Chapter 21
Upon waking, Jason instinctively reached for Elizabeth, but found only empty space where she had been. The disappointment he felt showed him how essential she had become to him and how much he wanted to wake up with her every day for the rest of his life. The aroma of brewing coffee told him where she was.
He pulled on sweat pants and made his way to the kitchen. Standing in the doorway, he watched her whisking eggs in a bowl. He smiled. She was wearing one of his shirts and had clipped her hair up in a ponytail. The sight of her in his kitchen, wearing his shirt, caused his heart to swell. It just felt right - like it was supposed to be this way.
Elizabeth hummed as she poured the eggs in the sizzling pan. She felt so incredibly happy this morning, like her life was finally on the right track. She had her job, her painting, and Jason. Thinking of Jason made her smile and flooded her body with warmth. He was more than just her lover. He was her best friend - her soulmate.
Jason's arms came around her waist and he nuzzled her neck. "Good morning," he said. "I woke up and you were gone. I missed you."
Leaning back on him, she continued stirring the eggs in the pan. "Good morning. I wanted to surprise you with breakfast, but you didn't have much in the refrigerator. Scrambled eggs were the best I could do." Removing the pan from the stove, she dished the eggs onto the waiting plates.
Turning in his arms, she wrapped hers around his neck. He pulled her up against him and kissed her deeply, his hands moving on her back in a sensual rhythm. Breaking the kiss, he said, "I could get used to this."
She looked into his burning blue eyes, and teased huskily, "To having me make you breakfast, you mean?"
"You know that's not what I meant, Elizabeth. I like having you here. I like going to sleep with you at night and waking up with you in the morning." Smoothing his hands up her neck and into her hair, he said playfully, "I especially like you in my shirt."
She stretched up and brushed her lips against his. "I like it, too, and I would love to stay right here in your arms, but if we don't eat these eggs soon, they're going to get cold." Smiling, she stepped back, picked up the plates and cutlery, and placed them on the table.
Jason pulled a chair out for her and then slid into the one across from her. He watched as she poured orange juice into two glasses. Looking up, she caught his eyes on her, and asked, "What is it, Jason?"
"I was just wondering how pouring juice could be so sexy," he responded. When she blushed, he smiled widely. Picking up his fork, he stabbed some egg, and began to eat. "This is really good. Thank you."
They finished breakfast in companionable silence. After clearing the dishes, Elizabeth said, "I should get ready for work."
Concerned, Jason took her in his arms and held her tight. "You'll be careful, Elizabeth? And don't go anywhere without Sam. He's one of the best guards we have." Feeling her heart beat next to his, Jason was tempted to lock the door, and keep the rest of the world out until he was sure she'd be safe.
"I'll be careful, Jason," she responded softly, loving him for his concern. "Please don't worry. I should go take my shower."
Jason grinned wickedly and said, "A shower sounds like a good idea." He leaned forward and kissed her long and slow. She pulled herself up against him and ran her fingers through his hair. Making their way to the stairs, they continued their sensual dance. When a knock sounded at the door, Jason groaned.
"I should get that," he said reluctantly. "It could be important." He kissed her hard, let her go, and went to open the door. It was Carly.
"Hi guys. I'm sorry to intrude," she said apologetically. "But something came for Elizabeth that I was sure she'd want to see. Chloe messengered over some preliminary reviews of the fashion show. After Johnny checked it out to make sure it really was from Chloe, I volunteered to bring this over." She held out a large, manilla envelope.
Elizabeth looked at the envelope but made no move to take it. She wasn't sure she wanted to know what the reviews contained.
"Come on. Aren't you dying to find out what they say?" asked Carly eagerly. "I know I am."
Ignoring her, Jason focused on Elizabeth. "What's wrong?" He drew closer to her and took her hands in his.
She laughed shakily. "I'm being a coward. I don't know if I want to hear the official judgement of my work."
Jason spoke softly when he replied. "You are one of the bravest people I know. You have faced and beaten much worse than the over-rated opinions of some lofty critics."
Elizabeth relaxed slightly, as he had intended. "You're right. I am blowing this out of proportion. Thank you." She squeezed his hands gratefully and turned to their guest. "OK, Carly. Let me have them, please." She smiled as she took the envelope.
"Good girl!" Carly said. She waited impatiently as Elizabeth skimmed the contents of the papers. "Well... What do they say?"
