Valentine Wedding Hound

by Rachelle Ayala

  The commercial finished and the hostess, Amy Suzuki, appeared on screen in front of a curtain hiding the mannequins Jenna had dressed earlier in the morning.

  Cait flashed her a thumbs up, and Larry rubbed her arms to keep her calm.

  “We have a talented group of contestants in this season’s She Wouldn’t Dare. You just saw San Francisco’s very own fashion designer, Jenna Hart, accept a dare to create a bridesmaid dress for her fiancé’s ex-fiancée. Right, figure that one out. Anyway, what we’re going to show you today is not that dress, but three dresses she prepared for three women she loves.”

  The She Wouldn’t Dare theme song played, and the curtains were drawn back to reveal Cait, Melisa, and Nadine’s dresses.

  “Wow, they look better than I thought,” Jenna exclaimed.

  As Amy explained which dress was for which sister, Cait, Melisa, and Nadine patted themselves and preened for the family, each clearly pleased with their dresses.

  “You did a miracle,” Larry said, knowing how hard Jenna’s sisters were to please.

  “Those dresses fit my girls to a ‘T.’” Pete, their father, rose from the sofa and gave the three bridesmaids a group hug. Then he turned to Jenna. “You make me so proud.”

  On screen, Amy fielded the applause of the audience, and then pointed to another curtained area. “So, these dresses are for Jenna’s loved ones. I don’t know about you, but I can’t wait to see what Jenna cooks up for Shelly, the evil ex.”

  Amy snorted at her own joke.

  “Wait, I don’t have a dress ready for Shelly.” Jenna stared at the second set of velvet curtains drawn around a frame that contained another mannequin.

  “Oh, no!” Cait groaned. “I bet they put something hideous there and they’ll claim you made it for Shelly.”

  “I wouldn’t put anything past them,” Connor said.

  “Amy’s pure evil,” their mother said. “Look at the joy she’s getting at imagining our Jenna squirm.”

  “I think she’s hot.” Grady just had to add in his off-the-wall comment.

  “Unfortunately,” Amy said. “We were unable to get a sneak preview of Shelly’s dress. That’s going to be unveiled in next week’s episode.”

  “Next week?” Jenna jumped from Larry’s lap. “But they said I had until the wedding to finish it.”

  “Looks like they lied. Why am I not surprised?” Grady crossed his arms and chuckled, entirely too amused at his twin sister’s consternation.

  “Is there anything I can do to help?” Larry asked, not knowing the least what he could do, other than leave her alone so she could work day and night.

  Onscreen, Amy snapped her fingers. “But, we do have a surprise behind this curtain. Our She Wouldn’t Dare staff members were able to infiltrate Jenna Hart’s design studio and steal her own wedding dress.”

  “What?” Jenna fanned her face and bounced on her toes. “It’s not ready. How did they get it. Cait?”

  “Hey, why are you accusing me?” Cait scowled, even though her eyes remained locked onto the TV screen.

  The curtain rolled back, and Larry’s jaw hit the floor. The dress on the mannequin could only be described as barely covering the bikini area. A large cutout showed the belly. The scooped neckline displayed the chest area. The fabric around the torso was joined together by large rings, but the overall effect was to only cover the most intimate parts, nipples and crotch, but allow the imagination to flourish along the bare areas and see-through lace.

  If harems had wedding dresses, this would be a prime example.

  “You’re going to wear that?” His voice thundered out louder and harsher than he expected.

  “It’s not finished,” Jenna said.

  Amy laughed at the reaction of the audience who whistled and catcalled at the dress. “Yes, these contestants always surprise me, too. Anyway, to be fair to Miss Hart, this dress is not complete, and I’m sure once she puts on the finishing touches, it will be suitable for even a nun.”

  “Humpf,” Kimberly huffed. “I don’t like them making jibes about nuns. Jenna Hart, are you out of your mind? Have you forgotten that matrimony is holy?”

