by Sandi Lynn
“Who where you talking to?” I asked.
“Peyton. I was checking on Julia.”
“Is everything okay?”
“Yeah. She wants to keep Julia a little while longer and then when Henry gets home from the hospital, they’ll bring her home. I invited them for dinner. I hope you don’t mind.”
“Not at all, sweetheart,” I said as I took her hand and softly kissed it. “I think we could use some good friends tonight,” she said.
I helped her up from the bench and put my arm around her as we walked out of the building. As I opened the door to the limo, Ellery climbed in and, instantly, Denny knew something was wrong. I sat down next to her and shut the door.
“What happened in there?” Denny asked.
“Ashlyn changed her plea to not guilty by reason of insanity, and she’s blaming it on mental distress caused by me.”
“What?!” he exclaimed.
Ellery’s eyes started to swell with tears as she looked out her window. I wrapped my arms around her and pulled her closer as I buried my face into her neck.
“I don’t want you upset over this. Things are going to work out,” I said.
“She’s an evil bitch, Connor, and she’ll go to whatever lengths necessary to destroy you.”
“Ellery, I’m not going to let that happen.”
“Yeah, well neither am I,” she said.
I pulled back and looked at her. “You are to stay away from Ashlyn. Do you understand me?” I said in a firm voice.
She looked at me with those blue eyes. They had a look in them that I knew all too well; the look of defiance and anger. She tilted her head as her lips formed a small smile.
“Yes, Connor, I understand you.”
Chapter 9
Ellery
When we arrived home, I went upstairs to change. A few minutes later, Connor came into the bedroom.
“Are you mad at me?” he asked.
I turned around and looked at him as I slipped off my skirt. “No. Why would you ask that?”
“Because you’re not saying anything and you have that look.”
The fact of the matter was that I was a little upset with him for using a firm tone with me in the limo.
“Connor, I’m not mad at you. I’m just a little—”
“A little what?” he asked as he walked over to me and started unbuttoning my blouse.
“Okay, you need to stop,” I said as I put my hand up and backed away.
He inched closer to me with a smile on his face as he slipped off my blouse.
“Why do I need to stop? I thought you loved it when I undressed you.”
“I do. It’s just you’re distracting me from my thoughts. To be honest with you, I’m pissed that you used that tone with me earlier.”
“You use that tone with me all the time, and I find it sexy,” he whispered as his hot breath on my neck made me quiver.
I bit down on my bottom lip and closed my eyes. He knew damn well what he was doing.
“Connor.”
“Shh, baby. Just enjoy what I’m doing to you,” he whispered as his hand pushed my thong to the side and he slipped in his finger.
I gasped as pleasure overtook my body. He stared at me while slowly moving his finger in and out of me as a small smile escaped his lips.
“You were saying?”
“Damn you,” I moaned as I unbuttoned his pants and slid them down.
I wrapped my fingers around his cock and stroked him up and down. He threw his head back as a groan came from the back of his throat. He removed his fingers and pushed me against the wall. His mouth crashed into mine as I wrapped my legs around him and he buried himself inside me with force. He moved at a fast pace. Our hearts were racing and our breathing was shallow as he moved in and out of me, bringing me to orgasm.
“Oh God, Connor,” I yelled as my body shook.
“You feel so good, baby,” he shouted as I felt his warmth shoot inside me.
He stood there, my legs still wrapped around his waist, and his hands firmly cupping my ass.
“Now what was it you were saying?” He smiled.
I tilted my head back as he slid his tongue across my throat. “We better get ready. Peyton and Henry will be here soon.” Connor pulled out of me, kissed me on the lips, and walked to the bathroom. I pulled a pair of jeans from the drawer and got dressed. As I sat on the edge of the bed, I started to cry. Connor came out of the bathroom and kneeled down in front of me. He took my hands in his.
“Baby, what’s wrong? Did I hurt you?” he asked in a panic.
I shook my head. “I miss Julia, and I want her home,” I cried.
“Aw, Ellery. Come here, baby,” he said as he wrapped his arms around me. “She’ll be home soon.”
Suddenly, I heard voices coming from downstairs. I jumped up from the bed and flew down the stairs. When I saw Peyton and Henry by the door, I grabbed the car seat from Henry’s hand.
“Julia, Mommy missed you so much,” I cried as I took her out of her car seat and held her tight.
“God, Elle. Are you okay?” Peyton asked.
“She’s fine,” Connor said as he came walking down the stairs. “She just missed Julia.”
Connor walked over and kissed Peyton on the cheek. “Thank you for looking after her,” he said, and then walked over and shook Henry’s hand. Connor kissed Julia on the head and told her how much he missed her.
“What’s going on with you?” Peyton asked as she sat down next to me.
“I missed her, Peyton. It was the first time we’d been apart since I found out I was pregnant, and it was hard.”
“Aw, sweetie,” she said as she put her arm around me. “I’m sorry; I should have just brought her home sooner.”
“No, it’s fine, and thank you again for taking care of her.”
“How did it go at court today?” she asked.
I looked at her with a sullen look, but I didn’t have to say a word. The single tear that fell from my eye said enough.
