Christian and Anna have known each other all their lives. They grew up together, if you saw one you saw the other. They were like two peas in a pod. Always getting into trouble with each other over bets yes bets. Everyone knew they were meant to be together. Let's read and see what happens. Totally OOC. No Cheating Ever. Just some fun watching them grow from children to adults.
Thank you all for the prayers and the well wishes. I appreciate them and you all so very much. I am doing a little better just taking it one day at a time.
Thank you for the wonderful reviews. I appreciate all of them. They have helped in my healing just being able to open my emails and see that you are still reading my story even though they are not every week. I am trying to catch up. Love you all dear friends.
Hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving with family and friends.
Chapter 20 recap
I thought that I would do a little recap of their first was just fun in the sun. Riding rides, a tour through a haunted house with ghosts and goblins wanting to ride with you, river adventures and acting like carefree young adults. Enjoying what life has to offer.
Going out on the town dining and dancing, cooking at home, having more outdoor cookouts by an open fire. Telling stories of everyone's lives. Singing songs and playing games.
Annie and Christian talked with their employees about their job offers and everyone accepted their new job and signed their acceptance letters online.
They all talked to their parents and grandparents. They found out that the grandparents decided to stay a week in Paris with their parents, then they all decided to go to Madrid and spend the next week. They traveled to Barcelona, Morocco and Casablanca. Did a lot of sightseeing and bought gifts to bring back home for family and friends.
They decided to go home a few days early. They called the kids and told them to enjoy their time, That they were leaving early and would see them at home when they got back from Orlando.
Now onto the last week at Disney World
Chapter 21 Time Jump Last 2 days
"Good morning my lovely wife, how did you sleep?" He asked her cuddling up to her and holding her tight.
"Umm and a good morning to you as well my gorgeous husband. I slept like a baby after you finally let me go to sleep. You were insatiable last night. What got into you my love? Now I am not complaining no siree. Just wondering is all and I love every minute of our wild lovemaking." She asked and told him as she kissed his chest and laid her head down on it. Nuzzling into him.
"I just wanted to show you how deeply in love with you I am. I wanted you to feel the love all through your body and soul. I love you so much Anastasia Rose Grey. There is not one day that goes by that I don't sit and think about you, about us about our lives. What we have and what I could have lost. Annie Rose you are my world without you in it I could not make it through the day." He told her lifting her chin up to look into her ocean blue eyes that mesmerizes him everytime he looks at them.
"Oh my Boo I am not going anywhere. That was so sweet and meaningful. I love you my darlin and I always will. I think about you every day, every hour. I sit and wonder how in the world a handsome man as yourself could have any woman in this world yet he chose me and I am the happiest girl on earth because he did. I love you with my whole heart and soul. You are the part that keeps my heart beating." She tells him leaning up kissing his eyes, his nose and his mouth.
They kiss until they have to come up for air.
"You know my Rose there never has been another woman in my life but you and there never will be. We are meant to be together for all our life and eternity. We are two peas in a pod of love. My beautiful Rose and that will never change. You my love I could say the same about you choosing me. Our love is strong and it gets stronger every minute, every hour, every day." He tells her kissing her sweet lips over and over.
"Yes my darlin Christian I know and I love you from the depths of my soul. You are my life, my love, my everything." She tells him kissing him after every word.
"Come on love, let's shower. This is our last week and we have two days left and there are some places I would like to visit, not in the parks but around Orlando." She tells him grabbing his hand and pulling him out of bed.
They take a quick clean shower and dress and get ready for their day. Annie cooks breakfast while Christian makes coffee.
"Are we eating alone this morning?" He asked because he didn't see anyone.
"Yes my love we are. Everyone is eating in their rooms or going out to eat. I thought we would eat in just us. I miss just us being at home and doing whatever we want to do. Heckfire if I wanted to walk around butt naked I could." She tells him laughing.
He looks at her, imagining her without clothes on right now.
"Come here my love." He tells her with a glint in his eyes and that smile that is just for her.
"No, no, no Boo we don't have time for lovin right now. I am not taking my clothes off. We would never get out of here if I did." She tells him blowing him a kiss.
" There is always time for lovin and I will be more than happy to take your clothes off for 're no fun this morning love but I will have you butt naked as you said later tonight." He tells her.
"Alright tonight I am all yours my husband." She tells him but stays away from him.
"Come and set the table please." She tells him.
He walks into the kitchen and makes his way over to the cabinets but grabs Annie and throws her over his shoulder.
