by kj lewis
Laughing he leans back and takes my hand. “Don’t you want to see your ring?”
I was oblivious of the ring for a moment, my eyes only on him. When I hold up my hand, I gasp and sit up so quickly I nearly give myself whiplash. The large cushion cut diamond on a thin darkened platinum pave’ band is stunning, impeccable. I look from the ring to him and back to the ring.
“Holy shit,” I whisper.
“You like it?” He actually sounds a little nervous. It’s endearing.
“Graham. Graham, this ring….” I still can’t find the words, but he seems to be catching on that I’m more than pleased, calming his nerves a little.
“It represents only a fraction of your beauty, Emelia. Another way I know for sure I’m making the right decision? Your first thought was to kiss me, not examine the ring…”
He only just has the words out before I throw him back with as much force as I can, mounting him before I think he has even registered what’s happening. It doesn’t take long before he’s moving in time with me. His thumb finds my clit and it only takes two or three brushes before I come. “Fuck,” he says through gritted teeth when he finally releases.
I collapse on top of him, our chests rising and falling with each other’s as we both try to catch our breaths. It was fast, hard, and intense. Perfect.
“What are you doing to me?” He lets out a deep breath.
“Marrying you. That’s what I’m doing.”
“When?”
“When do you want?”
“This weekend.”
“Okay. We can totally plan a wedding in five days, especially when I am out of town for one of them.”
“I agree,” he says.
“You’re serious?”
“You weren’t?”
I chuckle. “No, baby. I thought we were kidding. What’s the rush?”
“I can’t wait to make you Mrs. Graham Taylor.”
I sit up. “You really are serious.”
He sits up. “I am. Think you can plan a wedding in a week?” It’s a challenge. He already knows me too well.
“It’s not gonna always work like this, you know.”
“Like what?”
“Presenting something to me as a challenge won’t always bring me to your way of doing something.”
“Well.” He looks up to the ceiling like he’s thinking, his grin contagious. “Is it working this time?” He’s so hopeful. I realize this is something he really wants. Could I throw a wedding together in a week?
“I can do that, assuming the people we want there can make it.”
“They’ll make it,” Graham assures.
“I wish I wasn’t flying in so late tomorrow. I could meet with my girls and be ready to go on Wednesday.”
“You’ll be back by eight. Vinnie can have dinner ready. You could have everyone over here to walk through it.”
“Babe, my flight doesn’t get in until almost eleven.”
“That’s when you were flying commercial. When you fly privately, you can take off and land based on a time that’s best for you,” he says climbing off the bed to grab his phone.
“I’m not flying privately tomorrow.”
“Yes you are.”
“Since when?”
“Since I found out you were going. I have arranged for one of my planes to take you.”
I start to protest, but his look cuts me off. He walks out of the room to have a conversation with someone over the phone. It’s late. Who is he calling at this hour? He comes back into the room about ten minutes later and hands me a long silk robe with a soft cashmere lining.
“You might want to put this on,” he says sliding into a pair of sleep pants.
“Why?” I ask, sliding the robe over my shoulders and knotting the belt.
“Jules and Adam will be here in a few minutes.”
“Why? Is everything okay?”
He grins and heads to the kitchen to get a glass of water.
“Mr. Taylor just pulled up,” Smith announces, coming around the corner in casual clothes, a break from his normal suits.
“Smith, I’m sorry you are still up.” I glare at Graham who doesn’t understand my apology.
“No worries, Miss James. I was working on a few things.”
“What the hell?” Jules grumpily exits the elevator, Adam right behind her. “Are you okay?” she asks, practically patting me down.
“I wanted to talk to you both about something.” Graham motions for everyone to sit in the living area. “I want complete honesty, there is no right or wrong answer.”
“Just ask,” Jules says, looking to me for clues. I shrug to let her know that I’m just as clueless.
“I have asked Emelia to marry me and she has said yes.”
I’m as caught off guard by Graham’s announcement as they are, surprised he’d announce this so soon.
“Is this what you want? You’ve given it some thought?” Jules eyes search mine for answers.
“It is and I have.” Once it sinks in and she’s had a minute to discern that I mean what I say, she’s all over me in excitement. Adam joins in congratulating us both.
“That’s sweet that you wanted us to be the first to know,” Jules says to Graham.
“This is the part where the honest answer comes in,” Graham says to Jules with a demeanor suddenly very serious. “Technically you were the Taylor wedding coming up. I—we, rather, by no means want to steal your special time. I would like to get married soon. But we can and will wait if you had your heart set on being a Taylor first.”
It’s in this moment that I know without any hesitation that I am marrying the man created for me. His taking Jules’ feelings into consideration when I hadn’t even thought of it means more to me than he could ever know.
“Graham,” Jules says with a catch in her throat. “I would be honored for Mags to be Mrs. Graham Taylor when she’s standing beside me in April. She throws her arms around Graham, who awkwardly returns her hug. He’s not used to the affection.
“Bro.” Adam slaps him on the back. “I never thought I would see the day. Now that it’s here, I couldn’t be happier.”
“So, how soon are we talking?” Jules looks between us. “Are you thinking you want a Christmas wedding?”
