Six O'clock came early. Grace woke up hugging the pillow Ethan had slept on. His scent still filled her sheets. The shower curtain would have to be replaced but another day. This morning the look of it gave Grace a second wind. She grabbed her bag, told the neighbor she was going to be away for the weekend, and headed to the mall.
By comparison the Jacksonville Mall was considered small. It had improved greatly over the years and now had a
Gap, Victoria's Secret
, and other staple stores. Grace had a hair appointment at ten sharp. She hadn't cut her hair since before her mother died, but she felt like making a change, a real change.
The girl asked three times before taking the scissors a little below the shoulder and chopping it all off. It took a while to straighten it, but with the layers, it looked great. It was different, very different, but then so was she.
Next stop, the
Gap
, the sales clerk was actually from New York and married to a Marine at Camp Lejeune. She proved to be more helpful than Megan's clippings, which Grace promptly tossed out after the first outfit made her cringe when she saw herself.
Armed with a few new outfits and some accessories, she felt transformed but comfortable. A quick stop in
Victoria's Secret,
and she was done.
The drive to Albert Ellis airport, just outside of Jacksonville, seemed forever. Grace was beginning to regret flying out from there. It was closer now, but on the trip back, it would be almost a two hour drive home.
Ethan's worth it. Whoa, where did that come from?
Grace shook her head.
Megan better not forget to pick me up.
New York, New York
John F. Kennedy airport was huge in comparison. Grace finally made her way to baggage claim and looked around for Megan. No sign of her.
Shit.
It was five thirty, and Grace was growing impatient. She finally found where her bags should be and saw Chase. She ran up to him relieved.
"This place is huge,” Grace said as she hugged him.
"Wow, your hair looks great.” Chase was the pick up. Thank God Grace was already dressed and ready. The party started at seven, and everything was running behind.
"Thanks, so what's the plan?” Grace looked up at him in anticipation.
The limo pulled up outside the Gray Alexander Art Gallery, and Grace grew more nervous by the second. The limo seemed parked, so she looked out the window and saw Ethan headed right for it. He looked good. Damn good. He wore khakis and a button down shirt with a blue tie. He seemed more put together, even his hair was brushed. He opened the door waving the driver to stay put and slipped inside.
"Holy Shit!” He jumped realizing someone was in the car.
"Grace!” He immediately grabbed her and pulled her into his arms hugging her tightly.
"Happy Birthday, Ethan!” Grace was nervous, but now he was there, she felt relieved. Beyond that she felt alive. He was breathtaking and looking at her like he wanted to eat her alive. It made her feel so good.
He sat back and looked at her. She cut her hair, straightened it. The black dress was fitting, heels, wow.
"All this for me?” He was beaming with happiness. He didn't care if she noticed. It was his day, and his only wish had come true.
"Well.” Grace blushed. “I want to give an Oscar worthy performance."
God, it felt good to see him. She spent one night without Ethan, and it felt like a lifetime. How could she face the weeks ahead alone?
"Then, we should turn this thing around and go back to my loft.” His face was buried in her neck now. His lips began pulling gently at the soft flesh there. His voice grew low and hungry. “You think they will miss me?"
"Yes.” It was more a rasp than a statement. This wasn't why she came. Was it? “They're your family."
"Then, I better stop this now.” Ethan couldn't help it. She was intoxicating, every taste leaving an insatiable hunger inside him. “I do hope to continue it later."
"Maybe, if you're good.” Grace felt sexual and free. His lips were leading her down a path of seduction. She had never been seduced before.
His hand was on her thigh, his fingers inching beneath her dress. Her hands had grabbed his tie with one and the back of his neck with the other. She slid her hand to his chest and pushed him back gently. “Now, behave."
"I'm not a patient man.” Ethan moved in for her lips.
"You are tonight.” Grace blocked his kiss with her hand. He was in rare form, but she had to meet his family, Megan's in-laws. This was her first impression, and she had to make it count. “I'm not about to get out of this limo with lipstick all over my face. It will remain right here, on my lips."
As if she had timed it perfectly, the limo pulled up to the restaurant.
"One little kiss.” Ethan spoke muffled into her hand.
"No, sir.” Grace had to exhibit great self-control because the birthday boy had obviously lost every ounce of it. “Not yet.” She dropped her hand, and the limo door opened.
"Now?” Ethan looked at her.
"Out.” Grace pointed to the door.
Reluctantly, Ethan drug himself out of the limo. He made a discrete adjustment and held a hand out to Grace.
