The Art of Ethan

by Cara North

  “I need to get going. After all, someone has to pick Grace up at the airport.” Ethan winked at Megan. This was just the beginning of her payback for this incident. “The box you so desperately needed picked up is on the table. I will have Grace here before the parties, so you can catch up or whatever you two need to do.”

  “Well, Megan has to show me the test results before either of us leave tonight.” Chase looked at Ethan. “That was a box of pregnancy tests, many, that you picked up.” Then to Megan, “And I won’t have a fetal alcohol syndrome baby. You’re clear then you’re clear to drink, got it?”

  “Why the economy pack then, little brother?” Ethan asked but wasn’t sure why he cared other than Chase must really be trying.

  He had suspected Megan twice now and was on a real baby kick. This would mean Ethan was falling behind in this game of life. Shit!

  “Saves money over the long run. We’ve been trying for months.” Chase shrugged.

  Ethan shook his head. “Okay then, see you two later.”

  Life was good. His loft was in tact. A new stairwell was installed. His little brother was getting married, and Ethan now got to pick up his woman. Megan had insisted Grace give her all her time before the wedding since Ethan had had her for a whole week. Now, the diva was indebted. He couldn’t wait to tell Grace.

  * * * *

  Grace laughed hysterically. She could barely compose herself. “You’re lying. I know you are.”

  “Could I possibly make this up?” Ethan laughed hard. “How she got that damn thing hooked up I have no idea.”

  “She has a lot of upper body strength.” Grace wiped tears from her eyes. The sight of Megan after knocking herself out was terrible and terribly funny to picture. “Oh, poor thing, she has to be humiliated.”

  “Yeah, she is. And to think, I was afraid she was with another man.” Ethan shook his head.

  The cab stopped outside Chase and Megan’s building. “Okay, you have to keep all this under wraps. Don’t let on you know.”

  “That’s going to be pretty hard to do.”

  Ethan kissed her lips. It was unexpected and sweet.

  “I missed you, Gracie.” His eyes were locked on hers. Then, he opened the cab door.

  Swoon, Grace, just swoon. He was amazing. That’s exactly why every woman he met loved him, but Grace McPherson was a southern lady and not asking a man for his hand. No, if it was meant to be, Ethan would have to make the first move.

  * * * *

  Megan and Grace stood in the bathroom. Megan hovered over the little plastic stick waiting for a green light to party. Instead, she got a big red stop.

  “Shit.” Megan stared at the test. “I’m pregnant,” she whispered.

  Grace felt sick. She had to go to the doctor when she got home. Every afternoon it hit her like a ton of bricks. Now was not the time. She took a deep breath.

  “That’s great, why are you whispering?” Grace spoke at a normal tone, causing Megan to cover her mouth.

  “I don’t want Chase to know. I want to surprise him for our wedding. I just missed my period this week,” Megan whispered and moved her hand. Pointing to the door, she mouthed, “They’re listening.”

  “Oh, so now what?”

  “So, now you pee on this for me, and I show him a false test.” Megan handed Grace a test.

  “I don’t know about this, Megan,” she whispered.

  “I do. I won’t drink, I promise, not one drop, but I don’t want to tell him now.” Megan whined as she whispered. “Everyone will be talking about the baby instead of me. Chase can’t contain a secret this big.”

  “You are so spoiled!” Grace snatched the test. She was nervous and afraid to take it.

  Chapter 17

  “I love you!” Megan clapped and turned her back while Grace peed.

  “Here.” Grace handed her the stick.

  Megan looked at it and went straight out the door. “Here you go, honey. Watch and see what happens.” Megan smiled, and Grace came out to look over the test as well.

  “I knew it!” Chase jumped up and down. “I just knew you were pregnant, babe!”

  Megan snatched the stick and looked at it. Sure enough, it was a positive.

  “Congratulations.” Ethan smacked his brother on the back. “You Dog!”

  In the commotion, Grace grabbed Megan by the hand, and they shared a knowing look. It would be easier to deal with later. Megan hugged Grace, and they both began to cry.

