Read The Art of Ethan Online

Authors: Cara North

Tags: #Contemporary, #Fiction, #Romance, #General

The Art of Ethan (3 page)

* * * *

A few hours passed as everyone began to settle in. Grace felt herself drawn to the bedroom. As she stood over him, she heard footsteps behind her. Her palm still felt warm from touching him. His chest was like steel, hot steel. Maybe he had a fever.

"Poor guy must be exhausted,” she said without taking her eyes off of him. She couldn't keep her eyes off of him.

"Yeah, I'm really concerned.” Chase stepped closer to Grace “I hope he doesn't have a food allergy. He never eats sushi, but Megan had to have it."

"Did you all eat the same things?” Grace looked at Chase. This could be serious. Sick was one thing, but if he had a food allergy, he needed to see a doctor. She knew how to take care of someone who was just sick. She had taken care of her mother through the chemotherapy. No, she didn't want to remember that.

"No, he ate vegetable rolls. He doesn't like raw fish.” Chase shrugged. “It's weird because he really didn't want to eat there, said he knew the chef, and she was not happy with him."

"Do you think she would put something in his food?” Grace raised a brow in disbelief.

"No telling, but it is very likely now that I think about it.” Chase began rubbing his chin and nodding his head as a slow smile appeared. “Yeah, actually I am sure of it. Ha! I told him that one would come back to haunt him."

Chase snickered as he walked out of the room.

Grace took one look at Ethan, who filled up most of her queen size bed. He looked so peaceful, innocent. Maybe that's why she felt like defending him. She caught up to Chase and Megan across the hall in the guest room where Megan, unconcerned by it all, had begun to unpack.

"What are you doing?” She looked at Megan. “You're supposed to be in the other room. Ethan is supposed to be in here."

"No offense Grace, but I can't sleep in there.” She stopped and looked at her cousin realizing the words were harsh. Chase had stopped laughing as well.

"I mean,” Megan softened her voice. “Grace, I just can't. There are too many memories, can't you?"

Grace knew she couldn't sleep in her mother's room either. So that left her with one bedroom option, the dreaded girls’ room. Changing the subject back to her first issue, she looked at Chase.

"What is so funny about your sick brother? Do you really think someone poisoned him? What did you mean by that come back to haunt him business?"

Chase had no time to answer really, so he just waited for her to stop. A smile came across his face as his blue eyes lit up.

"Ethan had told me a few months ago he had met this chef, and that she had invited him to her restaurant, but he had turned her down."

Megan chimed in at this point. “Oh my God, that's right. I forgot all about that.” Now, she was laughing. “She was pissed, had the gossip columnist waiting outside her apartment all night."

"Anyway, I'm sure he will be fine. She probably just wanted to get at him.” Chase looked at Grace with a great smile full of his perfect white teeth. “He's a big guy, but he's got a sensitive gut."

Megan laughed so hard her curls bounced around from the vibrations. Grace stood, disgusted, looking at them both like they were crazy. How insensitive of them to laugh at Ethan when the poor guy was obviously in misery.

"So, why is this funny? There is a man, who has been sick for at least an hour, I know, in my bed because of some prank. Is this funny in New York?” She could hear her voice rise. “Women wonder why they are single in the city. A stunt like that is why."

The words were coming out of her mouth, but from where, she had no idea. Why was she so passionate about this? What difference did it make if some woman sought her revenge by spicing up a vegetable roll or two? She didn't know Ethan. Maybe he deserved it. Megan only told her about Joshua. All she said about Ethan was that he had women issues.

"Well, Miss Grace the innocent, never have you pulled a stunt to get even with a man.” Megan looked at her and winked. “Or maybe that's why some southern women are still single, too."

"I uh ... that is beside the point.” She stomped a foot for emphasis. Unlike when Megan did it for effect, Grace drew attention to her anger. They both must have gotten that from her mother.

"He is your brother.” Grace shifted back to a fight she may actually be able to win.