“What the fuck, Elle? What did she do, or didn’t, or whatever? What the fuck happened?” she whispered.
“We’ll talk about it over dinner. I don’t want to talk about it now and then again.”
As Julia started to cry, Connor walked over and took her from me so I could get a bottle ready. I got up from the couch and walked into the kitchen. Peyton followed behind.
“We need to get you fitted for your maid of honor dress,” she said.
“Ugh, I know. I just have a few more pounds to lose.”
“I think you look great, but if you insist, then I suggest you hit the gym and hit it fast. You have one month and then you’re going for your fitting,” she announced.
I took out the pizza menu from the drawer and looked it over. I grabbed my cell phone and called an order for delivery. I warmed up a bottle and Peyton and I walked back into the living room where Henry and Connor were.
“I’ll feed her, babe,” Connor said.
“I can feed her, Connor.”
“Aw, Henry, look at them. They’re fighting over who feeds Julia. That’s so sweet!” Peyton squealed.
I smiled at Connor and gave him the bottle. I walked over to the bar and Peyton sat down on the stool.
“Pour me some hard liquor, bartender,” she said with an accent.
“Let’s do some shots.” I smiled.
I took down two shot glasses and grabbed the bottle of Jack Daniels. I poured a shot into each glass.
“Here’s to a fucked up day!” I smiled as I held up my glass.
Peyton smiled as we both downed our whiskey and slammed our glasses on the granite top of the bar. The burn made its way down my throat. Peyton looked at me.
“Remind me again why you drink this shit,” she said.
I laughed as I poured another shot and Connor came walking over to me with Julia in his arms.
“Keep that up and you’ll be drunk before you know it,” he said.
“Last shot. I promise.”
I smiled.
Julia fell asleep, so Connor took her upstairs and put her in her crib. The pizza had arrived and we all went into the kitchen and sat down at the table.
“Are you going to tell us what happened today?” Peyton asked as she grabbed a slice of pizza.
“Ashlyn changed her plea to not guilty by reason of temporary insanity due to the distress I apparently caused her,” Connor explained.
“What?! That stupid bitch!” Peyton yelled.
“Connor, that’s crazy,” Henry said as he shook his head.
“She’s crazy,” I said.
“Well, we all know that bitch is crazy. So now what?” Peyton asked.
“Now, we get to rehash the past and all the shit that went on between her and Connor.”
“Ellery, don’t,” Connor said as he looked at me.
I looked away because I didn’t want to go through this again. Not now; not ever.
Chapter 10
Connor
Peyton and Henry left, and Ellery went upstairs to check on Julia. I walked over to the bar and poured myself a scotch. I could see how upset Ellery was and it killed me not to be able to make it better for her. This was just the beginning of a long and painful road, and I’d do whatever it took to shield my family from it. I walked up the steps and stopped in the doorway of the nursery. Ellery was sitting in the rocking chair, rocking Julia. As I stood there and smiled, she looked up at me with her sad eyes. I walked over to her and knelt down, placing my hands on her legs.
“I want you to listen to me, Elle. We’re going to get through this. I talked to Lou and he said not to worry about it, and that we’ll talk in the morning. He’s going to do some investigating. You know he’s the best lawyer in the country, and he’ll take care of this.”
“The only way we’ll get through it, Connor, is together. There can’t be any secrets.”
“I know that, baby, and there won’t be. You’ll be with me every step of the way,” I said.
She smiled at me as she ran the back of her hand down my cheek. “I love you so much.”
I took her hand and held it against my lips as I closed my eyes. “I love you too, and you better never, for even one single moment, forget it.”
I stood up and took Julia from her arms. I kissed her tiny head and laid her down in her crib. Ellery took my hand and we walked down the hall to our bedroom. She changed into her satin nightgown and I undressed. We climbed into bed, and I wrapped my arms around her as she snuggled against me and fell sound asleep.
When the buzzing alarm went off, Ellery rolled over and looked at me. We looked at each other and jumped out of bed.
“Oh my God, Julia never woke up last night!” she said in a panic.
We ran to her room to check on her. As we looked in her crib, she looked at us and smiled. Ellery gasped and put her hand over her mouth.
“Connor, she smiled! Did you see it?” she asked excitedly.
“Yes, I saw her.” I smiled as I picked her up from her crib and stared at her. Her smile was just like Ellery’s, and I knew right then and there, I was in trouble. “She has your smile, Ellery. That means all the boys are going to fall in love with her, and we’re going to have quite a problem on our hands.”
Ellery laughed and put her arm around my waist. “The only problem we’re going to have is if you become one of those overprotective fathers that scare all the boys away.”
“She’s not allowed to date. I know what boys are like and they’re not getting their hands on my daughter.”
“Connor,” Ellery paused. “Do you realize that our little girl slept through the night?”
I looked at Ellery, who was beaming from head to toe. “You’re right. She did sleep through the night.” I smiled as I held her up in the air.
I passed Julia to Ellery as I ran to the other room to grab my ringing phone. I picked it up and saw that Lou was calling.
“Hey, Lou,” I said as I answered.
“Good morning, Connor. I have a quick meeting this morning and then I’ll stop by your office, let’s say around eleven.”
