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Chapter 33
The four of them had a wonderful afternoon together. After Elizabeth dropped off her books Siobhan gave them a tour of the immediate area. Elizabeth left her camera behind just wanting to soak in the vibe of the city. A street musician had her tapping her toes and she left a nice tip in appreciation. Several store fronts had her and Siobhan huddled together pointing at the displays. The guys just stood back and kept watch.
"It's tea time." Siobhan announced.
"Should we return to the hotel?" Elizabeth was very much enjoying this custom.
"Actually there is the most amazing café a couple of blocks from here." Siobhan pointed to the west. "I would be remiss in not taking you."
"We can have tea there?" Elizabeth liked the sound of a café.
"We can or wine if you'd rather. They also have sandwiches and the most divine cookies you will ever have in your life." Siobhan swore to her friend. "So what do you say?"
"I love a good cookie." Elizabeth loved sweets. Chocolate was her favorite, but she appreciated other flavors as well.
"We are going to the Cake Café. Chloe has things delivered from there often. Another reason to visit her at work." Siobhan joked.
"Chloe is like a twig, no way does she eat sweets." Elizabeth said laughing.
"Don't ever get between her and a brownie." Siobhan warned. "She'll beat you to death with a stiletto."
"Elle makes fantastic brownies." Jason couldn't resist bragging on his girl.
"Is that right?" Siobhan asked her friend.
"I am kind of known for them. Although I'd need to do a few test batches. I'm not sure how the ingredients will react over here." Elizabeth knew that different altitudes affected things like moisture content and cooking time.
"I'd be happy to volunteer to taste anything you make." Cody offered grinning.
"Me too, because a second opinion is always helpful." Siobhan joked.
"Jason will be all I need." She said giving him a wink as the two guards actually pouted. "He, Francis, and Johnny know what my brownies should taste like, so I'll experiment on them first." Cody held the door as they all walked inside. "Oh, it smells heavenly."
"I know." Siobhan agreed. "Let's see what the offerings are today."
"Lace Chocolate cake." Elizabeth all but purred. "I'm going to have that."
"It's good." Siobhan nodded her approval. "I think I'll have a slice of the Chocolate Biscuit cake. You can sample a piece."
"You may regret that. What will you have Jason?" Elizabeth looked over her shoulder at him. She was struck again by the fact that he was hers.
"Pick something for me. Something that you like." Jason decided.
"Really?" Cody leaned in and whispered. "You're gonna make me look bad."
"I do that just by breathing." Jason shot back with a grin. "Have you asked her out yet?"
"I'm here on a job." Cody reminded Jason.
"Elizabeth and I are ordering room service for dinner." Jason told his friend.
"Point taken." Cody muttered.
"What did you get me?" Jason asked walking over to where his girl stood.
"I had fun." Elizabeth told Jason as she shrugged out of her jacket. She hung it up and walked over to flop down on the couch. "I need to send a copy of the picture Cody took of us to Johnny. Does the room have a printer?"
"I don't know. If not I can send for one." Jason told her. "He's not leaving for two more days."
"Okay. Tomorrow then. Tonight I'm going to hang out with my guy and read one of my books." She reached for the cloth bag.
"What is that?" Jason tilted his head to see the title. "Photography for Dummies?"
"What is that face for?" Elizabeth looked over to find him frowning.
"You're not a dummy." Jason responded to her question. "That has to be the most insulting book title I've ever seen."
Elizabeth just giggled. "It's a series of books written on a variety of topics. Like Cooking for Dummies and Gardening for Dummies. It's tongue in cheek." She explained. "They are written in simple terms to help you understand something complex."
"They could word it better." He still didn't like it.
"I guess now would be a bad time to show you my other book then." She was still grinning as she pulled out The Complete Idiot's Guide to Photography. Jason just frowned harder which made her laugh more.
"I'm going to check to see if we have a printer." Jason grumbled as he got up. Elizabeth just laid on the couch and laughed. He was coming back into the main room, to tell her they did have one, when there was a knock on the door. Looking out he saw the guard from this morning with his delivery.
"They just arrived." He told Jason.
"Thanks." He guessed guaranteed by four meant something else over here. He peeked into the living room thinking he'd stash the surprise in the bedroom to find the space empty. Grinning he put it down on the table and dashed into the suite's kitchen. From there he could watch Elle come out and then notice the large bouquet of tulips. He heard her coming out of the bedroom and waited in anticipation.
"Oh." Elizabeth stopped short as she noticed the stunning bouquet of flowers. Wanting a better look she moved closer going down on her knees beside the table and removed the cellophane. They were from Jason she knew that, but she hadn't been expecting them. She reached out to touch a bloom but pulled back at the last moment. "Jason?" Where did he go?
Her boyfriend stepped out of the kitchen and she jumped up running over to him. "Thank you, they are beautiful." The flowers were a deep purple near the stems but the color faded to a soft lilac at the tips of each petal. "What are they?"