She screams for him to put her down and laughs.
"The stove and oven are on Boo." She tells him trying to wiggle her way down.
"I'll take care of that. You be still." He tells her and smacks her ass.
"Did you just smack my butt?" She asked him, acting like she was offended but laughing.
"Yes I did and I'll do it again if you don't be still young lady." He tells her laughing along with her now.
Just as they were going to the bedroom there was a loud knock on the door.
"Ignore it, that's Elliot. Damn he is early this morning. I bet he is wanting breakfast. Be quiet and they will go away." He tells her walking further down the hall.
The pounding on the door gets louder.
"Bro I know y'all are in there. Security says you haven't left the room." Elliot yells from outside.
"Dammit I am going to murder that idiot one day." Christian says as he walks to the door.
"Put me down Boo before you open that door. I need to finish breakfast," She tells him, popping his butt.
"No and I want to finish what I tried to start." He tells her pouting.
"I love your pout and I know you are pouting my love. Now put me down this instant." She tells him
He starts to.
"Elliot what do you want this early in the morning bro?" He says as he opens the door just a little bit.
"What hey wait a minute do you have Annie on your shoulder bro?" He says trying to look through the opening in the door. All he sees is long brown hair falling down past Christian's side.
"Yes he does Elliot. Tell him to put me down." She tells him.
If Annie could see the smile on El's face she would smack him upside his head. He is grinning like a lunatic.
He looks at Christian and smiles and backs away from the door.
"Elliot, tell your brother to put me down. El, Elliot say something. Dammit what are you doing? Talk to me dadburnit." She is getting aggravated and trying to get off Christian's shoulder. Twisting and turning her knee is aiming where it shouldn't be.
"Be still Annie Rose before I drop you." He tells her smacking her ass again a little harder.
"Christian Grey if you don't put me down this minute you will not be getting anywhere near me while we are still here. We have two more days and two days without lovin. Think you can handle it, my love?" She asked him while she was wiggling her way down. Since he loosen his hold on her she was able to get away when she basically told him no sex until they got home.
"Annie Rose, my Rose you can not do that to me. You know how much I love making love to you and staying inside my heaven inside of you as we fall asleep all cuddled up together." He tells her pleadingly as he slides her down his body.
"Yes my darlin I know you do and if you want me tonight and tomorrow morning and tomorrow night and then the next morning before we leave for the airport you will behave yourself won't you my darlin husband?" She tells him kissing his lips softly and sliding out of his arms.
"You do not play fair. You draw a hard bargain my love. I will behave for now. I love you my Rose and I just want you all the time." He tells her walking into the kitchen with her.
"I know Boo and I want you all the time too and soon we will have all the time in the world to be just us. No family, just us and security. But they won't interrupt like my brother-in-law loves to do." She tells him turning the stove back on so she can finish cooking breakfast.
He walks over and kisses her neck and reaches above her head to get the plates while she is beating the eggs.
"You know my love, I can't wait for us to go away and bask in the sun. Do you know where you want to go, precious girl?" He asked her as he sat the plates on the counter.
She turns and looks at him smiling. "Yes, I would love to go to The Maldives. The water glows bright blue and I would love to make love to my husband on the beach there at night. What do you think my darlin '?" She asked him.
"My love, I think that can be arranged. We will talk to Jason and Gail first. I don't see any reason why we couldn't go for a week or so. My Rose plan more places you would like for us to visit and I will plan some too. Then we can see if any of them match up. This is going to be fun." He tells her.
"You are the bestest husband. I love you so much." She tells him getting on her tiptoes and kissing him hard enough to knock his socks off if he was wearing any.
She gives him another quick smooch on the lips and then she turns back to her eggs smiling.
He takes the plates and sets the table for them.
"Anything I can you with love?" He asked her.
"Yes please take the fruit platter out of the fridge and set it on the table. Breakfast will be ready in a few minutes." She tells him.
He walks to the fridge opens it and takes out the fruit platter she was talking about,
He raises the top and smells the aroma of different fruits.
"My goodness Annie Rose, where did you get all these fruits from? They smell fresh and… he takes a bite of a strawberry..they are so sweet. The strawberries are sweet and juicy. I know what I would love to do with them." He tells her, his eyebrows dancing up and down.
"Yeah well that will…that will have to wait until later. Breakfast is done. You're too slow. Sit down and start eating. I'll get the coffee." She tells him clearing her throat just thinking about what he has said. 'Mercy he is good.'