When she stood next to him, he could appreciate her from head to toe. Ethan decided then that this would be a short party. He had a gift to unwrap, slowly.
"Ready to meet the family?” he asked.
"Ready as I'll ever be.” Grace smiled. She had to meet them sooner or later, and the more people she knew now, the easier it would be at the wedding. “Who should I pretend to be?"
"No one, just be you tonight.” Ethan felt a strong lump in his throat. He didn't want her to pretend to be anything. Just fudge the details of their relationship a bit. Hell, he wasn't sure he was pretending anymore himself.
The hostess led them to the back room where a long table was set, and a group of people were already talking while enjoying wine and spirits.
"My Baby!” An older woman stood up and came rushing to Ethan. She crushed him in her arms. “My Ethan, thirty-five years old.” She released him and looked at Grace. Her brown eyes traveled over her head to toe. “Grace?” she asked unsure.
"Yes, ma'am.” Grace held out a hand.
This had to be his mother. He had her eyes. Other than that, she was a petite woman, just as Megan had described her. Jet black hair with a single gray streak running root to tip at the front, her Channel suit was pink and white. She looked ... intimidating.
"You don't look a thing like Megan.” She smiled, taking her hand. “I'm Katherine Young."
And so began the meet and greet. Ethan's father was next in line. She noticed immediately how similar they looked. He was a striking man. Ethan mirrored his size almost perfectly. The main difference was the eye color. Joe Young had beautiful piercing blue eyes, just like Chase.
Of course, Megan and Chase had reserved seats next to them. Grace sat next to her cousin, who was hell bent on being unselfish this night. Megan was in rare form indeed. Quiet, she let Ethan grab all the attention. Grace decided to check out the moon when they left. It all seemed surreal. Once the main course was over, the wait staff busied themselves removing plates and preparing for the dessert.
Ethan sat to the left of Grace. It wasn't until he grabbed her hand under the table she realized he was left-handed. His right hand held her left and pulled it to his lap. Gently, he stroked it with his fingers.
Her heart began racing, and butterflies began flying again. He caught her gaze, and they stared at one another as though they were having a private conversation with just a look. He continued to stroke her fingers and tickle her palm. They were oblivious to the rest of the table. Incidentally, that was why Ethan didn't answer his mother on her first, second, or third call.
Ethan was stroking Grace's soft long fingers, looking into her eyes, lost deep in the green pool enjoying the hunt for flashes of brown or gray in the prism she often reflected. He couldn't wait to get out of there. The table was like white noise, just buzzing in the background. Even with twenty people there, it all came down to them.
His cousin, Stephanie, pinched his leg under the table making him yelp, bringing him back to life in time to hear his mother speak his name in laughing frustration.
"Yes?” He turned to look at her. The entire table was quiet, all of them looking at him. “I'm sorry, did I miss something?"
"The cake.” His mother smiled and pointed.
Sure enough there was a poor waiter standing there between him and Grace with a cake whose candles had all but burned down.
"Shit,” he said feeling horrible. It looked heavy. The waiter placed it on the table between them. Ethan blew out the last two candles that burned. Everyone broke out in laughs and a few whispers.
Grace felt the nudge of Megan's elbow in her ribs. She leaned over to hear her.
"What are you doing?” Megan said sincerely.
"What do you mean?” Grace whispered back.
"Did you guys smoke something before you got here?” Megan looked at Grace seriously.
"No, what, are you crazy?” Grace tried to keep it down, but that was a ridiculous thing to say.
"Me, I sang happy birthday. We all did. You two just stared at each other with goo-goo eyes the whole time.” Megan's eyes were quick and searching. “Something's different about you, Grace. I can't quite put my finger on it, but something's happening."
"Open the gifts!” his mother shouted. Katherine Young could not believe her eyes. Ethan was in love. She never believed the day would come, but a thirty-fifth birthday was as good a day as any. Maybe she would have two sets of grandchildren before long. “Mine first.” She passed a thin box around the table.
Ethan began opening gifts and thanking everyone. He hated the attention and only wanted to leave with Grace. It was Megan's turn. Chase handed her the card; then, she passed it to Grace. This was her cue. Grace didn't give the card to Ethan. She held it up for him to read.
Direct From North Carolina. The Gift You Wanted Most.
Love Chase and Megan.
"What?” He looked over to the couple, who sat proud in their seats. “You did this?"
"Yes.” Megan shook her head. Grace shook her head, too. Chase shrugged with a nod.