  “I’m sorry, everyone.” Jenna blinked and wiggled her hands nervously. “It’s meant to draw attention and buzz. Lots of high fashion looks strange in everyday life, but it makes a statement.”

  “I’m not sure I like the statement,” Larry said. “I mean, that dress isn’t even you.”

  “Should I start over?” Jenna grabbed Larry’s hand. “I could throw it out and design a more modest one.”

  “Too late,” Dale said, pointing to the TV. “The audience loves the dress, and Amy is promising that you’ll model the dress in next week’s episode.”

  Jenna groaned, covering her face. “I still have to lose five pounds before I can fit into it.”

  “What? You’re ten days from your wedding and you still want to lose weight?” Larry drew his fiancée back onto his lap. “Jenna, you’re putting way too much pressure on yourself.”

  “I know, but they all love the dress.” She gestured to the TV where the judges were praising its boldness, edginess, and how she would outshine the most exhibitionist A-list celebrities of Hollywood if she wore the dress for her wedding. “Do you think I should wear it or start over?”

  “Wear it,” Larry said, even though his heart ached at how their wedding wasn’t truly theirs, and that he would never have pictures he could proudly show their children.

  “You sure you want me to stay in the show?” The corners of Jenna’s mouth turned down. “Who knows what other tricks they’ll pull?”

  “It’s all part of the game, but like you said, if you make the finale, you get to raise money for the dog rescue and have the runway show with some of your creations. It’s publicity you couldn’t afford to pay for.”

  Even as he said these words, Larry raged inside, barely able to control himself. If he had his way, he’d rip Jenna away from the reality show and marry her in private. His wife and the future mother of his children should never have to parade around using her sexuality to sell her line of clothing. Male designers never wore their own creations, and they did just fine using models.

  Jenna touched his cheek and smiled. “You always understand me, Larry. I’m sorry I accused you of only wanting to marry my family instead of me.”

  “Yeah, I don’t think I can take your family in concentrated doses.” He hugged her close and winked at the people who had taken him in after his burn ordeal.

  He could never mess things up with Jenna, because if he did, he’d lose them, too. But Jenna was all important, and she had to know he’d give everything up, even the rest of the Harts, if it meant being with her.

  The question was. Would she give up anything to be with him?

  Chapter Seventeen

  In show business, bad publicity was better than no publicity. What was important was name recognition and staying in the spotlight. Jenna learned that lesson early on when she worked for another designer. What had started as a major screw up was talked about so much that at the end, she was awarded best new designer of the year.

  Which was why she didn’t care about making a dress Shelly would like, or even a dress that would fit in at her wedding. Nope. She needed a dress to not only spite the intruding bridesmaid, but to set everyone to talking and lead to viral videos of her She Wouldn’t Dare segment.

  With that goal in mind, Jenna spent the next few days frantically stitching up the most atrocious dress she could for Shelly Sweet to wear. Since the woman had that dark, Addams family vibe, she decided black would be an appropriate color for her unwanted bridesmaid.

  Using black and white ostrich feathers and swatches of poufy tulle, Jenna designed a hideous dress that looked like an ostrich wearing a tutu. She even added a peekaboo puff of white in the tail area as well as a fringe of white tulle on the sides of the black feather skirt.

  Overall, the dress would make Shelly look like an ostrich in heat, exposing its nether
regions in a come-hither look that would only mean something to a male ostrich.

  Too bad she couldn’t bring a real one on stage to court Shelly.

  “How’s it coming along?” Larry peeked into her sewing room. He brought in a bagel and a cup of coffee for her.

  “It’s going to be absolutely hideous.” Jenna giggled.

  Larry held up the partially finished dress. “This thing looks like a creature from a Dr. Seuss book.”

  “That’s what she gets for crashing my wedding.” Jenna got up from her sewing machine and gave Larry a kiss. “I wonder who put her up to it? Do you think your mother had anything to do with it?”

  “Anything’s possible,” Larry said.

  “Which bothers you more? Your mother decorating the Gilded Ballroom or Shelly being one of my bridesmaids?”

