"Hey. I need to head back to Ontario. I'll be home Christmas Eve. There's an issue with a script change I was working on before I rushed here. I'm so sorry." Rhys said when Pearl came back into the room. "I left quickly because of Briana and because I was worried about you."
"It's ok. I understand. Just be safe and be home for Christmas, ok?" Pearl said, kissing him. He kissed her back and lifted her sweatshirt over her head. "How is it I finally found you? God I'm a lucky bastard." He said, running his hand down her back and cupping her bottom. "I guess it's because you're so good in bed?" Pearl joked, lifting his shirt. "Ah! I see now! It's all about the sex, huh?" Rhys laughed and scooped her up, laying her on the bed. "My mom always told my the way to a man's heart is through his.....penis." Pearl laughed hard at her own joke. "Hahahahaha. What am I going to do with you?" Rhys pulled down her pants and kissed the insides ofShe met the guys in the lobby a few minutes before they had to leave. The two security guys Ian hired seemed legit and they all met and talked about how the night would go. John was doing a good job as a new manager. She was happy she decided to push him into it. The paparazzi had died down a little outside. There were still two it looked like. They all gathered their things and headed out to the car. "Pearl! Are you and Holden an item? We hear rumors he's engaged!" One of them shouted. She ignored it and got into the car. The venue was completed packed. The walked in and the owner said he expected them to be at capacity within the hour. She and the guys couldn't believe it. They got set up and just before their set was about to start, Jax Stark walked in with Taylor McConnell, the lead singer of one of biggest bands in the industry. They all fell silent and stared at them. "Hey man! Damn! Thanks for coming! Ian stood up and went to shake Taylor's hand. Taylor turned and inste
Dinner went well. Ian was unusually quiet and they all agreed to begin the album process the week after New Years. That gave them all a little time off and Pearl and Dylan time to write a few more songs. Pearl was planning on joining Rhys in Ontario the week after Christmas so it would be a nice break for her also. Ian wouldn't be available until later January but they figured they wouldn't actually begin the feeding process until then.Jason and Jax were very happy and Jax said he would fly to their home studio in a few weeks to work with them after they had a few more songs."It's all done, Pearl. What a day!" Iris said as she caught Pearl heading back into the hotel, handing her a box."I can't thank you enough. You are welcome anytime at the house and I hope to see you more." She hugged her."Actually, I was going to talk to you about that." Iris said. "I like Blake. A lot. And I'm thinking about quitting my job here. I was wondering
Rhys texted her and said he would be home by 9 that night. She realized she needed to do something. She put on her boots and winter gear and headed out into the other garage to look for an axe or a chainsaw. She found an axe and a few other random tools the previous owners had left behind."Hey. I need a favor." She tapped Jim on the shoulder, the axe in her hand. He was reading in the living room of the guest house where he was staying while he was there. He looked at the axe."I cannot wait to hear this." Jim said, putting down his magazine and taking off his glasses. "I'm not killing anyone for you and if you're wanting to kill me, you've lost the element of surprise.""We need a Christmas tree. We have to find one and decorate it. In like, a couple of hours. It's 3 now and Rhys will be back at 9.""You're kidding me." Jim said."Nope. Let's go." And she walked out. They took her Jeep and she drove them to the closest C
Rhys was home right at nine. Pearl had left the rose petal path on the floor and a note on the key table that said "follow it"Rhys found her in the library, wearing nothing but the Bukowski book he had sent her before New York. She had it covering her chest, and she was laying across the couch, with her legs up over the back and crossed. The fireplace was roaring and she had candles lit with a bottle of wine with two glasses and blankets and pillows on the floor by the hearth."Welcome home, honey, how was your day?" She asked. He looked amazing. He was wearing a suit and looked like he had dressed up for her.He wasted no time closing the space between them."I love you." He said and he took the book and put it on the floor. He looked at her. "I really fucking love you. I can't believe how much." And he kissed her."I love you, too." She said back, and he picked her up and placed her on the floor by the fire. He loosened his t
The guys showed up around 7 that night. Pearl was thankful Rhys invited them, Dylan had no family and Blake's lived in California and were a bit estranged. John and Janie didn't have kids and they had already done their family thing and Tony's family was kind of like Pearl's. There where there, but not. Pearl knew she would have to tell her parents about the engagement sooner or later but she hated the anxiety that came with speaking to them, so she was putting it off as long as possible.They all brought a dish and Pearl walked out to the guesthouse and dragged Jim inside to hang out with them, too. Dylan put his arm around Jim and said, "Save some room on the couch for me." And winked. Jim looked thrilled. Pearl told them the bat story and Jim, once again, didn't think it was funny.Their ugly sweaters were hideous. Blake's said "Jingle my Bells" and had two low hanging bells that landed right at his pants zipper. They toasted to the album and to Rhys, who made i
After all four of them got the house cleaned up downstairs, and then Martha and Pearl put fresh new linens on the beds upstairs. The rooms were still pretty empty because the rest of the furniture hadn't arrived yet. But a nice bed was sufficient and Pearl was sure his family would understand.She was in her own closet downstairs when Rhys came to check on her. "You ok?" He asked."I've tried on 6 outfits. I don't know what to wear. I'm nervous, Rhys. What if they don't like me? What if they think I'm not good enough for you?" She tried to hide the tears forming."Look at me. It doesn't matter what they think. It doesn't matter what anyone thinks. I love you. That is and always will be enough." He put his arms around her and kissed her.She decided on a simple gray sweater and a pair of jeans and everything was ready when they arrived at 5."Welcome to the new house." Rhys said, opening the door. "This is Pearl."&n
They did their gift exchange later that evening. Rhys gave his two youngest siblings brand new cars and Oliver and trip to Mexico and spending money. He only gave his parents a greeting style card and they seemed very touched by it. Pearl was curious about the reasoning for not giving them a gift. "He's our child. He paid off our mortgage but after that, we didn't want him to give us gifts. He has helped us when we needed it. We are comfortable." His father said to Pearl, aware of her curiosity."I understand." She said. And she did."I have a gift for you, Pearl." Marie said and took her by the hand, leading her upstairs. She placed a large white box on the bed and opened it, revealing an obviously very old and very beautiful wedding dress. She held it up and Pearl saw that it was satin, with a sweetheart neckline, lined with small beads, and forming fringes over and hanging down the front of the bodice. The beads continued to the arms and formed short, draped sleev
They all said their goodbyes early the next morning and Pearl and Rhys sat down on the couch, thankful for the silence."They loved you. Absolutely adored you. My dad is already planning another visit in February, and normally I have to beg him to leave the house." Rhys said."I'm glad. That makes me very happy." Pearl said. "And I don't know what you said to Britney but my mom told me to tell you that she was impressed with how well Britney's demeanor changed at the end of her visit. Ha! I'm so proud of you and who you are." Rhys put one hand on her leg, and one around her shoulders. He kissed her neck and moved his hand to her face. "I need to be inside you." He whispered. He learned her back onto the couch and pulled her pants down, leaving her shirt on and pulling it up to expose her breasts. He suckled each nipple and bit softly down, making her gasp.He stood up and dropped his pants to the floor and took his t shirt off. She loved his body and