Over the next few days, plans for the wedding continued, while security at both the penthouse and Landen’s parent’s house was upped considerably. The codes for the elevator and the underground garage where all changed. There was a security team in the garage, a guy in the front lobby plus one that went everywhere with Amelia. All visitors were announced still, but all deliveries were now left at the front door, and thoroughly checked before security brought it up to the penthouse.

Landen knew that Amelia hated how things were now, but she never once complained. She didn’t really say much of anything, he hated to see her so distracted. He asked her over and over if she was okay, and she would reply that she was, even though deep down he knew that was a lie.

He managed to finish up work by Wednesday, determined to spend time with Amelia before the wedding. So Thursday morning, he woke her early and told her to get dressed; that he was taking her out for the day, just him and her.

“And security?” Amelia added with a sad laugh.

“Not today,” Landen replied, much to Amelia’s surprise. “I mean, Mike will be with us, but I don’t think he really counts, do you.”

“I can live with Mike.” Amelia laughed before Landen kissed her, then slapped her on the back side, telling her to get ready before he disappeared out of the room.

As he walked down the hallway towards the living room, the doors of the elevator opened and Liam stepped off, giving Landen a nod.

“You look like you’re in a good mood,” Liam said as he reached Landen and gave him a questioning look. “Something you want to share.”

“There’s nothing to share,” Landen laughed. “I’m marrying the most amazing girl in the world in two days’ time; why wouldn’t I be in a good mood?”

“I guess so,” Liam smiled, nodding in agreement with this brother.

“So, what brings you here today?” Landen asked, but he already knew the answer. “Is there any news yet?”

“We found the hotel he was staying in,” Liam replied with a sigh. “He was booked in under the name of a doctor that works in the hospital he was taken to after the incident last week. The doctor had reported his cards stolen, so they were flagged when the hotel tried to put it through their system.”

“Why did it take so long to raise a red flag?” Landen asked, knowing a stolen card would normally be cancelled immediately.

“The doctor didn’t actually notice that his card was gone until a couple of days ago,” Liam explained, as he rubbed the tiredness from his eyes. Landen knew that his brother had been working around the clock to try and find Pete Reynolds, there were no words to express how grateful he was. “Anyways, we went to the hotel and the receptionist positively identified Reynolds. We also got him on CCTV several times, but when we got to the room, he was gone, and it looked like he left in a hurry too.”

“So he made a mistake, letting you get too close,” Landen replied. “Is that a good or a bad thing?”

“A little bit of both,” Liam replied honestly. “If he is making mistakes, it makes it more likely that we will catch up with him, but it also means he knows he is running out of time, so he might make a move sooner rather than later.”

“Well he isn’t getting in here again,” Landen growled as the memory of Amelia’s face when she saw the message on the mirror filled his thoughts. “And if he does, he won’t be walking out of here again. I promise you that.”

“Just be careful,” Liam sighed, and Landen knew his brother was worried that if it came to it, Landen would do something stupid.

Before Landen could reply, Amelia walked into the room, and Landen gave Liam a look that told him not to open his mouth to her about the hotel and credit cards. It wasn’t that he didn’t want to tell her, but it was only going to make her worry, right now nothing had really changed. They still didn’t know where Reynolds actually was.

“Hey, Liam,” Amelia said in her usual bright, bubbly tone when she saw Liam standing there with Landen. “What has you here this early?”

“I was just passing by,” Liam replied would out missing beat. “I just called in to see how you were holding up, and maybe sneak a cup of coffee before I head to the station.”

“I’m okay,” Amelia said, giving the same answer she gave every time someone asked her that question.

“Well you look as beautiful as always,” Liam replied, giving her a smile. “Not sure what you see in this loser!”

“Hey!” Landen said as he punched his brother on the arm. “Remember, I can still kick your ass.”

“Dream on, Old Man,” Liam laughed as Landen turned, leading him and Amelia through to the kitchen where Carla was busy baking. Liam walked around the counter and kissed Carla on the cheek. “Good morning, beautiful. When are you going to quit working for this old fart, and run away with me?”

“One day,” Carla replied with a giggle as her cheeks blushed a little. “But for now will you settle for some coffee, Mr. Murphy?”

“Coffee would be perfect,” Liam said, giving her a wink.

“Would you like some breakfast, Mr. Murphy?” Carla asked turned her attention to Landen. “Or some coffee?”

“Actually, Amelia and I are just heading out,” Landen replied taking hold of Amelia’s hand. “I’m taking her out for breakfast; then I’ve got a surprise for her.”

“What kind of surprise?” Liam asked giving her brother a questioning look.

“I could tell you, Little Brother,” Landen replied with a grin, then added. “But then I’d have to kill you.”

“HA!” Liam exclaimed, then laughed out loud. “Now that I would love to see.”