  Despite Larry’s outward support of her continuing with the reality show, Jenna couldn’t believe he was truly okay with it.

  Larry shook the feathered dress along with his head. “Honestly, it’s all part of the show. I’m not taking any of this personally.”

  “That’s good. You’re such a good sport.”

  “Only if you let me drive your Tesla.” Larry chuckled.

  “Our Tesla. I’m sharing everything with you. Grady asked if I’d gotten a pre-nup, and I told him we have no need.”

  “Grady sure likes to butt his nose in other people’s business,” Larry said.

  “He’s just a lonely guy.” Jenna spread cream cheese on half of a bagel. “I don’t think he’s happy.”

  “Me either. He thinks I’m sad because you’re putting so much into this reality show instead of paying attention to me.”

  “It’s for our future.” Jenna watched Larry’s face, alerted by a twinge in his voice. “After the wedding, I’ll be all yours. No reality show. No fashion show. No travel. Nothing but our honeymoon.”

  “I like the sound of that.” Larry’s grin seemed stiff, but it could just be the tightness of his scarred skin. He averted his gaze and cleared his throat. “I’d better let you get back to your sewing machine or you won’t be ready for the next episode. I’ve got errands to run. Gotta pick up the marriage license and the rings and talk to Father Gonzales about the actual ceremony.”

  “Are you going to confession? Mother’s been bugging me to go as if she thinks I have some dirty deed to confess.”

  “I’ll probably just talk to the priest. Although we all have things to confess.” Larry hung his head and shrugged.

  “Oh?” Jenna’s antennae for trouble twitched. “Is there something you haven’t told me?”

  “My life’s an open book.” Larry spread his hands out with his palms up. “It’s more marriage advice I’m asking him for.”

  “Marriage advice? He’s a priest. He isn’t married.” Jenna lifted her brows and shot a sideways glance at Larry. “Are you having doubts?”

  “Me? No, none at all.” Larry’s grin looked forced. “I’m marrying the most beautiful woman in the world, and not just that, a talented designer, a warm and caring girlfriend, and my best friend.”

  “Same here.” She tugged his hand and leaned against him. Closing her eyes, she listened to his big heart beat. “Everything you do, you do for me. I know that and I appreciate it."

  “That’s because you’re everything to me, Jenna, love.” He kissed the top of her head and cuddled her. “I want nothing more than for you to be happy and have the best life possible.”

  Her heart warmed at his loyalty and love. But something Grady said nagged at her. Something about Larry catering to her and acting like a doormat because he was afraid she’d reject him. Was he still insecure because of his burns, or was it a bigger issue due to his mother abandoning him?

  “I want the same for you, Larry, but you never tell me what would make you happy.”

  “You already know.”

  Actually, she wasn’t sure she knew at all, but at this late stage, it would hurt him if she admitted she had little clue.

  He was happy with his job as a firefighter.

  He loved her family and enjoyed their company.

  He loved his dog and hanging out with him.

  He didn’t particularly like being on TV or having his picture taken, but he was going along with her celebrity lifestyle because he wanted her to be happy.

  He hated people feeling sorry for him or dwelling on his scars and burns.

  And most of all, he didn’t need her to protect him or go all mother bear on him. He was a man who preferred to take care of others, not be looked after or coddled.

  But still, there had to be limits on what he would take, like needing to be photographed from his good side. The left side of his face was not only a web of scars, but he was also missing an ear.

  Jenna looked up at Larry and suppressed a gasp. When standing at the altar to marry her, he would be facing her and standing on the right, which meant his left side would be visible to the cameras.

  “Larry?” Dread crossed her heart at how she’d ignored his comfort and well-being with her single-minded focus on the show. “If I weren’t doing the reality show, would you have wanted a video taken at the wedding?”

  “Why are you asking me?” Larry’s eyes shuttered into a guarded look.

  “The video would show your bad side. Are you okay with it?”

