Valentine Wedding Hound: Have A Hart Romance, #5

Chapter One

She wouldn’t dare! Jenna Hart rose to her full height and towered over her youngest sister, Melisa. It’s my wedding, not a reality show.

Of course, shooting the messenger never worked, but it sure felt good.

Contract’s already signed. Melisa made a dour face and slapped a pink manila folder on Jenna’s ironing board. I’m sorry, but you made a deal and you have to play.

Last December, both Jenna and Melisa had encouraged their eldest sister, Cait, to take her husband’s surname and start a business. In return, they had agreed to be her first clients. Hence, Cait Wonder and her business, Cait’s Wonderful Weddings, was born.

Melisa had had a New Year’s Eve extravaganza, which was another story on its own, but now, it was time for Jenna to pay the piper.

Cait’s gone over the top, completely. Jenna swept the folder onto the floor, scattering the contents.

Melisa, who usually sympathized with her concerning Cait’s screwball plans, shrugged and twisted her lips. This will promote your design firm. Think of the visibility you’ll get.

I can’t do it! It’s going to be a zoo. Jenna threw up her hands and paced around the small design studio. She was an independent fashion designer and owned Hart in SF Designs based in San Francisco.

She was also one of a few designers not headquartered in New York, London, Milan, or Paris, and she needed the publicity. At the same time, it was her wedding, and maybe behind the glamour and glitz of the fashion business, Jenna was still an old-fashioned girl who wanted a quiet church wedding—not the media extravaganza her sisters seemed to believe she really, truly wanted and needed.

Melisa calmly picked up the folder and showed Jenna the spec sheet. You already agreed to the fashion show, right? You also agreed to the assortment of pets each groomsman would escort. You even agreed to the pet adoption after the reception.

Yes, yes, and yes! Jenna tapped her finger on the terms and conditions. But I didn’t agree to the reality show, especially one where I have to take on-camera dares.

The popular reality show, She Wouldn’t Dare, was based on goading celebrities to accept challenges during important events—in this case, Jenna’s wedding to her fireman hero, Larry Davison.

They’d met a year ago when the mascot for her Valentine’s Day fashion show, a sweet and gassy basset hound puppy named Harley, was lost and then found by Larry.

A runway show, bachelor auction, and a house fire later, Jenna and Larry fell in love and decided to marry. At the time, it seemed fitting to have the wedding on Valentine’s Day. Romance, hearts, flowers, chocolates, and wedding vows went well with Cupid’s arrows and pledging everlasting love.

But now, after Melisa’s raucous and highly publicized New Year’s Eve wedding, Jenna was tempted to take Larry and their dog, Harley, and elope.

You’ll have to speak to Cait about the contract, Melisa said. I’m afraid you gave her power of attorney …

She wouldn’t dare.

Melisa flipped to the signature page. She already did. I don’t think you can afford the cancellation clause.

She definitely couldn’t, and if she could pull it all off, it might be a good idea to do the show. In fact, the exposure could get her name recognition and be a boost to her brand. Hadn’t a marketing guru once told her that all publicity, bad or good, was good publicity?

When do they start shooting? Jenna’s eyes darted wildly around her studio, currently in a deep state of chaos with half-finished dresses and material tossed everywhere.

Camera crews are outside with Cait. Melisa turned to the double doors and flung them wide open. Come on in, Jenna Hart is ready to rock and roll.

Jenna watched in horror as her older sister, Cait, led the camera and sound crew into her tiny studio, followed by the host of She Wouldn’t Dare, actress Amy Suzuki, who’d starred on the now defunct Romancing the Racer reality show a few years back. The show was a flop and cancelled when the motorcycle racer crashed and ended up in the hospital due to being distracted over her and the drama she’d caused.

"Welcome to this episode of She Wouldn’t Dare: Wedding Edition, featuring up and coming San Francisco fashion designer, Jenna Hart. The Asian-American beauty spoke to the camera as she positioned herself beside Jenna. We’re in Jenna’s design studio where she is busy putting together her bridal collection. How are you feeling today? Is the pressure ramping up?"

Jenna was sweaty, her hair was a mess, and she hadn’t put on makeup. She glared at her two sisters and felt every sharp pain of the knives stabbing and twisting in her back.

Gritting her teeth, she forced a smile for the camera. Everything’s going great. I have these two bridesmaid dresses on the forms, and my two wonderfully adoring sisters just happen to be here for a fitting.

There, that’ll get back at them and give them on-camera time. See how they like not having their hair sprayed and their clothes ironed before going on camera.

Awesome, Amy chirped. I see the two dresses are different in terms of cut and style. Why is that?

