Forever You (33 page)

days to inspect, I will sue you and shut you down for good!” I threw my phone across the desk just as

Phil walked in.

“We need to talk, Connor,” he said as he sat down.

“Not now, Phil; it’s not a good time.”

“Well, you’re going to want to hear this. It’s about the fire in Chicago,” he spoke seriously.

I got up from my desk and looked at him. “What? What the hell do you have to tell me?”

“They found the person responsible for the fire, and it’s someone you know,” he spoke.

“Someone I know? Who the hell would do that to me?” I started to get nervous.

“It was Ashlyn. She was the one who hired the guy to set the fire.”

I walked to the other side of my desk and paced the floor. “Are you absolutely positive about

Ashlyn?”

“Yes, Connor; the police have her under arrest. The guy finally broke down and confessed

everything after the police arrested him again on some other charges.”

“Alright, then it’s done. I’m getting married in a week, and I don’t need this. You are to handle

everything. I don’t want to hear another word about it until after I get back from my honeymoon.”

“Aren’t you going to confront her about it?” Phil asked.

“No, what’s done is done. I’m sure I know the reason anyway. Now if you’ll excuse me, I have a

beautiful fiancée who’s waiting at home for me,” I said as I grabbed my briefcase and left the office.

On the way home, I thought about whether or not to tell Ellery about Ashlyn. I didn’t want to upset

her, but we aren’t keeping secrets from each other, and if she found out that I didn’t tell her, there

would be hell to pay. I stepped off the elevator and into the hallway and was caught off guard by a

tantalizing smell, coming from the kitchen. I set my briefcase down and walked to the kitchen to find

Ellery cooking dinner.

“Are you cooking, Miss Lane?” I asked as I put my hands on her hips and kissed her.

“Yes, and you’re going to eat it, whether you like it or not,” she smiled.

“I’ll eat anything from you,” I winked. She hit me on the arm and turned to the oven. I grabbed a

couple of glasses, filled them with wine, and set them on the table. Ellery took a chicken pot pie out

of the oven and set it in the middle of the table.

“My mom used to make this for my dad and me. It was his favorite. I’ve kept the recipe with me all

these years. I started making it for him when I was only nine years old,” she said as she sat down

across from me.

“You cooked dinner for your father at the age of nine?” I asked.

“It was either that, or he didn’t eat. I always knew that would be the one dish he would eat.”

I looked at her and shook my head. I couldn’t believe that drunken bastard would let his child cook

and use the oven at the age of nine. I needed to tell her about Ashlyn, and I guess now’s as good as

time as any. I decided to wait until after dinner because she started talking about the wedding. After

we ate and cleaned up, I asked her to sit with me in the living room.

“I get the feeling that you have something that you need to tell me,” she said.

I took in a deep breath as she laid her head down on my lap and looked up at me. “Ashlyn was the

person responsible for setting the fire in Chicago.”

She quickly sat up. “What? That bitch!” she exclaimed.

I took her and laid her head back down on my lap. “Listen to me, Ellery; I don’t want you to worry

about this. I told you because we aren’t keeping keep secrets from each other. Phil is handling this for

me, and I have no intentions of confronting her about this,” I told her as I stroked her hair. “In fact,

you are not to see her either because I know you, and you have quite a temper.”

“Fine, if you don’t want me to, then I’ll respect your wishes, but I still think you’re wrong.”

I bent down and kissed her. “Thank you, baby, I love you.”

“I love you too even though you’re wrong,” she smiled as she tapped me on the nose.

***

I walked through the newly built house. Ellery’s painting hung perfectly above the fireplace and

was the focal point of the room. “How does it look, big brother?” Cassidy asked.

“It looks great, and I think Ellery’s going to like it,” I replied.

“Are you kidding? She’ll love it, Connor, every bit of it. It’s the best wedding present anyone could

ever give, and I hope to find someone like you someday.”

I hugged her. “Someone’s out there waiting for you; he just hasn’t found you yet.”

“Since when did you become so poetic?” she asked with a smile.

“I guess that’s what being in love does to a man,” I replied. We left the house and I headed back to

the city to meet Denny for dinner. In two days, I will be presenting the house to Ellery, on our

wedding night. I was nervous she wasn’t going to like it, but she can make whatever changes she

wants.

Denny and I left the restaurant and went to a local bar to meet some guys for a few drinks. I missed

Ellery because we decided not to see each other for a couple days until our wedding day. I was

having a good time, talking and laughing with the guys when my phone rang; it was Ellery.

“Hey, baby, is everything ok?” I asked.

“Everything’s fine; are you having fun?”

I could barely hear her because wherever she was, the background noise was really loud.

“Babe, I can barely hear you. You’re going to have to talk a lot louder.”

“Is this better?” she said as she whispered in my ear.

I turned around, and with a smile, I wrapped my arms around her and hugged her tight. “What are

you doing here?” I asked.

“I missed you, Connor.”

“I missed you too, baby, more than you’ll ever know.” I looked around, and the girls Ellery went

out with were gathered around the table. The guys pulled up chairs for them as I pulled Ellery on my

lap. I buried my nose in her neck, taking in her scent of lilac and closed my eyes. She laughed as I

nibbled on her ear.

“You smell so good; it’s killing me,” I moaned.

“Behave yourself, Connor; we agreed not to have sex until our wedding night.”

“I know,” I sighed. “It’s just that I’ve missed you, and there’s a bathroom right over there,” I

motioned with my head.

“No way,” she said as she pushed me back. “Just think of how special it will be on our wedding

night. It will be like our first time,” she smiled. Damn that smile.

When it was time to leave, we all left the bar together, and I walked Ellery to the cab. I wrapped

my arms around her. “Are you sure you don’t want to come home with me? I miss you in our bed. You

can leave in the morning and then we won’t see each other again until our wedding day.”