He sits there smiling. 'Got her.'
They ate breakfast and talked about a few places they would like to visit.
"You know love this is nice, just us. No one to bother us. Not security or family." He tells her holding her hand.
"Yes it is Boo and why do I think you are thinking about something?" She asks him, looking at him with her head leaning to the side.
"You know me so well Annie. I am just thinking nothing serious. I will let you know later. Right now it is just a thought." He tells her.
"Well okay but for some reason again and I think I know what is going on in that head of yours. We will discuss it later after we are at home." She tells him.
"What are we doing today Annie?" He asks her pulling her chair out and holding out his hand for her to take so she can stand up.
"Well I would like to go to Boggy Creek Airboat Adventures." She tells him holding her phone out to him so he can see what she is talking about.
"Oh cool and airboat ride. They have airboats that can carry up to seventeen people at a time. I think I would like one that carries less. Seems like it would be crowded, doesn't it? They have smaller airboats seating six, eight, ten people and so on." He tells her reading the information.
"Hey, they have a forty-five minute and sixty minute tour ride but we have to take the sixty minute tour ride. Maybe a few times to see everything or have them extend the ride out further. Looks like fun." She tells him.
"Where is this at?" he asks her.
"It's on Lake Tohopekaliga and thirty four miles from here." She tells him reading the directions.
"Let me call Jason and the guys to come over here. Yes, I better have him bring Gail too. Never live it down if she isn't with you. I can't believe they are not staying with us." He tells her.
"Oh hush now you know she would if I wanted her too. She is fine being next door." She tells him laughing.
"Yeah I know I am just messing with you sugar. That woman loves you so much and she would do anything for you." He tells her.
She smiles and nods her head.
"Jason, will you and Gail and the guys come over here please." He tells him.
"Sure we will be right over. Who all do you want over there?" He asked him.
"Just y'all, Luke and Ryan for now." He replies.
"Alright see you soon." He tells him.
There is a knock on the door.
Christian opens the door and everyone walks in.
"Good morning y'all. Hope you all had a good night. Have you had breakfast and would you like something to drink? I made a fresh pot of coffee if anyone would like a cup." Annie tells them.
"Good morning to you both. Slept like a baby all night." Gail tells her.
The men say they had a good night and good morning.
"I'll take a cup of that coffee Annie. It smells so good." Luke says.
"The cups are right there on the counter y'all help yourselves guys." She tells them.
"Now what's up?" Jason asked them.
"Annie Rose wants to go to Lake Tohopekaliga. It's only thirty-four miles from here. She wants us to go ride in an airboat through the Everglades. What do you all think? It is a sixty minute ride but we might make it two hours so we can see everything if they can accommodate us." He tells them.
"They can, when I gave the secretary my name she put me through to the manager and I talked to him and he said he would be happy to take us out. He is closing the front gate after we arrive. He has his own security in place and no one will bother us. I placed the call while you were..uhm.. getting dressed." She tells him.
"Now why didn't I figure that one out already. You knew I wouldn't say no didn't you Annie Rose?" He asked her as he was walking over to her.
"Of course I did. You like to get out of your comfort zone as much as I do. I just want to do all things with you my Boo, my darlin." She tells him leaning up on her tippy toes and kissing his cheek.
"Oh my goodness we can see some gators. I mean alligators." Gail says laughing.
"Gators really Gail you want to see some real live big, big gators? Well they have some big, big ones in the Everglades. Just be careful and watch out for them as they like to climb and slither in boats as they are sitting still or moving slow. Some are so big that they can turn a boat might even grab your foot and try to pull you in the murky waters. So don't let them grab your foot." He tells her looking dead serious.
"Oh my lawd you and Ryan will be riding with me that's for sure. So if they try to slither or climb in the boat they will get you before they get me." She tells him looking them in the eyes.
"Oh come on now guys, they don't climb or slither into the airboats cause the airboats are going forty-five miles an hour." Annie tells them.
They look at her and Gail. "Well they could if a wave came up and threw them in the boat." Ryan says then starts to laugh.
"What about them turning the boat over? There are some huge gators out there in them swamps , I mean Everglades." He tells them
"Okay then you two sound like you are scared of gators. So now you two can stay and cook supper tonight." Annie tells them.
"Annie I.."
She doesn't let him finish. "Don't start that sentence. There are steaks, pork chops and all kinds of meats in the freezer. Go and take something out for supper you two. Y'all think y'all are smart cookies." She says laughing at them.
