***Note: I had written this prior to the devastating fire at the Notre Dame Cathedral
Chapter 21
Charles explains to Liza the impromptu business trip that he couldn't pass up. He had a big investor that was wanting to see him but could only meet him in Paris of all places. He smiled at her when he had handed her the plane tickets and explained it to her in the office. "It's a rough job baby, but someone's got to do it!" He chuckled and pulled her flush to his body, kissing her. "I'm not going without you Liza, you have to come to Paris, please let me show you what you've been wanting to see your entire life." Kissing her once more and she sighs.
"I thought we were saving Paris for our honeymoon?" She snuggles against him.
All he wants to do is take her everywhere she wants to go, she has mentioned all the places she'd love to go and Paris was at the top, yes he'd planned that they'd go for their honeymoon, but now that this has popped up, he wants her to see it now. He would never go without her. "We could, but this trip has basically fallen in my lap and I don't want to go without you, we can call it our early honeymoon. I can finish my business and we can extend the stay to do everything we can while there. We then can plan something different for our honeymoon. Or if you want, we can jump on a plane to Las Vegas and get married tomorrow in one of those little chapels by an Elvis impersonator. You could be Mrs. Brooks by sun down tomorrow and then this trip to Paris could be our honeymoon after all."
"We could do that, and not worry about all the other planning for a wedding and reception. It would be much easier to just elope. Maybe it would be fun to tell everyone we just got married by Elvis!" She smirks and he laughs.
They are both joking of course, after Charles' divorce decree was in hand, Charles and Liza had decided on an early April wedding date, which would give them about one year to plan everything, they really did want a ceremony with family and friends, something beautiful and not too big. They had often joked about ducking out on a ceremony, but both really wanted something special, they loved each other so very much and wanted this event in their lives to be a great memory. It was a new beginning to a wonderful new life, and it had to be special.
XXXX
As they wake on their first morning in Paris, Liza can't believe they are here. She looks out their room balcony doors and there is a perfect view of the Eiffel Tower. She had to give it to Charles, he knew how to book the perfect room with a perfect view. Charles has a meeting early afternoon and they will both have a dinner with their potential investors later tonight, but breakfast was just them. "Come, I know a perfect little breakfast spot." He tugged at her hand and led her out the door.
Charles has been to Paris before, and even though it was with is ex, he wanted this experience to be a new experience for Liza and himself, he wanted new memories with Liza, the woman that had stolen his heart from almost the first day he met her, the woman that he knew he was always meant to be with and would be with until the day he died.
Their meetings with the potential investors went well, Charles had brought along Liza, explaining that she was the new look of Empirical, she was soon to be, not only Empirical's Senior Editor, but within a year she would be a co-owner as they would be married and sharing the company as a power couple in publishing.
After business was completed, their trip was romantic and glorious. Liza had never expected it to be as amazing as it turned out. Charles was as usual the most romantic man he could ever be, he made sure she went everywhere she wanted to see, each day and night brought on new places to see and experience. They took in sites such as, Notre Dame Cathedral, the Louvre Museum with the Mona Lisa and Venus de Milo, the Eiffel Tower of course, the Arc De Triomphe, they took an evening boat tour of the Seine River, they window shopped the Rue du Faubourge Saint-Honore, they viewed the largest public collection of Picasso's work, they ate amazing Parisian food, cheeses, breads and a Parisian classic that was ice cream, they went to Versailles and its world famous palace and gardens, they walked along the city as a couple, their nights, and sometimes their mornings were consumed with their bodies exploring new heights in this very beautiful and romantic city, they made sure to enjoy every moment they spent in this historic place.
On their last night in Paris and after he had made love to her as the Eiffel Tower lights sparkled in the distance out their balcony doors, he explained. "If I hadn't proposed to you in Cancun, I'd have done it here. I just couldn't wait to ask you though. I'd had your ring for a few weeks and knew I wanted to ask you, I couldn't wait another day to ask you to be my wife, and Cancun was like a new beginning for us. When I'd thought I'd lost you, and when you welcomed me back into your arms, I knew it was time to ask you. I wanted you to know that I didn't want to live without you."
"Your proposal was perfect Charles; I love that you asked me in Cancun. I'd never change that for anything."
"This has been a wonderful trip hasn't it?" He kisses her tenderly as their bodies lie glistening from their love making.
