EllaThe helicopter landed just as smoothly as it did the time before. Ella didn't even make a noise this time. This time she even managed to smile. Granted, it didn't touch her eyes and the falseness of it hurt her jaw, but she did smile. There was hope for her helicopter flying days yet.Jace held her hand as they stepped out of the helicopter and hurried away from the noise of the blades. It was amazing to Ella just how noisy the machine was. As soon as they were clear of the landing zone, the helicopter took off again to return to the hanger, leaving them on the edge of the inn's property.“I'm afraid I have to go to work,” Jace informed her as soon as the helicopter was gone.“It's okay,” Ella quickly told him before he could say that he was sorry. She understood that he was a busy businessman and that he hadn't planned on taking today off at all. Despite his fine words that he was the boss, she could only imagine how many of his CEO strings he had to pull just to get the time of
EllaIt was close to midnight, and Ella couldn’t sleep. Her mind was racing from the day. Jace. The helicopter. What happened next. She couldn’t sit still, let alone lay in bed and try and sleep.So, she went to the lobby bar and took over for the bartender. The bartender was more than happy to get off a couple hours early and get out of cleaning up, especially since there was only two customers left.Everything was quiet after the hustle and bustle of the wedding the day before. Ella was glad. Wiping down the bar and putting everything into place was soothing. She wished she could clean and organize her thoughts as easily, but Jace had her completely tangled up.The tax man, still wearing the same dark suit and thin tie- or one exactly like it- stood up and left the perfect amount of cash with a ten percent tip neatly on the counter. Ella groaned as she remembered she hadn't given his card to Delores yet. The fact that he was still here troubled her. What kind of trouble was Delores
EllaThe hotel hallways were deserted as she walked back to her room. Her phone had a message from Jace. He'd sent it an hour ago and it wasn't anything crazy, just a hello with a smiling icon. Still, it made her pulse race. He followed it up with a message about breakfast before his flight left.Her fingers paused over the keypad, trying to find the best words to say what she felt. She bit her lip, waiting for inspiration to strike. She wanted to type more than just “yes!” because that felt too simple. She wanted to make his heart race as much as hers did.“What do you think you're doing?”Delores stepped out of her office and directly into Ella's path. She nearly dropped the phone in surprise.“Going to bed.” Ella turned off the screen without responding back to Jace. The last thing she wanted was for Delores to see her texting the man who'd scorned her's son.“It's no longer your day off.”Ella sighed. One encounter with Delores today was more than enough. “I don't want to do this
Jace“Sir, it's time to go.”Jace sighed and glanced around the empty hotel lobby. He checked his watch, even though he knew it was long past when Ella should have arrived. Especially after all those text messages. Yet, still, he had hoped she would show up. The time was only two minutes and fifteen seconds different than the last time he had checked.This isn't going to work out.I can't lie to you anymore. I have someone else.You aren't special.You were going to find out eventually, so I'll just spare you now. I don't want this.I'm not coming tomorrow.You need to leave.The text messages still burned on his phone. There were more, but just looking at them made him want to cry. They seared into his soul. He had missed the first two he was so busy working. He'd immediately messaged her back, begging her to let him come see her. She'd said no, that it would only hurt them both.This weekend was magical. But magic isn't real. I don't want to hurt you. Please, just leave me alone. Go
EllaElla pounded on the cellar door. Her hands ached from the repeated blows on the door that clearly wasn't moving. She'd tried screaming, but she knew that no one would hear her. Just last week, one of the kitchen staff had been stuck in here for hours before someone came to look for her.Except no one was coming to look for Ella. The only person who would notice she was missing was probably on a plane back to his real life already.She couldn't believe Delores would do this to her.A sob choked Ella's throat and made it hard to breathe. Her knees buckled as she checked her watch and knew he was gone. She had wanted to say goodbye. She had wanted to see him one more time, to tell him how she felt and that she couldn't wait to see him again.But now she couldn't.She tried banging on a different wall, but the sturdy ancient cellar walls absorbed everything. She was trapped and had no way to tell Jace goodbye. No way to tell him that he was all she thought about all night.Despite sp
JaceJace stared at the log-on screen to his laptop for the third time. Outside, the clouds hummed past the streamlined jet, but inside, he was stuck. He'd opened and shut his computer at least three times. Each time he tried to get work done, Ella's face would pop into his head and he'd lose his concentration.His phone burned as if on fire. He'd already read the messages four times, in between each open and closing of his laptop. Something about it bothered him. It wasn't right. The words sounded enough like Ella, but she would have told him in person. She never would have missed saying goodbye.This wasn't how things were supposed to happen. This wasn't how the story was supposed to play out and Jace knew it.He was wrong to have left without looking for her further. He should know better than to follow in his father's bitter footsteps.Jace needed to see her. He needed a real goodbye, and if she really did want to push him away, then... well, he could deal with it. But he needed t
Ella“Well, I see you have met my son.” Charles's voice broke into their private moment.“Hi, Dad.” Jace didn't let her go, he just pulled back enough to glare at his father. “Maybe we could chat later.”Charles chuckled. “Don't mind me.” He leaned up against the limo, crossed his arms and grinned at them.Ella and Jace looked at one another. It felt strange to have an audience.“What can I do for you, Dad?” Jace asked. He kept his arms protectively around Ella as if he were afraid she would disappear on him.He didn't need to worry about that. Ella was never leaving him.“I told you, don't mind me.” He grinned, obviously enjoying their discomfort in the most paternal way possible. “I'm just happy to see you with someone I approve of.”Jace rolled his eyes.“I'm glad you approve of me,” Ella said diplomatically. “But, would you mind doing it from inside the limo. Or the inn. Or just not where we can see you. I'd like to kiss him some more and it feels weird with his father watching.”
One year later...Everything was ready. Or as ready as it was going to be.It felt different being on this end of the preparations.“Okay, the caterer is set up and on time, here's your bouquet, the DJ is already set, the photographer is just finishing up the boys shots, and the only thing that seems to be an issue is your lack of smile,” Mia said, peering over her clipboard at the bride.Ella forced a weak smile. “Better?”Mia, Ella's new assistant, shook her head. “No. Seriously, I have this under control. I have since day one. That's why you hired me.”“I know.” Ella sighed and smoothed her hair again. It was hair-sprayed so well that a hurricane wouldn't undo it, yet she kept feeling like it was going to tumble all around her. “I'm just nervous. It wasn't like this for the other weddings.”“The other weddings weren't your wedding,” Mia reminded her with a gentle smile. “Now, put on a smile, go have a drink of champagne with your bridesmaids, and let me handle everything. That's wh