They had continued their stroll, though the summer sun had gone entirely and thick dark clouds had begun to gather overhead. Neither one of them had noticed.
She continued. "A couple of months later, I realized I was pregnant, and I knew I would have to find him. That took a lot of time and effort, but I finally did find him. I didn't even know what I was expecting from him, maybe some help and support, but..." she laughed lightly as she looked around them, "I never expected this!"
Oliver listened thoughtfully. "You said you were sure it was his because you hadn't been with anyone else... why didn't you have a boyfriend? Not that I think you should have... I just... you're such an incredibly beautiful and wonderful woman. It just doesn't seem possible that anyone would have let you get away. It seems like there would have been some man, or several, that were set on you."
It was another thought that had been on his mind. He had no idea how a woman like her could have been single.
She shrugged. "Oh, there were a couple of guys here and there who were interested, but I just never liked any of them enough to take them up on it. It just never clicked for me, I guess. I feel that if there was a good connection, it would be irresistible to me. Don't you feel like that?" she asked, looking up at him.
His eyes met hers and he knew exactly what she was talking about as he found himself lost in their familiar depths. "Yes," he said, his heart beating faster, "I know just what you mean."
She felt that warmth grow in her belly as he gazed intently at her, and it made her breath catch. She looked away and it was then that she felt a big fat raindrop on her arm. She stopped and looked up and one big fat rain drop suddenly became countless big fat raindrops all around them. It was a summer cloudburst directly over them, and it was relentless.
She cried out in laughter, and he laughed with her, taking her hand and saying, "There's a gazebo down this path a bit further! Let's run for it!"
Hand in hand they dashed through the rain, running for the gazebo that was barely visible in the downpour. When they finally reached it, they were gasping, out of breath, and drenched to the bone, but laughing wildly with one another.
"Where did that come from?" she asked as she bent over and tried to catch her breath.
His panting began to wane and he replied, "I have no idea. It didn't seem like there were that many clouds out today! It probably won't last long."
She stood back up slowly, her breathing and her heart slowing down. "I hope not. We're trapped in here! That's the last time I go walking without an umbrella!"
He laughed at her and took his glasses off, wiping the rain water from his face.
Grace watched him, standing there soaking wet and dripping, his clothes clinging to him as hers were to her, his usually neatly combed dark hair tousled all over his head, hanging around his green eyes. He was beautiful, and he had no idea. It was enormously appealing to her.
"How is it," she asked him as she stepped toward him, raising her hand and sliding her fingertips into the dark waves of hair on his face, gently pushing them aside, "that you haven't found anyone? You're the best man I've ever known. Kind and generous, handsome, brilliant.... how are you alone?" she returned his question to him.
Oliver felt his chest tighten and everything outside of the gazebo seemed to fade away from him, except the sound of the rain dancing madly on the roof, and her fingers touching him, her eyes searching his as she stood so close to him.
Her pretty white sundress was plastered to her dark body, and her long hair had been so soaked and blown that there were tendrils of it clinging to her cheeks. The air around them was cool from the rain, but her body was beyond warm and so near to him.
Oliver blinked and tried to draw a breath, sure that nothing in the world existed at that moment but the two of them. "I... I don't know," he said quietly, reaching his hand up and delicately tracing the lines of her cheekbone, pushing her hair away from her face. "I guess I haven't found anyone that I have wanted... so much..." His eyes were locked on hers and he could not look away. He didn't want to look away. He wanted to lose himself in her completely. His fingers reached her chin and he let his gaze fall to her parted lips.
"...anyone who was... irresistible."
His heart felt like it wanted to leap from his chest. He had never found anyone that he wanted as much as her, and as fate would have it, she was the one person he couldn't have. It had become a sweet torture to him; hearing her voice and her laughter, seeing her lovely face and her shining eyes, aching to feel her lips and touch her body. He longed to feel her in his arms for more than their frequent hugs; even when they lingered against one another, it was never enough, it only served to make the anguish in him and the hunger for her stronger. He had breathed her in one too many times and she had become part of every fiber of his being, one that he had to deny, one that he could not have or keep. He had never needed a woman. He had wanted a few of them, but never needed one, until her.
Now he found himself watching her too long when she was not looking, lingering near her whenever he could, brushing against her, holding her hand, embracing her, anything that he could do to have her close to him, to satisfy some small minutia of the need he had for her, and all the while he had to be vigilant in keeping his guard up so that she would not see his longing and need. He could not frighten her or make her feel uncomfortable. He had taken it upon himself to protect her and care for her, and his own needs meant nothing in the face of that.
The rain pounded harder on the roof, and on the ground all around them, drowning out the world outside, drowning out the reality of their lives, and for the first time, he felt like he was in a dream bubble that was all theirs; sacred, safe, and precious. He let his thumb move slowly over her lips and as he did, her breath caught, and she closed her eyes, tilting her head back slightly. She was like a magnet to him and he could hold himself back from her no longer.
