A/N: So here's the deal. I tried writing the last chapter and it kept going on and on. I got about forty pages into it and had to give up for a while to get ready for my fall semester. I'm also working on my new novel so rather than have you guys wait a really long time for the end of this story, I'm breaking up the last interminable chapter into a few more. Hope you enjoy the last-minute complications for our adorable couple. See you soon. Oh, and don't forget to hook up with me on Twitter and FB if you dare. Just look for Lulu Astor. Also if you didn't get to read Ana's Choice when it was on FF, it is now free on all venues except Amazon since there's no way I can list it for free there. It's called My Heart to Fear and I'd love it if you'd read it (and leave a glowing review, too!)

To my "guest" reviewers: even though FF doesn't allow replies to guest reviews, please know that I read every single one and so very much appreciate what you all have to say. I wish I could reply directly to you but it's not possible with FF. Thanks for taking the time to review my story and for those who love it, you always make my day. LA

Chapter 46

We take the private elevator to his apartment and as soon as the doors close he's on me. He pushes me against the rear wall, the railing digging into my back. I'm wearing a tank top, short skirt, and panties. Nothing else, which makes life convenient for him. His hand goes up under my skirt, snatching the top of my panties and he yanks them down.

"Christian," I try for admonishment but it sounds more like complicity.

Securing my wrists in his strong hands, he sinks down to his knees, dips his head under my skirt, and starts driving me wild with his tongue and teeth. My legs start to violently tremble and I'm already moving toward orgasm when the elevator reaches the penthouse floor. He rises to his feet casually, as if he was doing nothing at all out of the ordinary, despite the fact that Taylor is waiting for him just to the left of the elevator in the entry hall. Did he see anything?

I duck my head down low and muttering a quick hello to Taylor, dash out of there and into the great room, wondering where my panties are at this minute. Does he still have them in his hand or are they on the floor of the elevator? Oh God, I hope they're not in the elevator where anyone might see them. Granted, it's Christian's private one but his staff uses it and I'm pretty sure they'll guess whose undies they are. I don't have to see myself to know my face is scarlet for I feel the heat. I hear Christian behind me speaking to Taylor about some issue with an international shipment GH was expecting.

Once in the great room, I perch on the gigantic couch and check my phone. There are two texts from Kate, one from Kent (no doubt checking up on me), a long maudlin missive from Hans, and one from my mom. Kate wants me to meet her for dinner tomorrow night. She's been swamped at work and tomorrow is her only free time to discuss the dresses for the maid of honor and bridesmaids, and Grace had contacted her for Mia about it. I text her back, telling her it's fine by me, to let me know when and where.

About five minutes later, Christian strides into the room decisively, approaches me and grabs my hand, pulling me up. Without a word he begins to lead me upstairs and into the master suite.

"Boy, are you sure of yourself," I gripe. "Not even a glass of wine or a few compliments first?"

He jerks on my hand and I fly into his arms. "I've needed this all day and the last five minutes dealing with yet another problem were torture. I'm long past due for my reward, baby." As he's talking his hands roam, touching me and removing my clothes; then he pushes me on the bed. I fall on my back and watch as he rips off his own.

"Are you going to finish what you started," I ask in a throaty voice.

"Baby, I always finish what I start. You should know that by now," he says with a smoldering look, and he pretty much leaps onto the bed to kiss me before working his way down my body, leaving a trail of wet kisses behind. The instant he starts licking me again, I shoot right back into high arousal. I grab a huge hank of his hair and twist it. I know it must hurt but I can't not do it: the pleasure is so intense it's nearly unbearable. While I'm reaching for my orgasm, it sneaks up on me and is over before I know it. "Damn," I practically yell.

He laughs. "Don't worry, Ana. You'll have another. One of the lucky things about being a woman." He kisses my thighs as he comes back up to kiss my lips.

His body runs very hot so when we're naked together he feels like a generator. His cock is especially hot and when he slides into me, the feeling is beyond exquisite. We don't have to use condoms anymore since we're monogamous and I'm on BC. I love really feeling him inside me, skin to skin.

I look up into his eyes: they're focused on what he's doing, but not yet clear of the cloudiness of his troubled thoughts. "Are you okay?" I tenderly run my fingers through his thick, lush hair. "You still seem unsettled."

