My Neighbor is Bad News

11: Roses and Champagne

Three Weeks Later

Jenna was glad that her wound had finally seem to be taking on some progress and she was able to slowly wean herself off the pain medication. She started some physical therapy to make sure that she didn't lose any muscle in her bicep.

A week ago, her father had bridal gowns brought to the house and she awkwardly went through some and felt that he couldn't have her go out and choose a dress like a normal person. Somehow, something happened but she was able to go out with her mother and sister, chaperoned of course with a security detail to a bridal shop.

There was a lack of customers of course because leave it to her father to close the shop for a few hours so that they had the privacy that was needed. Any stranger posed a threat to her and curious eyes wanted to make sure that she wasn't a celebrity who was being guarded.

Jenna knew that their family was well known in the area and even though some were affiliated with her father, the police would not be able to touch their family even if they were criminals in some sense. She didn't know to what extent his power had reached but many people were afraid of him.

Melissa, her sister, was excited as the attendant brought out some dresses in different styles and her mother had quietly watched the two as she had tried on the first two dresses that were brought out. Her sister had made faces and Jenna didn't know too much about what dress was in.

After trying on another three, she had all but given up when her mother came and given her a dress. Jenna felt just to make her mom feel better, she would try on what she had given her. When she left the room, there was a look that she had never seen on her mom's face as she stepped up to the podium.

"Oh my gosh." Melissa breathed and Jenna turned to look at herself in the mirror. Surprisingly enough, there was a quality to the dress that made Jenna feel a certain way. The dress was loose but form fitting, the color a vintage ivory. The neckline was low but not too the point that she had too much cleavage regardless of her smaller chest. The sleeves on the dress fell off her shoulder while a strap was holding the dress up as well.

There was beading all over the dress along with lace and Jenna felt that this dress was the one. "It's beautiful." She commented as she turned to look at herself. The attendant brought a veil to place on her head and even though she knew that her engagement to Cade was a farce, she had to at least play the part. Who knew if she was ever planning on getting married again.

"You look beautiful." Her mother said with a sadness in her eyes and Jenna wasn't sure if she could forgive her parents for putting her through what they had but she went and hugged her anyways.

***

Jenna wanted to contact Lonnie but she knew that it was a bad idea. She missed the diner even more and she was starting to become restless inside the mansion. Slowly, there was event coordinators running throughout the mansion seeing how they could decorate and arrange for the wedding. She was supposed to marry Cade in less than a month.

She had finished up her yoga session when she went to the kitchen for a drink and snack. She had just reached into the fridge to grab a drink when she saw him standing there on the other side.

He was just as good looking as she remembered and he looked different from when he was her neighbor. "Are you avoiding me?" He asked her. Jenna averted her eyes and turned away from him. "Why would I?" She asked him as she continued to walk away. He had followed on her heels but he gently grabbed her arm. "Cause I feel like you're still angry with me."

"Oh, why would I be, you only lied to me." She told him and he noted the way her sarcasm melted into the comment. "Let me make it up to you. Get dressed and I will take you somewhere." He told her and she lifted a brow to him. "Are you taking me out?"

He nodded his head and she smiled. "Oh this shall be great." She said as she turned and went to shower and get dressed. He was in for a wakening when he found out how her going out in the public went and that was with her father's permission of course.

***

"Where are we going?" Jenna asked him as she found him waiting for her. He was sitting in the parlor with her father on a couch and he was drinking his usual drink of choice. The liquid gave her chills as the one time that she had a drink with him and it was the most disgusting thing ever.

"Will you be ok?" He asked Cade as he stood up to greet her. He had trimmed his beard but it was not as long as before. If anything, the last time that she had seen him, she almost didn't recognize him as he had shaven it all off. It looked like he was letting it grow back as he had a few days worth of hair growth. His hair was trimmed as well and he no longer looked like the rustic warrior he was before. His hair was longer than any normal man's and he had a comb over.

He reminded her of a man who had just walked out of a vintage photo shoot with his infamous plain tee and dark jeans. His tattoo sleeve was peeking through his short sleeve and his biceps twitched as if it was beckoning her to look at him. And she did exactly that. Cade, for the liar that he was, was one fine looking man. He had some odd exotic features and she would be lying if she didn't say that she was attracted to him.

"You look nice." He commented as he took in her floral romper and booted heels that weren't too high, topped off with a ripped jean jacket. Her hair was loose as she had it in a messy braid. "Thanks, you too." She said back to him and he looked to her father. "We should be alright, but keep the other two as hidden as possible. We don't want it to be too obvious that she is guarded." Cade said.

"I trust you with my daughter." He said and Cade nodded as he put his arm out for Jenna to slide her arm to interlock with his. "Have fun and stay safe."

Cade had led her to his BMW and he opened the door to her side for her to climb right in. As soon as he got in and buckled up, she asked, "So what's the deal? Is this for some publicity stunt or something?" She wondered.

"What do you mean?" He asked her. "Well, my dad never lets me out with a security team and let alone with another guy. So what's the deal?"

Cade had started the car and he looked to her as he said, "We need to talk. And I'm not just any guy, I'm your apparent betrothed." He stated, "Oh speaking of, don't let me forget." He said as he reached into the glove department of his vehicle and pulled out a black box. "Here." He opened it to show a ring that if put in the light would radiate like a disco ball. "What is that?" Jenna asked and he shook his head as he grabbed her hand to place the ring on her ring finger. "Your engagement ring, duh." He stated the obvious.

"This is so not romantic." Jenna said as she looked at the ring on her finger and felt something inside her stir. The ring itself was beautiful and it was a rose gold in color with white gemstones.

"You're the one who came up with this, you chose me over my brother." he said as he looked at her. "Quite frankly, I'm not sure why." He said as the engine revved and the vehicle moved. Behind them, a black SUV followed and she watched him glance in the rear view.

"Don't worry, my car is bulletproof." He said as she shifted uncomfortably. "Why do you need-" she stopped as she thought about what she was going to say next. "How come you're the illegitimate son?" She asked.

He glanced at her and smirked. "Way to jump right into the details." His chocolate eyes held a sort of mischief in them and she wondered if he could be hiding something behind them. She could see how he could easily talk his way from having females get out of their panties. He was overconfident and fine as hell.

"Antonio Giovanni happened to have an affair whilst married to his former wife with my mom and I was born." Cade stated. "My mom worked at a dry cleaning company and he just so happened to see her. They screwed and she had me." He stated matter-of-factually and bluntly that it took more than a few moments of time for Jenna to think of a reply to him.

Instead, she opted to stay quiet as he drove them to where their date was supposed to be and she reveled at the pretty lights in the distance. It seemed he was taking her to the carnival.