My two sisters are very different animals. Jenna kept herself from growling. Cait, the eldest, is efficient and very bossy. She favors clean lines and bold statements. She also has a figure which presents many design challenges.

How so? Amy shifted her glance from Jenna to Cait’s waistline.

I have to be careful with balance and form. For example, drawing the eye away from problem areas to provide the illusion of a slender femininity.

Rawrrr … Amy made a catty noise as she placed the mic in front of Cait. We all know how difficult bridesmaid dresses are. Do you have confidence Jenna can tackle all of the problem areas, as she puts it, and make you a truly memorable dress?

I have no doubt. My sister is capable of anything.

Do you like your dress? Amy asked. After what Jenna said about her design goals?

Yes, I do. Cait crossed her arms. She captured my personality and style fabulously.

That’s why she’s the star. Amy focused on the form holding together the pieces of Melisa’s dress, a lacey, frilly concoction of tulle and soft curves. Tell me about your younger sister, Melisa.

She’s always been a sweetheart, Jenna said. Until now.

Oh, do tell. Is that why her dress is so juvenile?

Jenna couldn’t help smirking at the frown which flickered across Melisa’s face. She’s the baby of the family, almost, and she follows Cait around like a little duck.

I do not. Melisa put her hands on her hips and stamped her foot. I may be nice, but I’m no pushover.

Do you like the dress she designed for you? Amy ran her fingers from the beaded lace bodice down to the poufy tulle skirt.

No, it’s too fairy tale. Melisa wrinkled her brow. The problem with Jenna is she underestimates me. I don’t believe this dress reflects who I am.

I’m so sorry to hear that, Amy said. If Jenna had time for a do-over, would you want her to make you another dress?

Of course. Melisa jutted her chin at her designer sister. I’m no longer that dreamy little girl she thinks I am.

Cait, Melisa, tell me something. Amy chuckled in an annoyingly saccharine voice. Is there anything Jenna wouldn’t dare?

Nothing whatsoever. Cait bobbed her head as if she were an expert on Jenna, having bossed her around since she came home from the hospital. Jenna has no circuit breakers. She’ll try and do anything.

Jenna’s brave. She always did her own thing, Melisa said. I looked up to her, and I still do.

Wonderful. Amy turned to the camera. Her assistant handed her a pair of scissors. "Jenna Hart, you are five weeks away from your wedding. For your first dare on the She Wouldn’t Dare: Wedding Edition show, I dare you to cut up Cait’s dress, the one she likes, and replace it with one that isn’t so businesslike."

Can I cut up Melisa’s dress instead? Jenna’s heart took a flying leap. There was no way she could redo both Melisa and Cait’s dress.

No, the dare is to cut up Cait’s dress. She’s going to be in a wedding, not a presidential cabinet meeting. Up for grabs is a home remodel worth fifty thousand dollars. Amy put the scissors in Jenna’s hand as the countdown clock began to tick.

Does it have to be a remodel or does new construction qualify? Jenna’s parents’ house had burned down earlier in the year, and they were having a new one built.

New construction is okay as long as it’s within the budget. Do you take the dare? You have ten seconds left. Amy turned to the camera and said, She wouldn’t dare, or would she?

Jenna swallowed and bit her lips, computing time and material estimates in her head. She owed her pregnant sister-in-law, Nadine, a dress, and her mother’s dress needed alterations. As for her own gown, she had a bad case of designer’s block, and it was still on the drawing board.

Four, three, two, Amy counted down.

I’ll do it. Jenna slashed the scissors across the satin lapel of Cait’s dress and ripped the bodice.

No! Cait lunged to the form and put her arms around it, almost getting cut. I love this dress. I love it, I love it.

Chapter Two

Larry Davison was a man with few needs and wants. Give him a comfortable chair, a plate of spaghetti, and his loyal hound dog, and he was as good as gold.

Which was why he hated being the center of attention. Three years ago, he was burned in a house fire and scarred over fifty percent of his body. He didn’t necessarily hate cameras, but he definitely had a good side and a bad side.

Being engaged to a fashion designer and posing with her for magazine spreads was something he could do without. As long as the photographers positioned him so that he was on Jenna’s right side, he could hide the left side of his scarred and pitted face, as well as his missing ear, by looking at her adoringly, which wasn’t hard to do since he loved her beyond anything he’d ever encountered.

It was a rainy weekend, and Larry had maintenance duties at the firehouse. Rain meant less fires and more rescue operations, but so far, it had been a slow day.

Larry finished checking the operation of the pumper and its ability to maintain pressure. He noted the hydraulic fluid levels and signed off on the daily apparatus checklist.

It was lunchtime, so he picked up his dog, Harley, and headed upstairs to the kitchen.