“Don’t tempt me,” Landen chuckled as he turned and started out of the kitchen. “But for now, I’ll leave you here with Carla, while I take my beautiful Bride-to-be, to breakfast.”

“Enjoy,” Liam replied, then added. “And be careful.”

Landen stopped in the doorway, looking back at his brother.

“I will,” he assured him with a half-smile. “I’ll call you later.”

“Talk to you then,” Landen said before he led Amelia out of the kitchen and down towards the hallway.

Isaac, a six foot four inch, African American mountain, who said very little, was standing by the elevator. He nodded at Amelia before he turned his attention to Landen. In the three days that he had been protecting Amelia, Landen had barely heard him say more than ten words. He knew that Amelia wasn’t thrilled about having Isaac follow her around, but until Pete Reynolds was off the street, Isaac was going nowhere.

“Mike is down at the car, Sir,” Isaac informed Landen.

“Thank you, Isaac,” Landen said as the elevator doors open. Landen led Amelia into the elevator, before Isaac stepped in behind them.

When they reached the basement, and the doors opened, Landen could feel Amelia tense before they both stepped off the elevator. He gave her hand a squeeze as he led her to the car.

“Good morning, Ms. Davenport,” Mike said, and Landen could see the surprise in Amelia’s face.

The truth was, Mike always knew who Amelia was, but Landen had asked him to keep up the pretense that her name was Coleman. Now that Pete knew where she was, there was no point in pretending anymore.

“Good morning, Mike,” Amelia replied, giving him a smile before she climbed into the back of the car.

“Good morning, Sir,” Mike said, giving Landen a nod.

“Mike,” Landen replied, before he too climbed into the back of the car, next to Amelia.

Twenty minutes later, they were pulling up outside The Four Seasons.

“What are we doing here?” Amelia asked as she leaned over Landen, looking up at the building they had stopped in front of.

“We are going to have breakfast,” Landen replied like it was the most normal thing in the world.

“At the Four Seasons”? Amelia asked with a smile, as she turned, glancing up at Landen.

“Why not?” Landen replied with a laugh as Mike opened Amelia’s door, and the doorman opened Landen’s.

Landen waited for Amelia to join him, before he turned and walked into the hotel, followed closely by Mike.

Landen led Amelia across the foyer, then up one flight of stairs, through two sets of double doors to a small private dining room with a table set for two, while Mike took a seat outside, and waited for Landen and Amelia to be finished with the early morning feast.

Once they were inside, Landen walked to the table, pulling out Amelia’s chair before he looked at her expectantly, waiting for her to take her seat.

“Thank you,” Amelia said with a smile, as she took her chair. Once she was seated, Landen took his seat across from her. He reached for the bottle of champagne that was sitting in a chiller on the side of the table and quickly tore open the foil wrapping from the bottle, then opened the bottle with a pop.

“Champagne for breakfast, Mr. Murphy?” Amelia asked with a giggle.

“Of course, Ms. Davenport,” Landen replied with a grin. “Nothing but the best for my girl.”

“Your girl?” Amelia laughed as she raised her eyebrows.

“You will always be my girl, Amelia Davenport,” Landen said as he poured her a glass of champagne, then one for himself. He picked up his glass and held it up to Amelia, waiting for her to raise her glass too.

“To us,” Landen said when Amelia lifted her glass.

“To us,” Amelia repeated then brought the champagne to her lips, taking a long sip. “I can’t believe I am drinking champagne at ten o’clock in the morning.”

“Well get used to it,” Landen laughed, and he gave her a broad smile. “Because this is what our life is going to be. Just you and me, enjoying what this world has to offer; and the rest of the world can just disappear.”

“Wouldn’t that be perfect,” Amelia replied with a sad smile, and Landen knew her mind was filled with worry about Pete Reynolds.

“I promise you,” Landen said as he set his glass down, then leaned over and took hold of her hand. “Someday soon, this nightmare will be over, and we will have the rest of our lives to look forward too.”

“I know we will,” Amelia replied with a smile, as Landen brought her hand up to his lips, and kissed it softly.

“So, what’s this surprise?” Amelia asked Landen as they sat side by side in the back of the car, heading God knows where.

“Now if I told you that,” Landen chuckled as he brought her hand to his lips once more kissing if softly. “It wouldn’t be much of a surprise, now, would it?”

“I guess not,” Amelia sighed and smiles, as she glanced out the window, trying to figure out where the hell they were.

A few minutes later, Mike pulled the car through a huge set of gates, before he drove up a long, gravel driveway, then finally pulling the car to a stop outside a huge cream coloured house.

“Where are we?” Amelia asked as she leaned over Landen once more, looking up at the beautiful building in front of them.

“Come on, I’ll show you,” Landen said as Mike opened the car door. He quickly climbed out of the car, unable to hide his excitement as he reached back to Amelia, offering her his hand.

For the last two weeks, he had been keeping this secret from her, it had been the hardest thing he ever had to do, but now that the time had come to tell her everything, Landen was more nervous than he had thought he would be.