"Like I said, it was an all-around shitty day." That's all he says until he ensures I have a better orgasm—I do—and then he begins to pound into me so hard I almost can't take it. The power he can unleash—in the bedroom and probably elsewhere—is almost unbelievable, and tonight I can feel every square inch of pressure. I hear myself moaning, partially in discomfort, and then he arches his back and slams into me one last time with a yell. He collapses on top of me and I bear all his weight gladly, stroking his back gently with my fingertips. Finally, he picks his head up and kisses me sweetly.

"Elliot's not doing all that well."

"No? I thought he was seeing another woman?"

He nods. "He's seeing several other women, but he's in a funk and he can't climb out of it so easily."

I frown. "Neither can Kate. If they're both so miserable they should just sit down and talk. Elliot might need to swallow his pride."

His eyes widen but don't betray what he's thinking. Finally, he nods, saying nothing.

"Are you hungry? I had a big dinner at Kent and Jared's but what about you?"

"I grabbed something at the office."

"Well, would you like me to make you a salad or maybe a soup and half sandwich?"

He looks at the clock. "No, it's nearly ten. I'll just go to bed and have a big breakfast in the morning. Are you ready to turn in?"

"I think I'll have a cup of tea and read for a little while first."

"Could you have your tea and book here in bed with me? I don't want to be without you tonight. At all."

He can say such sweet things to me that make me almost melt. "Of course I will. Would you like some tea?"

"No, I'm good. I'll wait for you to make it."

"Okay. I'll be right back, baby."

I time myself and it takes me nine minutes to get to the kitchen, make the tea, and get back to bed with my book. When I get back in bed, Christian is sound asleep, the poor thing. He had a hard day. I climb into bed and slip under the covers. I'm there just about long enough to warm the sheets when he moves unconsciously closer to me and swings his long arm around my hips, claiming me even in his sleep. I smile and open the book.

...

The next day Christian is no longer beside me in bed by the time I wake up. I go looking for him but Taylor finds me, informing me that Mr. Grey has left the house for the day. I look at the clock and it's barely seven-thirty. Not yet eight o'clock and he's up, showered, dressed, and gone. I hope he had breakfast as he promised. Damn, he works far too much. Shit, I have to remember to tell him I've having dinner with Kate.

I get into work by 9:30. The station's been busy this week as we're hosting an internationally known author, as well as a famed pediatrician who's promoting her new child-rearing book. Next week we're doing a history theme and we have several noted historians coming into the station to do shows throughout the week. I've been spending my days on the phone trying to book people and then making their travel and hotel arrangements for their visit to Seattle. As soon as I come in and set my coffee on my desk, Peter comes out of his office and saunters over to my office slash cubicle.

"Ana, good morning. Are you busy?"

"Not yet, I just arrived. What's up?"

Peter looks slightly discomfited. "I'm not sure how to proceed with this. I've been thinking about when you return from your honeymoon. Are you still interested in working here?"

"Of course I am… that is, if you still want me."

"Yes, yes, that's not an issue at all. It's just that you're marrying an extremely important man and I wondered if you really want to do this job anymore. Don't get me wrong: it's an important job to our little station… but that's just it. We're a small public station and we don't get much funding. It doesn't seem like a splashy enough job for the wife of Christian Grey."

"Oh. Well, I think I can decide for myself what I want or don't want to do. If you want me to come back after my honeymoon, I'll be more than happy to do so."

He looks relieved. "Well, then that's settled. Glad to keep you, Ana, as long as you want to stay. You're a definite asset to us."

"Well good." I sit there looking at him and he smiles and backs away, finally turning to go back into his office. Why was he so uncomfortable, I wonder?

I'm so busy today that I grab a quick salad and iced tea, and bring it back to eat at my desk. The next time I look up, it's 5:20. I'm supposed to meet Kate at Cristoff's at seven. I wanted to go home and change but I'm not finished what I'm doing so I figure I'll just work until 6:30 and go straight to the restaurant. I look down at my lap and brush off some crumbs from my last snack—a biscotti to die for. I dressed nicely enough today to go from day to evening, in a black skirt, high heels, and a tight yellow bustier-type shirt with three-quarter sleeves. Over it I wore a pale yellow sweater just tossed on my shoulders should it get chilly—and it always does in an office where the AC reigns supreme.