"The best, I'm so glad that I've witnessed this with you. You've been the most romantic and sexy tour guide a girl could ever ask for. Thank you for taking me everywhere I wanted to go, and taking me places I didn't think of. Thank you for all the extra care you took to make this the perfect trip."
"Anything for you beautiful." He lifted her chin and kissed her softly and they made love one last time before they left this beautiful city.
XXXX
After getting back to New York, they get back to business as usual. The investor's that they met with a few weeks earlier were very impressed and were planning a trip to New York in the next couple weeks, at that time they wanted to see Empirical and Millennial, and from what Charles could tell from their call, it was a good chance that they would be indeed investing.
Also, after spending time in Paris, which had originally been where they wanted to spend their honeymoon, they spent several nights laying in their bed researching places they'd like to go, or things they'd like to see. After agreeing on a tropical location, they narrowed their options and finally came up with a perfect location.
"It's going to be a beautiful and relaxing honeymoon. Let's book it!" She says.
"Sounds perfect and as a plus, I get to watch you walk around in a bathing suit for our entire honeymoon." He raises his eyebrows suggestively.
She giggles and shakes her head. "Is that all you care about is watching me walk around in a bathing suit on our honeymoon?"
"It's pretty close to the top!" He sinks into the bed and pulls her over to him. "Want me to show you the other things I care about on our honeymoon? I can show you what I plan to do to you every day or night of our honeymoon." He snuggles into her neck and kisses up to her ear.
She settles into his arms and he shows her a few of his plans for what promises to be a very sexy honeymoon for them.
XXXX
How Charles became a 'Cat Guy'.
Nicole and Bianca are super excited. They, along with Caitlin, Liza and Charles are on their way to the shelter, today they could potentially be meeting their new cat or kitten. Over the last few weeks, Liza and Caitlin had helped Nicole, Bianca and Charles prepare for their new addition to their household. They've researched cats and kittens online looking for forever homes, they've prepped their home, they have toys, beds, food and water bowls and a litter box all ready.
Charles had explained how big a responsibility this will be, it's a long-term commitment and the girls promised to be the best cat parents ever. "We won't let you down daddy!" They exclaimed.
At the shelter they learn about all the cats there for adoption, they take their time with all the cats and kittens, and for over two hours they play and cuddle with several adoptable cats, simply getting a feel for a possible connection with them as a family.
As the shelter staff bring in different cats, telling the stories that brought them to the shelter, there is one special connection and surrender story that the whole family is drawn too. And as it turns out, this story is about two black cats, three and four years old, that were surrendered to the shelter when their original owner became ill and could no longer care for them. These two cats were very close, and the shelter promised that they would be adopted as a pair. They had been at the shelter for over a year and seemed to always get passed over, and as the shelter staff explains, black cats are less likely to be adopted because of their color and that they needed to be adopted together didn't help them either. This special pair was looking for the perfect family to give them a loving home and kept getting looked over.
Charles didn't know about adopting two cats, he pulled Liza to the side and asked her what he should do. "We came here for one, not two." He whispers to her as the girls play with the two black cats that they seem to have their heart and minds set on.
"Well the girls seem to be connecting with this pair, and these cats want to be cuddled, that was a requirement the girls insisted on with the cat they adopted. You must admit it's tragic that they've been at the shelter for over a year, getting passed over time and time again. They've been waiting for the perfect family to come along to give them their forever home." She smiles, wrapping her arm around him and watches the girls. "Charles, I'll be there to help, but this is your decision, it's your home. And if you're absolutely one hundred percent against taking these two, then you need to tell them to pick another one and let these two go back to wait for someone else." Liza swallows, forcing back the lump in her throat, she knows if it was up to her she'd take them home, but it's not up to her, it's up to Charles.
"Liza, it's your home too." He sighs as he holds her tight, watching his daughters with these two cats. He knows he must make a hard decision right now and looks down at Liza, "Well here goes nothing." He walks over to the girls. "Well girls, have you made up your minds?"
Nicole and Bianca never expected their dad would allow them to bring home two cats, and as much as he wanted to push back on adopting them, he couldn't break his daughter's hearts. He was a sucker for these two kids of his and sometimes he felt they deserved to be a little spoiled.
And over the next few weeks as these two black cats adapted to their new surroundings and family, Charles became one of their biggest fans.
XXXX
Charles and Liza arrive at work and are greeted by Diana. "Did you hear the news?" Diana asks him.
