by Cara North
“Well, you can bring one when you come back.” Grace lifted a brow. Let’s not forget whose territory this is.
She had enough empty space in her life. A bigger bed was not something she needed and certainly not when the man proposing she buy one would be leaving soon never to return. MEN! The nerve.
“You should come to New York this weekend.” He played with a loose curl. She was reading some little paperback book, ignoring him, creating distance. “Grace.”
“I can’t,” she said flatly. Why was he asking? The wedding would be soon enough. She hated he was leaving tomorrow. Her head was split with emotions. “I have to turn the keys and files and all that jazz over to Amy on Friday morning.”
“You wanna fill me in here?” Why was she being so distant all of a sudden? Why was that bothering him? He needed distance but not too much. He needed her in New York, like they had been today. He wished he had her everyday in New York like they had been today.
“I’m sorry what?” Grace stared at him blankly. He is leaving. He is leaving.
“Keys, Amy.” He waved his hands.
“Oh, I thought I told you.” She shifted and put the book down. “I’m not the cheerleading coach anymore. I have to turn it all over on Friday before they head to camp.”
“Did you want to quit coaching?” The way Megan beamed about it the other night gave him a sinking feeling now. “Did you take time off for your book?”
“Well, I’m getting older, fatter, and less flexible.” She smiled a forced smile. He had a way of seeing through her wall, and that unsettled her. No one questioned her actions or her decisions. Ethan barely knew her, yet he questioned her all the time. “Plus, I do need to focus on the book, yes.”
“That doesn’t answer my question.” He wasn’t letting up. It didn’t sound like she let go willingly, and Megan said her book was almost done.
“No, okay, no.” Grace stared into her book again. “But like everything else I care about for more than five minutes, it was taken from me, too.”
So there. That should shut him up.
“It must be hard to let go of a job you enjoy so much.” Ethan wanted to make her smile, but he didn’t know what to say.
“I’ll be teaching second grade next year. I’ll have more fun with them anyway.” Grace smiled at the thought of the new class, the kids.
“My birthday is Friday. I was hoping you could come.” Ethan lightly slid his fingers down her arm. What the hell is she reading? How can she put him aside so easily? He made out the words, a romance novel. So, she needed a little more romance in her life aye. “Can’t you come up after?”
“Your birthday?” That’s why everyone had to be back early. Megan wasn’t going to tell her, why? “It would be crazy to buy a ticket now; otherwise, I probably would.”
“Okay,” he said and lay back on the bed. She went right back to reading that same damn page again.
“So, you think I could get a birthday blow job?” He prepared for the hit he knew was coming. He was going to get her attention from that book one way or another.
“Ethan!” She squealed just as he had hoped. Her book came across his arm with a playful thud.
“Shame on you.” She laughed. He really made her laugh even when she didn’t want to. Grace had read the same page over and over again. How could she possibly focus on the hot detective when she had Ethan in her bed?
“Come here, Gracie.” He held his arms open, and she slid into them. He had a burning desire to sink into her flesh and make love to her for hours, but he knew Grace really needed him now. She needed a real friend, not just sexual satisfaction. He could wait and plan a nice seduction when she came to visit for the wedding.
“I’m sorry about the coaching thing.” He kissed her on the forehead. He didn’t mention the book. He was an artist, and an artist’s work is sacred. It’s only ready when it’s ready.
“Well, I just hope there is a bigger plan in store for me. When this house is empty, I need to fill time.” She snuggled into her nook turning her back to him. Why did she admit that? Grace really did feel with Ethan, too much. It cracked a hole in her safe little world.
Ethan followed her lead, playing with the wild red curls on her head with his left hand, inhaling the scent of them. He would have to find that shampoo at home if not steal hers from the shower. Ethan decided firmly on what he wanted most for his birthday. Grace.
Grace wished she could go to sleep every night this way. Ethan would leave tomorrow; then, it would be back to reality. Back to the routine, except school was out, so she had all day and all night empty. She hadn’t felt alone or lonely before.