My phone rings just as I'm getting into a taxi to meet Kate at the restaurant. It's Christian. "Hey, what's up?"

"Where are you?"

"I'm headed to Cristoff's to—"

"Good," he interrupts. "I'll meet you there. I want to talk to you about something."

"Okay, but—" and the line goes dead. I sit there staring at the phone, like, what just happened?"

Ten minutes later the taxi pulls up in front of the eatery and I pay the driver while scanning the area, looking for either Christian or Kate. Neither. As soon as I'm inside I spot Kate sitting at a corner table. Two of the waiters are standing around her, undoubtedly flirting but Kate's not giving it right back as she usually would. I think the thing with Elliot has ruined her for flirting, more's the pity for every man under forty. I catch her eye, and she smiles and waves me over.

"Hey," I say, leaning down to kiss her.

"Hey, yourself."

I sit down across from her. "Listen, Christian just called me when I was in the cab. He's dropping by the restaurant because he has to tell me something. I just wanted to let you know."

"That's fine. I'm not boycotting Christian," she says, mustering a grin.

We're just about to order dinner when Christian warily approaches the table. He leans over to peck me on the check and then nods gravely at Kate. "Katherine."

Christian has been less than warm with Kate since the whole kissing debacle. I guess I understand his feelings but it makes things awkward for me. Kate's my best friend… besides, everyone is entitled to be forgiven for a mistake—and at least her mistake wasn't a huge one. Thing is, Elliot and maybe his brother don't see it that way. Kate can definitely feel the chill from him because her smile vanishes and her eyes drop back down to the menu.

"I didn't know you were having dinner with your friend. Perhaps I should leave?"

"No, stay, have dinner with us. Kate and I were just about to order." I look at Kate and she nods.

"Yes, Christian, please stay. We're just planning to discuss wedding details."

"All right," he says, looking at only me and pulls out his phone, sending a text to someone. The waiter arrives and I ask him to give us a few more minutes so Christian can look at the menu. As he peruses the restaurant's fare, Kate and I start talking.

"How many bridesmaids are there going to be, Ana?"

I count on my fingers as I enumerate, a habit I've never been able to break. "Two friends from back home in Ohio, Minx, Mia, and Jolene. Plus you as the maid of honor. So six total.

"All right, so we need five dresses, plus mine. I think we should do mine in either a different color or a different hue—that's if you're going to go with the trend of getting different dress styles dependent on body type. Are you?"

"I think so. I think I should let the women themselves choose them. You and I will send them Kent's designs and let them select which one they like. Don't you think?"

"Yes, I do. Kent will make everyone look stunning. He's an amazing designer."

"I know; I'm so lucky to have him for a friend and a designer."

"Well, trust me: this wedding will bring him lots and lots of business. He'll do well. So then… what will the colors be? It's October so we won't do pastels, right?"

"Ugh, then what? Purple or scarlet? I mean, what are the choices?"

"We can do gunmetal and pearl gray?"

"I guess. Maybe a purplish gray—that would be nice for the bridesmaids and then for you either more purple or more gray. Or maybe a totally different color? Maybe metallic silver?"

"Too flashy for a bridesmaid. Remember, you don't want anyone to upstage you, Ana. Your wedding, your limelight."

"So maybe—"

What interrupts me is the sudden curtain of tension that surrounds our table. I look up from my iPad at Kate and she's gone totally pale. I follow her eyes and there's Elliot, standing there awkwardly with a redheaded woman, and Christian is looking somewhat distressed. What the hell?

Christian clears his throat. "I guess you didn't get my text?"

Elliot shakes his head; his face is shiny with perspiration and he looks like he wants to puke. "No, my phone battery needs replacement. It keeps going dead."

He forces his eyes around the table. "Ana. Kate," he says stiffly nodding. "This is Trina Diaz. Trina, my brother Christian, his fiancée, Ana, and Ana's friend, Kate."

"Nice to meet you all."