"Yes, and women hunt him. I don't know why. They all seem normal then poof.” His face began to show more concern than laughter now.

"Did you say hunt him?” Grace lifted a brow.

"Yes. They turn into the most ... crazy, wicked, just ... I don't know what when they get around him.” Chase shook his head back and forth then smiled. “I'm just glad Megan met me first, or she may be trying to marry him, kill him, whatever it is they want, too."

"Me, Puh-lease, your brother is of no interest to me. I need a man who is driven.” She winked at her beau.

"Oh thanks, baby.” Chase slipped right back under her spell.

Grace stood looking at the pair with her left eyebrow arched suspicious of them both now. Megan had insisted Ethan come with them. Maybe if he stopped throwing up, he would distract her from looking at these two handling each other all the time. Besides, it wasn't like a guy who has half of New York chasing after him would be interested in a small town girl, but while he was here, she was going to enjoy the view.

* * * *

Chase started cooking dinner. He moved around the kitchen like a pro. Aside from questions like where is this, or can you hand me that he acted like he had been cooking in this kitchen all his life.

Megan began setting the table and talked about wedding plans the entire time. Chase must really love the girl because he kept up. Grace zoned in and out.

"I want the dresses to be flawless.” Megan waved her hand in the air as if that helped bring her vision to life. “So, that morning everyone will be sewn into the dresses."

"Sewn into my dress?” Grace could see bride-zilla appear behind Megan's eyes, so she changed her tone. “That sounds neat, Meg. I'm sure it will look better that way."

Satisfied with her cousin's answer, Megan continued to talk about her plans. She envisioned her bridesmaids as a bouquet of flowers. Grace, the maid of honor, would be a rose.

On that note, Grace slipped away up the stairs to her bedroom. Megan was in a wedding trance and wouldn't notice if she skipped out for a second. The sun had gone down, and she wanted to grab her pajamas before it became too late to enter a sleeping man's room. She thought about Megan's idea and decided she also needed to figure out a way to lose a few pounds if she was getting sewn into anything.

Grace looked at Ethan the best she could with what light was left from the hall. He had obviously gotten hot because his clothes were on the floor next to the bed. The color had returned to his face. Grace bit her lower lip as she felt his forehead. He felt fine. Her temperature, however, seemed to be on the rise.

What about this man had her so out of sorts? Maybe it was how soft his hair looked.
Don't touch it.
She shook her head in thought. He was way out of her league anyway. With a deep exhale, Grace did what she had to do. She grabbed her pajamas and left the room quietly.

* * * *

Ethan could feel the soft smooth hand on his forehead, but he didn't dare open his eyes. He knew it was Grace. He heard the flip flops patting against her feet as she walked. He could smell jasmine the closer she came to him. How she was actually related to Megan was a mystery. They were like night and day. Grace had compassion, and she cared about people, even a stranger. This woman gave up her bed, even yelled at his brother for laughing at him, and here she stood, her soft hand pressing to his forehead, making sure he was alright. This was not at all what he expected.

* * * *

Chase had everything ready when Grace made it back downstairs.

"Grab a plate,” Megan said cheerfully. “My honey is the best chef around.” She planted a big kiss on his lips.

"I thought you said he was an architect?” Grace was already sick of their petting and playing.
Stop it
! she yelled at herself.
Stop being bitter. Jealous, no, Megan was the one who should be jealous. Grace McPherson answered to no man.

"I am.” Chase interrupted her thoughts. He was like apple pie, just beaming with all-American goodness. “Megan just likes to boast about my skills in the kitchen, among other places.” He winked as he piled the mashed potatoes on Grace's plate and whispered. “I think it's so she doesn't have to cook."

"Megan's an excellent cook. Me, on the other hand, I've been known to catch the place on fire.” Grace sat at the table.
Why are you always beating yourself up?
She wondered where this internal monster came from. More importantly, how was she going to get rid of it?

