Picture Perfect Love (Year Of Weddings 2 Book 7; Series Order 19) (Christian Romance) Read Free

broken promises and crushed dreams pressed down on her chest. She took a breath, then another, trying to remain calm.
    This wasn’t the time to lose it. Pastor Dan had counseled her on the importance of forgiveness and putting the failed relationship behind her, but she needed to get everything out, once and for all. “You never responded to any texts, e-mails, voice messages, or registered letters. When I went to your office, your personal assistant threatened me with a restraining order.”
    “That was my father’s idea. He . . . I thought you wanted to get back together.”
    Another chill traveled the length of her spine. She met Ash’s gaze straight on. “I can honestly say getting back together has never once crossed my mind.”

    Hurt flashed across his face.
    Oh, no. The last time he’d looked that way had been when his photo went viral.
    “I shouldn’t have said that.” Jenna had been broken and bent over this for too long. No more. She straightened. “I appreciate your coming here. Apology accepted. Let’s put this behind us.”
    Relief filled his gaze, but his facial expression remained cautious. “Thank you.”
    “You’re welcome.” See, she could be civil. Polite, even.
    “If you tell me the amount, I’ll pay back the wedding expenses.”
    Jenna drew in a sharp breath, exhaled slowly. She didn’t know if he was serious or not, but she told him the amount. One number she wouldn’t forget. Ever.
    He didn’t grimace or flinch or frown. “Check okay?”
    She nodded, not trusting her voice. Any money he sent would help her get out of debt that much sooner. She wiggled her toes.
    “Okay,” he said.
    Jenna waited for him to say good-bye. He didn’t. “You’ve apologized and offered to send me a check. Anything else you need?”
    He rubbed his lips together, rocked back on his heels.
    Uh-oh. Only one person made him react like that. “Amber?”
    “Yes, she’s the other reason I’m here.”
    His younger sister had claimed to like Jenna, went so far as to say she was good for her too-serious older brother, yet Amber had allowed Ash to not only blame Jenna forsomething she hadn’t done, but stood silently at Jenna’s side when he stopped the rehearsal and asked for his grandmother’s ring back.
    That had been the worst day of Jenna’s life. Her fingers squeezed tighter around the doorknob. “Amber must have picked today to tell the truth for a reason.”
    “She’s getting married this month.”
    A June bride, like Jenna would have been. Claire too. “Amber’s what? Twenty-two now?”
    “Yes.”
    “Young.”
    “She’s convinced our father this is what she wants. Her fiancé clerked for my dad. He introduced them, so the guy has the judge’s seal of approval.”
    Unlike Jenna when she’d been engaged to Ash. But an upcoming wedding didn’t explain why Amber told the truth today of all days. “Is your sister in a twelve-step wedding prep program and addressing past wrongs?”
    Ashton’s mouth twisted. “I wish.”
    “That bad?”
    “Afraid so.”
    Jenna didn’t care about his sister’s wedding. She wanted nothing to do with either one of them. Especially him.
    He stood with one foot on the welcome mat. Too attractive for her to remain neutral. Not even picturing a color swatch of beige helped. The least he could have done was gain fifty pounds or have a receding hairline—not look better than he did before.
    What patience remained evaporated like mist on a hot day. “Just say it.”

    “Amber and Toby’s photographer was placed on bed rest and can’t do their wedding. A replacement was offered, but Amber wants to hire you. She said you’d never agree to the job if she didn’t tell the truth.”
    Amber’s motivation didn’t surprise Jenna. The young woman had been pampered and spoiled like a precious pet her entire life. She always got her way, but not this time. “Tell your sister I appreciate her admitting what she did, but I can’t photograph her wedding.”
    A