Grace changed into her pajamas when she got out of the shower. Ethan had showered down the hall and, of course, was already in bed when she emerged from the bathroom. She wasn't having sex with him. She hadn't even kissed him, yet seeing him and his bare naked body from head to waist where the sheet began to cover him, she felt nervous.
Conscious of her body and the pounds she had put on since school let out, she looked at the cotton pajamas she bought at Wal-Mart. T
his will not do.
She re-emerged in a Victoria Secret silk gown. The tag was still on it when she pulled it from her dresser. Grace thought of when she bought it, attempting to spice things up over a year ago with Mitchell. She never got the chance to use it. Then, she packed it on the rush weekend to Vegas, and again, the gown was useless. Mitchell spent more time at school than at home. When he was home, he was too tired for sex.
Ethan was asleep, so it wouldn't matter to him anyway. His brown hair looked black since it was wet, and his eyes were closed. His chest rose and fell in slow, heavy breaths. Bare of hair, it seemed smooth, yet the muscles were hard and defined. His body seemed perfect. His color was even. He must get out in the sun enough to tan or maybe he had Italian or Greek in him. He sure looked like a statue to her.
Grace looked at her own tan, which was sprayed on. Typically, she would look white as paper and freckled all over. The tan didn't hide the freckles, but it blended them in better. He said he liked her freckles. No man had ever said that before. She was tormented for them as a child.
Maybe she would let the fake tan wear off. It only lasted a few days anyway. Finally, she slipped in the bed next to him, turned out the light, and said a silent prayer.
It didn't take long for Megan to storm the castle. She noticed Ethan's door open and Grace's door shut when she woke up. After her shower, she noticed the same, but when she got downstairs, only Chase was waiting at the breakfast table.
"Where is your brother?” Megan stared at him.
"I don't know, probably sleeping?” Chase went back to his paper and coffee.
"No, he's not in his room,” she stated frankly.
"So maybe he went for a jog or something.” He didn't look up.
"Chase!” Megan stomped. “Your brother is missing, and my cousin is still in her room at ten a.m. Don't you think something is funny here?"
He pulled a corner of the paper down and glanced at her. “Nah.” He lifted the paper up and continued reading.
"Well I do, and I'm going to find out what it is.” She spun on her heel and marched back up the stairs.
"I'm sure you will, babe.” Chase continued reading.
Chase knew his brother. If Ethan wasn't awake at six sharp and running on the pavement, he was in bed with Grace. Megan's plan had worked. Though all they had originally hoped for was that they would hit it off and become friends. This, however, could complicate things, especially if it didn't stay friendly. Women never stayed friendly when it came to Ethan.
At Grace's door, Megan knocked like she was a police officer serving a warrant. “Grace McPherson, you get out of that bed and open this door right now!” she shouted. When she shook the door knob, she realized it wasn't locked. She pushed the door open and felt a sense of shock, joy, and jealousy all at once. “A-HA!"
"Megan come back in an hour,” Ethan grumbled. He nuzzled his chin at the top of Grace's head then opened his eyes wide remembering last night, but not expecting to wake up with her literally in his arms. Somehow during the night, they had snuggled in together his arms around her, her back pressed into him, her hair in his face.
Stay calm. This was the plan or at least part of the plan.
Grace had been awake since Megan got in the shower, but she was enjoying the weight of Ethan's arm across her, the way his chin felt lightly touching her head, the heat of his body along her back, the way his chest rose and fell with his breath. He smelled delicious. His body was overwhelming—large, powerful. She felt dainty and ladylike. She was not about to move.
Grace was in a fantasy, and since he couldn't see her face, she could just lay there and appreciate him. He would never have to know.
"Morning, Megan.” Grace tried to sound sleepy.
"What the hell is going on in here?” Megan rested her hands on her cute little hips and tapped her manicured toes on the floor.
Grace tried to hold back a laugh, and Ethan could feel her pulling up and away from him. He held her firmly in place.
"What the hell does it look like? We're sleeping,” Ethan answered in a rough voice. His fingers stroked over a lock of hair as he inhaled her deeply. Now, this was a vacation.
"It looks like my plan worked.”
Maybe too well. This was not like Grace at all
.
"Get dressed lovebirds we're going to the beach.” Megan closed the door.
Megan wanted them to meet, hit it off, and have each other to hang out with at the wedding. She didn't want him pawing her cousin and breaking her heart like every other woman he had met. She wanted her to meet Joshua. He was gentle and more like Grace. Joshua wanted to leave New York. He was ready to settle down. Ethan ... there was nothing she could do about it now. Yet, something didn't seem right.
