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Chapter 3
"Jason doesn't like public displays of affection." Elizabeth said coming up with a reason for them not to kiss one another. If Jason put his lips anywhere near hers she wasn't going to be responsible for what might happen.
"Nonsense. This isn't public." Diane said looking back at Jason.
The blonde let the door close and walked back to where Elizabeth was standing. Her lips were something he spent a lot of time thinking about. They looked soft, and he very much wanted to find out if he was right. Kissing her in a hospital room at the insistence of his injured lawyer had not been one of the scenarios in which he envisioned their first kiss coming about, because yeah he thought about it. But he wasn't going to let this opportunity pass. No he was not.
Dipping his head he placed his lips on hers meaning to keep this short, because he really didn't believe in public displays of affection. But as soon as they made contact that notion took a flying leap. She fit against him like his other half, and her lips were softer than he could have ever imagined. He sank into the kiss and forgot about everyone else.
Elizabeth had also wondered what kissing Jason would be like. Now she had her answer. Or she would have it if she was able to think about anything. One touch of his lips to hers had short circuited her brain. She probably couldn't tell you her name if you asked. Her hand was on his bicep and she couldn't resist giving it a squeeze. Damn! He was rock solid and when he wrapped his arms around her pulling her closer she barely managed not to moan. They would have to do this again, as soon as she could arrange it.
Sonny cleared his throat. Twice. When that didn't work he tapped his friend on the shoulder. It was going to get X-rated soon if they weren't stopped.
Jason reluctantly pulled his head back. "I'll see you later." His voice was gruff because he was strung tight.
"Yeah, later." Elizabeth said stepping back on unsteady legs and bumping into the bed. She licked her lips and his eyes darkened in color.
"You haven't gotten your engagement ring back yet?" Diane said looking at Elizabeth's hand.
"The stones were knocked out when she fell." Sonny said hoping Diane would mention what the ring looked like.
"What a shame. That emerald was beautiful." Diane said patting her daughter's hand.
"I'm going to get another ring tonight." Jason promised Diane. He figured he could shop with Francis who also needed a ring.
"That's not necessary. I haven't been wearing it much anyway because of work." Elizabeth didn't want this ruse to cost him money.
"Yes, it is." Diane said hushing her daughter.
There was a knock on the door and the orderlies came in to get Diane. "I'll go up with you." Francis didn't want her to be afraid.
"Wait here for me." Diane said to Elizabeth. "We can start nailing down wedding ideas tonight."
"Okay." Elizabeth said her eyes coming back to Jason's. She was all for pretending a little now, because that gave her a reason to kiss him. Hopefully often. "Sedate her." She said once the door shut. "I was around when my mother planned Sarah's wedding. It's painful."
"I was going to anyway. She needs to rest, and she won't do it on her own. She's going to challenge Jason for the worst patient of the year award." Patrick said laughing as he followed his patient out. He was headed upstairs to get a look at the scans. "I better get an invite to the wedding."
"What kind of ring should Georgie have?" Sonny wanted to know. "I'll call Eric and have him bring some over for you to look at." The jeweler would let them borrow whatever they needed.
"A ruby." Johnny said grinning. "I need to find her and bring her up to speed. We kinda threw Georgie into the deep end of the ocean, but she handled it well. We only have to pretend until Diane leaves. You, Jason had better brush up on your acting skills. Particularly the words I do." Johnny didn't think Jason was going to be too upset at his role.
"You and Francis take care of Diane." Sonny said getting serious as he looked at Jason. "We will handle Ric while you are gone."
"I can fly back to take care of that." Jason felt bad for Sonny. He was in a tough spot.
"We have it." Sonny promised Jason. He would have no problem living with his decision. "Come on we need to get everything set up for the trip. Call if there are any issues. Kurt will be on the door." The mob boss passed along before he and Jason left.
"Man I hope Francis tapes whatever happens on the island." Johnny said grinning before heading out to find Georgie.
"Look at that view." Diane said sighing in pleasure as she stood on the balcony of Sonny's island home. The one night in the hospital had been more than enough to leave her feeling caged in. "I don't know how he ever leaves here." She said smiling at Elizabeth who was out on the terrace with her.
"It is stunning." Elizabeth hadn't ever visited before. Jason had mentioned coming down on business, and to relax, but never how beautiful it was.
"Too bad it's out as a honeymoon destination. Jason won't want to come somewhere he works." Diane said with a small smile. "Have you two given that any thought?"
"Uh, no." Elizabeth had hoped to put off wedding talk for a while. "You should be resting." She told Diane. "Patrick wants you taking it easy."
"Believe me, your father is going to make sure I rest." Diane was already over the hovering. "Besides all I have to do today is sit in a chair."
"Today?" Elizabeth asked confused.