  Larry wiped his palm over the scarred side of his face. “I have to be brave about it. Everyone sees me this way.”

  “But you don’t like being filmed.” It was a statement of fact.

  “No, I don’t.”

  And yet, she was asking him to do the very thing he hated on the most important day of his life.

  What kind of loving partner did that make her?

  “Anyway, we should have a video done for our children to watch.”

  “Children,” she repeated. That was something else that would make him happy. It had to mean something when he went and bought a family van soon after they got engaged. “I’m not sure they’d understand the reality show, and who knows what kind of wedding dare they’d give us?”

  “I’m sure it’ll be vastly entertaining for them, and they’ll laugh their cute little bellies off.” He cheered up and tucked a strand of her hair back over her ear. “You gotta finish up the dresses. Maybe you can make me a mask like the one the Phantom of the Opera wore.”

  “No mask.” She touched the scarred skin on his face. “If cameras make you upset, then I’ll ask them to skip the actual ceremony. Maybe claim a religious exemption, like Father Gonzales not allowing it.”

  “Will it hurt your chances at winning?” Larry’s brows creased with concern.

  “It shouldn’t. I still have the pet adoption event and fashion show at the reception. It would be tacky to have the camera crew at the church for our holy matrimony.”

  “Holy or holey as in your Swiss cheese dress?” Larry pointed to her keyhole filled dress hanging off the mannequin.

  “Both.” She fell into a fit of giggles and he kissed her.

  But as he turned away, his lips were pressed together and he didn’t seem quite as happy or lighthearted as he’d portrayed himself to be.

  “Larry, tell me what you really think about our wedding.” She pressed her hand on his chest. “Be honest with me.”

  He opened his mouth, but nothing came out. Then he fidgeted and wiped his hand over his forehead, looking to the side as if he had to go.

  “Larry, you have to be honest and tell me. I want to know.”

  Clearing his throat, he shrugged and kept his gaze away from her eyes. “I wish we could do it privately. The entire circus atmosphere takes away from the seriousness of us joining our lives together. But you’ve already signed up for the show, and I know you want to win.”

  “I do, but not if you’re unhappy.” She clutched his arm and shook it. “Tell me, Larry. Are you unhappy with the entire show? Tell me the truth.”

  “Yes, I am, but I’m happy if you’re happy.”

  �
�No, Larry, that won’t work. Not for long. Not for our lifetime.” She stared into his weary and sad, brown eyes. “You have to be happy in your own right, not borrowed off me being happy.”

  Chapter Eighteen

  Larry’s heart expanded and contracted so hard, he was sure Jenna could feel it punching the hand she laid on his chest.

  “I am happy,” he protested. “I’m glad we get to go to Thailand and that you’re getting that car.”

  “Yes, but those were just the preview shows. If we make it to the final round, the camera and sound crew will be all over the church, setting up lights and cameras, and running around. They’ll hang boom mics over the priest and the altar, as well as over everyone they want to capture conversation from, like our bridal party. People who see it on TV won’t see all the wires, equipment and activity that our guests will have shoved in their faces.”

  “I’m sure our guests will be excited to be on the show. They might even get interviewed.”

  “True.” Jenna put a finger on her lip, conceding the point. “But what about you? Are you okay with them filming our wedding?”

  Larry shrugged. She’d obviously planned everything with the show in mind, even getting permission from the priest, so why was she questioning him, as if baiting him to overturn everything she wanted?

  “What do you really want, Jenna? If it’s a church wedding then it should be geared toward worship instead of entertaining an audience.”

  Jenna blinked and pursed her lips, nodding. “You have a point. Churches are for worship services. I wonder if Father Gonzales really understood how disruptive the show could be. For example, they could interrupt us and make us do a retake, since they’re taping the final episode. Not to mention me taking a dare somewhere in the ceremony.”

  “That would mean we’re essentially acting at our own wedding. Especially if you wear that sexy dress.” Larry steered her toward the mannequin wearing her peekaboo dress. “That dress is for a movie star, or a pop singer.”