"If I were cooking for that piece of...” Megan had told Chase about Mitchell, but Grace didn't know that. “I mean.” She stopped talking.

"It's no big deal.” Grace was six months over it. Hell, she was her whole life over it. “I expected you to tell Chase. He's going to be your husband.” A
nd I guess that means everything between us just moved to a threesome.
Inside she was mad at her for telling him, but outside she was calm, cool Gracie. Nothing bothered her anymore. Nothing excited her either. Maybe that's why she lost the coaching job.

"I.” Chase didn't exactly know what to say. “I watched Ethan go through something similar. It was a tough time."

Tough time? Did Mr. Hilfiger really just act like he knows me?
“Really, so his bride to be walked out on him in a Vegas chapel with no explanation and no way home?"

Grace tried not to sound like a bitch, but these two were in pre-marital bliss. There was no way either of them could understand what it felt like to be left at the altar. “Do you know what it's like to think you're going to spend the rest of your life with someone and then poof-boom-bam, they're gone?"

"No, he doesn't.” Ethan's voice growled as he entered the kitchen. “These two have been just like that, in their own little fantasy, for the past, what two years?"

His presence sent her blood racing and her head spinning. Now, in addition to being the joke of her own town, she would be that poor thing at Megan's wedding. She would now be known as that sad little maid of honor, the one who lost her groom.

Ethan looked at Chase with a deep, angry eye. His anger was diffused by the hunger in his stomach. Whatever had hit him had passed now.

"Shit.” Chase could see his brother was mad, and though he himself was a big man, Ethan had at least a couple inches on him in height and a good thirty pounds or more in muscle. Ethan rarely threw his weight around, but he knew how to use it when he had to. This wasn't a good impression for Grace. “My bad."

Ethan just glared. “So, what else is on the table for discussion?” He sat next to Grace. His plate was full of mashed potatoes only. “Did you tell her I may be a father soon?"

Grace could feel her heart sink. He wasn't single. She peered at Megan now.
Why would you bring an unavailable man here with the tag line I hope you hit it off with one of them?
It occurred to her in that moment that she cared if he was available. That was a revelation all its own.

"No.” Chase lowered his voice. “But you just told them both.” He pushed up from the table and went upstairs without further comment.

If the conversation continued, they would be out back scrapping like they did when they were kids. They loved each other, but Ethan was closer to Joshua, their cousin, when it came down to it, probably because they were the same age. Chase was three years behind.

Chase was a peacemaker, a lover, not a fighter. Ethan and Joshua were athletes, gladiators, only Ethan also had a knack for art

"What?” Megan now looked in confusion from Chase's back as he left to Ethan. “What are you talking about? Who?"

The questions came like bullets hitting Ethan hard right between the eyes. Too bad they couldn't just put him out of his misery.

"Damn it.” Ethan gritted his teeth. “Well, no point in holding out now. Chloe, I don't think it's true.” It actually felt good to get it off his chest, even to Megan. “Don't tell my mother."

"That crazy bitch!” Megan stood up in disbelief. Her petite frame was tight, and her fists were drawing in tighter. Megan was little, but she was a fighter.

Grace watched as the scene unraveled. Megan obviously had no love for this Chloe person, and Ethan didn't seem happy about fatherhood.

"You know when.” With that, Ethan began eating the huge pile of mashed potatoes on his plate, never looking up at Megan again.

"That tricky little slut!” Megan just fumed. After a moment of silence, she passed by Ethan, putting a hand on his shoulder and quietly said, “I'm sorry."

He just snorted and shrugged it off. Now, Grace was the only one left in the kitchen. An uncomfortable silence was growing. Her heart was racing from the whole thing, or was it from his presence?
Say something.

"Women.” Grace shrugged. “Can't kill ‘em."

It sounded like a guy thing to say. Something a man might want to hear at a time like this.
What kind of name is Chloe anyway?

Ethan turned a dark eye toward her and shook his head. “You probably think I'm some womanizer now."