Kate gets to her feet. "If you'll excuse me, I've got to go. Ana, I'll call you later and we'll try to do this over the phone. Now that we've decided on one color, it should be easy."

"No, Kate, don't go. We're not finished."

Elliot holds out his hand to stay her. "Trina and I are going to grab a table outside. The weather is nice. Christian, I'll be speaking with you soon. Count on it."

Christian shakes his head, scowling. No doubt, Elliot thinks Christian set up this little party.

After Elliot and his date walk away, Kate starts to lose it. I can see her lip quivering though she's trying with all she's got to control it. "Listen, I'm going, Ana. Like I said, we'll do this over the phone. Call me tonight and we'll get it nailed down."

"Kate, are you going to be able to do the wedding? I mean, you're both in the wedding party."

"I know, but how can I miss it?"

I look helplessly at Christian but he offers no encouragement. He's looking at Kate as if she's a cockroach and I'm getting upset with him. "Don't you have anything to contribute?"

"What would you like me to say, Ana? I'm not going to ask my own brother to miss my wedding. Perhaps if Ms. Kavanaugh could have learned to keep it in her pants, none of this would have happened."

My gasp is so loud that the passing waiter stops to see if I need anything. "Christian!"

He looks at me with hard, remorseless eyes: "Self-restraint, Ana. It's an important character trait."

Kate is now crying, full-fledged, and she pops up and rushes to leave the restaurant just as Elliot and Trina re-appear and start to make their way back to our table. Elliot's watching Kate leave, but before she can get to the door, the flirty waiters arrest her progress, trying to get her attention. They must see she's upset so they step aside and she just about flies out.

Poor Kate.

I turn back to Christian, giving him a filthy look just as his brother and Trina reach us. "Turns out there are no available tables on the patio."

Christian looks up and gestures with his hand, "Please join us."

Trina smiles but Elliot looks grim as he pulls out his date's chair and then seats himself.

I do not know what to do. The largest part of me wanted to go after Kate but I don't want to embarrass Christian in front of his brother and his date. I'll suffer through this dinner and then go back to my place to comfort Kate. We can do the dresses then if she's amenable. The waiter appears, scans the table and when he doesn't see the gorgeous blonde looks a tad disappointed. At least someone besides me misses her.

"May I take your orders now?" He looks toward Christian who is so clearly the head of the table. Annoyingly.

Christian orders the wine for the table and then allows us all to order our meals first, only afterward placing his own. After the waiter leaves, Elliot looks at me and manages a smile. "So how is the wedding planning coming along?"

"I almost got to decide on the bridal party's dresses tonight." I'm going for jokey but it comes out sounding resentful. I hear Christian make a disparaging sound of some sort and it makes me feel petty. Elliot looks a bit taken aback by my comment.

"Sorry, Ana. I didn't mean to intrude on your dinner."

"No, it's fine, Elliot. Someone didn't bother to check with me to see what my plans were." I quickly shift the conversation to avoid getting Christian even angrier because I could feel the tension bleeding from his pores and directed at me; I wisely keep my eyes away from his corner of the table. "So tell me, Trina, what do you do?"

Trina smiles, displaying overly large white, one might even say buck, teeth if one was feeling mean. "I'm a fitness trainer at Spectacle."

"Oh? Good for you. I need to be more disciplined about exercise."

"Oh you should come in to see me then. I'll put you on a flexible regimen designed for those who aren't religious about their training."

"She already has a personal trainer—one who waitlists clients for years—whom she essentially ignores. Isn't that right, Ana?"

I flush because it's true. Christian was kind enough to share Claude's time with me and I keep blowing him off. I truly need to stop doing that.

"Oh. Well, if it would make it easier for me to design a plan for you to do at home, Ana, I'll be happy to do that."

"Thank you, Trina. So is that how you and Elliot met?" I once again shift the topic because I'm desperate to get away from speaking of exercise. It's already a bone of contention between Christian and me. He wants me to be able to keep up with him—in all things. Fuck. I keep stepping in it tonight.

The food arrives quickly and it is superbly delicious but I can't enjoy it for worry over Kate. Besides, I remember only too well Kent's stern admonition not to gain weight. Granted, I haven't had my first fitting yet but I don't want to gain weight before my wedding, and unlike most brides, I'm going to be put in the spotlight, like it or not.