"About Michael? Yes, he talked to me about his decision last night after everyone left. He's wanting to leave earlier than he had originally planned. I told him I understand. Michael and his wife want to start their trip around the world, Liza's ready to take on the new job, Michael has made sure to get her ready for the promotion. He said he wouldn't be leaving early without feeling one hundred percent comfortable in Liza taking over. He's leaving in two weeks; we need to put together a goodbye celebration for him. Can you and Liza get together, coordinate a big goodbye party for him in the office on his last day?"
"Consider it done Charles. I'm going to miss him, but I agree with you, he deserves to retire, and Liza is ready for the new job."
"Great, I'm needing to make a couple calls, so I'll see you later, let me know if you need anything." Charles nods to Diana.
"Liza, we've got that meeting today at ten, I'll see you and Kelsey then." He bends and kisses her cheek.
"I'll see you then honey." She smiles and walks to Diana's office to see about plans for Michael's goodbye party.
Later Charles sends Diana an email. 'Come see me when you get a few minutes. Charles.'
Diana knocks on his door. "Charles?"
"Come in Diana, shut the door."
"Is everything okay?"
"Yes, I wanted to see if you'd be kind enough to help me plan a special surprise party for Liza after Michael leaves. She will officially be promoted into Senior Editor the next week. I'd like to plan something special, maybe a dinner party? Can you also help me with that? It must be a surprise for her though, we can have something in the office, but the dinner party is a surprise. I want it to be nice, and someplace that we can dine and dance."
"I'd love to help you with that Charles. I'll do some research and send you the places available. How many people are you wanting there?"
"Shit, I don't know, let me put together a list and I'll get the number to you."
"She will be so surprised; this will be fun."
"Thanks Diana. I know I may not say this enough, but you're a blessing and I don't know what we would have done without you over these years."
Diana swallows, trying to hold back a tear, sometimes Charles can be so sincere, and it is so nice to hear him say nice things about her. "Charles, thank you. Now get that number to me!" She gets up and leaves his office with a huge smile.
XXXX
Three weeks later Liza is officially being announced as Senior Editor for Empirical. With the promotion, she is now only working for Empirical, she had officially resigned from Millennial. She officially moved into her new office, she had a new sign on her door, "Liza Miller, Senior Editor" and she joked that it would be only Liza Miller for about seven months and they'd be changing it to "Liza Brooks, Senior Editor" and Charles said, "Hey if you'd agreed to run off to Vegas back months ago, we could have saved a few bucks on this temporary sign!" he teased.
There is a big celebration in the office with everyone congratulating Liza on her new job. Empirical has brought in catering for lunch and a big cake. Liza can't believe in just a couple short years she has moved up to this position, yes, she thinks that it is possible that it was due to her relationship with Charles, but he has told her that she would have moved up even if she wasn't with him. She thinks that the catered office celebration is all the hoopla that is happening with her new promotion, she doesn't have any idea that Charles and Diana have a surprise planned for her this weekend.
XXXX
"You look so handsome." She looks up at him from the mirror, as she finishes putting on her lipstick. He's dressed in black slacks, black shirt and no tie.
She stands and turns to look at him. His eyes trace along her body, she is the most beautiful women he's ever experienced, and she is all his.
She asks him, "Do I look okay?"
"Gorgeous." He reaches his hand out to her. "Are you ready, the car should be getting here any minute?"
She nods, he lifts her hand and kissed it. "I love you. Now come on, it's date night, let's get this evening started." He tugs at her hand and off they go, he smiles to himself as he's got a big surprise set up for her tonight, she thinks it is just him and her tonight, but it's actually several friends and work colleagues joining them tonight.
Charles, with Diana's help had found a great restaurant and he reserved a large personal dining room for all the guests. After dinner they would head next door to a nice bar that had a band with a dance floor. Tonight, was a casual night, just dinner, drinks, dancing and lots of fun.
Liza and Charles are led back to the private dining room and when the doors open, "SURPRISE!" is screamed from all the guests waiting patiently there for Liza.
"Oh my god!" Liza jumps. "What is everyone doing here?" She looks around and then back to Charles.
"Just a little celebration for you baby."
"But we celebrated at the office."
"And now we're celebrating again." He smiles.
They celebrated with all their friends and colleagues, the dinner was amazing and then they walked next door to continue their celebration, they drank, sang and danced well into the early morning. Liza couldn't believe how much fun the night had turned out to be. She had never expected a surprise party and as usual Charles continued to amaze her.