As Amelia stepped out of the car, she looked up at the house, and Landen prayed that she would love this place as much as he had the first time he saw it.

“Let me show you inside,” Landen said as he led her up the front steps of the house, slipping the key into the lock.

“Wow,” Amelia said as Landen stepped back to let her in through the front door. “This place is gorgeous.”

Landen watched Amelia as she took in her surroundings, and he couldn’t help but smile as he watched her fall in love with this beautiful home too.

It was a beautiful building. It was freshly decorated in muted tones, the hardwood floor that ran through the entire building was recently redone too. On the ground floor, there were two large reception rooms, a beautiful modern kitchen, a living room, a dining room, and two other smaller rooms that could be used as a home office or maybe someday, a playroom.

On the second floor, there were six large bedrooms, each with their own bathrooms, a further two more bedrooms in the attic. The front of the house was private, completely hidden from the street by a line of huge oak trees. The back of the house was overlooking San Francisco Bay, the view was simply breathtaking. There was a large patio area with a pool, and beyond that, there was a beautiful manicured garden. This house was perfect.

“So, what do you think?” Landen finally asked, when he had finished showing Amelia around the house.

“It’s beautiful,” Amelia said as she turned to Landen and gave him a smile. “I have honestly never seen anything like this.”

“Well, I’m glad that’s how you feel,” Landen said as he held pulled another set of keys from his pocket, but these had a tiny pink bow on them. “Because it’s yours.”

“I’m sorry,” Amelia said as the blood drained from her face. “It’s what?”

“It’s yours,” Landen repeated with a grin. “Well, ours, but you know what I mean. I bought this for you as a wedding present.”

“You bought me a house?” Amelia replied, completely stunned by what Landen had said.

“I want us to have a real home, Amelia,” Landen said as he stepped closer to her. “Somewhere to make a future and grow old together. Somewhere to raise a family.”

“You want a family?” Amelia asked, almost sounding stunned.

“I want it all, Amelia,” Landen said as he slipped his arms around her waist and drew her closer to him. “But I only want it with you. You have been my game changer. I never imagined I could be this happy, but I am.”

“I’m happy too,” Amelia replied as she leaned into him, looking up into his eyes.

“So what do you say?” Landen asked. “Do you want to live here happily ever after?”

“I do,” Amelia replied with a grin. “I really do.”

“I can’t believe that my mom is actually insisting that tomorrow night we have to stay in separate places,” Landen said as he emerged from the bathroom in his boxer shorts, later that night. “I mean how ridiculous is that?”

“It’s bad luck to see each other before the wedding,” Amelia replied with a laugh as she sat on the bed, watching Landen closely. “It’s just one night.”

“I know,” Landen sighed as he pulled back the covers on his side of the bed, climbing beneath them. “I just hate being away from you.”

“I know,” Amelia laughed, but there was a nervousness in her laughter that caught Landen’s attention.

“You’re not worried are you?” He asked knowing that she was still terrified that Pete would show up at any moment.

“I’m fine,” Amelia insisted as she gave Landen a reassuring smile.

“You know you’ve said that word so many times these past few days,” Landen sighed as he reached out, taking hold of her hand. “It doesn’t even sound real anymore.”

“But I am,” Amelia replied, and she gave him another smile. “Right at this moment, I’m perfect.”

“Good,” Landen said as he leaned forward, softly kissed her on the lips.

“I have something for you,” Amelia said as she looked up into Landen’s eyes.

“You didn’t have to buy me anything,” Landen insisted wishing she didn’t feel like she needed to compete with him.

“I didn’t actually buy it,” Amelia replied as she blushed a little. “And it’s definitely not a house. But it’s something that means the world to me, so I want you to have it.”

She pulled a small box from beneath her pillow and handed it to Landen.

Landen carefully pulled the ribbon off, before he slowly opened the box and found the most beautiful pocket watch inside.

“It belonged to my dad,” Amelia explained. “My mom gave it to him on their wedding day, he carried it with him everywhere. That watch and the locket I have are the only two things I have left that belonged to my mom and dad, but I know if my dad were here, he would want you to have this. Especially on our wedding day.”

“Amelia,” Landen said as he looked down at the watch, for the first time in his life, Landen was speechless. “It’s beautiful…”

“Turn it over,” Amelia instructed him as her smile widened. “I had it engraved.”

Landen did as she said, turning the watch over, then read the words.

To Landen, time is never promised, but love can last forever, Amelia x.

“I don’t know what to say,” Landen said as he looked up at this woman whom he loved more than life itself. “I will treasure this till the day I die. Thank you.”

“No,” Amelia said as she leaned over, softly kissing him on the lips. “Thank you for teaching me to live again and letting me believe that sometimes happy ever afters come true.”

Landen leaned forward and kissed her once more before he pushed her back down on the bed, claiming her mouth once more.