Love, Your Concierge

by Jessica Ingro

  Grant shrugged and looked smug with himself. “It’s all about who you know.”

  “Thank you.” I accepted her embrace and gave her a quick hug.

  “You have your something borrowed, something blue, and something old with the jewelry. And your something new is the dress and shoes,” Maya added. “See? It was all for a reason.”

  “I don’t think I could love you any more than I do right now.” I kissed Grant and let him lead me to the makeshift altar.

  “Dearly beloved…” The minister began and I held Grant’s hands as he spoke, trying to memorize every moment, right down to Vivi cooing in the background.

  When it was time to say our vows, Grant surprised me yet again by saying his own. “Elizabeth, from the moment I first saw you across a crowded room, I knew you were the one for me. To spend my life with. To have children with. And to grow old with. That was the day I began living. And today I secure your place by my side as my lover, as my friend and as my future. I love you with every part of me.”

  “Wow. You’re going to make me look bad since you had time to prepare. Let’s see,” I joked when it was my turn. “Grant, I never fought anything more than I fought loving you. It was then I realized if it wasn’t meant to be, I wouldn’t need to fight it. So I gave in and gave you all of me. Things may have gotten rocky, but I’ve never been more sure of the fact that we belong together. Thank you for loving me the way I need. I’ll spend the rest of my life trying to do the same for you.”

  My mother, Maya and Tina cried audibly when we exchanged rings. His was a basic, platinum band. Mine was a diamond eternity band to match my ring.

  “I now pronounce you man and wife. You may kiss the bride.”

  Grant drew me into his arms and gave me the most beautiful kiss I had ever experienced.

  Off in the corner of the room, live music began playing. The tune was familiar, so I looked over and my jaw dropped to see the lead singer of the Goo Goo Dolls and a man with an acoustic guitar. He began singing “Come To Me.” Grant swept me up in his arms, and we swayed together to the song.

  “I can’t believe you pulled this off. It must have cost you a fortune.”

  “Believe it, love. There isn’t much I wouldn’t do for you. When Maya said you liked this song, I pulled some last minute strings to make this happen for you. The rest of it was all pretty much planned, with the exception of your day of pampering. Maya insisted on that.”

  “I had my own plans for tonight you know. I figured we could talk about being more than fuck buddies.” I cringed at the terminology given the fact that we were now dancing at our wedding. “I think I like your plan better.”

  “Me too. It means you’re mine, Mrs. Morgan. Tonight we’re going to stay in a suite here at the Waldorf and after your mom’s doctor’s appointment on Tuesday, we are flying to the Amalfi Coast in Southern Italy for two weeks. Jennie is coming with us to help with Genevieve. I know it isn’t a proper honeymoon, what with the baby and all, but I didn’t want to leave her behind.”

  “Me either. I can’t wait. Does she have a passport?”

  He kissed the top of my nose. “Remember I once said you never have to worry? That I’ve got you? Well, I’ve got her too. Always.”

  He was right. He did have us. And we had him. In that moment, I knew the journey was worth it, regardless of how difficult it may have been. I knew this because my soul was right where it needed to be. With its perfect mate.

  Epilogue

  Bliss

  Five years later…

  I walked through the rooms in our estate in Scarsdale and ran my fingers over all the pictures lining the walls and furniture. Happy memories. Sad memories. Sweet memories.

  Grant and I moved here from the city just over two years ago when we found out we were pregnant with our second child. We sold the apartment in the city and never looked back. It didn’t make sense to keep a place so large, and we both wanted our children to grow up in the suburbs.

  I paused in front of the large portrait in the family room that never ceased to make me want to cry. It was from our first photography session after Vivi was born. Grant was lying shirtless on his stomach. His hands were tucked under his head. His iridescent blue eyes looked into the camera. They were filled with happiness. That was because Vivi was lying naked on his back, her head resting on the back of his. Her little hand draped over his neck. It was one of the most beautiful pictures I had ever seen.

  Next was a similar portrait. Only this time Grant sat in profile with our newborn son, Devereaux James, in his arms. DJ’s little head rested on Grant’s naked chest. His cheek was cushioned by Grant’s pectoral, and Grant was kissing the top of his head. Okay, maybe that was the most beautiful picture I had ever seen. It was always up for debate.

  Little boy giggles had me smiling and walking to the French doors overlooking our large backyard. Grant had DJ upside down in his arms while Vivi ran after them.

  “Daddy! Wait! My legs aren’t big like yours!” Our five-year old daughter yelled, making Grant slow his pace so that she could catch up. She was the spitting image of her father, with dark hair and piercing blue eyes. We were going to be plagued with tons of boys when she got older.

  “Faster!” Our two-year old son demanded, not liking the fact that his father was abiding by his sister’s wishes. DJ had Grant’s dark hair, but my hazel eyes. I was fearful for pregnancy scares and broken hearted women when he was older. For now he was my baby though. Whereas Grant spoiled Vivi, I spoiled DJ.

  I smiled and wrapped my arms around my middle enjoying the sight of my family playing with each other.

  “We’re here,” Maya called out from the front door.

  “In the family room,” I called back.

  Maya and Travis came in with their one-year old son, Max. Today is Max’s birthday and we plan on celebrating with a barbecue and cake.

  They still lived in the penthouse in the city. I kept my eye on the real estate market nearby though. I knew one day I could convince her to move out here.

  Maya had kept up the concierge business once I moved out to Scarsdale, but now she was happy being a full-time mom. I couldn’t argue with that choice, seeing as how I already knew how fulfilling it was. Sure, Your Personal Concierge was once my dream. Now I dreamed bigger. My family was my everything and that would never change.