"Lily flowered tulips." Jason told her. "Grandmother has some in her hot house. Not this color. Pink if I remember correctly. I thought you would like them." He was smiling down at her.
"I do. I love them." Elizabeth sighed softly looking at them. Going over to her flowers again she looked closer. "They are potted."
"You mentioned wanting a green house." Jason reminded her. "They are building it while we are here."
"Really, so I can plant these when we get home." She loved the thought of that.
"You can." Jason was going to make sure their house was everything she wanted.
"Thank you." He had given her something living. She was going to learn about her plant to make sure it thrived and every year when it bloomed she would remember this moment and how Jason cared for her. "I love you, you know that right? Not because you are building me a greenhouse, but because you see me. I don't have to hide from you because you won't ever judge me or make me feel like I'm not enough." She couldn't stop the tears. "I know that you love me because I feel it every day. Thank you for that Jason."
He didn't know what to say. So he said the words in his heart. "I love you Elizabeth." Walking over he bent down and gave her a soft kiss.
Rising to her feet she took his hand and urged him to the couch. When he was sitting she sat on his lap. They curled up together neither one talking and just looked at her flowers.
The next night Jason was sitting on the couch of their suite looking at the flowers he'd given Elle. Only this time he was alone. She was in the bedroom getting ready for their dinner date. The suit Chloe sent was nice. It fit like it was made for him because an hour ago her head tailor had shown up to make last minute adjustments. Having been through this while working for Sonny, Jason knew the drill. So he stayed still while a few tucks were made.
The black suit with black silk shirt was something he would have picked. The fact that there was no tie with the ensemble had him thawing a bit toward his cousin. Now he was waiting for his girl to make her entrance and feeling the weight of his gift. He knew she would appreciate it, because she appreciated everything he did for her. What he wanted even more was for her to love it.
"Okay." Elizabeth said coming out.
"Wow." Jason said smiling. "You look beautiful Elizabeth." The pink gave her skin a glow. She had her hair loose and in soft waves. Everything about her was perfection.
"Thank you Jason. You look very handsome yourself." She loved him in a suit, just as much as she loved him in blue jeans.
"I have something for you." He couldn't wait any longer.
"More flowers?" She thought maybe a corsage.
"No." Jason reached in his pocket and removed the small box. Using his thumb he pushed the lid open to reveal the piece of jewelry inside.
Elizabeth simply couldn't find any words as looked at the stunning Claddagh ring her boyfriend was presenting to her. She should say something. Jason was probably waiting for her to say something, but she couldn't seem to get her mouth to work. Instead she took off the ring she was currently wearing and held out her trembling hand.
Jason removed the ring and noticed he was trembling as well. "Inside it is the Gaelic word for my beloved. That's what you are to me Elizabeth, beloved." He said as he slid the ring on her finger. "I want to show you the world, and then I want to come home and marry you."
"It's beautiful." She finally found her voice. Without having to be told she knew this wasn't an engagement ring. Jason would want her to be a little older first. Not much she was betting they would be married before her twenty second birthday. This ring was his promise, his pledge of a future together. "I love emeralds."
"It's actually a diamond." Jason explained what the jeweler told him. Information that he had backed up by a second source. He also checked with Johnny to make sure the word inside was the correct one.
"It's stunning and I love it." Elizabeth leaned up and gave him a soft kiss. If they had more time she would show him how much.
"Ready to go out?" He had another surprise waiting for her.
"Yes." She placed her hand in his and they walked to the elevator.
They had a private dining room and when Elizabeth walked inside two other couples were waiting. Johnny with Chloe and Francis with Diane. "Dinner with our friends. Thank you Jason." She knew he did this for her. Dating with others was not something he enjoyed. Although Johnny and Francis were family he still preferred for it to be just him and her when out.
"Look at you. That dress is divine." Diane gushed. "Brown shoes, nice."
"I can't take credit, Chloe put the look together." Elizabeth said sitting as Jason held out her chair.
"Siobhan picked the shoes." Chloe pointed out also sitting.
"All those years of hard work are paying off. I swear we almost got into a fist fight when I tried to put her in a dress the first time." Diane had come to Ireland almost fifteen years ago to raise her niece after her brother and his wife died in a car accident.
"She and Cody are out on a date." Chloe whispered across the table.
"About time." Elizabeth responded.
"Okay we've been polite long enough, let's see the ring." Diane let good manners go right out the window.
"Good, I don't think I would have lasted much longer." Chloe admitted. "Very nice indeed. Are we celebrating?"
"Only good friends." Elizabeth answered.
"That's not an engagement ring?" Francis had also spotted it.
"Liz is too young to get married." Johnny immediately countered. "Besides she can do better than that." He pointed to Jason who just frowned.