"There's a note from Chloe explaining that her sources faxed her these early this morning. They haven't even gone to press yet. Then she suggests that I take the morning off in lieu of all the extra hours I worked preparing for the show." She paused to shuffle the pages and continued, "The first one is from the NY Times critic - Chloe Morgan's Spring Collection once again reflects true class and elegance. Her new bridal fashions will set the standard for this year's spring brides. Added to her line this season, are the designs of a new talent, currently working with Ms. Morgan. Elizabeth Webber's contributions to the collection were fresh and innovative. I predict you'll be seeing much more from this young designer in the future."
Elizabeth stopped, stunned by what she had read. It surpassed any hope she had harbored for a favorable review.
Carly squealed, "I knew it! I told you your stuff was good. Keep reading!"
Elizabeth glanced up at Jason and saw him smiling warmly. She continued, "The next one is from one of the fashion magazines. It says - Chloe Morgan's Spring Line is up to her usual standard of excellence. Her designs are very feminine and elegant. The centerpiece of the collection, her new wedding dress, is to die for. Also presented were several items designed by Ms. Morgan's protégée, Miss Elizabeth Webber. Her work, though not up to the level of her mentor, shows promise. We'll have to wait and see if she grows into her potential."
Skimming through the remaining reviews, Elizabeth said, "The others say pretty much the same thing."
"They're really good, Elizabeth," Carly stated. "In fact, for your first time out, they're great." Moving towards the door, she said, "I should go. I want to take Michael to school before I go to Deception."
Elizabeth stopped her. "Carly," she called. When Carly turned, she continued, "Thank you - for bringing these over, and for the nice things you said. I appreciate it."
Carly smiled and responded, "No problem. Actually, I was dying of curiosity, and patience has never been my strong suit. See you later."
Jason walked her to the door and said quietly, "Thanks Carly." He closed the door behind her and returned to where Elizabeth still stood. "I'm so happy for you," he told her. "I know how important this was to you."
Elizabeth placed the papers on the table and turned to throw herself into Jason's arms. He held her close and waited. She pulled back slightly and said mistily, "I am happy about the reviews, Jason, but, as I was reading them, I realized that they didn't have as much power over me as I thought. Even if they had completely trashed me, my life would still be good." She raised her hands and held his face between them. "I would still have the most important thing in my life - you."
A lump in his throat, Jason responded huskily, "I feel the same way. If I have you, then I have everything." He leaned in and kissed her open-mouthed, their breaths mingling. When she pressed her body against his, he said suggestively, "What was that about taking the morning off?"
Elizabeth grinned impishly and said, "I'll race you to the shower."
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Upon waking, Jason instinctively reached for Elizabeth, but found only empty space where she had been. The disappointment he felt showed him how essential she had become to him and how much he wanted to wake up with her every day for the rest of his life. The aroma of brewing coffee told him where she was.
He pulled on sweat pants and made his way to the kitchen. Standing in the doorway, he watched her whisking eggs in a bowl. He smiled. She was wearing one of his shirts and had clipped her hair up in a ponytail. The sight of her in his kitchen, wearing his shirt, caused his heart to swell. It just felt right - like it was supposed to be this way.
Elizabeth hummed as she poured the eggs in the sizzling pan. She felt so incredibly happy this morning, like her life was finally on the right track. She had her job, her painting, and Jason. Thinking of Jason made her smile and flooded her body with warmth. He was more than just her lover. He was her best friend - her soulmate.
Jason's arms came around her waist and he nuzzled her neck. "Good morning," he said. "I woke up and you were gone. I missed you."
Leaning back on him, she continued stirring the eggs in the pan. "Good morning. I wanted to surprise you with breakfast, but you didn't have much in the refrigerator. Scrambled eggs were the best I could do." Removing the pan from the stove, she dished the eggs onto the waiting plates.
Turning in his arms, she wrapped hers around his neck. He pulled her up against him and kissed her deeply, his hands moving on her back in a sensual rhythm. Breaking the kiss, he said, "I could get used to this."
She looked into his burning blue eyes, and teased huskily, "To having me make you breakfast, you mean?"
"You know that's not what I meant, Elizabeth. I like having you here. I like going to sleep with you at night and waking up with you in the morning." Smoothing his hands up her neck and into her hair, he said playfully, "I especially like you in my shirt."
She stretched up and brushed her lips against his. "I like it, too, and I would love to stay right here in your arms, but if we don't eat these eggs soon, they're going to get cold." Smiling, she stepped back, picked up the plates and cutlery, and placed them on the table.
Jason pulled a chair out for her and then slid into the one across from her. He watched as she poured orange juice into two glasses. Looking up, she caught his eyes on her, and asked, "What is it, Jason?"
"I was just wondering how pouring juice could be so sexy," he responded. When she blushed, he smiled widely. Picking up his fork, he stabbed some egg, and began to eat. "This is really good. Thank you."