Of course, she hadn’t really let herself feel anything in years. Now, she had feelings. Fear, courage, lust, and they were all created by this blanket of a man wrapped around her. Her heart swelled as she fell asleep.
Chapter 8
Ethan awoke Thursday morning at eight a.m. with a beautiful woman in his arms. She was awake, of course. He had realized last night that Grace was stealing moments while he slept. He didn’t blame her. If he could wake up sooner, he would probably do the same thing. It was strange how long he could sleep in here. In New York, he was out on the pavement running by six in the morning every morning.
This morning was the last they would share in North Carolina for a while. He didn’t know what got his brain going this morning, but he sure knew what got his blood pumping. This fiery spirited woman in his arms did it with more ease than he thought possible. In less than a week, she had gotten closer to him than anyone. He had told her things he hadn’t told Joshua, and they told each other everything.
Megan had already planned out the day for the girls. There was wedding business to tend to, and that would tie them up at least until three. The plane took off at five.
“I have to pee.” Grace quickly left for the bathroom.
She slid from his arms faster than he would have liked. She must have been up a while. He wanted to remain in bed and coax her back, but there was too much to get done today, and she needed to be with Megan. He got up and was dressed when she returned looking somewhat disappointed.
“I’ll take them off and hop right back in.” Ethan smiled at her. She had the same thought. Damn, I should have waited.
“No, it’s too late now.” She pulled the covers up on her side of the bed, thinking better of stripping the sheets. She would need them just the way they are tonight, covered in his scent.
“I don’t know what I’m going to do tonight.” Ethan crossed the room to kiss her forehead. His lips were betraying him already. “I’ll miss all this hair.”
“You’ll find a way, I’m sure.” Grace hugged him loosely around the waist. His hand on the back of her neck felt so possessive and at the same time reassuring. The diva was waiting downstairs and had been since seven. Grace never left Megan waiting, but Ethan felt way too good to leave.
With effort she pulled herself from Ethan, got dressed, and headed downstairs. Megan looked like herself again, smartly dressed in a jean skirt and tank top. She had her notebook at the ready when Grace walked downstairs. She was set to go.
“Let’s go to the Beaufort Grocery to eat.” Megan grabbed her purse and headed for the door.
Ethan still wasn’t downstairs. He had stopped to talk to Chase. Now, she was going to miss him. All day she would be with Megan; then, they would leave. She knew it was coming but wasn’t expecting it to be so hard to let go. Not just of Ethan, she liked having Megan and Chase around as well. Am I really this lonely? When did I get this way? I’ve lived like this, alone, for years now.
Following Megan out the door, Grace could have sworn she heard Ethan call her name, but Megan was fast, and those four inch heels clicked their way down to the sidewalk in a hurry.
* * * *
“Shit!” Ethan slammed his hand on the counter. Chase was right behind him.
“Whoa, there.” Chase put his hand on his brother’s shoulder. What had gotten into him? “They’ll
be back.”
“I know, I just...” He thought better. Chase knew him too well. One chink in the armor, and he would pry the whole thing open. “I was thinking about getting Grace a ticket to fly in tomorrow night. Is there a computer around here?”
“Yeah, in your bedroom.” Chase laughed because he had used it twice already.
The room doubled as an office, and Ethan had only set his bags on the bed one minute then ended up back in Grace’s room the next. “I don’t know, man. That’s a serious gesture.”
Ethan wasn’t listening. He headed for the stairs. Chase blew a heavy sigh and followed after him. Megan had explained the danger in this. Neither Ethan nor Grace would leave their respective homes. Ethan had the gallery; it was his life. Their grandfather had groomed him since childhood to take it over.
Under Ethan’s care, it had grown and become a fixture in the community. Grace, well anyone who stepped foot in this house could tell it was a shrine. It was her mother’s house not hers. She hadn’t let go of anything. Unintentionally, he found her manuscript on the computer. It was empty. Two words. She was still living in the past.
