The next morning Grace woke up alone. Had it all been a dream? Surely he would be there snuggled up to her unless ... unless he had processed everything and then changed his mind. Grace bolted up from the bed. A note was on the pillow.
Had to take care of some business before the rehearsal this afternoon, didn't want to wake you, will meet you there. Love Ethan.
Grace was pissed and sick.
After throwing up for twenty minutes, she called Megan. All of her clothes were at Megan's house, so she showered, put on the tuxedo pants, and one of Ethan's T-shirts. Grace felt so betrayed and let down. Why couldn't he face her unless he had changed his mind? Everything looks different in the light of day.
Ethan had a lot of work to do, and he needed to get it done quickly. He hated leaving her this morning, but she looked so peaceful. His heart was full to bursting. Grace was his. She loved him. They were going to have a baby. A baby, God, he was in heaven.
The church was already being decorated, and everyone was buzzing about. Grace and Megan arrived last due to Megan's indecision about her accessories. They had both agreed to keep the baby situations under wraps until after the wedding. Grace was nervous, very nervous. It was one thing to be an almost married bride pregnant in a church. It was another thing to be there in her shoes. Besides they had been there twenty minutes with no sign of Ethan.
She thought she saw him come in, but it was actually Joshua. They were about the same size. Joshua had black hair though and green eyes. He was breathtaking. She was glad he stayed in New York. Two available young men in her house could have proved to be more than one woman could take.
Finally, he arrived. Just in time for the lineup. The wedding planner situated everyone, and of course Ethan and Grace walked down the aisle together. He tried to talk to Grace, but the prissy little wedding planner barked at him like a Chihuahua to pay attention.
Joshua and his sister, Stephanie, laughed and got the same treatment. Grace could have sworn Joshua growled at her. She understood completely. If looks could kill, Grace would have caused the woman to spontaneously combust on the spot. Ethan smiled and stroked her hand with his.
"You look beautiful,” he whispered.
"Thank you,” Joshua answered. Stephanie snickered while Grace gave Ethan the evil eye.
"What?” He looked at her again. He was going to kill Joshua.
"You do look beautiful,” he said again as they walked down the isle.
Grace gave him another raised brow, and he smiled. Ethan knew he was in trouble. He could read her moods now, mostly. Her eyes gave her away at every turn. They were turning green.
Joshua teased him relentlessly as they all lined up for the second walk down the aisle. He even lined himself up with Grace. Ethan shoved him, and he bumped into the guy in front of him.
"Gentlemen, please settle down, my grandpa's old.” Malcolm, a friend of Chase's and the grandson of the minister, offered a moment of clarity before the Chihuahua wedding planner started sniping at them again.
Grace was surprised at the young man and even more so at how Joshua's sister seemed to blush all over. She was looking at the back of Stephanie, and her neck and shoulders turned pink as the young man spoke. How sweet.
The rest of the rehearsal went smooth. They went through the whole process the second time and finally were released. Megan had the rehearsal dinner planned at the Harold Pratt House. A Park Avenue mansion, it was like a museum, nothing short of exquisite.
Ethan's mom insisted that her family ride in a limo to the dinner together. It was a quiet ride. Ethan and Chase sat on one side, and their father sat comfortably arms stretched across the back of the seat with the three women.
"A man could get used to this.” Joe Young smiled at his grown sons sitting across from them.
"Don't get too comfortable,” Chase joked.
Ethan remained focused on Grace.
Grace looked out the window and played with her purse strap.
Katherine Young smiled and snuggled against her husband. Her sons were happy, so was she.
Once at the dinner, conversation moved easily. Megan wanted to treat her bridal party well, and by all accounts this dinner made up for the ridiculous dresses they would wear.
Grace excused herself and went to the ladies’ room. Ethan followed her and caught the door before she closed it. Stepping inside, he closed the door and gathered her in his arms.
"Miss me?"
"You left me."
"I had to.” He kissed her forehead. “Please don't be mad.” He kissed her nose. “You looked so peaceful. I couldn't wake you.” He kissed her lips.
"What are we going to do, Ethan? We need to talk about this.” Grace was giving in. After all, Ethan was pretty hard to resist, and his apologies were so well presented with kisses.
She leaned to look under the stalls for feet, none.
"I know, tomorrow after the wedding. We'll sit down and make plans.” He stole another kiss.
"Promise?” Grace looked into his eyes. He was happy, playful, and taking this too easy. She was still scared and unsure.
"I promise.” Ethan kissed her deeply this time. Stepping into her, he pressed her against the bathroom wall. His hands moved up her legs pulling the loose dress fabric with it. He pushed between her legs bending his knees, so he fit right against her. “I miss you every second we are apart. I want you every moment of every day."
The door opened and whacked him in the back. He jumped. Grace yelped.
They both looked to see Katherine Young walking in.
"Ethan!” His mother smacked him again, this time with the back of her hand on his shoulder. “Let the woman pee in peace. Now scoot!"
Katherine Young's face was turning pink with embarrassment.
Grace had a matching expression. Ethan barely blushed as his mother all but pushed him out of the ladies’ room.
"He gets that from his father.” Katherine was still blushing, and Grace began to fidget.
"Men.” Grace added and headed for the stall.
The less time she spent with Katherine alone right now, the better. Grace had sent her a long personal letter thanking her for her kindness. Katherine had replied with a long personal letter of her own. Grace wanted to tell her, like she would her own mother. Katherine was amazing, smart, independent, and Grace respected her.
Back at the party, Ethan was within an arm's reach of Grace at all times. It made it easy to ward off the rest of the bridal party that wasn't related and especially the one that was. His plan had originally been to convince people he had a girlfriend. Now, he had more than he ever imagined.