They stand there looking at her like she has two heads.
"I'm serious now get. I'll do the sides just tell me what y'all are fixin." She tells them.
They look at Christian.
"Oh no don't get me in this. She has spoken. I have told you all not to mess with her." He tells them laughing.
Now they look at Jason and he has his hand covering his mouth so they can't see him smiling.
There is a knock at the door.
"Wanna bet on who it is Annie?" Christian asked her.
"No, because we know who it is." She tells him.
She opens the door.
"Well hello Annie I figured Christian would open the door." He tells her.
"Now why would you figure that?" She asked him.
"Well..well you know from earlier." He tells her.
"Oh I see"..she says looking at her watch. "That was two hours ago and you thought he would be up and raring to go and I would still be in bed right? Well I hate to break it to you but I wore him out and he is sleeping like a baby." She tells him with a straight face not letting him in the door.
He can't see anyone but her. He has his mouth wide open staring at her. Then he smiles.
"You go sis no wonder he looks tired all the time." He tells her.
She just smiles and looks at him.
"Well are you going to invite us in? We are starving and I know you have cooked breakfast." He says looking at her and trying to get her to move so he can open the door.
She looks at him and keeps a hold on the door. " Now what makes you think I have had time to cook for me and my husband this morning? I remember asking you to tell him to put me down. You just walked off and didn't help so I decided to give in and take matters into my own hands and took care of my darlin husband like he wanted to take care of me and now I guess he will sleep most of the day." She says not batting an eye or changing her facial expression.
Elliot just stands there with his mouth opening and closing like a fish on dry land needing water.
"Close your mouth love you look ridiculous." Carol says.
Elliot looks at both women. "Did you hear what she just said?" He asked Carol.
"Yes I did." She told him while looking around him and Annie smiling. She sees what he doesn't.
"Come on y'all have some coffee there are some biscuits and sausage gravy left. I knew you would be hungry El." She tells him opening the door for them to come in.
They walk in and all they hear is laughing and Christian rolling around on the couch.
"Hey, what is so funny?" He asked them.
"Bro she got you good. She got you so good you believed every word she said." He told him as he was trying to stop laughing.
"Annie Rose..you said he was still in bed." He says looking at her and she is laughing now.
"Bro I have been here the whole time she was talking to you. Ask everybody they will tell you the same thing. That is if they can stop laughing long enough." He tells him still snickering.
No one could answer, they all were still laughing at the look on Elliot's face. They all just nodded their heads.
"Annie Rose Grey I will get you back for this one day young lady. Mark my words, you hear me? This is war." he tells her with a smirk on his lips.
"Elliot, are you crazy? Are we in high school? Even attempting to call war on her" He says.
"Oh hell forget it. Your wife drives me crazy, yes she does. She makes everything she says so believable the way she says it. Just like she did when we were all younger." He tells him.
"Yeah she could spin some yarns couldn't she?" Christian says, looking at his wife.
"Yes and you both better believe it. So watch it." She tells them as she walks over and sits on Boo's lap.
"What are the plans for today?" Elliot asked them.
"Well Annie Rose wants to go to Boggy Creek and ride in airboats through the everglades. Y'all up for that?" He asked them.
"Not really don't care for gators and them suckers are huge. I've heard they can grab you out of your boat and you're gone never to be seen again. They say that they eat you in one swallow." Elliot says acting like he is shaking all over.
"Oh well if you all don't want to go what are you going to do?" Annie Rose asked them
"We are going sightseeing in Orlando and shopping. Mom and the grands gave us the idea to do some shopping. There are other places to visit. Some are an hour or so from here. We have plenty of security so we thought it would be alright if we did some things without you all." He tells them.
"Yes we have plenty of security and we don't mind you both going off on your own providing you take security with you. I plan on doing something tonight with Annie Rose." Christian tells them.
"Jason, who can we take with us? There is only me and Carol so we won't need a lot will we?" He asked him.
"No, because Annie and Christian won't be with you. So there won't be a lot of extra people around you two. It'll be friends out sightseeing." He tells them.
"When do you all want to leave?" Jason asked them.
"Probably within the hour if that will work for security." He tells Jason.
"Should be fine. Excuse me, let me make a call and bring them all over here. I need to tell them our plans as well." Jason says.
Jason makes his phone call and everyone comes over.
"What's up boss?" Dusty asks, looking around at everyone.