Meanwhile...
“I need to know you’re going to be there for me, Gracie.” Megan seemed a little bossier than usual. “Me.” She pointed at herself. “I’m the bride.”
“I’m aware of that bride-zilla” Grace laughed. Who does Megan think she is? Whoa ... Where did this fire come from? No, Megan is all I have left, so making her mad is not a good idea.
“I mean Ethan. You are my maid of honor, Grace, and only there for the weekend, and you have been stuck up his butt since we got here.” She huffed and puffed and clicked her little heels. “You have barely spoken to me, and surely after that bedroom thing, I thought you would seek me out, talk to me, or SOMETHING.”
Grace realized something all right, something she hadn’t really realized before. Megan was jealous. Not of her and Ethan, at least that wasn’t the signal she was getting. Megan was jealous of Ethan, getting all of her time. Megan was used to Grace as a third wheel.
She always had a man in tow, and since Megan hated Mitchell even when they were together, it was the rare occasion he would be allowed along. Grace never had a distraction. She gave her cousin all her time and attention. Until now. Huh.
“Sorry.” Grace meant it. After all, it was because of Megan she had met Ethan. “I thought that’s what you wanted.”
They approached the restaurant and went inside.
The woman recognized the pair immediately coming to hug and pinch their cheeks. “Gracie, where is the fine young man everyone’s been talking about?”
There it was, already. “Back at the house. Megan and I are working on wedding plans today.”
“Oh, well you be sure and bring him by sometime, okay?” Her sweet eyes were sincere. “I’ll make him something special.”
“Next time.” Grace smiled though she never anticipated there being a next time. That caused a strange pinch in her chest.
They sat at a table outside for privacy. Megan laid out the plans for her bachelorette party, the rehearsal dinner, and the wedding itself. They made last minute decisions on seating and flower arrangements. Since Grace was the maid of honor, Chase and Ethan’s father was walking her down the aisle. Megan didn’t want Grace, her only living relative to do it.
Something Grace realized she had missed in this line up was all the cousins in the wedding party. It was going to be a huge deal. Megan had to pick up her Vera Wang dress Friday morning, and as she said it, Grace thought about Ethan.
“Why didn’t you tell me it was Ethan’s birthday on Friday?” Grace interrupted. This is exactly what Megan was talking about.
“What?” Megan looked genuinely confused.
“His birthday?” Grace repeated now waving her hands. She caught herself and thought how he must be rubbing off on her. “Tomorrow.”
“Shit,” Megan said aloud and looked around to see if anyone heard her. “I forgot, shit, shit, shit.”
“What?”
“I didn’t get him anything.” Megan’s eyes started to well up with fat tears. “Chase asked me to do one thing, order the cake, one thing!”
She was on the verge of crying.
“Why are you freaking out?” Grace couldn’t understand. “Just call someone. You’re in PR. You plan parties. Someone has to owe you a favor.”
“My soon to be mother-in-law thinks I’m self-centered. Katherine Young is not someone you want on your bad side.” She wept. “She hates me.”
“Oh honey, no, no,” Grace said the words but knew Megan’s soon to be mother-in-law was right. Grace had known Megan all her life. Two years younger, she was the baby. Everyone, even Grace, treated her like the baby, but hate is a strong word, and Megan loved Chase. Surely, the woman didn’t really hate her.
“Tell me about his mother. She doesn’t really hate you, I’m sure.” Grace wiped Megan’s tears with a smile. “How could she hate my favorite person in the world now?”
“I miss you, Gracie.” Megan wailed again.
Grace had to keep her composure, and like she always did, she dug deep, pulled out the emotional mask, and wore it.
Meanwhile on Ann Street...
“Are you checking e-mail or something?” Chase watched as his big brother tapped his fingers and wiggled around in his chair. He only saw him like this when he wanted something. That wasn’t often, but when he did, Ethan had no patience. He wants what he wants when he wants it. With his financial position, he was used to getting it.
