Best big brother in the world.
“It’s weird seeing it empty again so soon,” I thought aloud.
“It kinda gives me the creeps now.” Quinn shuddered. “I’m really glad you’re a secret badass.”
I snorted at her and we both laughed – I’d never told Quinn about my self-defense classes. It was something I’d done just for me.
“I’m just glad he’s getting the help he needs. The next person might not have been so lucky.” It made me feel sick to think about it. He could have seriously hurt Lisa.
“Do you want to go and grab some lunch before we head back?” Quinn asked as she lifted a couple of small boxes.
“Sounds great,” I replied with a smile. It was such a good feeling to be able to go wherever I wanted, whenever I wanted. “I’ll let Law know I’ll be back a bit later,” I told her as I pulled my phone from my pocket.
“I’ll meet you down there,” Quinn called as she headed for the elevator.
I dialed Lawson.
“Hey, baby.” His deep voice tickled at my senses.
“Hey, cowboy.” It was ridiculous that just talking to him could make me smile like this. “I just wanted to tell you that me and Q are gonna get some lunch on our way back. I’ll drop her off to Logan’s and then I’ll be home, okay?”
“No rush, pretty girl. Me and Zef are just unloading some of your stuff.” I could hear the smile in his voice. I think he was more excited about this move than I was.
“Aren’t you two just the best boys?” I teased.
He chuckled. “Damn right we are. I’ll see you soon.”
“I love you,” I replied.
“I love you too.” I was about to hang up when I heard him speak again. “Oh and Ells?”
“Yeah?”
“I love hearing you talk about coming home,” he replied quietly.
The line went dead and I clutched my phone to my chest for a few minutes before finally getting up and leaving my first home here for the last time.
***
I pushed the button on my very own garage door remote and drove into my space. It was still surreal to me that this was my new home.
I jumped out and took the one box that was left. The other stuff in my Jeep had gone with Quinn.
God, that girl has a lot of shit.
“I’m home,” I called as I walked down the hallway towards the living room. Saying the words made me smile. The entire house was silent. I was beginning to wonder if Lawson had taken Zef for a walk without me. I stepped into the living room and music filled my ears.
It was Edwina Hayes, ‘Feels like home’.
I walked over to the sound system and smiled at the soft music.
Lawson...
My eye landed on a note sitting on top of the cabinet. I unfolded the square of paper and read the five words scrawled in Lawson’s handwriting.
“I’m waiting in our room.”
I bounded up the stairs to our room. I could still hear the music playing.
“Lawson?” I called as I pushed open the door to the room – it was empty. I frowned and looked around. Another note was sitting on the end of the bed. I scurried over and snagged it. I felt like a little kid on a treasure hunt.
“Call Zefer.”
“Zef!” I yelled lightly. “Come here, buddy.” I smiled as I heard him bounding up the staircase. He rushed in to the room, his whole body wiggling with excitement. “Hey there, how’s my best boy?” I crooned as I stroked his silky coat. I giggled as I spotted the note tied to his collar. “Let’s get that off you, huh, buddy?” I untied it. “Your daddy is so sweet, isn’t he?” I scratched his head with one hand and awkwardly unfolded the note with the other hand.
The words were the lyrics from the song playing downstairs.
“No instructions?” I wondered aloud.
“Turn around.” I jumped at his deep voice behind me.
I spun around, the note I was holding falling to the floor, forgotten.
He smirked at my surprised expression. He held out a note to me without saying a word.
I smiled at his boyish grin and reached for the note. Our fingers brushed and I felt my skin pebble at the familiar zing of energy. I slowly unfolded the note and flattened it out. The two words made my head spin and I heard myself gasp.
“Marry me.”
I looked back at Lawson. He was on one knee in front of me. He held out his hands and I took a shaky step towards him. He held both of my hands in his and squeezed lightly.
“I never thought it would be possible to love another person as much as I love you, Ells. You are my rock, my happy place, and my home.”
I felt the tears sliding down my face.
“I have no idea what the future might hold for the two of us, but I know one thing with absolute certainty... I don’t want to do any of it without you. I want the world for you, Ellerslie, for us. I want to wake up to those big blue eyes every morning and know that you’ll never question how much I love you. I want to fall asleep every night knowing that you’ll be the last thing I see. You are the difference in my life, Ells. I want to be the difference in yours too.”
He took a deep, steadying breath. “Ellerslie Jaymes Rush, will you marry me?”
I knew I would marry this man. I think I’d always known. This was what it should be like... this is what love should be like. I needed him more than I needed anything else in my life. He was the name I longed to see on the screen of my phone, he was the person I looked for in a crowded room... he was the love of my life.
He was forever.
“Lawson Alexander Pierce,” I breathed. “Nothing would make me happier.”
His green eyes danced with joy. “Yes?” he asked me, totally bewildered.
“Yes!” I cried. He pulled me down towards him and kissed me hard.
“You didn’t think I’d say no?” I murmured against his lips.
He chuckled and rested his forehead against mine. “I wasn’t sure. You always surprise me, pretty girl.”