They finished breakfast in companionable silence. After clearing the dishes, Elizabeth said, "I should get ready for work."
Concerned, Jason took her in his arms and held her tight. "You'll be careful, Elizabeth? And don't go anywhere without Sam. He's one of the best guards we have." Feeling her heart beat next to his, Jason was tempted to lock the door, and keep the rest of the world out until he was sure she'd be safe.
"I'll be careful, Jason," she responded softly, loving him for his concern. "Please don't worry. I should go take my shower."
Jason grinned wickedly and said, "A shower sounds like a good idea." He leaned forward and kissed her long and slow. She pulled herself up against him and ran her fingers through his hair. Making their way to the stairs, they continued their sensual dance. When a knock sounded at the door, Jason groaned.
"I should get that," he said reluctantly. "It could be important." He kissed her hard, let her go, and went to open the door. It was Carly.
"Hi guys. I'm sorry to intrude," she said apologetically. "But something came for Elizabeth that I was sure she'd want to see. Chloe messengered over some preliminary reviews of the fashion show. After Johnny checked it out to make sure it really was from Chloe, I volunteered to bring this over." She held out a large, manilla envelope.
Elizabeth looked at the envelope but made no move to take it. She wasn't sure she wanted to know what the reviews contained.
"Come on. Aren't you dying to find out what they say?" asked Carly eagerly. "I know I am."
Ignoring her, Jason focused on Elizabeth. "What's wrong?" He drew closer to her and took her hands in his.
She laughed shakily. "I'm being a coward. I don't know if I want to hear the official judgement of my work."
Jason spoke softly when he replied. "You are one of the bravest people I know. You have faced and beaten much worse than the over-rated opinions of some lofty critics."
Elizabeth relaxed slightly, as he had intended. "You're right. I am blowing this out of proportion. Thank you." She squeezed his hands gratefully and turned to their guest. "OK, Carly. Let me have them, please." She smiled as she took the envelope.
"Good girl!" Carly said. She waited impatiently as Elizabeth skimmed the contents of the papers. "Well... What do they say?"
"There's a note from Chloe explaining that her sources faxed her these early this morning. They haven't even gone to press yet. Then she suggests that I take the morning off in lieu of all the extra hours I worked preparing for the show." She paused to shuffle the pages and continued, "The first one is from the NY Times critic - Chloe Morgan's Spring Collection once again reflects true class and elegance. Her new bridal fashions will set the standard for this year's spring brides. Added to her line this season, are the designs of a new talent, currently working with Ms. Morgan. Elizabeth Webber's contributions to the collection were fresh and innovative. I predict you'll be seeing much more from this young designer in the future."
Elizabeth stopped, stunned by what she had read. It surpassed any hope she had harbored for a favorable review.
Carly squealed, "I knew it! I told you your stuff was good. Keep reading!"
Elizabeth glanced up at Jason and saw him smiling warmly. She continued, "The next one is from one of the fashion magazines. It says - Chloe Morgan's Spring Line is up to her usual standard of excellence. Her designs are very feminine and elegant. The centerpiece of the collection, her new wedding dress, is to die for. Also presented were several items designed by Ms. Morgan's protégée, Miss Elizabeth Webber. Her work, though not up to the level of her mentor, shows promise. We'll have to wait and see if she grows into her potential."
Skimming through the remaining reviews, Elizabeth said, "The others say pretty much the same thing."
"They're really good, Elizabeth," Carly stated. "In fact, for your first time out, they're great." Moving towards the door, she said, "I should go. I want to take Michael to school before I go to Deception."
Elizabeth stopped her. "Carly," she called. When Carly turned, she continued, "Thank you - for bringing these over, and for the nice things you said. I appreciate it."
Carly smiled and responded, "No problem. Actually, I was dying of curiosity, and patience has never been my strong suit. See you later."
Jason walked her to the door and said quietly, "Thanks Carly." He closed the door behind her and returned to where Elizabeth still stood. "I'm so happy for you," he told her. "I know how important this was to you."
Elizabeth placed the papers on the table and turned to throw herself into Jason's arms. He held her close and waited. She pulled back slightly and said mistily, "I am happy about the reviews, Jason, but, as I was reading them, I realized that they didn't have as much power over me as I thought. Even if they had completely trashed me, my life would still be good." She raised her hands and held his face between them. "I would still have the most important thing in my life - you."
A lump in his throat, Jason responded huskily, "I feel the same way. If I have you, then I have everything." He leaned in and kissed her open-mouthed, their breaths mingling. When she pressed her body against his, he said suggestively, "What was that about taking the morning off?"
Elizabeth grinned impishly and said, "I'll race you to the shower."
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*