“This weekend,” Graham says matter-of-factly.
“Good grief! Any other time I would ask you if you were pregnant, but I know that’s not the case,” Jules says.
“Hey, I would have married you a week after I asked if you’d have let me,” Adam says to Jules.
“Do you think you can make Emelia a dress in a week?” Graham asks her.
“Yes.” Jules doesn’t hesitate. “I know you are going to Memphis in the morning. I’ll email you some sketches and we can talk. I’ll spend tomorrow getting the fabrics I need. Where are you going to have it?”
“On the beach. At the Hampton house,” I decide and look to Graham. He nods his approval. Jules doesn’t say anything. I can see her mind already at work.
“Oh, I forgot. Look.” I hold my hand out for her to see my ring.
“It’s the second most beautiful ring I’ve ever seen.” She wears her excitement for me on her face.
“You already had a ring?” Adam’s surprised.
“I had it made two weeks ago,” Graham smiles proud of himself.
“Had it made?” I look his way. “Two weeks ago?”
“I designed it.”
I look down at the ring on my finger in awe for a moment, before I snap back to reality. “I know it’s late, but think we could sit for about twenty minutes to go over the plans for my dress?” I ask Jules.
“Absolutely. Graham can you get me a couple sheets of paper please?”
“Basically, I want it to look like this when I’m standing and the wind is blowing.” I sketch the idea I have. “Think that can be done?”
“With the right material and if I cut it on the bias just the right way…yeah, I think I can.”
“If
anyone can do it, you can.”
“I really am happy for you, Mags. I just want to make sure that you are certain you are making the right decision,” Jules says in a lowered voice so that the guys can’t hear.
“I am. It’s fast, but I know without a doubt that I want to spend the rest of my life with Graham. He would like to spend all of that time married and I’m ok with that. So,” I pause. “Will you be my maid of honor?”
The waterworks start back up again and I can’t help but giggle at her a little. “I would be honored to.”
“I thought I would ask Lucy to be a bridesmaid and Colleen’s nieces to be my flower girls. I will get all of your dresses tomorrow. I know you will have your time full with my dress since you only have four days.” I am still styling Colleen’s closets even though I am on leave from Jackson’s. She may be New York’s Madam, but she is my mentor who I love and respect.
“Got everything you need, babe? It’s late.” Adam asks as he and Graham enter the kitchen.
“I have what I need to get started on sketches.”
“She won’t sleep the rest of the night. I can see her mind working already.” Adam kisses her temple and shuffles her to the elevator.
“Bedtime, baby,” Graham instructs. “You have an early morning.”
“Thank you for thinking of Jules. That means so much to me.”
“You mean so much to me.” He kisses me and leads me to bed.
I feel heavy.
“Baby, you need to get up to make your flight on time.” I’m lying on my stomach and Graham’s is laying on top of me, his arms and fingers tangled through mine. He nuzzles my neck.
“If you keep that up, I will definitely miss my flight.”
“I’ve built some time into your schedule. Plus, Harry will hold the plane for you if you’re a couple minutes late.” He uses his knees to spread my legs apart, entering me from behind.
“You don’t give a girl much time to wake up do you?”
“You’re already wet, Emelia. I don’t think it’s a hardship for you.”
After we make love, Graham spins me in the shower, serenading me with Jesus Jackson’s “Running on Sunshine.”
“Who knew marriage proposals agreed with you?” I poke him.
“I did. Since I first realized I wanted to marry you.”
“Really. And when, pray tell, was that?”
“Well, I knew I wanted to fuck you when you said ‘fuck me’ on the plane. I knew I had to have you when you put that little girl above your own fears. I knew I was going to marry you when we were leaving the hospital after you saved Holt. I finally told you that you could drive and you said, ‘Nah. I’m good.’”
“That’s when you knew?”
“Yep. That’s when I knew.”
Since I’m in for such a long day, I opt for a pair of skinny jeans and Tiek ballet shoes with a white button up short sleeve shirt that cuffs over the sleeves of a gray sweater. Very preppy. My ring is my only accessory today. I round the corner of the closet to tell Graham goodbye. He’s tying his street shoes.
“Don’t you have meetings today?” He’s wearing jeans and a V-neck navy blue sweater with a white t-shirt under it. He’s simple but sexy as sin.
“Some, but I can do them over video conference. Ready?” he asks, throwing his worn, brown leather messenger bag over his shoulder.
“Where are you going?” I ask him as he grabs a coffee to go and hands me my morning Diet Coke.
“To Memphis. With you.”
I stop in my tracks. “You are?”
“I am. I know you say Addie is no longer here, but it doesn’t feel right for us to get married before she and I have met.” He walks over to me and grabs my hand, pulling me to the elevator as if we are running late to a meeting we both knew about all along. I love this man.
Graham stops in the lobby on our way to the car to pick up something from the doorman behind the desk. It occurs to me that I’ve never been in the lobby before. Graham has his own elevator and we usually go straight from his portico or the garage to the apartment.
We turn to take the stairs to the portico when Teague and Joy step off the main elevator hand-in-hand. She’s beaming like a kid in a candy shop. He leans down and plants a hot kiss on her. When they finally come up for air, I’m standing there waiting.