"Hands down, best gift ever.” Ethan was touched. After all the fuss Chase had put up, he and Megan pulled through. “And, on that note...” Ethan stood taking Grace by the hand. “I am going to take my presents, all of them.” He bowed to Megan. “And go home."
The table grumbled, but Ethan insisted. His mother winked at Grace. Her smile was sincere, and her hands clasped over her heart. She looked at her in a way that made her fidget. Grace could see why Megan was intimidated. For a petite thing, she had a larger than life presence.
The limo door had barely closed shut, and Ethan was kissing her. Kissing her neck, kissing her collarbone, his hands were uncontrollable.
"Ethan.” They both only had one glass of wine, so they were sober. “Wait."
"What?” He stopped kissing her but remained at her neck nuzzling his nose in a slow soft circle. “What's wrong?"
"I don't want those people to think I'm a bad person,” Grace whispered. God, he made her crazy. She could feel her body flame with desire. Her stomach coiled; her nipples tightened.
"Impossible.” He pressed his lips to her neck now.
"I'm serious. Your mother winked at me.” Grace pulled away and faced him. She would have to get out of his reach to have a serious conversation. “She thinks we're, you know."
"I know.” Ethan nodded and sat up straight. He wasn't expecting his mother to react like that either. She normally just acted cordial. Of course, the only other woman he had brought around was Emma. “Grace, it's my birthday. Can we talk about my mother tomorrow?"
"No. I have to sort through this now. I can't just lie to all those people.” Grace hadn't expected to like them. She didn't like lying to family. Eventually someone would find out. That could look bad on Megan. Why couldn't he just come clean with them and say she was helping him out? Didn't he trust them? Don't they know what's going on in his life?
Ethan let out a frustrated groan. Emotional and sexual frustration was riding him hard. He hadn't wanted a woman like this since ... never. He wasn't sure why he had to have her now. He just did.
"What do you want from me, Grace?” He looked at the ceiling of the car. Chase called it a mile away. How could he not have seen it? All women want commitment, every last one of them, even his Grace. He was blind with lust, stupid. He knew better. “Do you want me to call her and tell her that you and I are just friends, you want me to call and tell her we're just lovers?"
Ethan felt betrayed. This was the plan. How can he explain that if he told his family about Chloe, they would get so involved it would end up a bigger mess than it already was? He felt mean.
"You want me to call and tell her we're engaged?"
"Are you high?” Grace looked at him disgusted. How dare he insult her like that? She wanted him to be honest. Just tell them they were friends. Did he think she was trying to use him?
"Me, this was the plan.” His hand circled in the air in frustration.
"No, the wedding was the plan. This, this was just me.” Grace could feel her chest ache. That was something she had never felt before. Even after standing at the altar in Vegas for an hour waiting on Mitchell, her chest didn't hurt. “Megan thought it would be a nice surprise for your birthday."
"It was.” Ethan was growing quiet, distant. In almost a shout, he turned to her and blurted out, “I will not leave New York, Grace. My life is here."
"I'm not asking you to.” Grace wasn't sure why he was being defensive but had an idea that she opened an old wound somehow, unknowingly. It was almost as if they were having two separate conversations. “I just don't want to be the joke at your family dinners or feel uncomfortable when I come to see my cousin."
Grace could feel the tears begin to well up in her eyes and breathed deep and quiet trying to squelch them. She hadn't cried in years, but within a week, she had cried twice—once on the beach and now in this limo. What was going on?
Ethan heard the change in her voice. Her words were honest. Now, she was going to cry. He had hurt her feelings.
Damn, this was not how I pictured this night going.
He looked at her. She stared out the window. Her lower lip trembled, and she was fighting the tears hard.
"Grace,” Ethan said softly, sliding close to her slowly.
"I'm sorry, Gracie.” He touched her hand, and she pulled away. Maybe she wasn't trying to trap him. No, she wouldn't do that. His head and his heart were in a tremendous battle over this woman. Something he had never dealt with before.
"Please, Grace, I'm a dick.” He slid his hand on hers again, and she didn't jerk away. He slid closer then off the seat all together.
"Gracie, please, look at me.” Ethan was now on his knees his hands on her hands resting in her lap. “Please."
Grace faced him. She wasn't really sure why she was crying. She had agreed to play this game. He needed her for this. It must be getting close to her cycle, all the hormones. Yes, she dismissed it, overemotional. Still one tear escaped down her cheek.
Ethan caught it with his lips. Pressing gently into her cheek, he then kissed it away.
"Please don't cry,” he whispered.