Oliver's hands moved into her hair at the back of her head and he tilted her face up to meet his, hesitating for only a moment before brushing his lips against hers softly, delicately, their warmth igniting a fire in him that had never known life before.
Her lips parted and her arms reached around him, closing on his back, her hands clinging to him. She had wanted him to give her the kiss he had tempted her with in the greenhouse on her first day there, the one that had almost happened, and now it was hers, and she wanted it; all of it. She kissed him back as his lips began to move over hers in a blend of fervent tenderness, and everything in her body sprung to life as his tongue found hers and turned over it in exploration and hunger.
The end of waiting and wanting, needing, and sweet flames of satisfaction bound them up together and made them come undone in each other's embrace as they stood sheltered from the storm cascading down around them. Soft sighs found voice from her as he held her to him and kissed her with all the passion he felt for her. Her own heart answered his, and she kissed him with the driving need that had begun to overwhelm her as she succumbed to what she had wanted and believed she could not have with him.
Time did not seem to move around them as they tasted each other, building desire and answering their need as the wind tugged and pulled at them, but the long sweet minutes passed silently without notice. The rain slowed for a moment, and then stopped as suddenly as it had come. It seemed to wake them, as if from a dream, and Oliver lifted his mouth from hers, breathless and heated, looking down into her eyes as she opened them, gazing back at him in wonder and surprise.
"Oliver..." She whispered his name. Questions rocketed through her thoughts as realization illuminated her mind and her heart, and panic set fire to all of it.
He blinked, and reality swept through him like an icy northern blast. He had broken his wall and facade. No longer was he the protector wearing the mask of the pseudo brother. He was bared before her; his hunger, his desire, his need for her. All of it was known now. Nothing would ever be the same between them again. He had crossed a boundary he never should have bee
n close to, and he knew there was no going back.
"I'm so sorry... Grace, I- I don't know what to say to you." He stepped back from her, letting her go and staring at her as if he had been caught in the worst way at a crime he was guilty of.
The space between them brought with it a rush of air chilled by the rainstorm that enveloped her and she felt frozen suddenly, unable to move and uncertain what to do, like a deer caught in the headlights.
"I don't know what came over me," he offered regretfully. "I'm so very sorry. Forgive me." He felt like his chest might break from the strain. He shook his head as she stared at him. "This won't happen again, I promise," he told her with a torrent of shame binding him. "I'm sorry."
She couldn't believe they had shared such a powerful and passionate moment, only to have it broken and shattered in an instant. She reached her hand out to him to stop him, but he turned and headed out into the wet grass, going straight to the house. Grace stood there in the gazebo, watching him go as confusion and longing tangled her thoughts and feelings. Her heart was still pounding from the powerful kisses they had shared, and from the shock of the break between them, and the rush of cold that came afterward.
She didn't know how their kiss had happened, but she had wanted it so much, and then it was gone. He had promised her that it would never happen again. Grace couldn't imagine how she could feel that kind of passion once and never feel it again. She felt an ache begin to grow in her heart and hot tears stung her eyes.
Walking slowly back to the greenhouse, she wrestled with her emotions, and tried to make sense of everything, but none of it made any sense to her at all. She placed her hand on her hardened belly. There was a baby growing in her that was fathered by a man who didn't seem to want anything to do with her or the child. His family had taken her in like she belonged to them, as well as the child she carried. His brother had been better to her than any man had ever been.
She had begun to find herself more and more attracted to him, to everything about him, from the stylish way he dressed and the kind and intelligent way he spoke, to the endearing laugh he let out so often. She was charmed by his thoughtfulness and sweetness, by his strong hugs, his dancing green eyes and his smile, his soft pink lips that had just kissed her like no one had ever kissed her. That mouth that had drawn up a white hot heat in her and stolen away her breath, making everything in her want more of him. She couldn't remember the last time she felt that way. She was sure she hadn't ever felt that way.
She hadn't expected to make a friend in her new home, let alone one that she began to want as more than a friend. Before the kiss, she was sure that her pregnancy hormones were affecting her. Before the kiss, she thought that it might just be because she was lonely. Before the kiss, she told herself that all their lingering moments and looks were half imagined and that he was being kind to her and she just felt more than was really there.
As she walked back to the greenhouse, she felt like the kiss had changed everything for her, and for them. Worry began to crease her forehead as she wondered what it would be like between them every moment from then on. She wondered if he would still talk with her, laugh with her, be casual and fun and close with her. She wondered if they would still be the friends they had become, if he would be the friend she had come to care for so much, the friend she needed and wanted to depend on, rely on, and be a good friend back to. The worries weighed on her all day, and when she went in the house that night, she was disappointed, but not surprised, to find that he was not there for dinner. Henry was gone on business and she was alone.
The following morning, she walked into the kitchen looking for him, hoping to see him, but he wasn't there. Henry came in looking for her with a big grin on his face.
"There you are my dear! Good morning! You look lovely as always," he told her as he gave her a big hug. He patted her shoulder and then rocked on his heels as he did when he was very happy or excited about something.