"Sweetheart, we need to get you a dress. It sets the entire tone of the wedding. I sent my friend Kate, the one from New York, a text and she recommended a few boutiques here on the island. Her assistant even set up appointments for us." Diane said smiling wider. "In fact we should probably get ready to head out. I need to let your dad know we are leaving."
Elizabeth followed Diane back inside. "I don't need to pick out a dress today." She said a bit desperately, trying to talk her way out of this shopping trip.
"I don't expect you to find something today. Although it would be nice. I figured we would spend most of this week looking at the offerings before making a final selection. Unless you absolutely fall in love with something this morning." Diane said walking through the living room. "This place is huge. Francis!" There was no telling where in the spacious mansion the guys were.
"Back here." He called from the game room. He and Jason were playing pool while the ladies lounged on the deck. They had arrived a couple of hours ago, they went right from the hospital to the plane.
"We need to head out." Diane said trying not to shake her head. She really should have guessed they would be playing pool.
"Where are you going?" Francis really liked how that new band looked on his girlfriend's finger. At some point they were going to get married, he just told himself to be patient.
"Wedding dress shopping." Diane said brightly figuring neither one of the men standing in front of her would want to go. She was of course correct.
"Milo will go with you." Jason said throwing the guard under the bus.
"That will work out well. Young Mr. Giambetti has incredible taste. His mother must be very proud." Diane had on more than one occasion noted his appreciation for tailoring. "How is it some young woman hasn't snatched him up?" Diane said trying to think of who would be a good fit with Milo.
"He's dating Sabrina." Elizabeth remarked even though she wasn't supposed to fill in any details. It was just that she didn't want Diane wrecking an already established relationship. So far everyone she had erroneous memories of was thankfully single.
"That's right." Diane said nodding. "Alexis set them up. I was surprised because she doesn't normally play cupid. They make a cute couple." Diane said giving her approval. "Although Sabrina really does need to get rid of those glasses. We will be back in a few hours."
"Hours?" Elizabeth asked surprised. While yes she and Diane did spend a fair amount of time at the boutiques back home, they didn't do it more than once a month. Two weeks ago during a break in the trial Diane suggested some retail therapy. Liz was still trying to recover from that outing. She also didn't have her special 'shopping with Diane shoes' here.
"The appointments are in four hour blocks." Diane told her daughter. "I know shopping isn't always your favorite thing, but this is a very important garment and we cannot rush this process. I did ask Kate to have them pull gowns."
Elizabeth gave her friend a pained smiled. Sarah had almost cried at one appointment during the search for gowns. Sarah never cried. Liz was going to shoot herself with Jason's gun if she had to try on dresses for four hours straight on more than one day. Or beg Milo to shoot her, his aim would be better. "Pull gowns?" That sounded ominous.
"Yes, Kate knows what is in at the moment. You couldn't have a better stylist." Diane said with a wide smile. "We'll have fun. This is one of those mother daughter moments I have waited your entire life for."
"Uh-huh." Elizabeth said thinking this would go better with Diane than her own mother. While Sarah had almost cried, Carolyn made four bridal consultants break down in tears searching for the perfect gown for her princess. "I guess we should go then." Liz said trying to sound enthusiastic.
"Yes we should. It would be tacky to be late." Diane said walking over and getting a kiss from Francis. "Behave while we are gone, I'm on leave."
"Okay." Francis said grinning. Poor Liz looked like she was about to face a firing squad.
Diane looked at Jason and then at Liz expectantly.
Jason put down his pool cue as Elizabeth came over. She went up on her toes and he bent down to meet her. Their lips had barely touched before he was pulling her the rest of the way into his body. If the kiss yesterday was good this was great. This kiss came with more contact as Elizabeth wrapped her arms around Jason's neck and their bodies touched down their entire lengths. It was the need to breath that forced them apart. Her eyes were hooded and he was almost panting. They still hadn't gotten any tongues involved and she was leaving him shaking.
"Young love." Diane said obviously happy. "Okay let's go." She commanded walking from the room.
"You should let me go." Elizabeth said wanting no such thing.
"Yeah." Jason nodded and forced his hands to move. "I'll see you later."
"Okay. Later." Elizabeth said backing up and when she hit the table she turned hurrying out of the room
Francis was grinning. Jason looked stunned. "You okay?" The older man asked.
"No." Jason said realizing he was in serious trouble, and that he didn't want a way out.
Elizabeth was quiet on the drive over. She was still thinking about that kiss. She liked kissing, but hadn't ever had the reaction to just her lips on someone else's that she got when the someone else was Jason. It was like holding a live wire. She felt his kisses on a cellular level. Sarah said the first time she kissed her now husband, then boyfriend, Nikolas she saw stars. Elizabeth had scoffed, now she knew better.