Christian is dining and maintaining a conversation with the others but his eyes remain mostly on me. I'm unsure if he's fuming with anger at me or worrying about my ire toward him. Frankly I don't much care either way; as soon as dinner is concluded, I'm out of here. I need to get to Kate.

While they finish ordering coffee, I rise to my feet. "Excuse me, please."

"Ana, wait. I'll come with you to the ladies room," says Trina, grabbing her purse.

What can I do but smile and wait for her? We go to the restroom together and while washing up she starts gushing about how lucky I am, how Christian is such an impressive man, blah, blah, blah. I know she's an innocent in all of this but I still want to kick her and then push her lipsticked face into the wall. She hurt my friend… her presence, unwitting or not, hurt my friend.

As we are walking back to the table, both men's backs are to us and I hear Elliot snipe, "I'm surprised she didn't take those waiters home with her. They were certainly interested."

I pull out my chair noisily and he looks up and I watch the red creep up from his neck into his face. It's actually quite fascinating. When he's done with the color show, I throw him the filthiest look I can manage without actually spitting at him.

"Thank you for dinner, Christian. I'm going to take a taxi home. I'll speak to you tomorrow." I nod at Elliot and tell Trina it was a pleasure to meet her. Even if it really wasn't. My eyes automatically track back toward Grey even though I don't want to look at him.

Alarm pinches his features. "You're not coming home with me?"

"No, I'm not."

"I came here to speak with you, Ana, and I haven't yet had the pleasure," he spits out the words, sarcastic emphasis on the final one.

"Well, Christian," I say, swinging my handbag strap over my shoulder, "I came here to have dinner with Kate and plan for our wedding dresses, which your mother insists we need to do ASAP but I haven't yet had that pleasure. Had I had the opportunity to continue on with my plans, I would be coming home with you now."

I spin around fast and take my leave, my long hair flying in my wake. I've got to get to Kate—my stomach's in knots over it. Just as I step out the front door of the establishment, he catches up with me.

"Ana, you're not staying over there tonight. I'll take you to the condo to speak to Kate, and then we'll go home."

"I don't think so. Not tonight."

I know I'm being stubborn, but right now my emotions are so mixed up, I don't even know who's in the wrong or right anymore. I realize Kate made a terrible mistake but she's been suffering for it disproportionately. Christian behaved like a dick tonight, a real cad, and I'm pissed at him for sinking to that level.

He grabs my shoulders and shakes me. "Ana, don't let Kate's problems cause fissures in our relationship. Please, baby, haven't we had enough of our own? Please come home with me tonight, Ana. I can't sleep when you're not with me."

I exhale forcefully through my nose, unwilling to let go of my anger. But when he says things like that, my heart squeezes for him so much that I always cave.

And he knows that, the manipulating bastard.

"Fine. I'll take a taxi to the condo and you can pick me up around midnight. All right?"

"Why do you have to take a taxi? I'll drive you."

"Then you'll wait for me outside and I'll feel pressured into rushing… and I refuse to rush. In addition to having to do wedding stuff, my friend is hurting and she needs me, Christian. I won't abandon her because she is in the wrong. What if it was Elliot who did the kissing? Would you throw him to the wolves?"

"No, of course not. But I might stop speaking to him for a while. I certainly wouldn't let him ruin my wedding."

"Kate is not ruining our wedding. Now help me find a taxi and I'll be ready by," I check my phone. It's now ten of nine, "midnight. If that's not too late to come get me, then I'll be waiting for you."

He pivots around on one foot and asks the valet to get him a taxi. In ten seconds a car appears and Christian opens the door and helps me in. "I'll see you at midnight."

I nod and give the driver the address and he zooms off.

I find Kate in her bedroom crying her eyes out. "Kate, I'm so sorry. I had no idea that would happen. I don't know what Christian was thinking…"

"It's all right, Ana. These things are going to happen, and I cannot fall apart when they do. I have to pull myself together."

I rub her back, thinking it over. She will be running into Elliot every now and then because of our affiliations; she should try to toughen herself up about it. "What do you think would make you feel better?"

"In the short-term or long?"