"It wasn't all me, Diana helped me put this together."
Liza grabs Diana and hugs her tight. "Thank you, Diana, I can't believe you and Charles did this for me. I love you."
"Liza, you're drunk! Pull yourself together!" Diana tries to act like Liza's show of affection towards her is annoying, but it really means so much to her and she wants to tell Liza that she loves her too, but she doesn't. She does think, someday I'll tell her how much she means to me, but not tonight because they're both a bit buzzed.
XXXX
"Where are you taking me?" She asks as she watches him drive their car upstate. It's a beautiful late October fall day, the leaves have turned and the ones that have fallen lay along the edges of the country road they follow to their destination.
"Isn't it beautiful up here Liza? I think we've picked the perfect day to take a drive through the country." He smiles and continues to drive, he's got a specific destination in mind, but Liza is clueless to where they are heading.
Driving about an hour after leaving the city Charles turns into a long driveway, it is canopied by more tall fall colored trees, the driveway is long enough that she cannot see what is beyond the trees. She thinks, 'we packed bags for a weekend, so are we staying at a cozy little B&B?'
"Okay we're here." As they make it to the end of a driveway. There is an old farmhouse and she looks at it confused. The house is run down, and she thinks he's taken a wrong turn.
"Are you sure? I was expecting a B this place doesn't look at all livable Charles."
"It's not. Come on let's get out and take a walk." He turns the car off and they get out. The house and land around them are set at the edge of a huge lake, the property is quite beautiful, but the house is beyond repair.
"I'm confused Charles, what are we doing here?"
"You know we've been thinking about a new country home, a place to spend weekends with the girls, this place is for sale. I found this listing and I thought that maybe we should check it out. The property is cheap enough and we could build something for about half the money I got out of the sale of Pound Ridge. It's not too terribly far from the city, but if you don't like it, we can continue to look around."
She wraps her arm around him as they walk towards the lake. "I really can see the potential of a nice country home out here Charles."
"The other homes around here are very nice, if you'd like we can see some of them from the road. I've also booked us a B&B at the edge of town, we can spend a couple days up here and get a feel of the community as well."
"I'd like that." She smiles and he kisses her cheek as they listen to the fall leaves rustle against the light fall breeze.
At the B&B they are checked in and take a walk into the small town, there is a few little boutiques, a small apothecary, a hardware/live bait store, a small grocery store, a diner and a gas station.
"It's tiny Charles, are you sure this place is what you'd like?"
"We'd need to bring necessities with us, but if we needed any thing we missed, we might be able to find it in town, I think we'd be okay." He shrugs.
They have dinner at the small country diner and talk to a few of the people in town as they walk through the boutiques and stores. Everyone seems to be very nice and down to earth people. "If you like quiet, then you've found the right spot." One of the townsfolk tell them. "There is another town up the road a few miles that have more options for stores, I'd suggest you drive up that way this weekend and see it.
On their second day they drive around, they find a beautiful horse riding stable and boarding farm, they laugh because the girls would be all about that, getting to ride horses is all they're about these days, besides the new black cats they can't stop playing with and snapping selfies with on their daddy's phone. They also drive to the other town that was suggested and it did indeed have a lot more options for anything they may need while here on a weekend. On their way back to the city, they stop back by the property one last time and walk down to the dock that leads into the lake.
"The property is reasonably priced; it would leave us plenty of money to build what we want. I think it would be a great place for our second home."
"Charles, if you wanted a second home, why didn't you just keep Pound Ridge?"
"Because I didn't want it anymore. That was something that Pauline wanted, it was all her, myself it was a bit pretentious for my liking, I've always wanted something a bit more…rustic or homey." He chuckles.
"Oh, and you don't think your brownstone is pretentious? Charles…"
"I know, it's very nice and I love it, but that was my parent's home, it was left to me. I doubt I would have bought it if the circumstances were different. Wait…you don't like the brownstone?"
"Are you kidding me, that place is beautiful, and I can see why your parents loved it and why you love it."
"I've often wondered if you've been bothered that I had a life there before you? If that home is something that we should think about changing, either moving or redecorating?"