"Are you?"

"No."

"I don't let other people influence what I think.” His presence was powerful, overwhelming. She wanted to touch him in the worst way, and she had never felt like that toward anyone before.

He was scary when he was mad. He seemed dark and mysterious. It somehow turned her on.
Cold shower, Gracie, get to the shower.

"What about Megan? She's your family?” Ethan focused on his plate. This wasn't the impression he wanted to make. He hoped to have a peaceful time now that he had seen her and felt her hands on his chest and forehead. His body reheated just thinking about it.

"Chase is your brother, you let him influence you?"

"Little Brother."

"Little Cousin."

Ethan snickered. She is a fireball. He had never really been attracted to a red-head before. He was more a brunette kind of guy, yet he was simply mesmerized by her hair.

"Can I...” He grabbed a curl off her shoulder and rubbed it between his thumb and forefinger. “Nice."

"Uh, yeah.” Grace slowly pulled her lock of hair away from him. That was probably the most brazen thing a man had ever done. He just reached out and touched her.
Trouble, he was definitely trouble.

"Sorry, I like textures.” Ethan went back to his potatoes.

Trouble.
“You know you don't have to tell me what happened, but I feel I should clear up my own mess.” Grace had to clear the air about Mitchell.

Maybe then Ethan would tell her about his own mishap. Either way, she didn't like being thought of as
that poor thing who got left at the damn altar
. She suffered enough humiliation coming home two days after him, two days on a bus back.

"I was left at the altar in Vegas. My on again off again boyfriend decided he was ready to commit. Booked us a flight to Vegas, and after about an hour waiting next to
Elvis,
I discovered
Mitchell had left the building.
” She used her best Elvis impersonation and smiled.

She was uncomfortable talking about it. It made her sound like another joke, so now she told it like a joke. “It happened over six months ago, and I hadn't seen him eight months prior to that weekend..."

"Whoa, whoa. You were going to marry this guy, and you hadn't been dating in almost a year?” Ethan felt red flags pop up all around her. He had to stay away from crazy women who wanted to get married. Going to Vegas with a guy she hadn't seen in months seemed desperate. Desperate women were attracted to him.
Shit!

"We have known each other since childhood."

Ethan stared at her blankly.

"I'm almost thirty."

He still looked unconvinced.

"No one else has asked me? Hell, I haven't dated anyone else to ask me.” Grace studied his face as much as he studied hers. Finally, she shrugged. His gaze was unwavering and unnerving. “But he did, so I went."

"So, you just wanted to get married?” Ethan nodded.

"No. I mean, yes. Well, no. But, I don't know. I guess I felt like why not? I mean I don't want to end up an old maid.” Grace shook her head in thought. She hadn't really thought about it at the time. It just seemed like the thing to do.

"You're kidding me, right?” Ethan looked her over quickly. The only way this woman could end up an old maid was by choice. She was beautiful with a body to die for; she must be nuts. It was the only reason he could come up with.

"You know I really need to shower.” Grace was feeling cornered, and that chocolate gaze was burning her up.

No one questioned her. Everyone understood Mitchell was the one for her, the guy she was going to marry. If Ethan had lived in Beaufort all his life, he would have known that, too.

No, she didn't love Mitchell. She barely thought he was attractive, but he did invest time in her, sort of. Her mother always thought he was a respectable young man with a good family. He always impressed her mother, and she desperately wanted to see grandchildren before she died, but that didn't happen either.

"You didn't answer my question.” Ethan stood and carried his plate to the sink. She said no then yes. He wanted to know for sure yes or no. He didn't know why; he just had to know.

"I did, too. You're not a good listener.” Grace set her plate in the sink and darted for the stairs before he could say anything else. Why didn't Joshua come? If he had, she would be talking about lesson plans and learning strategies instead of her love life or lack thereof.

Ethan watched her run.
Huh, a woman running from me. That was strange. It was almost ... refreshing?

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