I smile. "Either or both."

"All right. In the short-term, an Absolut on ice with fresh lime juice and Cointreau. In the long-term, a gorgeous new boyfriend."

"With you Kate, neither is a problem to procure. I'll go make the drink. As for the boyfriend, those handsome waiters were hot for you and don't think Elliot didn't notice."

She bolts up to a sitting position. "Why, did he say something?"

I tilt my head from side to side. "I heard a comment. Now, no more talk of Elliot or anything Grey, for that matter. Except the gowns. Should we really go with the purplish gray?

"I think so, but I can't decide what color my dress should be. I really don't want purple or silver."

"How about charcoal?"

Frowning, she shakes her head. "Not crazy about the idea but let's list purple and charcoal as possibilities. Maybe a pinkish gray would work too?"

"Maybe. Or maybe the bridesmaids should have charcoal and you have the lighter color? All right, here's what I'll do. I'll present Kent with our ideas and ask him what he thinks and also get the sketches. He'll want to see photos of all my girls so I'll take yours now, even though he knows what you look like. I'll email the others and ask them to forward me current photos."

"Full body, don't forget."

"Right."

"Is anyone heavy?"

I knit my brows in consternation. "What do you mean?"

"In your bridal party. Is anyone overweight?"

"Oh. No. I haven't seen Erin and Juana in years but I doubt they got fat."

"Then there's Minx, Mia, and… who's the fifth one?"

"Joline. Hans's sister, remember?"

"Right. Well, so far everyone's relatively thin. Except for Erin and Juana since you haven't seen them in some time. Go ahead and text them to send you photos. C'mon, I want to see."

"All right," I concede finally. "What should I write? I need to be diplomatic because women are funny about their age and weight. I can't exactly say, 'Hi, can you send me a recent photo so I could see how fat you've gotten? I need to know if I have to pick out a certain kind of dress for you.' I mean, really."

Kate chuckles feebly. "So then forget it. You want to just blindly pick the styles based on what we like for them and hope it goes well?"

This argument went on for some time as we bandied ideas back and forth for dress designs. Though Kent is a brilliant designer, he is humble enough to try out my ideas if I ask. God, I love Kent. If not for Jared, I'd just marry him. Sex is overrated anyway. As soon as that notion flits through my brain, I see a mental picture of Christian naked and know I have to take it back. Then again, I could always keep Christian on the side for some nooky but Kent for a husband. Yeah, I like that idea.

Three vodkas and the majority of two pints of Haagen-Dazs later, we're pretty much talked out and Kate flips on the television. It's a little past eleven and the news is on.

"…some of the American companies that are hoping to export televisions or cars to Cuba, or build hotels there, still will encounter and have to attempt to unknot the tangle of roadblocks and sanctions that make up the U.S. trade embargo — a complex series of statutes and regulations that only Congress has the ability to eliminate.

In Seattle, Grey Holdings CEO Christian Grey had hoped to bring alternative energy options to Cuba in the near future but the situation is looking dismal.

And there's a clip of Christian with a mic in his face, his hair blowing in the wind and his suit perfect.

"It's going to be a long hard road for any U.S. firm hoping to invest in Cuba. At this point there is no trade yet possible. Grey Holdings still holds out hope that we can get in there before the country starts to rebuild and update infrastructure, so we can help to make it technologically ready for the upcoming centuries when fossil fuels will be a relic of the past. In a very real way, Cuba has the capacity to be ahead of the game since it is pretty much starting from scratch in terms of infrastructure. This is a golden opportunity for the country."

Hmm. Could that be why he was so down the other day? Perhaps he'd invested a lot of time and effort into the project only to see the sanctions still in place preventing him from doing it. Still, Christian is a savvy businessman—he must have known the situation before going into it. I doubt that was the problem.

True to his word, Christian picks me up at midnight on the dot. He doesn't come in so that he and Kate don't have to have any contact, which is far better than what happened tonight at Cristoff's.

"OK," I say once we're in the car and Taylor is driving us back to the penthouse, "what's so important that you had to ruin my night with Kate?"

He gives me a sidelong glance and I stick out my tongue at him. "What? Tell me."

