What If You

by Sandi Lynn

  “Good morning, handsome.”

  “How did you sleep last night?” he asked.

  “Pretty good. I would have slept better in your arms.”

  “I know, baby. But it’s already Wednesday, and I’ll be there Friday evening.”

  “I can’t wait to see you.” I smiled.

  “And I can’t wait to see you. Listen, I have very important back-to-back meetings all day today, so I won’t be able to Facetime you again until tonight. I hope you understand.”

  “Pish.” I waved my hand in front of the phone. “Of course I understand. You’re a very busy man running that multi-billion-dollar company, and I’m a very busy woman trying to get everything in place so I can get to New York.”

  “I love you, and I’ll be thinking about you all day,” he said.

  “I love you, Asher. I’ll talk to you tonight.” I kissed the phone and he kissed me back.

  Climbing out of bed, I threw on some clothes, put on some light makeup and put my hair in a high ponytail. I had everything that needed to be moved in the middle of the living room and my two large suitcases by the front door. As I walked around the house, my eyes began to fill with tears. This house was filled with so many memories and it was hard to let go.

  “You hold the memories here in your heart, my sweet girl. It’s time to move on,” I heard my grandmother’s voice.

  “Grandma.” I smiled as I turned around and saw her sitting in her favorite chair. “I wondered if I’d see you again.”

  “Only in times you need me, Everly, and this is one of those times.”

  “I’m so happy to be moving to New York to be with Asher, but yet I’m so sad to leave this house.”

  “It’s time to close the chapter of this life and go start a new one.” She smiled. “Life is full of new seasons, and yours has just begun.”

  There was a knock at the door and my grandmother disappeared. Sighing, I opened the door and let the movers inside. They loaded up my things and just as they pulled away, the car I reserved pulled into the driveway. Grabbing my two large suitcases, I set them on the porch as the driver took them and put them in the trunk of his car. I stood in front of the house and looked up.

  “Goodbye, old friend. Thanks for the wonderful memories,” I spoke as I climbed in the back of the car.

  37

  Everly

  I stepped off the plane and immediately turned on my phone. Thank God Asher kept his promise and didn’t try to contact me. After grabbing my bags from baggage claim, I took a cab to the penthouse and had, Lester, the doorman let me up.

  “Asher doesn’t know I’m here. It’s a surprise.”

  “No worries, Miss King. I won’t say a word.” He gave me a wink. “It’s good to have you joining us.”

  “Thanks, Lester. It’s good to be here.”

  I stepped into the foyer and then dragged my heavy bags up the stairs and into the bedroom. I smiled as I threw myself down on the bed and looked around. The room smelled like him and it made me miss him even more. Asher had two walk-in closets directly across from each other. Opening the one door, I saw it was empty, so I started unpacking my suitcases. Opening the drawers to the tall chest, I knew he had cleared those out for me. Once I got all my clothes hung and put away, I put the rest of my stuff away in the bathroom, after I had to rearrange a few things. I set my razor and bottles of shampoo and conditioner on the shelf in the oversized steam shower. Standing back, I smiled as they sat next to his.

  It was six-thirty when Asher sent me a text message.

  “Hey, baby. I just left the office and I’m on my way home. I’ll Facetime you when I get there. You better be ready.”

  “Hey there, handsome. I’m ready. I can’t wait to talk to you.”

  “Me either, gorgeous. It’s been a very long and stressful day.”

  I quickly changed into a sexy black nighty I had purchased from Victoria Secret the other day. After making sure my hair and makeup were perfect, I climbed on the bed in a sexy position and waited for him. I heard the ding of the elevator and my heart started to race. After a few moments, I could hear his footsteps coming up the stairs.

  Asher

  The second I got home, I headed upstairs to change. I wanted to do that first before I called Everly. Today was exhausting and I would give anything to have her here with me this very moment. To hold her, make love to her, and just be with her. As I approached my room, I noticed the door was half closed, which I found odd because I didn’t remember doing that this morning. Slowly opening the door, I stood there in shock when I saw Everly lying on my bed in sexy lingerie.

  “Come here, lover boy!” She grinned.

  I couldn’t speak for a moment because I was in total shock.

  “What are you doing here?!” I grinned as I climbed on the bed and hovered over her.

  She placed her hand on the back of my head and pulled me down for a passionate kiss.

  “I’ve moved in. I hope you don’t mind.” A wide smile graced her face.

  “You’re here? As in here? Right now and forever?”

  “I’m here, Asher, and I’m not going anywhere as long I have this comfy bed and your sexy body to keep me warm.”

  “I thought—”

  “Shh.” She placed her finger on my lips. “Shut up and fuck me.”

  I couldn’t believe she was finally here and there would be no more going back to Rhode Island. No more goodbyes and no more tears. I quickly stood up and stripped out of my clothes. She had made me the happiest man on Earth, and we spent the next two hours in bed together making magic happen.

  “Wow. That was amazing,” she said as she climbed off me.

  “Damn right it was. Are you going to tell me how you planned all this without me knowing?”

  “Are you going to tell me that you were the one who bought my house?” She smirked.