  Megan cried tears of joy. Grace cried tears of fear.

  “Come to Daddy!” Chase still bounced around and now opened his arms and closed them lovingly around Megan.

  “Ethan.” Grace choked back the tears and forced a smile.

  “I told you so,” Ethan said kissing her forehead. “She’s sneaky like that. Now, we’re behind.”

  Sneaky. The thought sent chills down her spine. Would he think she was being sneaky? How could he? After all, he was partly responsible for this mess. Now, she had to tell him.

  “So ladies, we’re off.” Chase was still eager to spend his last night of freedom with the guys.

  “Ethan, we need to talk.” Grace knew the longer she waited to tell him the worse it would get.

  “We will tonight. Meet me at about two in the morning.” It sounded like a ridiculous request he knew that, but he also knew his brother would be trashed by midnight and ready to drag out of there by one.

  “Where?” Grace lifted a brow. Where do you meet at two in the morning? Who is still awake at that hour?

  “Here. We’ll meet back here. After this news, I’m sure he will want to come home tonight. Just get the party girl home before two.” Ethan stole a kiss. It was sweet and refreshing. “We’ll go home when I return Chase.”

  “Ethan!” Chase roared. “Let’s go.”

  Home, Grace thought. He said that so easily.

  No sooner than the two men closed the door Megan began the questions. After about an hour of talking, they figured out there was nothing to do but accept the facts.

  “I can’t believe we are going to go through this together.” Megan beamed with joy.

  “Together? How do you figure that?” Grace was spoon deep in the box of chocolate ice cream she had promptly sought out when the conversation began.

  “Well, Ethan will want you to stay here. I know that. I want you to stay here. The thing is, will you move to New York?” Megan spooned her own bite and quickly changed the conversation.

  She wanted to stay happy. Grace had grown a lot in the past few weeks, however, letting go of a house that held all of her memories, especially now that she had the courage to make it her own. Well, that seemed worse than asking Grace to leave a house that was stuck in a time warp. “We’re not going to be able to eat anything for dinner after this.”

  “This is the first thing I’ve been able to eat all day. I thought I was getting sick.” Grace totally ignored the New York question.

  She wished she had as much confidence as Megan did. She knew how she felt about Ethan but wasn’t sure if he was ready for a serious commitment and a baby. “Because I usually just get sick in the afternoon, I thought I was getting the flu, you know. How did this happen?”

  “Well, they don’t have to break, even a small hole or tear can do it. It only takes one strong swimmer to get up stream, Grace.” Megan could see Grace’s eyes and knew she was scared. “When are you going to tell him?”

  “Tonight. I have to tell him tonight.” Grace thought for a moment. “Let me use another one of those tests just to be sure.”

  Ten minutes later. She was sure.

  * * * *

  Grace and Megan entered Club Tropics, the hottest new night club in Manhattan. At least that’s what Megan hoped all her work had made everyone believe. For the most part, it was true. Of course, Grace really had nothing to compare it to. Aside from a couple of clubs in Wilmington, North Carolina, where she went to college, she had never been in one. This place was nothing like a little college bar po
sing as a night club.

  Club Tropics was packed, and the V.I.P. lounge was full of wild and crazy women who all looked like taller and shorter versions of Megan. Their clothes were all wild, name brand, or vintage. Their hair styled, picture perfect, and the makeup on these women ranged from the most natural and innocent to the outrageous and scary. Grace fit into this round circle like a square peg. Even in her tuxedo pants and a shimmering black sequin top Megan had loaned her, she felt like she looked different, but they all insisted she fit in just fine.

  They danced, they sang, and they dumped a huge bucket of confetti from the ceiling on the bride to be. Everyone within two feet of Megan was covered in it. They had worked on making Megan sticky with hugs and sleeking back her hair. She never saw it coming. Everyone would see her leaving. It was hilarious!

  * * * *

  Ethan had no problem convincing Chase to call it an early night. The women at Scores were talented and beautiful, but there was only one woman on his brother’s mind. Ethan knew this because he felt the same way.

