After her shower, she stood in the girls’ room, named such, because it was decorated by Grace and Megan when they were just teenagers. Her mom didn't have the heart to change it. Of course, neither did Grace. Ethan was talking with Chase and Megan across the hall.
Grace wanted her own room back but didn't want to be rude. Plus, she didn't want to talk to Ethan. He unsettled her. She would be a good host but keep distance. Then, she banged her head on the top bunk. As she rubbed her head, she thought about booting him out of her room. Grumbling she settled into the bottom bunk.
Ethan opened the door and looked around the room. It was bright purple with a yellow and pink floral comforter on the top bunk and a blue and yellow striped one on the bottom with Grace underneath. His eyes hurt just looking at it.
What were they thinking?
He wanted to tell her she could have her room back, but she was sound asleep. His eyes wandered over the soft features of her face. Her red hair spiraled all around her head. She was beautiful. Chase was right about that. Since Grace wasn't sleeping in her bed tonight, he would. He liked the smell of it—of her.
When he got to her bedroom, he found himself in an odd situation. He wanted to snoop. The room looked all soft and feminine with a yellow floral comforter on the bed and soft pink sheets underneath. It smelled like Grace. The windows let streams of moonlight in through the thin curtains.
A chair and side table were in the corner for reading. A double closet with sliding doors was along one wall, and a long white wicker dresser was along the wall next to the door. It was big and comfortable, except the bed. A queen bed was small to him. He wouldn't mind seeing Grace in it next to him, close at hand. With that thought, he stripped to his boxers and crawled into the bed. He would have to run this off in the morning.
Morning comes too soon after a restless night. Grace opened her eyes to see the heavy wood of the top bunk. For a moment, she had forgotten where she was. The purple walls reminded her.
U
gh, Megan's old room
. They did this when they were thirteen. Why her mother let them, she had no idea, but even when Megan left for the city, her mom wouldn't change it.
She always treated Megan like a daughter instead of a niece. Megan's father and Grace's father were brothers. Megan's mom ran out on them. Her father thought a little girl should be raised by a woman, so he sent Megan to live with them when she was eleven. This room, like her mother's room, stood as a shrine to what once was.
Get up, Grace.
First impressions were over, not that she held a candle to her princess cousin, who was petite and perfect. With wild hair, plain cotton pajamas, and no makeup, Grace headed for the kitchen. She was hoping everyone was in a better mood though she herself felt crankier than ever. The twin mattress was old and lumpy. Her back was in knots from it.
Ethan stood there tall and delicious, drinking coffee as he leaned against the counter. His dark brown hair was tussled about on his head. Maybe he didn't own a brush or comb. His rich chocolate eyes looked at her and seemed to peer right into her soul. He dressed in loose cargo shorts and a Blink-182 T-shirt. A stark contrast to his brother and her cousin, who appeared more
starched
this morning.
Ethan could hardly believe his eyes when Grace entered the room. He had never seen a woman so cranky look so good. Her hair was a wild assortment of red curls that ran like a wave over her shoulders and down her back. His fingers would love to surf right through. The pajamas and T-shirt were not unlike his own sleeping attire, but of course, he, Chase, and Megan were all awake and fully dressed.
"How long have you guys been up?” Grace asked as she slowly became aware all eyes were on her. She gripped the island in the center of the kitchen for balance. Looking at Ethan kind of made her dizzy.
No
, she thought.
I got up too fast from that bottom bunk, that's it.
"We just came down like five minutes ago,” Megan said as her eyes examined her cousin from head to toe.
Grace looked a fright. If Megan had any hopes of getting her a date for the wedding, she would have to make a better presentation than this. “You're not wearing that out, are you?"
"Out, it's...” Her eyes began searching for the clock. They had all made up apparently and were now like the Swiss Family Robinson ready to go exploring.
"Eight am,” Ethan said.
"Eight in the morning?” She looked at Megan. “Where do you plan on going dressed like that at eight in the morning on a Monday?” Grace spoke in all capitals. Megan was in a crisp navy skirt and a white tank top that hugged her perfect little breasts and pushed them up.
Show off.
Everyone looked at Megan.
"Well.” She put her finger to her lips for effect. “First, I plan to eat breakfast, and then we can walk right across the street and take the bus tour.” Megan pulled the living room curtain back, holding her hand as if she just revealed what was behind secret door number one, and took a bow.