"How's the surf here?” Ethan spoke into her hair. The curls were all over him. He could feel them on his neck, down his chest, soft tendrils everywhere. He was in a sea of jasmine. The siren had lured him out to his doom. He just knew it.
"I don't know. I never go to the beach.” Grace rolled over to face him. His morning erection had all but caused her to catch fire as it pressed against her. She had to get distance between their bodies.
"We should just stay here in bed awhile.” Ethan peaked one eye open and caught her gaze firmly on his mouth. He licked his lips and could have sworn her breath hitched.
"Come on sunshine,” she said trying to regain herself. “Time to face the music.” She wanted to kiss those lips so desperately but was insistent that he make the first move. She may have invited a strange man in her bed, but she was still a lady. Every minute she was with Ethan, the more she felt like a sex crazed lunatic instead.
He groaned, rolled over, and pushed the blankets back. Finally, he sat up in the bed for a moment, watching Grace continue on her morning routine.
What the hell was she sleeping in?
Not the cotton pajamas he had seen the morning before.
Ethan was glad he had fallen asleep before he could see that nightgown, or it would have been a restless night. Instead, he slept like a baby. It must have been due to exhaustion. Taking that run yesterday, he had no idea he wouldn't see sleep till nearly three am. He had wanted to talk to her, but as soon as his head hit the pillow, he was out.
Grace tried to stay focused. After seeing him this morning with his hair disheveled, his body naked from the waist up, her temperature was rising. That man packed a lot of heat. She could feel it,
all of it
pressing into her when he woke up.
As long as she didn't see him stand, nothing was confirmed. Grace grabbed her clothes and was in the bathroom in a flash, leaving him stretching and yawning in her bedroom.
Ethan shook his head in delight as she bounded into the bathroom. Grace was still running from him though she had invited him into her bed. When he woke up this morning, his body reacted and nestled right there between her soft round buttocks. It was all he could do not to press against her and groan.
The guys grabbed their new surfboards and hit the water. Grace had agreed to keep the boards at her house for when they visited. Like that was ever going to happen again. She watched as they paddled out. Looking at Ethan's body made her tingle all over, so she focused on her book instead. Megan, however, wanted to know everything. And so, the inquisition began.
"Tell me everything.” She folded her magazine and looked at Grace. She pushed her big Chanel sunglasses on top of the headscarf.
"There's nothing to tell really.” Thank God she wore her dark sunglasses today. At least she can hide her lying eyes. “We were talking, and one thing led to another and...” She shrugged.
"And.” Megan was actually leaning toward her now.
"You know, we started fooling around and stuff. Then, we just moved upstairs, and well, there we were this morning.” Grace read the lines in the romance novel in her lap.
Why couldn't this be a love scene? Huh, not a bad idea.
She began skimming.
"You're lying.” Megan shook her head. “You lying little bitch, I can't believe you are lying to me."
Megan knew Grace. She flirted but was always home at curfew. She knew Ethan. He was a prowler, a deviant. He would have come on too strong, and Grace would have shut him down if not punched him. How they got in bed together still didn't register.
"Lying?” Grace feigned offense. “I'm not lying. You saw with your own two eyes!”
Here we go.
She found a great detailed passage, skimmed it, then took a breath.
"So, then tell me."
"I'm not giving you the play by play. I'm a lady.” Grace turned to face her cousin in that Calvin Klein bathing suit, those Chanel sunglasses, and matching headscarf.
Grace had been privy to all the details of Megan's men since high school. Megan described Chase and his abilities in graphic detail. It was more than she needed to know and now made her wonder how Ethan stacked up to his little brother.
Enough!
Megan felt furious.
Grace is trying to steal my thunder, plus play me for a fool.
"Honey, if you slept with Ethan, it would be all over you. And you, you don't look a bit different than you did last night.” Megan smirked as she reclined again and flipped through her magazine.
"All over me? What's that supposed to mean?” Grace raised a brow, but Megan couldn't see it.
"That's why I think you're lying.” Megan peered at Grace with those blue eyes. “But if you're not, then tell me. I've heard tales of Ethan before,” she warned her. Ethan was well-known amongst a certain crowd. How could women not want to sleep with Ethan after that article in
Vanity Fair
where Emma dished on what a sensual lover her fiancé was.
Quoting her novel, Grace laid out the scene.