"We are planning a trip to Boggy Creek Airboat tours. It's basically thirty-four minutes from here but with traffic out of here I would say a good hour to get there. There will only be Christian and Annie. Elliot and Carol want to stay around here and go sightseeing and shopping. Maybe take an hour or two to drive somewhere." He tells them.
"Any idea where y'all want to go Elliot? Dusty asked them.
"We were thinking about taking a ride up to Daytona Beach. It's an hour from here if that's alright with you guys?" He asks them.
"The beach are you crazy? Yes we are in Florida and it is still considered July the fourth week and people are probably out in droves on the beach." She tells them.
"We're not going swimming, we just want to look around and see the Daytona Speedway and walk on the beach." He tells her.
"Oh okay, I just don't want either of you getting swarmed by a bunch of people if they were to recognize you." She tells them.
Dusty clears his throat.
"Sure, that's fine with me. I always wanted to go to Dayton and see the racetrack there. Now is my chance." He tells them.
"Okay now we only need one more man and two women to go with Elliot and Carol." He tells them.
"I'll go." Hailey says.
"Count me in, I'll be glad to go." Eve tells him.
"Boss I'll go." Carter tells him.
"Okay we have got that covered thank you all. Elliot wants to leave within an hour. Can you all make that happen?" Jason asked them.
"Yes sir. Now will Elliot be driving and us following?" He asked.
"Oh no we want to sit in the back and sightsee." He tells them.
"Okay well then we need a car behind you all. Dusty you and Eve follow them. Carter, you and Hailey ride with Elliot and Carol." He tells them.
"Yes sir." They reply.
"We will be ready in about an hour guys." Elliot tells them as they walk out of the house.
"That's fine, just text me when you are ready to go El." He tells him.
"Okay that is settled. Let's get on to the airboat tour rides." Jason tells them.
"Phil, you and Roger will stay with the cars." He tells them.
"Yes sir." They say.
"Dottie and Mary, you will ride with Josh and Kevin in the airboat up front. Justin, Adam. Tracey and Barry will ride in the airboat behind our boat. Is that clear?" Jason asked everyone.
"Yes sir, loud and clear." They all say.
"Now is there anyone else that would like to go for a ride with us?" Jason asked them.
"If it's alright with you sir the rest of us are going to stay here unless you need us." Tony tells him.
"No, that's alright we have enough security with us." Jason tells him.
"Luke you and Ryan come on boys you are riding with us." Annie tells them.
"You said we had to cook tonight." Ryan tells her.
"Yeah well I'm over my little spell y'all are with us. Besides, Boo is taking me out tonight. You all have to fend for yourselves. So you better take something out to cook on the grill or stove for later. So it will be thawed out by the time we get back for you all to eat. Hurry up, we leave in twenty minutes. Hustle, hustle boys." She tells them laughing as she walks out of the room.
"Come on Luke let's go. Move dummy move." He tells him.
They hurry and stumble over each other as they leave before she changes her mind again.
Everyone is laughing as they run out the door.
"My Rose, why do you like to do that to them? One day and mark my words those boys as you call them are going to get you back. Just wait and see." Christian tells her.
She looks at him and rolls her eyes. "Oh come on Boo it was fun and they both know I can't stay mad at them for long. But what really saved them was you telling Elliot that you were taking me out tonight." She tells him.
"They have been with us long enough to know when I am serious and when I am playing with them. They are like big brothers and they know that." She tells them.
"Yeah well we will see, we will see my Rose." He tells her pulling her down on his lap.
"Alright now let's all get ready for this adventure. We will meet you two outside in thirty minutes." Jason says, looking at Annie.
"Yeah I know you said twenty but we will give everyone thirty." He tells her.
"Fine with me boss. I follow orders." She tells him and sees the look on Christian's face.
"Not one word or peep out of you mister." She tells him pecking him on the lips and walking away.
He looks at her and shrugs his shoulders. "Did I say anything y'all?" He asked them.
They didn't say anything, just shook their heads and hightailed it out the door with everyone but Jason and Gail.
"Now that everyone is gone we would like to mention to y'all that after we get home and have everything settled with the new staff placements within a month. I don't think it will take longer than a month if that long. Everyone knows the jobs they are taking. Probably the following month we want to take some trips. Just us and the least amount of security we can have." He tells them.
Jason looks at him and smiles. "I told Gail that you both would like to travel after everything was settled at G & S." He tells them.