"I have a surprise for you," he told her with a giddy smile. His cheeks were rosy and his eyes were alight with some fun mischief.
Seeing him this way made her feel better. She smiled back at him. "A surprise? What on earth could that be?" she asked curiously.
He tipped his head.
"You'll have to come with me to see!" He turned and went to the doorway, holding the door open for her. She laughed lightly and walked through it.
He walked her through the house to the foyer and then up the big winding stairs to the second floor. She followed him up in confusion, wondering what he might have upstairs that would be a surprise for her.
He turned to her when they reached the landing at the top of the stairs and he looked at her. "Have you been up here yet?" he asked curiously.
She shook her head. In all of her wandering throughout the house, she hadn't yet gotten that far. She also hadn't seen the third floor yet, but the question at present was about the second floor.
"No, I haven't seen it," she told him, reaching up and tucking a strand of her long black hair behind her ear.
He nodded and indicated down the hall to their left. "Lance's room is down that way."
She smiled a little. She wasn't really interested in where his room was. She looked back at Henry and he winked at her in a friendly way.
"I just thought you would want to know that, because your surprise is this way." He turned to the right and walked down to the end of the hallway where it connected to another hallway that had three doors. He walked to the door on the left and opened it, beckoning her into it.
She entered it and found herself in what was easily the most luxurious and large bedroom she had ever seen. She could see that it was set in the corner of the house because there were windows on two of the walls and a large balcony that stretched out from glass doors that opened out onto it. The bed at the center of the room was mahogany, fitted with cream colored bedding. All of the furniture in the room was elegantly styled, all made of the same wood. She stood looking at it in awe, and finally turned to look at Henry.
'I don't understand, what's the surprise?" she asked in confusion.
He smiled beneath his beard and hid a chuckle. "My dear, this is your new room. I've had your things moved up here and put away. Come, see the rest of it," he told her, lifting his hand toward a door at the far end of the room.
"There's more?" she asked in amazement. Aside from the massive bathroom and walk in closet that she saw, the fireplace, the reading nook in the rounded corner made entirely of windows, and the walls filled with book cases and an entertainment cabinet, she couldn't imagine that there could be anything that the room was missing.
Henry opened the door on the far wall and they walked into a moderately sized room that had been converted into a nursery. The walls were sunny yellow and there was a big teddy bear sitting in a corner, and a few decorations adorned the walls, there was a vintage tricycle in one corner and a ball. Mostly it was unfurnished and barren. There was a full bathroom off in one corner and a walk in closet near the bathroom. The whole wall to one side was filled with windows, letting in copious amounts of natural light."This is the nursery. Our baby has to have a room, too, you know. I've left it just barely set up so that you have the freedom to decorate it as you like. Please furnish it any way that you want to, paint the walls, change whatever you like. Make it perfect for our little one to come home to. I've left a few gifts in here for now, but we can get more later. There is time." He grinned and walked to the tricycle.
"This was my toy when I was a boy. I've had it fixed up, but I thought it might be fun to give it to my grandchild. I'd be delighted to see the little one riding around on it!"
Grace's mouth fell open. "Oh my goodness! I can't believe this! You've already done so much for us..." She smiled at him gratefully and touched her hand to her mouth, trying to hold in the wave of emotion that she felt.
Henry raised his eyebrows. "Now wait a moment, we are not quite done yet! There's a little more! Come on."
Her eyes opened
wide and she followed him to another door leading out of the nursery going in the other direction. They walked into a moderately sized bedroom. It was fully decorated in light and simple colors, there was a full bathroom and a large walk in closet in it, and windows along the wall, just like in the nursery. There was a queen sized bed and pretty furniture set about. There was a door that led out into the hallway.
"What is this for?" she asked him in wonder.
He smiled at her. "This room is for the nanny, should you choose to hire one. I am guessing that once the baby is here, you could use some assistance and I will be honest with you, I don't know how much help my son Lance will be to you. I wanted to prepare for any eventuality; that's just how I am. So, you have a nursery for the baby, and this room for the nanny. You don't have to have a nanny, but I found with the boys that it was immensely helpful. It's all up to you and whatever you prefer, but we are ready for it, if you so choose." He gave her a big smile and his cheeks grew slightly pinker.
Grace went to him and reached her arms around him, hugging him tightly. "You are the best. Thank you so very much! I can't believe you've done all of this. You certainly didn't have to, but I want you to know how much it means to me, and how much I appreciate it. You have done so much and worked so hard to make me feel like I am a part of this family and I could not feel more warm and welcomed than I do."
Henry hugged her back and patted her back. "You are part of the family, and I could not be happier to have you here. As I said, you are like a new light of life in the house, and I am so glad for it."
He let her go and gave her a serious look. "Now, I have one more surprise for you."
Grace shook her head. "You've already done so much, you don't have to—“
He hushed her politely with his hand upheld and then tilted his head with a grin. "Oh come now, I am enjoying this so much. Indulge me and let me spoil you a little bit. Come with me. This is a necessity more than anything else anyway. Let's go."
The Baby Shower Page 59