“I keep telling you, cowboy, it’s always yes, yes, yes to you.” I giggled as he tickled me.
“Wait!” I demanded suddenly.
He froze.
“Did you ask my dad?”
Lawson’s smile took my breath away. “I did. I asked him a few weeks back when your parents were both here.”
My mom and dad had jumped on the first flight out after the attack. They were both worried sick about it. They met Lawson and loved him right away.
“He was concerned we were moving too fast, but I assured him that it didn’t matter, I told him we were inevitable... he gave us his blessing, baby.”
“Thank you,” I whispered. I knew it would have meant a lot to my dad. Baxter had never asked and I knew he hadn’t been too happy about it.
“Give me your hand,” he growled. We were tangled together on the floor, me on his lap. I held my left hand out to him.
“This was my grandmother’s ring,” he told me softly as he produced a black satin box.
I gasped as he flipped the lid open.
“Lawson, it’s beautiful.” It was a large oval emerald, surrounded by small diamonds. Diamonds also ran down the sides of the platinum band. “It’s the same color as your eyes,” I whispered as he held the ring up to show me.
He nodded. “That’s why she gave it to me. She told me that, one day, I would find the most beautiful woman in the world, and I would want her to wear this ring. She insisted that every time my wife looked at her hand, she’d be reminded of my eyes.” He chuckled softly. “I thought she was crazy. I very nearly gave it to Quinn once, but something held me back. I guess I wanted to believe what Nana had told me.”
“She sounds like a very wise woman,” I said quietly. The ring was the exact shade of his eyes. It literally could not have been more perfect for us.
He smiled and reached for my hand. The ring slid effortlessly onto my finger. “Now you’re perfect,” he said, victory in his voice.
I
stared at him, my fiancé. I took in every edge of his handsome face; I dragged my eyes across his dark stubble, over his lips, his solid jaw and up to his sexy hair.
“What?” he asked softly.
“Nothing.” I shook my head. “I just don’t want to forget a single thing about you in this moment. I love you, Lawson. I never thought I’d have love like yours.”
“I love you more,” he said – eyes blazing. We stared at each other in silence for a few moments, both lost in each other.
“How would you feel about waiting until tomorrow to tell everyone?” he asked. “I want to keep you all to myself for tonight.”
I held his face in my hands and kissed him softly on the lips. We both caught sight of the ring on my finger and smiled. “Sounds perfect,” I whispered as he gently lowered me down onto the floor.
***
“She’s gonna kill you,” Lawson muttered as we rode the elevator up to see Quinn at the office the next morning.
“I know.” I shrugged. “But she’d do it to me in a heartbeat.” I gave him a wicked grin and headed off towards Quinn’s office.
He muttered something about the both of us being crazy and followed behind me.
We got to Q’s door and I pushed him back against the wall. “Wait here, cowboy,” I whispered.
I slipped through the door before he had a chance to protest.
“Hey, Q, can we talk?” I did my best to make my voice sound morbid and serious.
She dropped her pen and looked up at me. “Sure...” Her expression was concerned. “What’s up?”
I sat down in the chair facing her desk and placed my bag so it was covering my left hand.
Show time.
“Something’s happened with Lawson.”
She frowned at the mention of her brother’s name. “What’s that knuckle head done now?”
I held back a smile. “Quinn...” I looked straight into her green eyes and repeated the words that she’d said to me back on the snowboarding trip. “We’re not going to be friends anymore.”
She smacked her fist down hard against her desk. “Fuckin’ hell, what is wrong with that man...? I swear I’ll kill him,” she ranted. “What’d he do? He messed it up didn’t he—”
“Quinn!” I interrupted, a huge smile on my face.
She was still ranting – taking absolutely no notice of me. “Stupid damn fool...”
Jesus, overreaction much?
“Quinn!” I yelled again.
She took a deep breath and finally looked at me. “What!?” she demanded.
I waved the ring on my left hand at her. “We’re going to be sisters!” I shrieked.
Rushed Playlist
To Build a Home – The Cinematic Orchestra
Forever – Six60
Waiting All Night – Rudimental (feat. Ella Eyre)
All of Me – John Legend
Feels Like Home – Edwina Hayes
Everything has Changed – Taylor Swift (feat. Ed Sheeran)
Lay It All On Me – Rudimental (feat. Ed Sheeran)
Made To Love – John Legend
Outta Here – Esmée Denters
Tonight – Enrique Iglesias
I’m Yours – Alessia Cara
Something In the Way You Move – Ellie Goulding
The Only Exception - Paramore
Under My Feet – Ginny Blackmore
Feel the Love – Rudimental (feat. John Newman)
Golden – Travie McCoy (feat. Sia)
On My Mind – Ellie Goulding
Don’t Let Me Down – The Chainsmokers (feat. Daya)
Hands To Myself – Selena Gomez
I Will Never Let You Down – Rita Ora
I Was Made For Loving You – Tori Kelly (feat. Ed Sheeran)
How Long Will I Love You – Ellie Goulding
Secret Love Song – Little Mix (feat. Jason Derulo)
How Deep Is Your Love – Calvin Harris & Disciples
Coming Home – Sigma & Rita Ora
Fast Car – Taio Cruz
Trouble – Iggy Azalea (feat. Jennifer Hudson)
I Want You To Know – Zedd (feat. Selena Gomez)
In My Head – Jason Derulo
I Won’t Let You Go – James Morrison
Titanium – David Guetta & Sia
Higher Place – Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike (feat. Ne-Yo)
Open Happiness - Brendon Urie, Cee-Lo Green, Janelle Monae, Patrick Stump & Travis McCoy
Acknowledgements
I’d like to make a special mention to all of you fabulous girls that read my work for me, you smothered me with encouragement and praise, and gave me the confidence to put my work out there – you know who you are and I’ll never forget it. Thank you x
Dedication
I would like to dedicate this to every person who took a chance and spent their time reading Rushed. You’re all stars and I thank you from the bottom of my heart for your support and encouragement.
