Music of the Heart (5 page)

“Thank you so much for doing this Tommy.  I know it means the world to Elizabeth and all the girls.”

“I am more than honored to be able to do this for everyone.  I hope you all find something you like here.  I brought about fifty dresses to choose from but of course, I do have Ashleigh one special dress just for her.”

“Of course you do.  I didn’t believe you would let me choose my own dress.  You always know just what I need.  Before we get started let me introduce you to everyone.”

I go through and introduce him to all the ladies here.  He goes about setting different styles of dresses on different racks.  After he’s all done, he directs Elizabeth and Victoria to one rack, Merritt, Ava and Katie to the second rack and Ellis, Laken and Brooke, who is Elizabeth’s soon to be daughter-in-law, to the last rack.  Allie couldn’t be here but Tommy has the perfect dress set aside for her.

“Everything is perfect Tommy.  Thank you again.”

“Anything for one of my favorite girls. “

After a couple of hours, everyone has chosen a dress and Tommy has invited over Atlanta’s seamstress to the stars to do any and all alterations for us.  We’re finally finished and Elizabeth has an amazing lunch ready for us.  Tommy has to leave to catch a flight back to New York City but not before we have the chance to thank him yet again.

After Tommy leaves, Merritt updates everyone on the latest details for the benefit.  As always, I am impressed with my best friend.  She pretty amazing at her job.

We help clean everything up before we leave for the day.  Ava declared it a girl’s night so we all head to the store to grab tons of food to fix and then back to my house for dinner, movies and wine.

CROSS

              Waking up in a foul mood does not set a very good tone for the day.  From the minute I walked into the office, no one has bothered me at all.  I am pretty sure my secretary, Barbara, sent out a mass company message alerting everyone to steer clear of the 30
th
floor today.  So when I hear my office door open with no warning, I am irritated.

              “Barbara, I thought I told you I needed the day to myself?  No visitors. “

              “Well then it’s a good thing I’m not just any old visitor.  Plus, I brought you lunch man.  The least you can do is say thank you Dixon.”

               Dixon comes strolling in my office with lunch from the Sweet Peach.  Yes, I own the café.  No, most people don’t know that.  Most of my business ventures are kept quiet so only my closest friends know all the businesses I actually have my hand in.

              “I am assuming lunch comes with a talk about last night.  Look, I’m not really in the mood to talk about life right now.  I’ve got a lot going on here and juts have a lot on my mind in general.”

              “That’s not going to work for me.  Something is going on with you so spill it.”

              “I just have a lot on my mind.  I told you that.  Work is crazy and then my moms benefit is coming up soon.  I just feel a lot of pressure.”

              “I’m not buying it Cross.  Tell me exactly what is on your mind besides work.”

              I don’t really want to spill my heart out like girls do but I guess I do need his opinion and advice on everything.  I’m not very good at anything to do with the future and all four of my best friends have serious girlfriends who just all happen to be best friends also.

              “Okay, look, it’s nothing crazy like you think.  I just can’t get the future off my mind.  I know I have my work and my family but what else is there?  I don’t have what you, Jake, Reed and Mason all have.  Y‘all have four of the most amazing women in your lives who you know you have a future with.  All I have is too many one night stands to count that I get rid of before the night is really over.  I think I want what you four have.”

              “Hold on, are you telling me you actually want to settle down from your playboy ways?  That is nothing to be worried about.  That is something to cheer about.  It’s about damn time you start thinking about something other than work and getting in a different girls panties every night.  You know, you really should meet the girls’ friend from college.  Her name is Ashleigh and she’s… well, she’s just a really great girl.”

              There is something about this girl he isn’t telling me but I have no idea what it is.  She’s probably one of those girls who has a great personality but is ugly as hell.  I know, that was rude.  I can be an asshole a lot.  I won’t deny it.

“Yeah, maybe soon.  Although, you aren’t painting a very good picture of her for my mind.”

              “Look, I can guarantee you this girl is beautiful.  She’s just very busy.  Kind of like you.  Her career is a crazy one and she travels all the time.  Again, like you.”

              “What does she do?”

              “Meet her and you can find out for yourself.  I know she’s coming to the breast cancer benefit.  The girls convinced her to take some time off and help them out.”

              “Can’t wait.”  I’m sure he can tell I’m being a smart ass right now.  I just need to focus on work.  Not girls.

              “Okay man, I’ve got a new client coming to my office soon so I’m going to head out.  You know I’m here if you really need to talk.  Right?”

              “I know.  I’ll see you Dixon.”