"You know, Ana, I don't think this is the best time and place for this particular discussion now. We've had a rocky night and what we need to talk about may be a bit... off-putting. I'd prefer to table it for now."

"Uh-uh. After that build-up you need to spill it now. Otherwise I'll worry about it all damn night. What, Christian?"

"Just details about the guest list and your pre-wedding party. Really not all that important."

"It was so important earlier tonight..."

"Yes, that was before you planned on leaving me alone tonight."

I reach my hand over to cover his. "You're a big boy. You can sleep without me now and then. You know that, right?" I pull my hand back, remembering what he said about Kate tonight—right in front of her. "Plus, you so richly deserved to be alone tonight. You were very unkind... I'd even venture to say vicious."

He draws his lips into a tight line and I see the stress around his eyes. Watching his face, I'm trying to decide if he's going to retreat or come at me full force. I'm not sure which side of him will win in the moment.

Closing his eyes he takes a deep breath. "I prefer not to sleep alone, Ana, though I know I'm capable of it. I'm sorry I acted like an asshole with Kate, OK? Please don't make me grovel anymore. I've made more concessions to you than I've ever made with anyone else my entire life.

Slightly mollified, I decide to let it go. I don't really want to talk about the wedding anymore tonight anyway. Kate is doing better and I think Christian will think twice before saying anything mean to her again. Leaning my head back, I close my eyes, letting the smooth ride lull me into a semi-trance. I make a mental note to call Minx tomorrow and ask her to take Kate out and fix her up with a hunky Marine. That will cheer her up—I'm sure of it.

The next day I set it up with Minx and she promises to make sure Kate has a great time and meets some seriously hot men.

...

A week later I return to the condo to show Kent's sketches to Kate and what woman I've assigned to which dress based on my friends' dimensions. I need Kate's approval or veto, since she has a better design sense than I do. While I'm there, who shows up but Rudy Reardon, the wickedly handsome Marine from long ago.

"Hi. Rudy, right?"

"Ana? Wow. You and Kate know each other?"

Kate chirps in, "Ana's my best friend and roommate. I didn't know you two were friends."

Chuckling, I say, "Well, we only met on a few occasions but Rudy was kind enough to escort me to the hospital when I got injured in a stampeding group of drunken barflies." I laugh.

"I knew this address seemed familiar," he laughs in his sexy deep voice. Rudy is dressed in jeans and a gray t-shirt and all those muscles. He looks yummy enough to eat. I hope Kate is seeing him and I think that's the case. "Kate and I were just going over some wedding things but we're done now so I'll get out of your hair, Kate. You can move on to bigger and better."

"Who's getting married?" Rudy asks, eyes alight with curiosity.

"Me," I exclaim happily.

"You? You're so young to be marrying. Who's the lucky guy?"

I look at Kate and she scowls. "Christian Grey is the lucky guy. Ana, I need to speak with you for a quick moment. Rudy, will you excuse us?"

"Christian Grey, the businessman? The one who's always being interviewed on TV and in the news?"

"Yep, the same," Kate turns to throw the words over her shoulder as she tugs me out of the room.

"What?" I whisper hurriedly. "Don't leave the hottie by himself, Kate."

She blows some stray blonde strands of hair out of her face. "This will just take a second." Pulling me closer, she drops her voice to a whisper. "So last night I went out for drinks with Rudy. We went to that new bar—Rasputin's? You know, by the library? Anyway, we get a table and we're on our second round when who do you think walks in?"

My eyes pop open as wide as they can go. "Not Elliot?"

"Yes Elliot. With yet another woman—this time a platinum blonde. He strolls in as serene as still water and then his eyes catch mine, and, like, they lit up with electric shock at seeing me. Then he saw Rudy and his eyes started to ping-pong from me to Rudy, back to me, back to Ru—"

"Yeah, yeah, I know what ping pong means. Go on."

"All the while, his face was getting redder and redder. It was comical though I was in no mood to laugh. After the shock dissipated, his eyes practically ignited with fury.

"I mean, the absolute nerve. He's allowed to date other women but I have to stay home and cry over him? Fuck that. I've been doing just that but no more. And you know what? It was much easier this time around seeing him with another woman. I think I'm making progress."

