Page 81 of Dirty Husband

Fabric flits through my mind. Lace, ivory, silk, tulle, chiffon. In ivory, white, cream, blush, and even the occasional baby blue.

So many different dresses. So many beautiful dresses. So many ornate details. Beads, sequins, feathers, chiffon flowers.

Does the dress need to mean something?

Can it just be a dress?

All this wedding information makes the same point.

This is the best day of your life. Never compromise. It's about what you want.

But it's not the best day ofmylife. It's another day where I'm under Shep's command. And the dress…

It's not about finding something that matches the occasion. Not exactly.

It's about holding on to the little part of control I have. Wearing something that proclaimsI'm Jasmine Lee and I'm more than a rich man's wife. I'm…

Something.

Dad taps the page on the right. A silk sheath. "It would suit you."

Maybe. It's beautiful. Elegant. Sexy even.

Is that what I want to say about myself?

I haven't thought much about my wedding. Even when I was a girl, when Shep and I were teenagers in love.

My thoughts of the future were always college, my own apartment, shows in the city. Not love or kids or marriage. I knew I would have that. It wasn't even a choice. It was just what I was supposed to do.

Now…

"Drink your tea." Dad pushes the mug toward me.

I wrap my hands around the warm ceramic. Take a long sip. It is soothing. It always is. "Thank you."

"No offense, honey, but why ask me?"

"I'm not supposed to ask for my father's help with my wedding?" I try to recall friends' weddings or things I've seen on TV. It's usually moms, sisters, aunts even. "Are you going to call Aunt Mai?" Quyen would be better with clothes, but he admires Mai's practical streak. "Ask her to close the restaurant for a week so she can fly out here?"

He chuckles. "Shepard could afford it."

He could. And he would. It's not actually the worst idea in the world.

"You're inviting them to the wedding. Why not to the wedding planning?"

"I'll consider that." It's the best idea I've had so far. Though… knowing my aunts… They're two bossy, in demand ladies. They'll hijack the wedding as well as Shep's team will. They'll be on my side, yes, but they'll also be following their vision.

He takes a long sip of his oolong. "I know you love my fashion sense." He motions to his t-shirt and sweatpants. "But you must have girlfriends who are almost as stylish."

"I'm not sure anyone comes close, Dad." I can't help but smile. I wish I had his optimism. Maybe my kids will. Maybe it skips a generation.

Or maybe this is too much, too soon.

Last night was amazing. But jumping into a whole wedding—

It's a lot.

"Still, it can't hurt to have the moral support," he says.