  On stage a tall brunette took a spin around the pole, and Ethan couldn’t help but remember the pole he had pulled down from his brother’s bedroom that morning. He started to laugh. The brunette stopped spinning and walked over to squat in front of him.

  “You think that’s funny, honey?” Her blue eyes were brilliant and fixed on him.

  “No, I’m sorry. I wasn’t laughing at you. It reminded me of someone else.” Ethan kept his attention on her face. After all, a half naked woman in a squat on a stage is quite revealing.

  “Your girlfriend or wife?” The brunette smiled.

  “No, his.” Ethan pointed to Chase who was stuffing a five in a girl’s garter. “That’s my brother. He’s getting married in two days.”

  “And you, are you into his wife?” Her face went sad.

  “Hell no! She’s just funny.”

  “Good. So, you’re not into his wife, and I don’t see a ring on your finger.” Now, the brunette licked her lips and winked.

  “I’m taken.” He slipped her a twenty, stood up, and made his way for Chase.

  He should have known she was hitting on him, but these girls get so many offers he never suspected. Beautiful she was but not like Grace, who filled his mind all night except that intruding thought of Megan. He had remained seated at the table, so no one could attempt a lap dance. He had nursed the same beer and drank water instead since they had arrived. Finally, the clock struck one, and it was time to go.

  Ethan and Joshua had to help his brother, who had enjoyed himself and drank several more beers than he normally would, out the door. Chase being the groom had been forced to endure several lap dances though no one saw him complaining. Joshua had remained at the table with Ethan for a while and finally joined his other cousin in the celebration. Chase had paid good money to send the girls back to whoever had sent them over to him as a return favor. Unfortunately, Joshua had sent him three. They came back to him all at once.

  Overall, the men were drunk by this time and didn’t need their buddy to continue the party. The men split up in three groups. The first was Ethan, their only male cousin Joshua, and Chase. The next two were guys who were going home, and then the guys who were staying.

  “Well, Big Dogs, I gotta get back to work.” Joshua slugged Chase in the shoulder knocking him into Ethan. He hadn’t tasted one drop of alcohol. He was still working on Ethan’s case. The Wolf had information but wouldn’t be back in town for another few hours. They always met outside Starbucks. Ayden was a coffee drinker. Joshua wondered how much he traveled. He said something about Las Vegas. That seemed far for a New York informant.

  “Lightweight,” Chase slurred.

  “Later, Big Dog.” Ethan waved.

  “Give my love to Grace.” Joshua winked.

  If Chase wasn’t counting on him to stand up, Ethan would have accepted that challenge. Joshua had a thing for redheads. Megan had wanted him to meet Grace. Ethan hadn’t locked that down, and his cousin would taunt him. They had competed over girls before, but Ethan was in love now. Grace wasn’t a sport. She was a lady. She was his.

  * * * *

  Megan and Grace returned to Megan and Chase’s apartment at one thirty a.m. Megan left a trail of confetti out the door of the club, in the cab, out of the cab, and up to their apartment. Grace had been standing next to her, so she and a few other unlucky guests were in the line of fire when the huge bucket dumped. Megan went straight to her room. Grace went to the bathroom and tried to shake the confetti off of herself.

  Ethan and Chase returned at two fifteen. The men noticed the doorman cleaning up a bunch of sparkling stuff. They also noticed all the sparkles in the elevator, and it seemed to lead right to the door of Chase’s apartment. Upon entering, Chase, who was tipsy, slowly followed the glitter down the hall to the bedroom. Grace was in the bathroom shaking confetti out of her hair when Ethan found her.

  “Are those what they look like?” he asked.

  “Unfortunately, yes.” Grace continued to shake the shiny penis shaped confetti that seemed to find a way to stick inside every curl. She could even feel them down her shirt and pants. It was embarrassing. At least she didn’t look like Megan.

  “Come on, we’ll get the rest out at home.” Ethan shook the loose curls once more for good measure and watched them fly all over when she whipped her head up standing to look at him.

  “I’m exhausted.” Grace looked up at him and several more sparkly penises fell to the floor. She saw Ethan holding back his laugh. “Don’t you laugh at me.”