"Well, first he pulled me into him with those masculine arms of his.” She pushed up her sunglasses now, too. Megan didn't know who she was dealing with today. Grace turned her gaze to the ocean, to Ethan. His long lean body balancing on that surfboard was enough to transform him into the very character of that book she clutched at desperately. “He was powerful, yet tender ... sensual and erotic. He did things that..."
"Okay, enough.” Megan pushed her glasses back down. That was almost a direct quote from the
Vanity Fair
article, so they had indeed crossed that line.
Shit.
Grace smiled and pulled her glasses back down. Her attention alternated between the scrumptious antics of the novel's leading lady and the hero, competing detectives on a case, and Ethan surfing in the water. With a sigh, reality slipped in for a moment. She did remember every detail, every line of his face, every sound of his laugh, and every curve of his body that had lay next to her all night. Funny she had known Mitchell all her life, and she could barely remember what color his eyes were now.
"Come on, Megan. Let's take a walk.” Grace stood and reached for Megan's hand, pulling her up. “What else is there to get ready for your big day?"
Megan was relieved. At least Grace still knew what was important right now, Megan's wedding. They walked down to the pier and back.
The guys were sitting on the beach blanket, surfboards stuck in the sand with a group of young babes surrounding them in a half circle. They smiled as they noticed the two women approaching. Megan couldn't wait to bust their dreams and claim her man. She lived for moments like this. Chase looked small compared to his brother, but at six one he towered over Megan's petite five-three frame.
"Come play in the water, honey.” Megan called to Chase, holding out her hand. She pitched the scarf and sunglasses close to the blanket. He immediately got up and walked right through the girls to Megan.
Ethan looked at Grace, wondering if she was going to stake a claim or leave him to his fan club. Grace smiled and held her hand out. He was pleased.
"Excuse me, ladies,” he said politely and walked around them toward Grace.
She was beautiful. Her hair loosely pulled back in a ponytail. She wore a full coverage suit. The top was like a tank-top with skinny straps, and it fit pushing just a hint of the ample bosom above. The bottoms were like shorts but smaller. He loved that she didn't feel the need to display herself, yet he wished there was more he could see.
The group of young girls watched him take her hand and began to walk back down the beach whispering and laughing. Grace felt good. Here she was almost thirty, and she held the hand of the man every woman in the area was eyeballing.
"So, you going in?” He nodded toward the ocean, holding her hand loosely. He wanted to grab her and press his wet body against hers.
"Oh no, I don't get in the ocean.” Grace swayed back and forth nervously.
Please don't ask me to get in the water.
Her fear of the ocean was deeply ingrained. Ethan's body was a welcome distraction from the thought. Her eyes watched the water bead and fall down his chest. Salty, right now he would taste like salt water.
"You live next to the beach, and you don't get in the ocean?” Ethan shifted his eyes to Megan and Chase, laughing and dunking one another between waves. He had to feel Grace next to him. Maybe a little peer pressure would work. “You're gonna blow our cover if you don't go in."
"I, uh, I ... just.” Her heart was racing. How could she tell him how afraid of the ocean she was? After all, her father died in the ocean. Her mother would never let her swim in the ocean, never let her go with Megan and her dad on his boat.
If it wasn't a clear chlorinated pool, she wasn't allowed in it. She couldn't let him think she was afraid though. That was the first thing her college buddy, Evelyn, taught her about men.
If they think you're afraid of something, they will play on your weakness.
Mitchell definitely did. “No, I just never."
"Come on.” He pulled her hand. Slanting her a look, he wasn't sure, but he thought she might be afraid.
"My glasses."
Ethan let go of her hand and delicately pulled the frames away. Her eyes were now brown and fearful. He took two steps and tossed the glasses to the beach blanket. “Let's go.” He grabbed her hand and led her to the water. He didn't like to think she was afraid. He wanted to prove that she had no reason to fear him. Ethan didn't know why that was important to him, but it was. “Trust me, Grace."
"Do you know how many babies were born on account of trust me?” She remembered that line from a comedy club performance and blurted it out like she had a sudden case of turrets syndrome.
"Well, I'll be sure and use protection. Let's go.”
What is wrong with her? Had Megan told her something to change her mind?
“Are you afraid?"
"No, that's ridiculous.” Her heart was pounding. Couldn't he see it? It felt as though it would burst out of her chest at any minute now.
"I can swim.” As if that helped. “I've just never..."
"So.” Ethan had pulled her closer to the water, and the wave splashed on her legs. The cool water sent chills all over, and her breasts stood to attention. He had to get her in the water. “Trust me. I won't let you go, Gracie, I promise."