"I have a question: are y'all going to change the name from G & S to G & G or what?" Gail asked them.
"Come to think of it, we have talked about it and we are leaving it like it is. We started it like that and that is where it all began. So no, no name change." Annie tells them.
"Okay well we all have been wondering why it was still the same name." She tells them.
"Everyone that knows us knows that we are married now and started the company together. So why change a good thing?" She asked them.
"I agree with you Annie. Now where do you want to go? What is the next adventure?" Gail asked, sounding like a school girl so excited.
"We want to go to The Maldives first and see the gorgeous breathtaking water that lights up and glows at night." She tells Gail as she is excited now holding Gail's hands in hers.
"Oh I have always wanted to go there and see that." Gail tells them.
"Well now my dearest friend you have the chance to go." She tells her hugging her.
"Don't we Jason?" She asked him.
"Yes Annie anywhere you want to go. I just need to know ahead of time hun." He tells her.
"Sounds good so we will make a list of places we would like to travel to and give them to you after we decide." Christian tells Jason.
"Yes and I will put an itinerary together and show you both the best way to travel. Now are we ready to go?" Jason asked them, looking at his watch.
"Yes, let me grab my bag with my camera in it. I want to take some pictures." She tells them walking to the bedroom.
"Alright let the adventure begin." She tells them grabbing Christian's arm and dragging him out the door.
They all get in the car with the others in their.
Luke is driving with Ryan in the passenger seat. Annie, Christian, Gail and Jason are in the two back seats.
Security is in front and behind them.
They arrive at Boggy Creek Airboat tours.
"Wow, are they open? There are no cars or any kind of vehicles here. I thought this place would be hopping." Gail tells them.
"I guess he decided to close before we got here." Annie tells her.
"Annie, what is the manager's name?" Jason asked her.
"Mr. Nicholas O'Brian." She tells him.
She looks at Jason and his eyebrows are raised into his hair and he is smiling.
"What's with the eyebrow thing and smiling like you won the lottery?" She asked him.
"Well if memory serves me correctly I was in the Marines with him. He went into a house that was burning and Nick pulled another Marine out. He got shot in the back and was burned himself and they awarded him the purple heart. He went home two weeks before I retired." He tells all of them.
"Jason is this Nick? The one you haven't seen since you retired from the Marines?" Gail asked him.
"Yes my love it is if he is the one I am thinking of. I don't know for sure until I see him." He tells Gail and everyone else.
"Oh my goodness honey let's go and see if it is your buddy." She tells him.
"Gail, you don't know him?" Annie asked her.
"No sweetie, I never met him. He was always on a mission and the one time I was going to meet him he got a call from home and had to leave for an emergency. Then the last time was when they were in combat and he got hurt and was sent home. Something just kept coming up and we never got to meet." She tells Annie sadly.
"Oh my goodness well now you finally get to." Annie tells her, hugging her.
"Come on everyone, you all know the drill." He tells all of them.
They all walk up to the gate.
"Sir we are the Grey party and have a reservation for a two hour tour." He tells the man at the gate.
The man looks at his list. "Yes sir, right this way all of you. My name is Jerry and I will take you all to the airboats." He tells them walking ahead of them.
"Sir, are there really big alligators out there where we are going?" Gail asked him.
"Yes ma'am there are big and small ones." He tells her.
"Excuse me young man but is Mr. O'Brian here?" Jason asked him.
"Yes sir he is and I am taking you all down to him. He likes to go out every now and then for a ride." He tells them, smiling.
"Sir, are you smiling? Do you know my boss?" He asked Jason.
"I think I do but I will know for sure when I see him." He tells the young man.
"Well we will be there in a few minutes. He is in his office." He tells them.
Jerry knocks on the door.
"Come in." The person behind the door replies.
Jerry opens the door and Jason walks in first.
Jason and Nick look at each other.
"As I live and breathe Jason Taylor is in my office. Jason that is you right?" He says as he struggles to get up out of his chair.
Jason wants to help him but he knows that Nick would feel uncomfortable with his help.
"Yes Nick it is me. Man, it is great to see you. It has been a long time brother." Jason tells him walking over to him to shake his hand.
"Now, now none of that hand shaking. It's been way to long , my brother, my friend." He grabs Jason and hugs him then hits him on his back. Man hugs.
"My lord Nick how have you been and how long have you been down here? I thought you were going back home to Minnesota." He tells him.