"Okay." Diane said pulling Elizabeth out of her daydream. "I'm going to try to not to turn into one of those mothers you see on television. So if I get pushy speak up."
"Sure." Elizabeth found that hilarious because they were only doing all this because of something Diane was insisting on. "I have no problem stating my opinion about dresses." Liz said as they walked into a sea of white gowns.
"Wow, it's really sparkly in here." Milo said looking around. For some reason he had the urge to flee.
"I don't do sequins." Elizabeth said hoping that she wasn't about to shoved into one white disco ball after the other. Sarah was a puffy, tulle, and bedazzled mess on her wedding day. Their mother had picked a gown right out of a fairy tale. Liz had urged her sister to elope.
"Sequins are fine in moderation. Placed on the right portion of the gown they can be very flattering." Diane stated her opinion. "You just don't want to overdo them. I've seen some brides that didn't abide by that motto, and you needed sunglasses to sit through their weddings. When you are showing this wedding album to my grandchildren I don't want them giggling at you."
"We are a long way from grandchildren." Elizabeth was only prepared to take this ruse so far. Although she just bet Jason made some beautiful babies.
Milo cleared his throat pretending not to laugh.
"Hello. Ms. Corelli?" The consultant came over.
"Yes, that's me." Elizabeth said, after Milo nudged her. She had some fluttering in her stomach. This wasn't real, but she could pretend a little. What would that hurt?
"Great, we are all set up for you in the back. If you'll follow me. You must be mom." She said leading them deeper into the store.
"It's like walking through a blizzard." Milo said looking around with wide eyes.
Elizabeth snickered but kept walking.
Diane heard Milo too but simply grinned. "Yes, I'm mom." She said to the consultant.
"I'm Venus." She said smiling.
"How apropos." Diane said thinking that was a good sign.
"This morning Ms. Howard called and spoke to my manager. She asked us to pull gowns for this consultation." Venus began explaining. "That, however, is against store policy. We try not to pressure our brides. We also try not to let anyone else pressure our brides. So if you like a dress and no one else does I will fight for you to get your choice." She told Liz.
"She's the bride, shouldn't she have the final say?" Milo asked looking between the three women.
"You're single, aren't you?" Venus asked laughing. "I don't have enough fingers and toes to count how many times I've sold a dress to a bride and she hated it. But her mother, father, grandmother, or whoever loved it. Tell me about your personal style." She requested of Elizabeth.
"Simple." Liz said trying to find the right words. "No frills or ruffles, or bows."
"Elizabeth has a very petite frame that carries the right garment to perfection." Diane said smiling fondly at her daughter. "But the wrong dress will swallow her up."
Venus nodded. "You are also petite in stature, so we want to keep that in consideration as well."
"You can say short, I won't be offended." Elizabeth said laughing.
"Strapless?" Venus asked her client.
"Yes." Diane said nodding.
"No." Elizabeth said shaking her head.
Milo just snorted. He wondered if he should be recording this.
"Elizabeth you have lovely shoulders. You should show them off." Diane said to her daughter.
"I always end up feeling like the gown will fall down." Elizabeth said stating her objection. "I'd feel better with straps, but I'm willing to try some strapless gowns." She said giving just a bit. It wouldn't hurt to model them for Diane, they were going to be here for four hours. In the end if she had to pick a dress, and she was going to try hard not to, then she was getting something she liked.
"What color?" Venus said going down her checklist.
"Ivory." Both women said at the same time.
"I don't look good in pure white." Elizabeth told the consultant.
"Just Ivory, or any off white?" Venus wanted to know.
"I'm willing to look at any shade of off white." Elizabeth was open to suggestions. "I'd even venture into the pastel pinks."
"Short?" Venus said looking at the two women.
"Yes." Diane had visions of a beach wedding.
"No." Elizabeth wasn't getting married in a mini dress. "I want a gown."
"Ball gown?" Venus asked Elizabeth.
"No. I'd prefer a straight gown." Elizabeth didn't want to be a ballerina on steroids.
"What about mermaid? Or a dropped waist gown?" Diane suggested. Both those silhouettes would look lovely on her daughter.
"I'd be willing to consider it." Elizabeth looked back at the consultant. "I need to be able to move in the dress. I don't want to feel like a mummy."
"Understood." Venus nodded. "Take a walk with me. Mom, you and…"
"Milo." He told her.
"Milo, get comfortable." Venus nodded and the receptionist came forward to offer coffee or tea. "Okay. It's just us now. I'll show you some gowns and if you say yes then I'll pull them. If not they stay on the display rack. We also have more gowns in the back so if you see a style you like but aren't finding the dress out here we can pull from storage. Ready?"
"I think so." Elizabeth said feeling like she was playing dress up.
"Okay. Let's hit it." Venus said pulling the first dress she thought Elizabeth might like.
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