"Absolutely not! I'd never ask you to leave the brownstone! We've both had a life prior too finding each other, please don't ever think I'd dwell on your life before me. All I care about is that we're making new memories, nothing else from the past can destroy that. I love you and you are you because of your life before me…I'd never ask you to change anything about your past." She snuggles into him as they sit on the dock looking out over the lake. "I like this place, it's very quiet and serene. What are you thinking about when it comes to building a home here? Maybe we could build a log cabin, it would fit in well with the wooded landscape and the lake outside our back door." She smiles, she's ready to say yes to this place if he is.
"It would be beautiful with a log cabin." He loves that idea and pulls her closer to him, running his hand up and down her arm. "So, you like it then?"
"Absolutely, I can see this place as a great second home. We could go fishing and maybe teach the girls to ski on the lake. And you know that they'd love coming here if they knew there would be horseback riding activities for them to partake in. Nicole could get in some great bird watching, Bianca would insist on a tree house."
"Fishing? You fish Liza?" He looks at her in wonder.
"Fishing, sure. Dad and I used to fish all the time when I was a kid. Oh, he'd love this place!"
"Well, we should find out what our options are as far as building, and if everything pans out, and if you're willing, we could make an offer on the land." He bends and kissed the top of her head.
"I'm glad you found this place Charles, and if you want, I'd love to build a home with you here."
When they are back home, Charles and Liza both start research on building options for the property, they contact a few builders and they make an offer on the land the next week and the offer is accepted.
Over the next few months they hire a contractor and pick out the log home they want, the old house that was originally there was demolished, and the land prepared for new construction. The new home will not be finished until after the new year, probably well into spring before they will be complete.
They were very busy for the rest of the year, planning for building a new home, getting the wedding details complete, parenting, school plays and school projects, and not to mention both working full time. Then there were the holidays that also added to their hectic schedule. But they had always managed to make time for each other, they made sure to have a date night at least one night a week, and of course there was always time for their insatiable appetite for each other.
XXXX
The wedding preparations were coming along smoothly, the flowers, the venue, invitations, catering and the band for the reception. Charles had been fitted for his new suit and Liza's gown was being designed especially for her.
Today they were picking up their wedding bands, they were also designed for them both by the jeweler that designed Liza's engagement ring.
Charles' wedding band is a Vintage Style Hand Engraved, 14K Black Gold, Black Polish Band. It is elegant and if at all possible she thinks him more sexy when trying it on, her mind drifts to very sexy visions, visions of his hand as it slides up her body with that ring on, the feeling of the cool metal sending new sensations throughout her body and suddenly the temperature in the room has gone up several degrees.
She is snapped out of her sexy daydream when the jeweler opens her ring box, presenting a beautiful and stunning Platinum Two Row Diamond Eternity band. It was designed to accent her engagement ring and she was not in one bit disappointed with the finished product. It was unbelievably breathtaking and when they are home and placing their rings in his study safe, she mentions that she cannot wait to wear them, she cannot wait to feel his touch when he is wearing his ring.
"I may have been having sexy thoughts as you were trying yours on at the jeweler." She smiles with wanting in her eyes.
Charles can see the desire pulsing through her and pulls her close. "If you want, we can play out your little fantasy, I'm more than willing to give you what you want and need baby." His mouth kisses down her neck, landing at her clavicle.
She mewls as his mouth and his voice sends vibrations through her, all the way down to her core. "I don't know if we should do that, it could be bad luck, we should wait."
He turns her away from him, her back to his front, pressing her against the wall and pressing his hard body into her. "Does that mean you want me to stop what I've started." His hand has slid down and rubs across her panties, she moves against his hand and then she pushes against his erection.
"I didn't ask you to stop. Please keep going." Her hands reach around to the back of her and she works to release him from his pants, as his hands push her panties down off her hips, she steps out of them and his foot gently pushes her feet apart, widening her stance slightly, he allows his pants to fall from his hips, and he slides into her from behind. "Charles…" she sighs. "Liza…" he growls as he moves in and out of her, taking her to a mind-blowing orgasm, and when she is tightening and shuttering against him, he lets himself go as well.
XXXX
"Wow Liza, it's beautiful! You're going to knock his socks off when he sees you in that gown. I'm almost certain he won't be able to keep his hands off you during the ceremony or after it for that matter!" Maggie looks at her best friend in her wedding gown for her final fitting.
"So, you think it's okay for a second wedding? Not too much? I wanted something that says wedding dress, but nothing that is over the top."
"It's perfect, the designer gave you exactly what you asked for. It's elegant, stunning and sexy as hell!"