  “Our parents should be here soon,” she said. Travis set all their baby luggage and presents down and then took Max from her arms and headed out back to join Grant and the kids.

  I turned back to the doorway and watched them all again. I did this often. Cataloging all these memories for a time when I would need them.

  “She’d be so happy today,” Maya whispered and a choked sound came from me as I held back the sob that threatened to tear from me. “To see all the love here.”

  “I know,” I whispered. Maya wrapped her arms around my waist and rested her head on my shoulder.

  My mother passed away suddenly six months ago. She had a massive heart attack that she never came back from. It was her third heart attack, but that didn’t make it any less devastating. I missed her every single day. Whenever one of my children did something new or said something funny, my heart hurt with the knowledge that she wasn’t there to share it with. My children would never really remember or know their grandparents. And I think that was what hurt the most. The only thing that made it better was that I knew my mother had thoroughly enjoyed her time with them, especially after she moved into our guesthouse.

  I was forever grateful that Maya and Travis’ parents loved our kids just as much as they loved Max, but it wasn’t the same.

  “Remember what she said,” Maya reminded me something that my mother asked her to always tell me when she was gone. “I carry your heart. I carry it in my heart.”

  Whenever I heard the E.E. Cummings poem I couldn’t help my uncontrollable tears. My mother quoted that poem to me after her second heart attack and told me to never forget that she would always be
with me. God, I missed her so much.

  Grant had given me a first edition, leather bound book of poems by E.E. Cummings for our first anniversary. Inside, he had marked poems that were special to him for me. The first that I loved was I Carry Your Heart and the other one I adored was Since Feeling is First. She knew how much that poem meant to me and now it means even more.

  After several minutes of us crying in each other’s arms, I swiped the tears from my face and took in a deep breath.

  “Okay. Today is supposed to be a happy day so no more tears.”

  “Right,” she agreed as she wiped the last of hers from her face. “Let’s go find our men and watch while they take care of the children.”

  “Good idea.” I laughed and we went outside and settled in the shade while the men preoccupied the children. It was bliss.

  ♥♥♥♥♥

  “Grant,” I breathed when he slid inside me.

  We rocked together, and I reveled in how perfectly our bodies fit together. I really was made for his pleasure and he for mine.

  “Grant,” I said a little louder and more urgently. He pumped faster, but that wasn’t what I wanted. “Grant, I have something to tell you.”

  He stilled inside me and looked down on me. “What is it, love?”

  “We’re pregnant,” I announced and watched his face warm and a smile stretch wide across it. He began moving inside me again. A little deeper this time and I tightened my limbs, which were wrapped around him.

  “Thank God. I love watching my baby grow in your belly. You are the most beautiful pregnant woman to ever grace this earth.”

  “I love you,” I whispered against his mouth. Our foreheads rested together, and he moved more urgently inside me.

  “Not as much as I do you.”

  I closed my eyes and focused on the feel of him as he swelled inside me and twisted his hips to brush my sweet spot. He knew every nuance of my body and used that knowledge well.

  “Let go. I’ve got you,” he whispered in my neck when my orgasm hovered just out of reach. I closed my eyes and let him catch me.

  Bliss.

  The Concierge Series will continue with

  Maya and Travis’ story!

  Acknowledgements

  I must start out by thanking my husband. He is my rock and keeps me grounded. Thank you for holding my hand when I need it, wiping my tears when they fall, and encouraging me to dream big.

  I’d also like to thank my family for all their love and support. You guys give me that push I need to continue sometimes. Love you guys!

  A HUGE thank you to Belle Aurora for collaborating with me on LYC. As soon as I knew I wanted the book set in New York City, I knew I wanted you to be part of it. I love your Friend-Zoned characters and I think you have brought a little extra special something to this book.

  A special thank you to my beta readers: Debi Barnes, Elle Wilson, Alicia Clark, and Lisa Maurer. You girls always help a sister out, but on this one you were invaluable. I always look forward to your feedback and the constant support you send my way! Hope I did you proud with this one… especially you Debi!

  To the Naughty Girls – I hope you find a place in your heart for Grant right alongside Jacob.

  To all the bloggers that have supported me and continue to support me, thank you! Indie authors would be nothing without you! A special thank you to Love Between the Sheets, The SubClub Books, Three Chicks & Their Books, and True Story Book Blog. I could never repay you for all you’ve done for me.

  Ari Karčić – You knocked one out of the park this time! Thank you!

  Kathy Krick – I love how fast and efficient you were with LYC! You made my stress level much more manageable. Thank you!

  Last, but certainly not least, thank you to the fans. You guys make all these crazy hours and stressful deadlines worth it! XOXO

  About the Author

  Jessica is the author of the Love Square series. She grew up in Central New York, where she spends her days as a Security Analyst at an IT consulting company. In her free time, she enjoys reading books and developing ideas for her own stories. Writing is her secret passion that she's been fostering since elementary school, when she wrote her first book about a puppy. It has always been a dream of hers to be able to share her stories with the world.

  Jessica currently lives in New York with her husband and three dogs.

  Other Books by Jessica:

  Love Square (Love Square #1)

  His Ever After (Love Square #2)

  Their Merry Little Christmas (Love Square #2.5)

  Our Naughy Honeymoon–featured in My Dirty Little Valentine Anthology

  The Taste of Mr. Davenport–featured in Forbidden Fruit Anthology–April 2014

  Bound in Blue (Love Square #3)–June 2014

  Connect with Jessica Online:

  Web - www.jessicaingro.com

  Email - jessicaingrobooks@gmail.com

  Facebook - www.facebook.com/jessicaingrobooks

  Pinterest - www.pinterest.com/jessicaingro

  Twitter - @uvrays1997