You could hear Ethan and Chase shift their heads looking one direction then the other as the ladies spoke in turn.
"You realize it doesn't leave until eleven?” Grace put her hands on her hips and started tapping her bare foot on the floor.
They shifted back to Megan.
"Yes, but I still have to get dressed myself."
Grace lifted her brow.
"You are dressed.” Grace was getting annoyed by Megan's cuteness. It was too early for cute. She needed coffee before these boys really got to watch a show.
"I have on clothes, but I still have to pick out my accessories, put on my makeup, and do something with this hair.” Megan twisted a curl on her finger.
"Okay, I need some...” Before she finished, Ethan handed her a cup of coffee. “I uh, thanks.” He must be a mind reader.
"No problem.” Ethan fought the smile.
"Well, I guess I'll get dressed and start breakfast,” Grace said as she rolled her eyes.
"Actually, I can start the breakfast if you just tell me what you want to eat,” Ethan said moving even closer to Grace. He wanted to touch her hair desperately. Most women didn't challenge Megan. He was relieved to see her cousin wasn't like most women. In fact, Grace acted like no woman he had ever met.
"She eats cookies for breakfast,” Megan stated then looked down as Grace gave her the evil eye. “What? It's true,” she mumbled.
"Breakfast of champions, huh?” Ethan set his coffee cup down. “How about pancakes?” He watched Grace as Chase voiced an agreement.
He resisted the urge to touch her.
I am against women right now. They are evil. They are trying to ruin my life.
"I don't know how to make pancakes. I was thinking cereal,” Grace said softly, embarrassed. It was true. If it didn't come from a can or box and just need a little stirring, Grace didn't cook it.
Ethan leaned in close to her.
"You don't have to make them; you can watch.” That smell, he wasn't dreaming it; she smelled like jasmine.
How can anything that smells like jasmine be evil?
Grace felt a flush of heat rising over her chest again.
What the hell? Did this guy have some crazy pheromone imbalance that makes women swoon? Well, not this woman. Grace McPherson swoons for no man.
"Thanks, but you are my guest, and I haven't cooked anything.” Grace knew her face was flushing now. She could feel it.
"And God willing you won't.” Megan didn't miss a beat.
Grace gave her the eye. Megan stuck out her tongue. It was like high school all over again.
"It's no problem really. They take two minutes to make. I mean you don't cook cereal, unless it's a southern thing.” Ethan grabbed his coffee and started about the kitchen.
"I'll help.” Chase in his khaki shorts and collared shirt knew the place by heart now.
"Well, I guess...” Grace felt invisible. She was in her own kitchen, and no one needed her to do anything. In fact, it seemed like the men were doing everything. It was hard to believe, but if Chase and Ethan were both gorgeous and domestic Gods, she understood why women wanted them.
"Come on, Gracie.” Megan tugged at her now, squelching her pity party. They headed upstairs to get dressed. As soon as they entered Grace's bedroom, Megan shut the door and tackled her onto the bed, laughing.
"Tell me.” Megan squealed. “What do you think of them?"
"You're crazy.” Grace was laughing and pushing Megan off her.
"Tell me.” She poked at Grace's belly.
"Ow.” Grace smacked Megan's hand.
"I'm sorry about last night."
"Forget about it, I have.” Grace sat up quickly on the bed. She could detect a faint scent of man in her sheets. Sandalwood, he was earthy and masculine.
"Don't you think he is just dreamy?” Megan pulled the sheet to her nose and breathed deeply.
"Who?” Grace moved toward the dresser and caught a glimpse of Megan in the small mirror on her dresser.
Megan examined her nails closely and moved on to checking herself out, pushing up her boobs and such. Grace had to smile. The girl had gone nuts. She had always been a little over concerned with her looks, but now she was just ridiculous.
The thought that ran through her head then wasn't a pleasant one. Her mother loved them both, but now Grace wondered if all the praise she gave Megan for being perky, pretty, and thin had made her believe that's how she had to be. It had the opposite effect on Grace, making her feel like she was never measuring up to Megan.
Thankfully, Megan distracted her with the topic at hand.
"Ethan,” Megan whispered as if someone else may hear. Then, she spoke clear again. “I have to get these retouched when I get back.” She wiggled her fingers at Grace.
