Kiss the Bride by Melissa McClone, Robin Lee Hatcher, Kathryn Springer

her.
    “Don’t you have to work?” she asked.
    “I put in enough hours that my boss doesn’t mind if I take a morning off. Ready?”
    She nodded.
    Ash opened the door to the church. “Westside hasn’t changed much.”
    He expected Jenna to show some emotion stepping inside.
    She entered without hesitation, then pulled out a lighting sensor and her camera. “I need to take readings.”
    He sat in a pew. Better than following her around like Peaches the puppy, even if he wanted to do that. “I’ll wait here.”
    Jenna walked up the center aisle the way she had at their rehearsal. Except he wasn’t waiting for her at the front with his heart lodged in his throat.
    She measured the lighting and took pictures, then headed down the far side. She climbed the stairs to the balcony used for overflow seating.
    “Stand in front of the altar, please,” she called down.
    He did. Memories of the time when he’d stood here with Jenna by his side hit like a fastball to a batter’s helmet. The disintegration of his political aspirations had eaten away at him and made him nauseous. He’d known he couldn’t go through with the wedding. He’d needed to take action, place blame, save face.
    So he’d broken up with Jenna, then and there, not privately, but publicly, in front of family and friends. What had he been thinking? Gossip had spread like a wildfire. Not about him—everyone had taken his side—but about Jenna.
    “Move a foot to your right,” she instructed from above.
    He did. “How’s this?”
    “Perfect. Stay there.”
    A minute later, she walked up the aisle. She aimed the lens at him. “Smile.”
    “Why do you want my picture?”
    “To test the lighting. You could be a groom in your dark suit and tie.”
    He glanced down at himself. “Work clothes.”
    “Well, I can Photoshop in a bride and make this look like a real wedding.” Her playful tone made him wonder if she’d put the past behind her. “Do you have a request for who she should be?”
    You.
    His heart slammed against his chest. The answer was so clear he thought he’d spoken the word aloud. She didn’t appear to have heard him, so maybe he hadn’t. A good thing.
    Forget being friends. All this time he still wanted her. Only her.
    He wanted Jenna to be his bride. Was it too late for a second chance?
    Ash had his family, a great job, money, and his health. God had been good to him. Was it okay to ask for more . . . for Jenna?
    “I’ve got what I need here.” She lowered her camera. “Where to next?”
    Ash cleared his dry throat. “The country club.”
    Half an hour later, he walked the grounds with Jenna. The darkening skies overshadowed the manicured lawns, trimmed shrubs, and tall trees.
    She took a picture, then wrote in a small spiral pad.
    “Any ideas?” he asked.
    “A few.”
    “Dinosaurs?”
    “Being chased by a T. rex is fun, but overdone. So is having groomsmen as superheroes beneath their tuxes. I’m trying to think fresh. Maybe something Star Wars –related with the upcoming new movie release or flying sharks. That’s the beauty of Photoshop. Lots of options.”
    “I can’t wait to see what you come up with.”
    “Me too.”
    She pointed to her left. “The gazebo will be a nice spot for photos.”
    “At night they turn on miniature white lights.”
    “That must be lovely.” She took a picture of the gazebo. “It’s pretty enough in the daylight.”
    “Not with the gray skies.”
    “The weather is perfect for photographs. No shadows or backlighting. Nice contrast between the green grass and white wood.” She snapped more pictures. “If you want constant sun, move to Arizona.”
    The clouds opened up. Big, fat raindrops fell.
    Jenna covered her camera with her shirt and dashed to the gazebo. He followed.
    The roof protected them from the downpour, but they were already wet. Water dripped from her ponytail. She dried her camera with the underside of her shirt.
    He shook water from his hair. A good thing