“Airlines.” He tapped on the desk staring at the lap top computer just waiting for it to connect.
“Whoa, whoa, whoa.” Chase was waving his hands as he moved in for the computer. “Your birthday party is tomorrow, family, friends. You’re not staying here another day.”
“No, not for me, you idiot, for Grace.” He tried to reopen the laptop Chase had now closed. “Excuse me.”
“Ugh, not likely.” Chase didn’t budge. “Look at yourself man, what are you planning to do, huh? Buy her a ticket you don’t even know she wants? We just covered the fact that it was a bad idea.”
“She would come, I know it.” He went for Chase’s hand again.
“No, you don’t know it. Let me tell you what you don’t know before you open that computer and drop money down the drain.” Chase was very sobering. His voice was heavy and sincere. “Grace won’t leave this place. You understand that, don’t you?”
“I’m not trying to propose marriage. Damn, Chase, we haven’t even had sex!” Shit. Here it goes, his little brother always busted him, always following behind and into everything. It got annoying at times but had kept Ethan grounded in reality at others. Why would he be so worried? Grace and he were just friends. Even if they had sex, it didn’t change anything about the relationship. Had he let on otherwise?
“I thought Megan caught you two...” Chase didn’t continue. He wanted Ethan to tell him what exactly was going on now.
“No. She caught us messing around. It may have gone farther, but Megan walked in.” He spared the final details to protect Grace’s honor. “We came right down, but you guys were gone.”
“Oh, okay, so why the whole show?” Chase was annoyed. He didn’t like being lied to, especially by his big brother, whom he trusted and respected a great deal. If Ethan wanted to toy with a woman, he could choose any hundred in New York. Why did he choose Grace?
“Well, if we could convince you two we were a couple, it would be comfortable around the family back home.” Ethan shrugged. It was truth, not the whole truth, but it protected Grace. Made it sound like his idea not hers. “You know that Chloe will never stop as long as I’m single. I hoped to get the word out that I was no longer available. Grace is safe, no one knows her.”
“And Grace is okay with this?” Chase could tell there was more between them, but maybe his brother didn’t admit that to himself yet. “Lying, to our entire family and all of our friends?”
Ethan
was off the chair and looming over Chase in an instant.
“She is doing this for me. I asked her to. She’s not lying to anyone. I am.” His jaw clenched, and his nostrils flared. Why would his brother take a shot like that at Grace?
“Just checking.” Chase put his hands up between them and stepped back. He had to push Ethan’s buttons. He had to know if his brother was playing with Grace, a bad idea, or falling for her, a complicated situation.
“I know women when it comes to you. They all want to help you out then help themselves to you. They all have dreams of marriage. I don’t know Grace would be any different. She seems like marriage material, Ethan, not a fling. You will have to see her forever, as long as I’m with Megan. And I mean that to be forever.”
“She’s not like that. And like you said, neither of us will be moving. But we both could benefit from a friend right now.” Ethan sat back down. Chase was right, his words sobering. Grace was more than a weekend fling kind of girl, but they were friends, and he couldn’t give up on that. He didn’t want to give up on that. Buying a ticket was too pushy. It insinuated more than he could give. He didn’t want to get her hopes up for something more. “But you’re right, no ticket.”
Ethan opened the laptop and checked his e-mail instead. Chase loomed over him and realized his big brother, the heartbreaker, had it bad. Chase could only hope that Megan could work his idea out for them, and in the end Ethan wouldn’t be the one with his heart broken.
* * * *
Dropping them off at the airport was a sad event. Grace cherished every moment she had with Ethan. He was packed when she and Megan returned, so they chatted and enjoyed each other’s company until it was time to leave.
Ethan felt awkward since his brother was secretly in on the hoax now. Of course, a guy would kiss a girl before leaving if they were lovers, right? No harm in a kiss. Even friends kissed goodbye. Besides, he wanted to taste her lips one more time. It would be a month before he could touch them again. He had already set it in his mind to do a special exhibit, full of Grace and all of her details.