"The fact that this time you were with another man couldn't have hurt, either. So… did he come over or anything?"

"No. Walked right by me and went to the back end of the bar. They had a drink and left quickly."

I stand there staring as I chew it over. I thought that perhaps these two would make it back together but now I'm thinking it's not going to happen… but it just might turn out all right anyway. If they both meet someone they like, my wedding may survive without becoming a battleground.

My reverie is interrupted by Kate snapping her fingers. "Earth to Ana, did you hear what I said? Let's get back to Rudy."

As we walk into the living room, Kate is again talking wedding. "You should go and see Kent and let me know if he agrees with me. Then let's go shoe shopping, yes?" She turns her head to look at me.

I nod and clap my hands happily. "Yay, shoe shopping. Yes, we should do it soon because I'm going to be—"

I'm interrupted by the loudest, rudest knuckle-rapping on the condo door. At first taken aback, Kate then storms over to answer it, pissed. "Who the fuck is that? Excuse my language, please."

"You're excused," Rudy and I say in unison and then both giggle. Kate's head swivels and she gives us a look as if we're nuts. She unlocks the door and moves to yank it open without even looking through the peephole.

"Kate, what if it's a homicidal maniac?" is all I get out before Elliot stalks into the room, anger blazing hot in his blue eyes. He quickly assesses the room, his eyes shifting away from me to settle on Rudy. Shit.

It is a homicidal maniac.

He points his finger at Kate. "I need to speak with you. Now. Privately."

I've got to hand it to the girl: she looks as cool as a cucumber, despite the fact that Elliot looks mad enough to bite her head off. She studies him carefully, I suppose considering his request, and then shakes her head slightly, as if questioning her own sanity. "Rudy, Ana, would you excuse me for just a moment?"

Rudy's turned into a Marine, all of a sudden. His posture is rigid and he looks like he's on high alert for any sign of trouble.

She leads the way out of the living room and down the hall to the bedrooms, and Elliot trails closely behind without another look in our direction. I'm both worried and curious, and I'm tempted to go eavesdrop outside the door but Rudy is here to bear witness to my crimes, so I can't. Unless he comes with?

"Is that her ex, I'm thinking?" Rudy asks with a rueful grin.

I wrinkle my nose and nod, feeling compassion for Rudy. He just can't catch a break. First he met me when I was reeling from my break-up with Christian, and now the same thing with Kate. He's going to start hating Minx.

"Oh well. I knew she was too good to be true. Kate's just my type, you know?"

"Don't lose hope yet, Rudy. I really don't think those two are going to reconcile. We'll see. Meantime, can I get you a drink?"

"Sure. I'll have a beer if you have any."

"Do we have any," I repeat chidingly. "We have Corona, Dos Equis, and Blue Moon. Take your pick." I open the fridge and check the contents. "Oh, and Sam Adams too."

Eyebrows arched, Rudy's impressed. "I didn't think women were big beer drinkers."

"These women are," I grin.

"Ah, girls of my dreams. I'll have a Blue Moon."

Uh-oh, Rudy's going to take losing his chance at Kate hard—if that's what is going to happen, which by no means is certain. I hand him a beer and grab one for myself. I'm thinking I should stay for a while.

About a half hour later Elliot strides out, curtly nods to me, and, avoiding looking at Rudy, makes a hasty exit.

Thirty seconds later Kate emerges, looking somber. I'm trying to figure out what went on but she's wearing a poker face.

"So what's going on with you tonight?"

"I'm going out with Rudy. Right, Rudy?" She looks at him and manages to smile."

"Right."

So now I have to go home without all the dirty details and I'm dying to know what transpired in that room. Did they reconcile? Did they do the nasty? They were in there for only twenty minutes or so but that's time enough to pledge undying love and have a quickie. I sigh as I grab my keys and the bag I packed earlier today. Dante looks so sad that I'm leaving that I decide to leave a note for Kate and take him with me. I wonder what Christian will say about a drooling dog in his perfect residence of priceless antiques and high-end furnishings? I'm about to find out. Dante jumps for joy when I pick up his leash so I can't change my mind.

"C'mon, boy. We're going for an adventure. Have you ever ridden in an elevator before?"