV ratings were promising, he'd turned into a pretty reasonable guy.

  Like, I wouldn't have agreed to marry a complete douche. Not even drunk. Right?

  My wedding videographer friend had made a wedding-type video of the security footage from the casino of Dex and me first meeting in Vegas. It was brilliant. So emotionally charged and cute. When I gave it to Dex and we watched it together, he got tears in his eyes. He said filling in the gaps in his memory was the best gift I could have given him, especially since I gave him back our history. He and I really did belong together.

  I even got Dex's permission to show it to Jesse. When Jesse watched the video, he got tears in his eyes, too. He agreed—Dex and I belonged together. And he was grateful to Dex for not pursuing civil damages against him or making what he'd done to Dex public. Bygones, Dex had said. You have to allow people redemption and forgiveness. Which was just one of the many reasons I loved Dex and would gladly be engaged to him forever. We were even seriously discussing moving in together.

  Jesse and I sat next to each other on set for our interview, facing the cameras.

  Luke sat to our left, interviewing us. "So it was a pretty dramatic end to your relationship with Shelby, Jesse. Tell me about that."

  Jesse grinned. "It was nothing. Once Shelby explained her feelings, I understood." He reached over and gave me a one-armed hug. "I wish her and her billionaire all the best. You know, I thought for a long time that Shelby was the one. But I realize now that while we have a lot in common and can be good friends, it wasn't going to work. In the long run, our lifestyles are too different."

  Luke turned to me. "You're not a Yukon girl, Shelby?"

  I laughed. "I'm not a girl who likes roughing it, or remote locations, or summer days without nights, or winter days without light. No. I don't understand machinery. Or like getting dirty." I smiled at Jesse. "I love Jesse as a friend. But it would have been a big mistake to marry him."

  "Let's talk about that," Luke said. "You run a successful hand-lettering business geared toward weddings and the bridal industry. Your subscription boxes are very popular. You've made your living selling the idea of what a great deal love and marriage are. But you ran from your wedding with Jesse and called off your wedding to your previous fiancé just weeks before the wedding. What do you have to say about that?"

  This was the softball Luke had promised me and was contractually obligated to.

  "I'm a romantic at heart. I guess you could say I fall in love easily. I totally believe in marriage. To the right person. But I also firmly believe that it's better to call off a wedding, even if you have to run away when you're already at the altar, than to enter into a bad marriage. It seems cruel, and embarrassing, and there are better ways to handle it. But brides, and grooms, often face incredible pressure to go through with the ceremony, especially after all the wedding planning and expense.

  "Really, though, it's less expensive, and less painful, in the end to call things off rather than go through a bad marriage and messy divorce. In fact, I believe in this so much that I'm writing a book about my experiences and I'm developing a 'cold feet' subscription box for those brides who are having serious doubts. I hope those will help brides who are struggling to make a decision whether to call things off."

  "That's great, Shelby. Can you talk about Jesse?"

  I glanced at Jesse affectionately. "He's a great guy. A great guy. The best. I didn't ever mean to hurt him. I'm so grateful to him. Through him I've learned so much about myself and what I want out of a life partner. Some woman is going to be very lucky to catch him."

  I shoulder-bumped Jesse. "You know I'm helping this guy find the one, right? I've hooked him up with a brilliant matchmaker."

  Jesse did a brow waggle. "And I'm enjoying it."

  "Everybody wants him," I teased. But it was true. "It's the voice."

  Jesse laughed.

  "We may be seeing some of that action on the show," Luke said.


  In fact, they had already filmed Jesse's first meeting with Ashley Harte and were planning a Gold Digger in Love special limited series about Jesse's adventures in matchmaking.

  Since Bella was due any day, I was on emergency call anytime I was away from her. So I had my phone with me. It was sitting in front of me on the table.

  When it rang, we all jumped and gave each other excited looks.

  I stared at it. "It's Dex, my fiancé. He's sitting for Bella."

  "What are you waiting for?" Jesse looked excited.

  I nodded and scooped it up. "I have to take this."

  Luke nodded.

  "Dex?"

  "If you want to learn how to whelp puppies, and watch a pro in action, you'd better get home."

  Jesse's voice got all the play, but Dex had a sexy voice, too.

  I heard Bella whimper in background.

  Luke and Jesse looked at me expectantly.

  "I know it's bad timing. But I have to go. Bella's about to have puppies!" I grabbed Jesse's arm and squeezed it. "We're having puppies!"

  NEXT UP: Puppies, puppies, puppies! Shelby and Dex are happily engaged with no intention of marrying, but pressure is mounting to set the date. Enter ex-fiancé number three…

  Get Loves Billionaires and Puppies!