“I’ll be there, Lou, and thank you.”
“No problem, buddy. I’ll see you then.”
I hung up the phone and turned around. Ellery was standing behind me.
“What time is our meeting?” she asked.
“Our meeting?”
“We’re in this together, babe, and I’m meeting Lou with you.”
I sighed as I kissed her on the lips. “Eleven o’clock at my office. I’ll make sure to have Denny drive you there.”
“Thank you,” she said as she turned and walked downstairs with Julia.
***
I stepped into the shower and stood under the hot water. Thoughts of Ashlyn kept entering my mind and how she could potentially destroy my life, especially with her lies. The thought of my relationship with her and our arrangement coming out made me sick to my stomach. I finished up in the shower, wrapped a towel around my waist, and walked into the bedroom. Ellery was standing in front of the mirror in her bra and panties, staring at herself.
“Are you admiring that beautiful body of yours?” I asked as I walked up behind her and put my hands on her hips.
“No, I’m disgusted by how much weight I still have to lose.”
“Nonsense. Your body is just as amazing now as it was before you got pregnant.”
“You’re only saying that so you can get laid.”
“Oh, yeah! Is that what you really think?” I laughed as I picked her up, threw her on the bed, and started to tickle her until she couldn’t take it anymore.
I stopped and stared into her beautiful blue eyes. The smile that I loved so much didn’t leave her face as she stared back. I pushed her hair behind her ear.
“I love you, Ellery.”
“I love you, Connor,” she replied as she traced my lips with her finger.
All I wanted was to make love to her at that moment. I didn’t care what time it was. The world could wait when I was with her. I lowered my head and gently nipped her bottom lip. As she softly moaned, Julia’s screams, coming from downstairs, snapped us back into our little family world; a world where it was no longer just the two of us, but now the three of us.
We smiled at each other as I sighed and got up from the bed.
“I guess we’re going to have to get used to working our sex schedule around Julia,” I said as I walked to the closet and pulled out some clothes.
“I guess so.” Ellery laughed as she got up, got dressed, and headed downstairs.
***
When I arrived at the office, I sat down at my desk and went through my messages. As I turned my chair around and stared out onto the city of New York, Phil walked in.
“Did you have your meeting with Lou yet?” he asked as he sat down.
“Today at eleven o’clock.”
“Damn that bitch. She’s crazy and she’s trying to avoid going to prison for the next 25 years. You do realize that she’ll destroy you and this company in the process, right?”
I got up from my chair. “Don’t you think I know that?” I scowled.
“She needs to be stopped, Connor.”
“There’s nothing I can do. I’ll talk to Lou and see what he says.”
“I have to finish some things up. I’ll be back at eleven for that meeting.” Phil sighed as he walked out of the office.
Chapter 11
Ellery
Julia was being fussy. She was continuously crying, and I felt like I was going to pull my hair out. She wouldn’t take a bottle, she didn’t want her pacifier, and she didn’t want to be put down. Even as I held her, she still screamed. I felt so bad because I didn’t know what to do. Tears started streaming down my face as I paced the floors with her. I didn’t want to call Connor because he had enough to worry about. Just as I was thinking that, my phone rang and it was him.
“Hello,” I said as I tried to sound as if I wasn’t crying.
“Hi, baby. Why is Julia sc
reaming like that?”
I couldn’t hold it together anymore as I broke down. “I don’t know. She just won’t stop and I don’t know what to do for her,” I cried.
“Is anyone else there with you?” he asked.
“No, I’m here by myself. Connor, I don’t know what’s wrong with her. She just won’t stop crying.”
“I’m on my way, Ellery,” he said as he hung up the phone.
I tried to tell him not to come home, but he had already hung up. I held Julia up over my shoulder and patted her back. She screamed. I bounced her as I walked up and down the stairs. She screamed. I sat in the rocking chair and tried to rock her. She screamed. I literally was going to lose it. As I walked back down the stairs with her, Connor stepped out of the elevator. He walked over to me and took Julia. As he looked at me, he wiped the tears from my eyes.
“Maybe I should call the doctor,” I said.
“How long as she been like this?” he asked.
“About an hour and a half. All she’s been doing is screaming.” I started to cry again.
Connor walked around the penthouse with her. He tried the same things as I had done and nothing was working. When I grabbed my phone and started to dial the doctor, the doorbell rang. I put my phone down and opened the door. I was shocked when I saw who was standing in front of me.
“Mason! What—”
“Girl, what the hell is wrong? Why are you crying?” he interrupted as he walked through the door.
Before I could answer, Connor came back into the room with a screaming Julia.
“Oh my God, give me that baby!” Mason said as he walked over and took her from Connor.
The minute Mason held her over his arm, Julia stopped crying.
“What the hell!” Connor said as he looked at me.
“Hi to you too, Connor.” Mason smiled.
“Mason, how did you—she has been—”
“She’s gassy. You couldn’t tell that?” he asked.
Connor and I stood there and just looked at him as he rubbed Julia’s back.
“Elle, I love you, but you’re a hot mess right now. You need to go clean yourself up.” Mason smiled.