  “I’m trying not to. How did this happen?” He smiled big. Grace looked beautiful. The sequined top revealed a hint of cleavage and in between was sparkling penis confetti. He would enjoy exploring her tonight.

  “I was too close to Megan.” Grace held up her hands in surrender. She laughed. “I give up. I’ll deal with them later.”

  About that time, Chase was laughing hysterically. Ethan didn’t need to see whatever it was. He didn’t want to humiliate Megan twice in one day. The diva had been dethroned yet again. Besides, he had his own plans for the evening. “You hungry?”

  “Yeah, a little. Did you drink at all?” Grace wasn’t sure why, but Ethan seemed to look very sober for a man who just got in from a bachelor party.

  He had told her before that he only drank once in a blue moon for special occasions. He ran daily and didn’t like to be dehydrated. Ethan also kept telling her they were going home. Not to his loft but home. It sounded nice. No, it sounded wonderful. It made her even more nervous about revealing what she had to tell him.

  “I had planned to take you out, but given your accessories I think we should just head home.” Ethan pulled Grace close to him lifting her to her toes. He bent over and kissed her. A slow gentle kiss that was full of tenderness and love. Her lips tasted like lemonade. Her mouth was warm and inviting.

  “Yes.” Grace was breathless. Ethan’s kiss had transformed her body into a muscle-less frame. She melted into him, inhaled his neck and chest. She could fall asleep right then and there, and he would hold her. She knew that. Ethan would protect her. He felt like home. “Let’s go home.”

  Ethan was surprised to hear Grace say home and refer to his loft. He held her close in the cab and smiled every time a sparkling penis leaped from her hair landing on the cab seat.

  She was sleeping when they arrived. In their haste to get out of there, they left her bags at Megan’s. He was glad of it now because he needed both hands to carry a sleeping Grace up a flight of stairs.

  “Grace,” Ethan whispered. “Hold on to me. I have to open the door.”

  Grace held on to his neck and one arm left her. She opened her eyes wide grabbing his neck hard when she felt her bodyweight shift.

  “I got you.” He laughed quietly. Replacing his arm around her, he carried her in the loft. Without letting go, he shut the door and made his way to the hall, punched in the code, and then headed to the open space.

  �
�I’m awake now,” Grace said softly. Being held like this was comforting. Grace wondered if he would be able to carry her around in nine months. She had to tell him. “I have to tell you something.”

  “Let’s take a shower.” Ethan headed through the bedroom door not setting her down for an instant. In the bathroom, he set Grace on the sink. Her legs parted as he moved between them. Tilting her head up with his fingers, he gently kissed her lips again.

  Grace was lost. Her senses were on overload. Ethan was so overwhelming. His scent filled the air; his body filled the room. She was loosing her train of thought. She had to tell him something, but at that moment all she managed to say was ... “More.”

  Ethan responded with a hungry kiss nibbling at her lower lip. His hands began undressing her. Confetti spilled out of her top, into the sink, and all over the floor. Ethan smiled as he looked down upon her naked breasts. Little sparkling penises clung to her skin desperately.

  Grace looked down and realized she was still covered in confetti. It broke the tenderness of the moment and replaced it with silliness.

  “I have to take a shower. This is ridiculous.” Grace pushed off the sink and turned the shower on.

  Ethan watched her undress. The tuxedo pants fell to the floor followed by her panties. His clothes followed right behind.

  “Let me.” Ethan grabbed the shampoo then scrubbed and massaged her hair and scalp. While she rinsed, he lathered a wash cloth and scrubbed Grace.

  “You know I’m just going to dirty you back up when we get out of here?”

  “No, sir, you are not.” Grace maintained a serious face. She was back in reality. She was tired, and she wanted to tell him she was pregnant. “Ethan, I have to tell you something, and I’m afraid you’re going to flip out when I do.”

  “Then, tell me tomorrow.” Ethan wasn’t hearing it tonight. He had to have her. He needed to feel her skin against his. He wanted to see her body shake and pulse with ecstasy before collapsing in delight with him. “I need you tonight.”