London Falling (Falling #2)(14)
“Two things?” she tilted her head and grinned. “Be my maid of honor and decorate the baby’s nursery in the Penthouse, maybe even at the ranch, too?”
I jumped up and instead of sitting in Pen’s lap like I always did--fear of crushing the baby prevented my usual antics--I hauled her into a great big hug in the middle of the restaurant. She squeezed me and once again I felt extreme happiness surrounding her. It sunk into every one of my pores, filling my dark with light.
“Can I pick my own dress?” She laughed but I was dead serious. There was no way in hell I’d be wearing some ridiculous bridesmaid dress. We needed appointments with Vera Wang ASAP. It was a good thing I’d done her office design last year. I could pull a few strings.
“Whatever you want. It’s going to be really simple though, London. Only you, Ollie, and my soon to be sister-in-law, Jess on my side. On Hank’s it will be his brother, Heath, Dean, and his best friend Mac. We’re getting married at Hank’s ranch in Texas. I’ve hired a wedding planner to handle all the finite details. I do not have the time nor the desire to plan a wedding. I just want the man. Besides, Bright Magazine is going live the first of the year and there is so much to do before it launches. If Hank hadn’t demanded we push up the wedding when we found out about the baby, we’d be doing all this next year.”
“You sound stressed. That can’t be good for the baby. How far along are you?”
She smiled and glowed a little when she pulled out a little black and white photo. “Officially, I’m eleven weeks. I’ll be four months along by the time we get married. I have to find a dress that can hide a small bump if I have one by then.” She clasped her hands over her belly thoughtfully.
My big sister was getting married and going to have a baby. Incredible. She was with the man of her dreams and was the happiest I’d ever seen her.
“Do you want to go look at dresses? I’ll set up something with Vera. She owes me a favor.”
“That would be heavenly. Thank you.” She looked at her watch and stood. “I have to go. Meeting at two. Enjoy your evening with Collier. If he’s anything like his brother, Nate, he’s a good guy. And if he’s as good looking as Nate and has the same accent? Wow. Gotta love a man with an accent, right y’all?” Her joke was lame, referencing Hank’s southern accent, but I appreciated how love can make you silly. Once upon a time, I, too, was a lovesick puppy. “Lunch and drinks on me. They have my tab. Enjoy!”
Tripp and I watched her leave. “Wow. That was unexpected news, eh, Bridge?”
“You’re telling me. I barely digested the fact that she was getting married and she drops the baby bomb.”
“She dropped the bomb on me…baby. She dropped the bomb on me… ” Tripp sung and I chimed in.
Things were changing for the better for those around me. I wonder if Tripp and I could somehow carve out that chunk of happiness where we wouldn’t be hurt anymore and we’d live happily ever after. We’d spent the last few years resigned to the fact that we were not the people who found happily ever after. We’d both actually believed the concept was more myth than reality. Aspen and Hank’s Cinderella story changed that thought process. Besides, I’d been in love once and it was ripped away prematurely. One day four years ago, my time ran out.
Chapter - 4
London seemed like the kind of bird that fancied men who dressed to impress. The pitch black suit jacket I’d pulled on made me feel like I had secured my armor and was ready for battle with a sexy vixen. I’d paired the jacket with light gray slacks, a white dress shirt and a deep purple tie making additional effort for the evening.
Boy did I want to impress her. The woman was more than beautiful. She was ethereal and unlike anyone I’d ever dated. Something about her called to me. It was more than the fact that she was the exact opposite of my ex-wife, Claire, a fact which made me appreciate her physical qualities even more.
Claire was definitely attractive and when we’d met in college, I chased her endlessly until she finally gave in. We dated for a year and then got married. I spent five years trying my best to make her happy. It was a valiant effort, one I lost miserably.
In the end, my work and lack of all-encompassing attention drove her away. She wanted the man who fawned over her boundlessly. I couldn’t give her that and the lifestyle she required, on top of building Stone, Walker & Associates from the ground up. From the start we were doomed. A woman like her could never be satisfied.
When all was said and done, she left me for a filthy rich man whose family had money and owned hotels across Europe. Over the years I’d heard a little about her through mutual friends we’d had while we were married. They claimed she wasn’t happy and regretted her decision to end our marriage. It didn’t matter. The damage had been done.
After I moved to the States, information became less forthcoming and now it was practically non-existent, an ideal situation to be in when I was contemplating starting something fresh and new for the first time since my marriage failed.
Before I headed out my phone pinged. It was a text from London.
To: Collier Stone
From: London Kelley
Something came up. I’ll meet you at the restaurant. Text me the name. See you there.
After texting the name of the restaurant and the address, I made my way out of my flat and into the garage. I waved to the attendant and slipped into my beloved Porsche 911. Even its name implied a sense of urgency. When I’d seen the deep slate blue paint, its sleek curved lines, I knew she had to be mine. A similar feeling came over me last week when the crowd thinned and I’d spotted Ms. Kelley at Maxwell’s housewarming.