"Joshua, come tell Grace what you were telling me earlier.” Ethan pulled the man by the back of his neck though he was only an inch shorter and a little larger in bulk.
"Hi.” This was the first time Grace actually met Joshua Young. He wasn't at the birthday party. She would have remembered. He was gorgeous. He looked very similar to Ethan only his eyes were green and his hair black. When he came to the rehearsal, he went straight to Chase then to the line up. “I'm Grace."
"Hi. Joshua” Joshua shook her hand. Damn, he should have gone to North Carolina. Oh well, Ethan had claimed her. He knew it bugged him, so he flirted. “It's nothing really. I was telling him how I would like to get out of here. I'm sick of the city."
"Where do you want to go?” Grace looked at him, not understanding why she needed to know this.
"Anywhere quiet. I just went back to school for education, and I want to teach somewhere but not here.” Joshua shrugged.
"That's not what you were supposed to tell her.” Ethan tightened his grip on Grace. She looked up at him then to Joshua who smiled then winked. It startled her.
"Oh yeah, I was supposed to tell you a joke, but honestly, I forgot it.” Grace felt Ethan inch forward, and Joshua laughed out loud. “He's really taken with you."
"I should hope so.” Grace spared him a confused look and moved closer to Ethan. She understood now that he was just goading Ethan. She wanted to reassure him. Yes, Joshua was handsome, but he was no Ethan. “He makes me submit to him three times a day. If I don't, he spanks me."
Both men stopped goading the other and looked down at Grace. Joshua blushed and took a step back. He was not expecting the sweet little thing Ethan loved so much to be just as twisted as he knew Ethan to be.
Ethan bit his lower lip and fought his own blush. She was a fireball indeed. Grace didn't care who knew they were together. She made her interests clear. It was funny and a relief.
"And here I thought you only spanked me, Ethan.” Joshua shook his head and looked at his cousin. “She's got a mouth on her."
"Like a sailor. You should have been in the ladies’ room a second ago. My mom had to save me.” Ethan tucked Grace into his side and kissed her forehead.
"So, Grace, you live in a small town?” Joshua stopped flirting and actually talked to her now.
"Yes.” Grace felt Ethan relax, and so did she. “Why?"
"I'm looking for a job. I can't transfer from the force and try to teach kids I have probably busted.” Joshua shrugged. “I need to get away from here. This isn't my life anymore."
Grace was amazed at how easily he knew that. His sister, Stephanie, called for him, and instantly he excused himself. How did he know he was ready to leave and give up everything?
"I can't believe you said that to him, you little minx,” Ethan whispered in her ear.
"Well, he was trying to make you jealous. Clearly you have nothing to be jealous about. You're much prettier than he is.” Grace smiled, and Ethan rocked her slowly, nibbling her ear.
"Joshua is like my brother. He's a year younger than me, and we used to compete a lot. You're the first redhead I ever won.” Ethan squeezed her tightly. “He has a thing for redheads."
"I should introduce him to my friend, Evelyn. She would cure that and quick.” Grace laughed.
They continued to talk. Ethan never let his hands leave her the rest of the night.
The party finally started winding down, and Ethan practically loomed over Grace in anticipation of the end. Grace would be staying with Megan tonight, and Chase would be staying with him.
"I hate this.” Ethan growled. “Why can't they just sleep in separate rooms?"
"It's bad luck to see the bride before the wedding.” Grace stroked his face gently with her hand. It was a change to see Ethan pouting. “Don't let Chase get too comfortable in my spot."
"His ass is sleeping on the floor."
"You're so mean.” Grace smiled, stood on her tiptoes to kiss his pouting lips. “It's one night."
"Grace—come—on!” Megan yelled from the sidewalk. She had a cab waiting.
"Goodnight, Ethan.” She turned to leave. He caught her arm and pulled her back.
"Is that it?” His brow wrinkled.
"What?” Grace stared at him.
"I see how it is.” Ethan nodded.
"What?” Grace searched his eyes. Megan yelled again. Ethan turned an angry look toward Megan, and she shut up. He turned back to Grace and only softened the look a little.
"Do you love me? I mean it, Grace, don't play with me, and don't say it if you don't mean it.” He was serious. He was making a scene. Everyone was watching discreetly now.
"Are you alright?” she asked.
"Grace."
"Yes!"
"Okay.” Ethan lightened his tone. “I just have to be sure that you're sure. Are you positive?"
"I'm positive.” Grace giggled. He was nervous. “Watch, I'll show you."
Grace knew he wasn't sure about her feelings now. She had embarrassed herself in front of his mother. Megan had caught them that first time, and she practically told Joshua they were sex addicts, so what did she have to lose? So, at the top of her lungs on the streets of New York, she shouted the words...
"Ethan Young, I LOVE YOU!"
Everyone stopped talking and actually stared. His mother grabbed her husband and squeezed him tightly. Even Megan smiled. Strangers and other guests who were in earshot clapped. Ethan's face blushed, and his eyes lit up in a smile.
"I believe you. You didn't have to yell,” he said with a boyish charm. “I love you, too."
It meant the world to him that she was ready to show it to everyone. He was ready to move away. If Joshua got a job there, it would be even better. He would have family nearby. If Grace moved to New York, Joshua could move into her house and look after it. Either way, it would work out.
Grace smiled. All the while she thought she was being insecure, Ethan was just as scared of being rejected. His large frame, his masculine body, the fact that many women wanted him didn't matter. He had told her he loved her and waited for weeks for her to do the same. For the first time, she saw him as vulnerable as she was, equal.
Grace had let him in, past the barrier, where no man had gone before. She let him in to the very soul of her existence. She never imagined he would do the same, yet he had.
Grace left with Megan and watched Ethan walk away with Joshua and Chase. She wished she was going with him instead, but it was her cousin's wedding, and Megan needed her tonight.