“Because their samples were fake flowers,” Beth said. “Remember?”
Beth had gone with Jessica to pick out most of the items for the wedding since Sed had been on the road touring with Sinners almost the entire time she’d been planning the occasion. But she’d sent him pictures of everything and asked his opinion on every detail. He hadn’t lost his patience once, even though she must have been driving him bonkers. He probably didn’t give a rat’s ass if the red ribbons in the flowers were matte or satin, but she had required his opinion on the matter, by God, and he offered one. She’d wanted him to feel he was a part of every decision, every step leading up to this day. She wasn’t the only one getting married today.
Jessica chuckled. “You’re right. I guess that would explain why I wasn’t allergic to them at the florist.”
“I hope removing the anthers does the trick,” Beth said. “Are you ready to put on your dress?”
Jessica nodded eagerly. It had been a couple of weeks since she’d seen it. They’d done a few last minute alterations so that it would fit perfectly. Which reminded her again that she couldn’t wait to see him in his tux. She sighed aloud at the thought of those wide shoulders filling out a perfectly tailored tuxedo jacket. The man cleaned up real nice and looked delicious in and out of his clothes.
In one of the two bedrooms, Beth helped Jessica slip into her gown. At Jessica’s back, Beth tugged the zipper, but it wouldn’t budge.
“Is it stuck?” Jessica asked, glancing over her shoulder to see what the problem was.
She went light-headed; the problem was that the edges of the zipper were over two inches apart. There was no way they’d ever get it zipped.
“Oh no,” Jessica said. “Sed told me I was showing already, but I didn’t believe him.”
She covered her lower belly with both hands where Sed’s baby grew inside her.
“If I’m this fat now, what am I going to be like in seven months?”
“You’re not fat,” Beth said. “The baby is just big. Like his hunk of a father.”
Jessica wasn’t sure if she believed that explanation, but it made her feel marginally better. “What are we going to do?” she asked.
“Can you suck it in?” Beth asked, yanking on the open sides of the dress.
Jessica drew her breath upward into her chest, trying to make her stomach as flat as possible. But the problem wasn’t her stomach, it was her lower belly. Perhaps she should have chosen a gown that had an empire waist instead of one that was fitted down to mid-hip. She’d thought she’d have plenty of time before her baby bump made any sort of difference in the fit of her clothes.
“I can’t,” Jessica said as she released her breath with a gasp.
“I will get you into this dress if I have to kick you into it,” Beth said.
“I think I have a corset that will fit you,” Aggie said.
Jessica hadn’t heard her approach. She was standing in the open doorway, appraising her carefully.
“It’s white, so it shouldn’t show, and it goes down past the crests of the hipbones, so it will cinch you in tight. But it’s leather. You don’t have anything against leather, do you?”
Could Jessica really wear a white leather corset under her wedding gown? What would Sed think of that? She decided he’d be so turned on that he wouldn’t be able to think.
“Do you think it will work?” Jessica said.
Aggie nodded. “For sure. I’ll have to go get it though. Do we have time?”
“I can’t very well go down the aisle with my dress unzipped,” Jessica said. “I’d be grateful if you could get it if you think it’s worth a shot. It won’t hurt the baby, will it?”
“No, we won’t squeeze you breathless. You just need a couple of inches. I’ll be back.
Aggie turned on her heel, her long straight black hair spinning out away from her body as she moved.
“Thanks, Aggie!” Jessica called after her.
“Not a problem,” Aggie called back.
Beth lifted her eyebrows. “A white leather corset? The things my cousin comes up with.”
“She’s been selling her handmade corsets from a little merch wagon that’s pulled behind Sinners’ tour bus. Her wares are so popular, she has to turn customers away. Have you seen them?”
“No. I didn’t know she was running a business now. I thought she was still stripping in Vegas,” Beth said.
Jessica laughed. “You two don’t talk much, do you?”
“Her mom and my mom don’t really get along,” Beth whispered. “Aunt Tabitha’s the black sheep of the family. And then Aggie… Well, she’s just kind of different. Intimidating?” Beth’s dark brows scrunched together. “Or maybe the word is scary. Yeah, Aggie is scary.”
Jessica grinned and shook her head. Aggie just pretended to be scary, but underneath the leather and cold stares, she was a pussy cat. “Aggie’s fabulous. You really should get to know her better, Beth. Don’t let the whips and leather scare you away.”
Beth laughed. “Do you even hear what you’re saying?”
“You’re the one who sent me to Vegas to be taken under her wing, remember?”
“Yeah, well…” Beth shrugged. “Maybe I was living vicariously. All I do is study, study, study. At least you get to have a life. I don’t think I’m ever going to pass the bar.”
“You’ll pass,” Jess said, patting her on the back.