  “That was confidential information and if that realtor said—” She just sat there and smirked at me. “Ah. Right. She didn’t tell you, did she?”

  “Nope.” She shook her head.

  “I thought you couldn’t see things regarding me anymore?”

  “I usually can’t, but then I saw it the moment she came over to the house.”

  “I can explain, Everly.”

  “There’s no need. I know you bought it because you wanted me here sooner and how could I be mad at you for that.” She leaned over and kissed my lips.

  “Have I told you how much I love you?”

  “Yes. But never stop telling me.”

  I brought my hand up to her cheek. “I never will stop saying it. I can promise you that.”

  She laid her head on my chest as her hand softly stroked my skin. Having her here with me was the best way to end a stressful day.

  “I’m starving. How about you?” I asked her.

  “I am too. Can we order something?”

  “Of course. We can order anything you want. I have menus in the kitchen drawer downstairs. Go take a look, and I’ll be down in a minute. I need to use the bathroom.”

  “Don’t take too long.” She smiled as her lips met mine.

  I walked into the bathroom and flipped on the lights. I couldn’t help but smile when I saw some of her products sitting on the counter. Glancing over at the shower, I saw her shampoo and conditioner sitting next to mine. A feeling of euphoria took over me because even though she was just in my bed, seeing her things in my bathroom, validated she was here to stay.

  Walking down to the kitchen, she was looking over the menu for Chinese food.

  “Chinese?” she asked.

  “Perfect. Tell me what you want, and I’ll order it.”

  After placing the order for delivery, I wrapped my arms around her and pulled her into me.

  “Have you told Daniel and Diana you’re here?”

  “No. Not yet. I was hoping we could have them over tomorrow for dinner and I could surprise them. Maybe you could ask Diana at work.”

  “Don’t you think she’ll
think it’s a little strange that I’m inviting them over for dinner without you being here?”

  “You’ll think of something.” She grinned.

  I grabbed a bottle of wine and poured some into two glasses. The doorman called to let me know our food was here, and I told him to send the delivery guy up.

  “The food is on its way up and I need to take this call. Can you grab it?”

  “Yeah. Of course,” she said.

  After I took the call from Steven, I went back into the kitchen where Everly had set dinner on the table.

  “I had to tell the delivery kid to go a different way back to the restaurant.”

  “Why?”

  “Because when I took the bag from him, I saw him on his bike getting hit by a cab.”

  “Oh shit. Is he going a different way?”

  “He said he would, but who knows. He might just think I’m crazy.”

  “Well, for his sake, I hope he listened.”

  38

  Two Months Later

  Everly

  Two months had passed since I’d moved in with Asher and life couldn’t have been more amazing. My business was growing, Asher was thriving at work, Daniel proposed to Diana, and she was getting bigger every day.

  “Don’t forget I’m going shopping today for a dress for the charity ball.” I smiled at Asher as I handed him a cup of coffee.

  “I haven’t forgotten. You’re going with Diana, right?”

  “Yes.” I smirked.

  “Ah. So you’re the reason she told Richard she was taking the day off.”

  “That’s right. Do you have a problem with it, Mr. Remington?” I asked as I grabbed hold of his tie.

  “If I did, can we fight about it and have make up sex?” A smirk crossed his lips before he pressed them on mine.

  “We can fight about it, but I can promise you there will be no make-up sex.”

  “Guess what?” He grinned. “I don’t have a problem with it at all. You two go have fun today. You both deserve it.” He kissed my forehead.

  “That’s what I thought, and guess what?” I shouted as he walked towards the elevator. “You’re getting sex tonight!”

  “I already planned on it, sweetheart.”

  I laughed as I sipped my coffee. I loved that man more than life itself. Suddenly, I heard the elevator door open and Asher walked back into the kitchen.

  “Did you forget something?”

  “I did.” He reached in his wallet and pulled out his credit card. “I forgot to give you this. Buy whatever you want. Spend thousands for all I care and buy Diana’s dress.”

  “Wow. Thanks, baby.” I reached up and kissed his lips.

  “You’re welcome.” He grinned as he turned around and headed towards the elevator.

  “Just so you know, you’re getting extra tonight.” I shouted.

  “Stop it, Everly! I’m late for work.”

  We went to Serendipity’s to grab some lunch before we headed to Bloomingdale’s to do some shopping.

  “I’m so happy you took the day off.” I smiled.

  “Me too and Richard was really cool about it even though we have this major project due in a couple days. He said a day off rejuvenates the mind and he knows I’ll come back tomorrow even better.”

  “Wow. He sounds like a really good boss.”

  “He is. You’ve haven’t met him yet, have you?”

  “No. Remember last week when I came to the office, he was in a meeting.”

  “That’s right. No worries. You’ll get to meet him at the fundraiser. His wife, Christina, is so sweet. She came to the office yesterday with a container filled with chocolate chip cookies she had just made. They were to die for. I think you’ll really like her too.”

  “I can’t wait to meet them.”

  After we finished our lunch, we headed to Bloomingdale’s to shop. When we finally made it to the department where the formal dresses were, I stood there and stared at the mannequin before me. It was dressed in a long silver sparkly gown. The same exact gown I was wearing in my dream when I first dreamt about Asher.