He stopped at the entrance of the day room and looked around. For some strange reason, everyone else was wearing bowties and a boutonniere over their regular work clothes.

Setting Harley down, he went to look for his best buddy, Connor Hart, who was Jenna’s brother and the fire chief.

Is there something going on that no one told me about? he asked.

Connor looped an arm around his shoulder. You didn’t think you’d get away without a bachelor party, did you?

As long as there are no strippers and no booze, Larry said. Alcohol wasn’t allowed in the station, and he doubted his soon-to-be brother-in-law, who was always a stickler for rules, would make the party too wild.

Nope, just a good, old-fashioned bachelor’s party with your favorite food and people. Connor corralled him into the dining area where the long table was laden with casseroles and skillets of every color and style.

Bet you like that, don’t you? Larry said to his basset hound whose nose wiggled and danced in anticipation of the feast.

He was so short and low to the ground that his ears dragged, and if he didn’t watch his waist, his belly could end up bouncing on the floor. Larry picked him up so he could get a better view of the firehouse delicacies.

Camera’s clicked and the firefighters cheered for Larry, breaking out into a rousing, For he’s a jolly, good fellow.

Harley licked his chops and panted for the food. The table was laden with all of Larry and Harley’s favorites. Spaghetti with sliced hotdogs in a marinara sauce was heaped in the center. Next to it was Larry’s other favorite, a chicken rice casserole with enchilada sauce topped with cheese. At the end of the table were several crockpots filled with chili and barbecue beef. Baskets of steaming buttered pecan rolls also made Larry’s mouth water.

The only greenery in sight was a rather plain iceberg lettuce salad topped with crunchy chow-mein noodles and little orange wedges of canned mandarin oranges. It was there mainly as a decoration so the firefighters could say they ate their veggies.

Wow, thanks, Larry said after the song was over.

Speech, speech, how do you feel facing the ball and chain? an older firefighter said. He’d been married well over thirty years and was one of the station’s wise men.

Larry shrugged, not sure what to say. Unlike Jenna and the rest of the Harts, he grew up alone with his foster mother and had no idea how a marriage worked. He also hated giving speeches. His skin itched at the thought of talking and having all those eyeballs staring at his half-deformed face.

Fortunately, the faces gathered around him were friends—fellow firefighters who made up his extended family. He shrugged in a self-deprecating manner and said, I guess you all know me and Harley. If our stomachs are happy, we’re happy.

Too bad Jenna can’t cook, Connor said.

She’ll learn, Larry crowed. I also aim to have a house full of kids and dogs to keep her busy.

The entire brigade burst out in hearty laughter.

He doubted Jenna would ever be interested in cooking over sewing and designing. He was okay with it, but around his buddies, he didn’t mind poking a little fun at his soon-to-be wife who’d rather be behind the sewing machine or at her design table.

She’d better take lessons from Brian, Connor said, as Brian, who was married to Jenna’s sister Cait, hoisted a slab of ribs onto the burgeoning table.

Brian was second-in-command at the station and drove the ladder truck. He used to be the man most likely to be found at the station, hanging out with them even during his off-duty hours, but after renewing his vows with his wife right before the New Year, he was rarely seen on his days off.

Congratulations, bro, Brian said, giving Larry a slap and a hug. Good luck getting Jenna Hart to go domestic.

Does she know you’re planning lots of children? Connor asked. He put his arm around his pregnant wife, Nadine. I always thought Jenna didn’t want kids.

She didn’t want dogs either, and now she dotes on our Harley. Larry let the adorable fat hound slobber all over him before setting him down in front of a dish filled with spaghetti.

That dog was the messiest eater ever, and everyone backed away at least five feet from Harley as he wolfed down the spaghetti, dribbling sauce down his saggy jowls and splattering noodles with his floppy ears.

When he finished, he begged for a rib bone, and dragged it, sauce and all, to gnaw at it with his belly flopped over Larry’s feet.

Larry was enjoying the food and company, joshing and joking with his buddies and swigging down energy drinks until Harley’s satisfied murmurs turned into a low growl.

Conversation stopped like someone turned off a switch, and all eyes turned to the double doors of the day room where a camera crew followed a pretty Asian woman wearing a hot pink mini skirt suit.

Hello everyone, I’m Amy Suzuki, she said. We’re here live on location at the firehouse where Ms. Jenna Hart’s groom, Larry Davison, presides over his rather tame bachelor’s party. What’s this? No one finished their salad?

The TV cameras panned over the mostly scarfed down food while boom mics hung over the firefighters. Harley, who usually didn’t growl, huffed and made a low whine as he defended both his rib bone and the honor of the firehouse food.

The hot pink vision teeter-tottered toward Larry, wearing stilts so high, her feet were almost vertical.

"I’m your hostess