"Behave Sean." Chloe elbowed her boyfriend. "I think that when a man gives you a stunning piece of jewelry for no reason at all it's a wonderful thing. Just because he gave her this gorgeous ring doesn't mean they need to rush into anything."
"I'm not saying rush in but when a guy gives his girl a diamond that usually means wedding bells." Frannie was poking fun at Jason. He also felt Liz was too young to get married. Especially since once the two of them tied the knot kids were gonna follow.
"Sweetie that's an emerald." Diane thought it was cute he didn't know his gemstones.
"No, babe, that's a diamond." Francis told his girlfriend.
"He's right." Elizabeth smiled at the lawyer.
"A green diamond?" Diane took Elizabeth's hand and looked at the ring closer. "How did you know?" Diane asked Francis.
"Emeralds don't change color in the light." Francis knew about quality jewelry. He went on enough shopping trips with Sonny and picked up some knowledge. The mob boss liked to gift the women he bedded with sparkling souvenirs.
"I am impressed." Diane turned to Jason. "Well done."
"Thank you." It was the first time he had spoken all night. Jason just wasn't talkative when it was more than just him and Elle. He liked being out with Francis and Johnny, but often when he was with them he didn't talk much either. But with those two he didn't need to.
"I think we need champagne any way." Johnny signaled out to one of the guards sitting outside the room and he sent the waiter over. When it was poured out Jason, to the surprise of Johnny and Francis, raised his glass and made the toast. "To the three most beautiful women in Ireland and the lucky bastards who get to spend the evening with them."
"Well done Jason." Johnny said saluting the ladies with his glass.
"I'll second that." Francis did the same.
The ladies just looked at one another. They were all sporting identical blushes.
After a delicious meal the seating arrangement of guy girl was swapped for one of the ladies on one side of the table and the guys on the other. Johnny took the opportunity to discuss some business. "Duke and I are leaving tomorrow for Port Charles. I am only going to be gone for one day and not two like I first thought."
"Be careful, Sonny's tendency to act rash has not gotten better since you left." Jason didn't want Johnny getting hurt. He also didn't want his friend to get in trouble for hurting Sonny, although Jason understood it might come down to that. The PCPD would love to have a reason to arrest Johnny. Taggert never believed that Johnny died, he just figured Sonny sent him down to his private island.
"Sonny is not going to do anything stupid right then." Johnny promised his friend. He turned to Francis. "You should be able to sign the paperwork taking over Corinthos Coffee tomorrow afternoon." Duke planned on having Sonny sign everything over at their meeting. Maximus had already given his blessing on the takeover.
"You sure you don't want it?" Francis checked with Jason one final time.
"I don't want any businesses with ties to my old life." Jason was going legit and staying that way. He didn't want Elle to worry he was going back. "I will speak to Diane tomorrow about some business ventures I'm thinking about."
"Like?" Johnny prodded.
"Like, I'll tell you if they happen." Jason smirked.
"Really?" Johnny pouted. "You know it's gonna drive me crazy thinking what your demented brain has come up with. I offered work to your guys."
"They are contractors." Jason reminded his friend. "They don't work full time for me. Besides Shawn and Logan are already gone."
"I know, they have phones." Johnny said sipping his drink. "They declined. Andy is coming on, I could use a good tech guy. If either of you need him feel free to ask. Cooper and Cody are staying in Ireland, but both want to see what you are going to do first."
"I could use Cooper. I'm gonna need someone good to oversee security." Francis would need to focus on getting the business relocated so he wanted someone he could trust. He and Cooper thought a lot alike so Francis wouldn't worry.
"After I talk with Diane, I'll speak with them. I am taking Elizabeth to Italy in the next few months, we'll be gone a while. We may travel further out." Jason told his friends. "I'd like to take Siobhan with us." He was thinking Cody as well. He was mindful that they still needed to be careful. They wouldn't travel too far just yet.
"Go to England from Italy. See the family grounds." Johnny suggested. "I know Elizabeth would love to see where Lila grew up."
"Good idea. Speaking of my Grandmother, will you take this to her please?" He handed Johnny an envelope.
"Sure thing. I will tell her that you are both doing well. Once I get back it should be safe for you to call her." Johnny knew Jason missed her. "Duke is staying for a while so you can go visit in a few months."
"We'll wait a bit before going home. Luke and Lucky's bodies are going to turn up in a few days. I want to let things settle some." Jason just wanted to be cautious. "I will be sure to let Duke know before we arrive. In case any waves are made." Jason looked over at the ladies. "I need a favor."
"Name it." Johnny knew Jason was talking to him.
"I need a man named Tom Baker taken care of. He's in Pentonville" Jason looked at Johnny.
"I will handle it when I go to Port Charles." Johnny didn't even need to ask to know this was who hurt Liz.
"We don't deserve them." Francis said grinning looking at the ladies. He also knew what Jason's requested represented.
"But we sure as hell aren't giving them back." Johnny added.
"No we are not." Jason softly seconded.
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