"Well I did and my wife and I decided to move down here after my therapy. My doctor suggested a warmer climate for me. We love it down here and I decided to open this place." He tells him.
"That is awesome my friend." Jason tells him.
"Let me introduce you to my bosses first. This is Christian and Anastasia Grey. This lovely lady is Gail Jones and she is my girlfriend." He tells him.
"Very nice to meet you all. Yes I spoke with Mrs. Grey on the phone and she was very nice asking me for a two hour tour. So I decided to close for the afternoon." He tells them.
"Wait a minute you said Gail Jones as in the Gail Jones that was your lady in the Marines?" He asks him.
"Yes Nick one and the same." He replies.
"Well I'll be fancy meeting you down here of all places Ms. Jones. I remember all the times we were all supposed to get together but it never happened. Well my dear it is very nice to meet you finally. I remember all the wonderful things Jason told me about you." He tells her.
"Very nice to finally meet you as well and please call me Gail." She tells him.
"Jason, did you say these two young people are your bosses?" He asked him.
"Yes Nick I did. All of us standing here are their security. I am the head of security. Gail is Annie's CPO. I am Christian's CPO and all these men and women are their security." He tells them.
"Wait, wait a minute. This is Anastasia Steele right?" He asked Jason.
"Yes." He waits for him to say more.
"Oh damn my lovely lady you were the one in the bombing at your business correct?" He asked her walking over to her and holding her hands.
"Yes sir I was and Gail was with me also." She tells him.
"Yes, yes I remember now she was. But you were hurt very badly right?" He asked her.
"Yes sir I was but I am all better now." She tells him.
"You know Christian. If I may call you Christian?" He asked him.
"Yes sir, that is fine." He tells him.
"You know Christian I was thinking about coming up there to Tennessee and taking a ride in your helicopters. I was interested in buying one from you." He tells him.
"Well we will be going home in a few days. Feel free to stop in anytime. Annie and I will be glad to show you around." He tells him and pulls a card out of his wallet and gives it to him.
"Thank you, I will do that." He says looking at the card.
"What does G & S represent ?" He asked him.
"Those letters are for Grey and Steele. When we started the company that was the name we wanted and now we have decided to leave it as it is." He tells him proudly.
"Very good choice young man." He tells him.
"Thank you sir." He replies.
"Alright now who wants to go and see some monster alligators? Just kidding but there are some big ones in the Everglades." He tells them all.
"Let's go y'all I am ready to see me some gators." Annie tells them pulling Christian and Gail along with her.
"Slow down love, we ain't in a hurry. We have all day." Christian tells her.
They get down to the airboats first and have to wait on everyone else.
"Are you in a hurry young lady?" Nick asked her.
"Well no and yes I want to see what all is out there and take pictures if I may." She tells him.
"There is a lot to see and of course you all can take pictures." He tells them.
"Now who is riding with who?" He asked Jason.
"Justin, Adam, Barry and Tracey will be in the first boat. I imagine you will be piloting our boat Nick." He says.
"Yes Jason I will." He tells him.
"Ok so Christian, Annie, Gail, Luke, Ryan and myself will be with you all." He tells them.
"Dusty, Mary, Josh and Kevin will be with the Captain in the boat behind us." He tells them.
"Good, good let us all get in the airboats. Mrs. Grey, would you like to sit up high so you can see better and take pictures?" He asked her.
"Yes and please call me Annie." She tells him.
"Christian you sit up there with her. Gail and Jason sit in the seats beside them. Luke, you and Ryan sit in the seats down here so you all can keep an eye on things." He tells them.
"Is that alright with you Jason?" He asked him.
"Just like back in the old days being a leader. Yes, yes that is fine with me. Perfect seating arrangements." He tells him as he helps Gail up in her seat.
Christian has to pick little Annie Rose up and sit her in her seat.
After everyone is seated and buckled in they start off.
"How are you boys doing down there?" Annie asked them.
They both turn around and smile.
"We are fine and dandy thank you Annie Rose for asking." Luke says.
"Just checking on my brothers.' She tells them.
"You boys better watch out for gators climbing in the boat as we are doing at least forty knots right now." Gail says laughing.
"Ha ha you two are not funny and by the way we are not scared." Ryan tells them.
"Hell we knew you weren't." She tells them.."Y'all were big bad Marines you had to be tough." she adds.
"Nick, what can we expect to see out here? I mean besides alligators." She asked him.