Author’s note
Pierced is book two in the Love like Yours Series.
It is a novella, tying up some of the loose ends for Ellerslie and Lawson, and opening the door to Quinn’s future.
I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it.
Nicole x
Prologue
Lawson
It was strange to think that such a short time ago it was just me... and then I found El... or maybe she found me – and I had something I never even knew I was looking for.
I thought I had everything.
As per usual, life had other plans.
One event would alter our entire course...
We hadn’t even made it down the aisle yet, and already there was a baby in the picture. I knew she was going to turn my whole fucking life upside down. How I would run a business, care for a family and still cherish El... I had no clue.
I wasn’t sure I had what it took to be a good father, I knew Ells would be a great mother, and Aunty Quinn had promised she would be there to help in any way we needed.
I was determined to try my hardest. I wanted to be the best I could be for her when she arrived. She was part of my family... her, El and I... we were a family now.
If I was really being honest with myself, just being a new father was not my main concern – learning to be a father to a child that wasn’t mine? Yeah... that was up there on the list.
“Someday, someone might come into your life and love you the way you’ve always wanted.”
- Author unknown
1. Lawson
Six months...
I had six more long months until she was my wife. It had already been three months since the day I’d proposed, and every single day I’d had to wage the war within myself, to drag her away and make her mine immediately.
It was going to be a bloody long six months.
El and I, mainly El, were planning a small ceremony for our closest family and friends. We had been to Jemma and Connor’s wedding reception a month ago and it was absolute chaos. I think they carried a bit of guilt for everyone missing their quickie Vegas wedding, so they’d invited absolutely everyone they knew and had a huge party. It was a great night, but it wasn’t mine or El’s style. We were going for small and intimate.
The truth was, I would have given her whatever she wanted. I just wanted the day to be perfect for her. If she’d wanted a big wedding, then she would have gotten one. Thankfully, she hadn’t been the least bit interested.
Just another reason I love that woman.
I glanced at the calendar on my desk. October fifth. Tomorrow was my thirty-third birthday. El hadn’t said a word about it. I knew her well enough to know she was up to something, but I also knew her well enough to know that she liked to surprise me, so I hadn’t asked a single question about what she was planning.
I packed up my desk, flicked off the lights and headed up to El’s floor.
The favorite part of my work day.
I was the luckiest bastard in this building – I kn
ew it, and so did everyone else. Ellerslie was as rare as a unicorn. Smart, sweet, kind, beautiful...
God, she’s so beautiful.
Six more months...
It was getting late for a Friday evening, and West had gone home. I knocked on her door and waited before entering, just in case she was in a late phone meeting.
“Come in,” she called out in her sweet voice. Just hearing the sound had my heart beating faster.
She was sitting at her desk, busy as usual. I couldn’t even begin to imagine how she managed to get through the amount of work that passed over her desk. Her workload put mine to shame.
“Hey, pretty girl.” I went straight to her and kissed her on the forehead.
“Hey, cowboy.” She pulled me back in for a quick peck on the lips. “Thanks for waiting for me. I’m sorry I’m taking so long, I’m just snowed under.” She grabbed my hand and gave it a grateful squeeze. The zing of energy that raced up my arm still took me by surprise, even after all these months with her.
“No worries, I was busy too,” I lied. I’d actually done sweet fuck all for the last hour and a half, but I knew how busy she was, so I’d waited.
“I’m about done now anyway. Is Quinn still in?” she asked as she typed.
“I’ll check,” I told her as I dropped my bag into a spare seat. I walked out the door and down the hall to my sister’s office. I knocked loudly on the door and heard rustling and whispering from inside.
“Q? Are you in there?” I called as I knocked again.
“Just a minute,” she yelled back.
I frowned. I could hear her giggling like a school girl in there. The door opened a crack.
“Hey, Law, ah... did you want something?” Q was a mess, her clothes were in disarray and she was all flustered.
Oh, you little shit...
“Yeah, I thought I might come in and have a coffee with you while I wait for El,” I told her, ignoring the noise I could still hear behind her.
Love like Yours Series (Box Set #1-4) Page 37