Read Online Picture Perfect Love (Year Of Weddings 2 Book 7; Series Order 19) (Christian Romance) by Melissa McClone - Free Book Online Page B

paid for the original photographer. Her assistants can shoot Amber’s wedding, so he refused to pay for a different one.”

    Namely Jenna.
    Ash watched the melting ice cream pool on the plate. He hoped by the time of the wedding his father would be cordial to Jenna. “My dad shocked Amber by giving her a budget for the wedding. She’s gone over, so she is paying for her dress, veil, and shoes.”
    Jenna scooped up a spoonful of marionberries. “What else are you paying for?”
    “The cake and DJ.”
    “Amber’s fortunate to have such a generous brother.”
    “Her wedding day should be special.”
    Jenna’s fingers went knuckle-white-tight around the spoon. “Every bride dreams of the perfect wedding.”
    “Did you?”
    She nodded once.
    He hadn’t listened to what she wanted. “You wouldn’t have had your dream wedding if we’d married.”
    “You would have had yours.” She ate more cobbler.
    Would that have been his ideal wedding? He didn’t know. Jenna had suggested eloping, but Ash’s campaign manager and his father believed the publicity surrounding a big wedding would be a boost for the campaign. He’d convinced her that was for the best. She hadn’t put up much of an argument.
    His fault. Again. He set his spoon on the cobbler plate. “I owe you another apology.”
    “Let’s call it good.” She didn’t sound upset, but she fiddled with the napkin again. “There’s no reason to look back. We can’t change what happened.”
    “True, but I don’t want to make the same mistakes again.”
    God, you’ve given me so much. But please, could I have a do-over with Jenna?
    Ash nearly laughed. A misguided prayer, but he had no one else to help him.
    “I’ll be your cashier tonight.” The waiter set a black leather bill folder on the table, then walked away. Ash reached for the check only to find his hand on top of hers. “I’ve got this.”
    “I do.”
    Her skin was soft and warm. He fought the urge to rub her hand with his thumb. “Please. Let me cover dinner.”
    Eyes dark, she kept hold of the folder. “How about we split the check?”
    Jenna didn’t look like she would surrender without a fight. That would mess up whatever limited chance he had with her.
    He let go of the bill. “That works. I’ll subtract what Toby left, and we can each pay half.”
    A satisfied smile graced her lips. “Wonderful.”
    Ash missed her hand on his. “You look happy.”
    Her grin spread to her eyes, where a twinkle returned. “I am. Thanks to you.”
    “I seem to be missing something.”
    “This is the first time you’ve let me pay.”
    “Ever?”
    She nodded. “I never thought the whole man-always-pays thing seemed fair in an equal relationship, but you were always so adamant.”
    “Adamant?”
    “Very much so.” Her smile didn’t falter. “I didn’t makeas much as you. Still don’t. And I appreciated you wanting to pay, but contributing, even a little, makes a person feel like they’re in a partnership, not just being taken care of.”
    He hadn’t known she felt that way. “I’ll remember that.”
    “A warning. Not all women feel this way.”
    But the one who counted did. “Still good to know.”
    Especially if he got a do-over.

On Sunday after the youth service, Jenna entered the church hall. Two teens acknowledged her with nods. She gave them a thumbs-up.
    After the ropes course and Pastor Dan’s sermon, she couldn’t stop smiling. She kept thinking about the future. Something she hadn’t done in two years. It felt good, normal.
    Jenna followed the smell of fresh-brewed coffee to a large pot. She filled a cup, then added a dash of milk. The caffeine would keep her going with another wedding to shoot this afternoon.
    “Hey.” Sam wore a white button-down and khaki pants—dressy attire for him. The clothes made him look more his age than his normal shorts and T-shirts. “Guess who’s here?”
    “Pretty much everyone we know.”
    “True, but that’s not who I