“Emme,” Joy gasps when she notices me. She blushes and Teague puts a protective arm around her.
“Hey, Joy,” I smile. “You working the Montgomery’s today?” I’m doing double duty, still in charge of her and Henry while I continue to get the mentor program off the ground.
“I am. I’ll email you the details,” she answers shyly.
I stand there smiling, tickled by how uncomfortable they are in front of me.
“I’ll be right down,” Teague says to Graham who takes mercy on them both and pushes me towards the stairs.
“You have a dark side,” Graham chides.
“It’s like watching someone fall. You don’t want to laugh, but you can’t seem to stop yourself.”
A minute later Teague climbs into the passenger seat of the Bentayga. “Was that necessary?” he asks.
“Necessary, no. Enjoyable, yes. So, how was it?” I give him a naughty look. Smith tries to disguise his chuckle with a cough, and Graham gives me a reprimanding glance.
Teague faces frontward as Smith pulls onto the West Highway.
“Seriously. I don’t get anything?”
“Emme,” he warns.
“I need details.”
“Emelia, leave Teague be,” Graham chastises with a slight smile on his lips.
“Fine,” I pout.
“Can you teach me that, boss?” Teague asks.
“I’ll send you the manual.” Graham kisses the back of my hand.
“Smith, would you mind turning on some music to drown out all this background noise.”
“Of course, Miss James,” he says, hitting a button on the steering wheel. It’s a beautiful fall day. Even though it’s only six in the morning, the city is already running full speed. Graham lowers a desk tray from the back of the seat in front of him and starts working on his laptop.
“I almost forgot. Here.” He hands me a card out of the package he picked up at the desk. It’s a black AMEX card with “Emme J Taylor” etched on it.
“What is this for?”
“To use for anything you need.”
“I don’t need it. I have my own money.” I hand it back to him. He reaches in my purse and pulls out my wallet. “Gra…”
“Don’t start.”
It takes about an hour to get to the airport. We are actually on time. I was distracted in the car, so it only now occurs to me that I am going to have to fly again. My stomach starts its flips when we pull to a stop at the plane. Graham squeezes my hand as we climb out of the car. We walk up a set of steps to the jet that’s waiting.
“Mr. Taylor,” says the captain as he holds out his hand to Graham.
“Jim, this is my fiancé, Emme. Emme, this is Jim. He’s been flying for me for several years.”
“Nice to meet you, ma’am.”
“Thank you.” I try to smile.
“Mr. Taylor told me you’re not keen on flying.”
“I have control issues,” I blurt out.
“I have four kids and two grandbabies. My number one priority is to get home to them. No one wants our flight to be safer than I do. You have nothing to worry about.”
“Thank you.” His humanizing this experience does provide some comfort.
Graham ushers me into the plane. There are enough high-end, beige leather seats to fit roughly twenty people. There are two regular rows with four seats each, a table for six, a table for two, and a long wrap around sitting area.
Ben, Harry, and Eloise are already on the jet.
“I didn’t realize you were coming,” I say to Ben during a hug and kiss.
“Excuse us,” Harry says to everyone and escorts me through a door in the back t
hat leads to an office. He closes the door behind us.
“Without a doubt, you are a priority to me and to Eloise. I didn’t do a very good job of showing you that yesterday and for that, I want to ask for your forgiveness. I let my anger take control when I should have focused on you. I’m still learning to be a father. Forgive me?”
I throw my arms around him with a fierceness. His arms wrap around me and it’s a few minutes before we can bring ourselves to let go.
“The plane is preparing for takeoff,” Graham says, opening the door. “Everything okay?” He looks questioningly from me to Harry.
“Everything is fine. Let’s take our seats.”
“You okay baby?” Graham asks after Harry makes his way back to the main cabin.
“I am.” I squeeze his hand. “Why is your dad here?”
“We need to buckle up for takeoff.”
We take our seats and the plane begins to taxi to the runway. I look around and take in the exits and the surroundings of the plane. Graham pulls me into the nook of his arm, wrapping it around me while his free hand takes one of mine.
“Thank you,” I tell him as he drops a light kiss to my temple. I try to control my breathing as the plane starts to accelerate down the run way.
“You can open your eyes babe. We’re up.”
I exhale a long breath and accept the bottled water he hands me. A stewardess starts the hustle of preparing to serve breakfast. Graham unbuckles and offers me his hand. We move to one of the tables with the rest of the group. With the exception of Ben, everyone is casually dressed. Teague and Smith are on their laptops at the table for two.
“Eloise, I’m glad you came,” I greet her with a smile.
“I was hoping you wouldn’t mind.”
“Of course not. Thank you for being here.”
“I want to discuss today’s plans, but first, Harry, Eloise, I want to let you know that Emelia has agreed to be my wife.” His smile is infectious.
Harry looks from Ben to Graham to me. He’s the first to speak. Eloise places her hand in his.
“Emme, after you left yesterday, Graham asked for our blessing. I admit, I was hesitant at first. I feel like you’re moving too fast. However, Eloise reminded me last night that after one week I told her she would be my wife.”