She took my face in her hands. “As much as I want to, babe, I can’t. Besides, I have way too much

to do tomorrow, and if I wake up with you by my side, things will happen, and I’ll never get out of

bed, then I’ll be behind, then I’ll stress out, then I’ll…”

I put my finger over her lips. “Ok, I get it, Ellery, please stop.” I leaned forward and kissed her on

the lips. I put her in the cab, closed the door, and waved as the cab took off down the street. Denny

patted me on the back. “The next time you see her, I’ll be walking her down the aisle on her way to

becoming Mrs. Connor Black,” he smiled. “Now, let me drive you home.”

When I got home, I poured myself a glass of scotch and climbed into bed. I picked up my phone and

stared at the picture of me and Ellery that was proudly displayed on my screen. I already missed her,

so I decided to FaceTime her. I smiled as she answered on the second ring, and her face came across

my screen.

“Hello, my love,” she smiled.

“Hi, baby, I just wanted to say good night.”

“Do you have a glass of scotch with you?” she asked.

I held up my glass so she could see it. “I sure do. Do you have your glass of wine?”

She held up her glass of red wine and smiled. “I sure do.”

“You need to go to sleep, babe, and get your beauty rest,” I said gently to her.

“I was going to sleep, but some hot, sexy man called me and wanted to FaceTime; I couldn’t

resist.”

“I just wanted to see you one last time before our wedding day. Now, put your lips up to the screen

so I can kiss you good night.” We puckered up and brought our lips together on the screen of our

phones. “Goodnight, baby, and sweet dreams,” I whispered. “Good night, my love,” she softly spoke.

I ended the call, set my phone on the night stand, and slept until the alarm went off for work.

Chapter 29

The day that I’ve been waiting for had finally arrived. I looked in the mirror as I straightened my

bow tie. I couldn’t believe that in just a few short hours, I’ll no longer be a bachelor. I’ll be a happily

married man to the most beautiful woman. If you would’ve asked me a year ago if I thought this day

would ever come, I would’ve said hell no! It’s amazing how much your life can change in just a little

under a year when the most perfect woman in the world walks into your life.

“Connor, it’s time to go,” Denny said as he walked in the room. “You don’t want to keep your

bride waiting; do you?”

I took in a deep breath as I climbed in the back of the limo. Our wedding was taking place in the

Conservatory Garden in Central Park. It’s something that Ellery has always dreamed of, and she was

right; it was a beautiful place to get married, just as it was in her painting.

It was a perfect day as the sun was shining brightly. When we arrived at the Conservatory Garden,

people were already gathering and being seated as we walked through the Vanderbilt Gates. The

rows of white chairs, decorated with bows made of tulle, were perfectly positioned. Beautiful

flowers graced the aisle where a white runway was laid, leading down to an archway made of white

magnolias that sat in front of a large fountain. Henry was to be my groomsman. Not only was Denny

my best man, he was also walking Ellery down the aisle. I remember the day she asked him, and a

tear formed in his eye as he said he’d be honored to give her away to me. I walked around and said

hello to family and friends.

“Connor,” my mom said as she walked over to me, “You look so handsome. I thought I’d never see

this day,” she smiled.

“I didn’t think that I would either, mom,” I said.

My parents took their seats in the front row as Henry and I headed down the aisle to take our place

in front of the archway. Denny stepped outside the gates to meet Ellery as her limo pulled up. Dr.

Peters nodded and smiled as he and his wife sat down. I stood there next to Henry as a nervous

wreck.

“You’re not nervous; are you?” Henry asked.

“I’m nervous as hell,” I replied.

He put his hand on my shoulder. “Don’t be nervous. Ellery’s the woman of your dreams, and you’re

finally making her your wife. You’re one lucky man, Connor.”

I nervously smiled at him. “Just wait until you’re standing in my place, waiting for Peyton to walk

down the aisle.”

“Good point,” he said as he cocked his head to the side.

The orchestra began playing as Peyton, Ellery’s maid of honor, slowly walked down the aisle. I

looked at Henry as a wide grin spread across his face. She looked beautiful. Following behind her

was Cassidy. She looked just as beautiful as she gracefully walked towards us with a smile on her

face. I took in a deep breath as the wedding march started. My heart started racing when I saw Ellery

holding the arm of my best friend. She looked exquisite in her wedding gown. Her hair was up in

curls that were accented by her classic long veil. Her delicate hands carried a bouquet of pink roses

and small white magnolias. As she slowly walked down the aisle, she never took her eyes off mine,

and her smile captivated me. She was radiant, and the most beautiful woman in the world.

She reached the archway as I stepped forward and Denny delicately placed her hand in mine. I

smiled at her and saw some tears beginning to form. I lightly shook my head. She started to laugh as

we stood there, holding hands, and we turned to the minister so he could begin the ceremony. He had

us face each other to say our wedding vows. I took in a deep breath and stared into her beautiful blue

eyes as I held her hands in mine.

“Ellery, I didn’t write anything down because I didn’t have to. Every word I say to you is straight

from my heart and soul. I want to start off by saying that you are the most beautiful woman I’ve ever

seen, and you look absolutely stunning. I feel like I’m the luckiest man alive to have you in my life,

and not just as your best friend, but as your husband. You stole my heart from the moment you turned

around and looked at me. The moment I saw your smile, I knew I was done for, and everything I

thought I had believed in disappeared. You showed me love, and taught me that it was ok to love

someone. We grew together as friends and then as lovers. Now, we will grow together as husband

and wife. I promise to love you forever, and to never break your heart. I promise to keep you safe at

all times. I promise you a world of happiness and joy, and I promise to take away your pain and

sadness. You are my forever, Ellery Rose, and I love you more than words can express. You’ve been