"Dreamy? That is a strange word for an engaged woman to be using to describe a man about to become her brother-in-law, don't you think?” Now at the closet, Grace grabbed a pair of tan capri pants and a nice pink tank top.
Megan lifted up her head, looking at Grace with big blue eyes. She had the face of an angel, the same as when she confessed she slept with Shane Black in high school. He was on the football team, the only other guy in high school who gave Grace the time of day besides Mitchell. Grace felt her heart start to race.
Don't do it Megan, please.
"I have to tell you something, Gracie, and you can't judge me for saying it.” Her voice was low and serious.
Grace pulled the shirt over her head and studied her cousin. “I'm listening.”
And silently praying.
"I love Chase, I do, and I am so in love with him...” she started then looked down.
"Go on.” Grace could feel her heart race.
Please don't say what I think you're about to say.
"I saw Ethan first. They are both pretty well-known. I'm in PR so, of course, I was in charge of the gallery party. Joshua's sister hired me. It was my third job, and, there he was...” She shrugged.
"AND.” Grace was growing edgy by the moment.
Get to the point. I know what you do for a living!
Her mind was screaming at Megan, but her body was cool and unfazed.
"Stephanie said he was engaged when I asked about him, but that his brother was single and just as striking.” Now, she batted her eyelashes a mile a minute at Grace.
"That only works on men. Megan spit it out.” A flicker of her inner fire shot out, and Megan took notice.
Please tell me you are over this. Please tell me you two never hooked up. Please tell me why I care.
Grace found herself so much more concerned in the old Shane pact: never date the other's guy. Grace forgot for a moment that they were grown ups. This wasn't high school. Ethan wasn't hers.
"Well, of course, I made a b-line for Chase and harbored feelings for Ethan for about a minute and realized Chase was everything I ever wanted. Now that I know him, it would never have worked out for us anyway, he is too...” Megan drifted her gaze off toward the window.
She didn't want to tell Grace Ethan was an artist. He made good money from what she could tell, but he lived above the gallery and kept his private life to himself. His parents were wealthy. Chase followed in his father's footsteps and made a really good living doing it. Since she didn't want to seem interested in Ethan, she rarely asked about him.
Grace wouldn't care about the money part, but she really wasn't fond of art or art related subjects. In fact, she said she hated every art class she had ever taken.
"So you never..."
"NO!” Megan protested. “You know me. I would never do that. They are brothers for crying out loud.” She said it like Grace didn't already know.
"So...” Grace prompted.
"So, I feel guilty sometimes, and I am sure to treat Ethan extra evil because I would hate for anyone to know I had a crush.” Thanks to Ethan's big mouth last night, she could talk about Emma freely. “But deep down I know he had to hurt when he lost Emma. He didn't show it, but I know you hurt when Mitchell left.” She began batting her eyes again.
"We live in two different states.” Grace relaxed and grabbed a hairbrush. Megan was always trying to fix her up or get her laid. Like sex was going to solve anything. The three men Grace had experienced was enough experience to tell her she could get more satisfaction from a bag of Oreos and a gallon of milk. “Besides what makes you think we would hit it off anyway?"
"Because you're both good people, and you both had bad relationships.”
And his cousin wasn't available.
Megan pushed up from the bed and stood behind Grace, taking her hair then braiding it, just like when they were kids. Grace's hair was uncontrollably long now, right at her waist, making the big curls heavy and easy to separate. As Megan braided, she wondered when the last time Grace had a haircut was, but she wouldn't dare ask. “Ethan doesn't have a date for the wedding either. I told you he has been shooting lightning at every woman who walks by, trying to get them away from him."
"He seems alright to me. I mean I can't picture him as Thor right now.” Grace mulled it over. She sure couldn't picture him taking her to the wedding.
"Well, you could both use a friend, am I right? Besides, if you get to see him naked, I won't feel dirty asking for all the details."
Grace gasped and turned as Megan handed the end of the long red braid to her. “You should be ashamed of yourself."
"I know.” Megan smiled as she opened the door. “But I'm not."
She crossed the hall. The seed was planted. If Ethan could just woo Grace a little, he might snap her out of the funk she's been in. Ethan was avoiding women, so he would keep things on friendly ground, be polite. He would do that for Chase, she hoped. Grace would be a good host and punch him if he stepped out of line. Grace was always shy around guys though they all tried to gain her attention.