              With that, Dixon walks out and I throw myself into last minute work for my trips.  I need these deals to go through and I intend to do whatever it takes to make that happen.  Of course, throughout the day, I realize I better get everything together for the benefit because I will be pulling in last minute to get there.  Taking care of my tuxedo being cleaned and making sure I have a pink tie ready, it crosses my mind I need a date.  I’ll figure that out later.  For now, it’s back to work.

              My trip to California couldn’t have gone better.  I just landed in Dubai and it’s time to get to work.  I have three days to make this deal and get home.  I have no time to waste. 

              I’ve been in touch with Barbara back home and she let me know my tuxedo is all clean and ready to go and that Paige has been trying to get in touch with me.  Apparently word got out that Cross Hamilton was needing a date to his mother’s benefit and Paige has offered herself to take that role.  How sad is that?  Women are calling because they heard I need a date.  I should be embarrassed but I’m not.  It’s who I am. 

              After day two of meetings and trying to win over the great people of Dubai, I am feeling amazing.  I landed the job and my company will take over some land at the start of the new year.  Now, it’s time to celebrate. 

              I head to the nearest bar and find a dark corner to hide out in.  Several drinks and many flirtatious women later, I find myself tangled in the sheets with a buxom brunette. 

              “You need to know this isn’t going to be gentle.”

              “No problem handsome.  I like it rough.  You can tie me up and spank me if you want to.”

              Of course, getting a good look at her at that moment, I have no desire to do anything she mentioned.  I really need to finish and get the hell out of her room.  I quicken my pace and thankfully find my release.  Rolling off the bed and discarding the condom, I grab my clothes and dress as fast as I can.  I feel a hand grab me and pull me to the bed. 

              “I know you’re not leaving.  I have so much more where that came from and I am not near done with you yet.”

              No fucking way am I staying here for more with her.  I would rather go sit for hours in the airport alone until my flight home. 

              “Sorry, sweetheart.  I have a flight to catch and need to clean myself up.  You understand, right?”

              “Well, at least tell me your name and where you’re from.  Maybe we can meet up again soon.”

              “Sorry honey, that’s not going to happen.  Look, it was nice but I’ve got to go.”

              I hear her shoe slam against the door after I walk out.  That is a sound I have become accustomed to.  As I go to my room to clean up and get ready for my flight, I can’t help but wonder why I just let that happen.  Thomas and I end up going to the airport three hours early.  I just need to sit and think.

Thankfully, sleep finds me on the flight home and fourteen very long hours later, I am home and immediately curl up in my sheets to sleep the day and night away.  The time difference is going to kill me tomorrow night at the benefit. 

Chapter Five

ASHLEIGH

              I wake up early and feel refreshed.  After the spa day Elizabeth had for us yesterday, I am ready for the busy day ahead.    The day of the Breast Cancer Benefit has finally arrived and I could not be more excited.  I change into comfy clothes and go for a run through the neighborhood.  As I am coming back to my house, I feel a car creep up beside me.  Thankfully, I look over to find Merritt.  We all live in the same neighborhood and she is headed straight for my house.  I make it to my driveway and she is already out of the car.

              “Let’s go Ash!  I need your help setting up.  The girls are finishing loading up their cars and everyone is headed up there to make it look perfect.”

              “Merritt, I’m disgusting and sweaty.  Can’t I shower and meet y’all up there?”

              “No ma’am!  Get your cute ass in the car and don’t worry about what you look like.”

              “Okay, okay.  I need to grab my purse and phone.  Oh and coffee!”

“No time for coffee.  I already have Dixon stopping to get gallons of it along with breakfast from the Sweet Peach so you will be set.  Just ride with me.”

              I lock my front door and jump in the car with her.  The plan is to set it all up as much as we can and then we are all heading to Elizabeth’s house to be beautified by hair and make-up specialists.  The guys are all riding together in one limo and the ladies are riding together in a different limo.  Everyone is to meet up on the pink carpet.

              “I am so excited for you Merritt.  This is a huge event for your resume.  I can’t wait to see how you make it all come together.  You always impress me with your talents.”

              “I’m kind of nervous.  I know I do this all the time but I really want this perfect for Elizabeth.”

              “You know she will love it.”

              We pull up to the venue and I help her start unloading the car.  We finally get everything out of her car as well as the other girls cars when Dixon and Reed pull up. 

              “Thank God you are finally here.  I need coffee and Merritt would not let me get any before we left the house. “

              Everyone gets their fill of coffee and breakfast and Merritt morphs into drill sergeant mode just as Mason and Jake arrive to help.  Elizabeth and Merritt’s mom, Victoria arrive next and every one is hard at work to make Merritt’s vision come to life.  Hours go by when my stomach begins to rumble.  As I realize what time it is, Preston and Lucas walk in with lunch for everyone.  Elizabeth quickly rounds everyone up for a fast lunch.