"Well you will see alligators and you can get a closer look at them in the Gator Pond. You can watch them sunbathe or feed them. Now is the perfect time to see them." He tells her.
"Really you mean we can feed them? I think I will just look at them." Gail says.
"Yes you can and you will most likely see babies or young ones in the pond." He says.
"Oh Gail we can see baby gators." Annie says.
"Yes I heard him but I will be fine looking at them far off." She tells Annie.
What else Nick?" Christian asked him, looking around.
"Oh you can see all kinds of birds here. We have blue herons, ospreys and sandhill cranes." He tells them as he slows down to talk.
"There are turtles in the wetlands. You can see raccoons, wild hogs, armadillos and deer. Some very huge and beautiful deer." He says.
"We have Cypress trees that are characteristic to the Everglades. Moss on the trees. Some huge spider webs but don't worry we won't be getting close to them."
"My goodness never knew there was so much to see out here." Annie says.
"After the tour we have a Native American Village. You can learn about the Jororo Tribe. the "Forgotten Tribe of Florida", and their traditional way of life. That is if you all would like to spend more time here." He says.
"That sounds very interesting Nick."
"What do you all say? How about it hubby?" She asked them.
"Yes I would like to see that and I am sure there is more right Nick?" Christian asked him.
"Oh yes young man there surely is. We have a Fossil and Gem Mine. There is a Lily's Butterfly Garden. We have Boggy Bottom BBQ and the best for last. Are you all ready for this?" He asked them.
"Tell us please." Annie says.
"We have a UDrive VIP Tour where you learn to drive the airboat. Would that interest any of you? I see the gleam in Annie and Christian's eyes from here." He tells them.
"Well we learned to fly planes and helicopters. So yes learning how to drive an airboat of course." Christian tells him.
"Annie wanna give it a whirl?" He asks her.
"Of course I do Boo. Hey, let's have BBQ here and go out tomorrow night on the town. I haven't had good BBQ in a long time." She tells him.
"Are you sure? I can change the reservations, it won't be a problem." He tells her.
"Yes, I am sure now call them and change the reservations." She tells him.
"Um if you haven't noticed we are in the middle of the Everglades going about forty knots or close to forty six miles per hour now that Nick has sped back up." He tells her.
"Christian if you need to make a call I can stop for a few minutes. We have service out here and I have a Sat phone in case I need it." He tells him holding the Sat phone up.
"Please if you don't mind stopping for a few minutes. Thank you." He tells him picking up his cell and checking his bars for service.
"Hello this is Christian Grey. I had reservations for my wife and I tonight at eight o'clock. I would like to cancel those and make reservations for two tomorrow night at eight o'clock. Can that be arranged sir?" He asked him.
"Yes Mr. Grey that will be no problem sir. We will see you and your wife tomorrow night at eight o'clock sir." The man on the phone said.
"Thank you sir and goodbye." He says as he puts his phone back in his pocket.
"Annie, look there are wild hogs and oh wow look at that humongous deer. I am glad they are not that close to each other." Gail says, looking at them.
Annie is taking picture after picture.
"Look love, there are some birds and I think those are the sandhill cranes." Christian says pointing to the water's edge.
"I believe you are right Boo," She says as she is clicking away.
"Don't look now Annie but we have a gator coming toward us. See the smoothness of the water and then the ripples. I think it is a good size." Luke says keeping an eye on it.
They are all looking and waiting for it to surface. It is getting closer to them.
"Annie Rose, you got that camera ready? Cause here it comes love." Christian tells her.
She feels the boat slow down.
The gator notices the waves in the water stops and raises his head to investigate. He comes up with his mouth wide open.
Annie and Gail scream. I think the guys did too, especially the ones on the floor of the boat.
"My god what a big gator. Nick, how long would you say he is?" Annie asked him as she was still taking pictures of all she could see of the gator and around her.
"Annie, he looked to be about ten to twelve feet. A good prize for someone that is hunting them." He tells them.
"They hunt them here?" Christian asked him.
"Oh no this part is private property it is mine. I bought the land and water rights eons ago." He tells them looking out over his land.
"Alright I have my pictures now. Let's go see the Fossil and Gem Mine. Then we can eat and last but not least we can see The Native American Village." She tells all of them.
!
That's all for now for this chapter. Chapter 22 The rest of the tour and seeing what Elliot and Carol are getting into.
Thank you all for the lovely reviews. They mean the world to me.
Until the next chapter, take care and love one another.
Linda (octobermist11)