  “Earth to Everly.” Diana waved her hand in front of me. “Hey, are you okay?”

  Snapping back into reality, I looked at her.

  “Yeah. I think this is the dress.” I stared at it.

  “Wow. That is gorgeous. Try it on. I saw one over here I liked.”

  The sales associate got me the dress in a size 4 and placed it into the fitting room. Diana was in the room right next to me. Slipping on the dress, I couldn’t reach the zipper to zip it up all the way.

  “Diana, did you try your dress on?” I asked over the wall.

  “I just got into it.”

  “I need help with my zipper.”

  She walked over and zipped it up as I stood on the platform in front of the three-way mirror.

  “Oh my God, Everly. That dress looks gorgeous on you.”

  I stared at myself as flashes of my dream standing in the middle of the ballroom flashed through my head.

  “Hey. What’s going on?” Diana asked.

  “It’s this dress. It’s the same one I was wearing when the dreams about Asher started.”

  “The same exact one?”

  “Yeah.”

  “Then it’s meant for you. Right?”

  “I guess. I do love it and I loved it in my dream.”

  “Then don’t worry about it and just buy it. I don’t like this dress. I need something a little more flowy.”

  I gave the sales associate the dress and told her I’d take it. Diana had finally found something she felt comfortable in, but she hesitated.

  “I love this but it’s so expensive.”

  “Please. Asher is buying it for you.”

  “Oh my God, no!”

  “Yes. He gave me his card this morning and told me to buy your dress.”

  “Why would he do that?”

  “Because you’re his employee.” I smiled at her.

  “So? He doesn’t buy the other employees their outfits.”

  “You’re the best friend of the woman he loves. He’d be very offended if you didn’t let him.”

  “Fine. I’ll thank him tomorrow when I see him.”

  After purchasing the dresses, we headed to the shoe department so I could buy some matching shoes. I tried to get Diana to buy a pair, but she refused and said she already had a pair at home.

  I stood in the center of the ballroom in my silver sparkly gown. Asher looked at me from across the room and the corners of mouth curved upward into a sexy smile. I gave him a warm smile back and looked around as couples slow danced around me. The room started to spin, and I could feel myself losing my balance. I felt a hand wrap around my arm, so I looked down and took note of the watch that sat on his wrist. When I turned around, a man stood there dressed in a black tuxedo with a white mask covering his face.

  “I didn’t know. I’m sorry.”

  My eyes flew open as I gasped and quickly sat up. My heart raced and I couldn’t catch my breath.

  “What’s wrong?” Asher asked in a panic as he placed his hand on my arm.

  “Go back to sleep, baby. I’m sorry I woke you.”

  “No, Everly. Talk to me,” he said as he sat up and hooked his arm around me. “Did you have a dream?”

  “Yeah.” I rubbed my forehead.

  “What was it about?”

  “We were at your fundraiser, and I was wearing the dress I bought. You were standing across the room smiling at me and people were slow dancing all around. Suddenly, the room began to spin, and I felt someone grab my arm. When I turned around to see who it was, it was a man in a black tuxedo wearing a white face mask, and he spoke to me.”

  “What did he say?”

  “I didn’t know. I’m sorry. And that’s when I woke up.”

  “What do you think that was about?”

  “I have no idea.”

  “Come here.” He pulled me into him, and I laid my head on his chest. “Maybe you’re
nervous about the fundraiser.”

  “Why would I be?”

  “I don’t know, baby. Go back to sleep. Maybe you’ll dream again and this time it’ll make more sense.”

  “I don’t want to dream that again.”

  “Shh.” He kissed the top of my head. “I love you.”

  “I love you, too.”

  39

  Everly

  I was standing in the bathroom in nothing but my silk robe, applying my makeup for the fundraiser when Asher walked up behind me and pressed his lips against my shoulder.

  “Damn, boy. You smell delicious.” I smiled as I applied my eye shadow.

  “So do you.” His hands roamed up my robe as he gripped my bare ass.

  “Can a girl get ready for a very important evening without getting groped?”

  “No.” He shook his head. “When women are as sexy as you, we men can’t help ourselves. It’s in our genes.”

  I let out a laugh.

  “I love you, but I need you to back away so I can put on my eyeliner. It’s a process trying get that perfect wing.”

  “Okay. That means we’ll just have to fuck longer later.”

  “Fine with me.” I gave him a smirk.

  “I still love you,” he said as he walked out of the bathroom.

  I couldn’t help but smile. I was so blessed to find someone like him. As I was trying to perfect my wing, my eyeliner pen slid across my face when I was startled by a voice.

  “He’s happy.”

  “UGH!” I shouted. “Look what you made me do. I thought you went to go find peace. What are you doing here?”

  “Checking in.”

  “Checking in? Mr. Remington, please.”

  “Darling, we know each other well. Call me Curtis.”

  “Okay, Curtis. You cannot keep coming around. You need to go to your place.”

  “Everly? Who needs to go to what place?” Asher asked as he stepped into the bathroom.

  “Your father. That’s who. He made me screw up my wing.”

  “My father? He’s here?”

  “Not anymore.”