It sounded like he just called her Gracie. Only family and really old friends called her Gracie.
"It's cold.” She laughed nervously, taking one more step toward him. She could see in his eyes he was telling the truth. She could trust him. That sent a tug at her already thunderous heart.
"Okay.” She gasped as the next wave splashed on her legs.
"Come here.” His voice was thick. He leaned over with arms open as if to hug her. “Come with me."
She must have been drunk off of pheromones because she moved closer and before she could protest, he had lifted her in the air and began walking into the water.
"Hold on.” Ethan pressed them both into the water easily. Grace gripped his neck like she would die if he let her go. It felt good to have her arms around him. Maybe if he just got a little of Grace out of his system, he could return to New York and return to work, return to solitude.
"Oh my God.” Megan watched as she saw Ethan carrying Grace into the first wave. “I can't believe my eyes."
"What baby?” Chase looked around but only saw Ethan carrying Grace into the water. “You want me to carry you like that?” He lifted her easily. She smacked at his chest in play.
"No, silly, she is terrified of the ocean.” She watched in amazement. “This is the first time she's ever been in."
"In the water?"
"Yeah, my uncle, her dad died on a rescue mission. My aunt hated when I came to the beach. If my dad hadn't brought me..."
"It's okay, baby. Ethan won't let her get hurt out here.” Chase knew Megan only wanted the best for Grace. She always talked about her, but Grace was fickle, set in her ways like an old woman instead of a woman in her prime. If Megan worried, so did he, and that was a lot where Grace was concerned.
"Okay,” Ethan said setting her down in the water. “We are about chest deep, but as the waves come in, you have to jump up and over them.” He held his arms around her. He loved the way her skin felt on his hands. Her eyes were brown and big. Her pupils were dilated, her body full of goose bumps. She was afraid of something. Now that she was chest to chest, he could feel her heart pounding. “Are you okay?"
She clung to his arms and breathed deeply in and out.
"Look at me,” Ethan said softly. “When I say jump just push up, I got you. You're not going anywhere. Just don't let go of me, okay?” He smiled. “You'll be surfing in no time."
Grace was aware of his cocky self assured posture and statements. Ethan had no doubts about who he was or what he was capable of. It both intrigued and annoyed her. She wanted that self actualization, and he had it in spades.
Megan and Chase made their way over. As they approached, Megan winked at Grace. She was in too deep now, and there was no way she was going to give Megan the opportunity to start teasing her like she did when they were teenagers.
Grace swallowed a part of her fear and thought about the way Megan and Chase were playing before Ethan carried her in here. The water wasn't that scary. She relaxed her grip and pushed back moving away from Ethan. Her senses were on overload. Too much Ethan, too much ocean.
He was grabbing her hand and saying something when she felt the wave hit her from the side. Her hand slipped right away, his fingers passing hers.
Then, her feet were up and her head was down, and then she realized she had been toppled by a wave and was alone. Under the water, she rolled again as the panic started.
Damn it, Grace. Why weren't you listening. Silence and darkness,
she thought.
Is this what my dad felt before he died?
Grace could feel arms around her pulling her up hard. Then, the air hit her lungs. She could breathe again. She coughed and coughed and was afraid she would throw up.
"Grace!” Ethan had her firmly in his grip. “Are you okay? Why didn't you jump? Where were you going?"
She scared him. He didn't like that.
"Gracie.” Megan was now next to her, pushing the loose hairs back away from her face. “What the hell are you doing? You scared the shit out of me!” Megan was almost between Ethan and Grace now. He had them both within his massive arms. It was only because he could tell Megan was scared herself he let her weasel between them.
"Jump ladies.” Ethan made sure they both stayed above the wave.
"You wanna get this?” He motioned at Chase, who just stared in shock. He had probably never witnessed compassion like that from the diva. It may have also bothered him that she was in Ethan's arms. Ethan didn't know or care why his brother was stunned, but he wanted Megan out of his space.
Grace took a deep breath and felt embarrassed now that she wasn't dead. Megan was tending her like an infant. It was just a wave. How humiliating.
"I was thinking,” was all Grace could say. Megan had grabbed her almost as hard as Ethan. Why wouldn't she, Grace was all the family she had left.
Ethan laughed. “Okay, well, enough water for one day. You scared me to death, woman."
His hands were firm but gentle. Her body shook in little tremors of fear beneath them. Grace was in shock. She just didn't know what to do. It had been so long since she
felt
anything, and now she was surging with emotions.