A Graceful Mess (25 page)

I smile into the phone as I say, “I love you too, babe, but I gotta go. I’m about to register for my classes. Okay, I’ll be over when I get done. Ugh, it shouldn’t take too long. Wait, you’re cooking dinner? What do you have up your sleeve, Parker Porter? K, babe, seriously I gotta go. And remember I’m allergic to green peppers.”

Hanging up the phone, I make my way towards campus. There is a crowd of people standing outside of the bursar’s building. I hear a voice that sounds strangely familiar. I wonder what’s going on as my feet move me forward towards the crowd. There is a tall man standing up on stage. I think I’ve seen him in a commercial before.

“These are not promises, people. These are not threats. These are facts and I can assure you I know what I am talking about. Vote for me and allow me the chance to bring back some traditional ways. Let me help our town, our community, our country. You have the power to make a difference. Let me be the light guiding you there.”

The crowd is hooting and hollering. “Mark Jacobs, Mark Jacobs,” they chant over and over.

Our state legislator?

Pushing my way up to the front of the makeshift stage, the man standing on it looks down and we make eye contact.

His eyes.

I have never seen eyes the same color blue as mine. My hand moves, as does his, as we both raise them up towards our eyes in unison. It’s like the chanting and hooting surrounding us fades into the background. He stops talking as he continues to look down at me and we hold each other’s gaze for what seems like forever, until someone in a navy suit reaches out and grabs Mr. Jacobs’ elbow. The same arm that was touching his face a second ago, moves as he waves to his adoring fans.

“Thank you all for coming out and supporting me. I would hope you all have enough faith in me, and as always I would appreciate your vote!” With one last flick of the wrist he turns on his heels and begins to descend the stairs attached to the stage. My feet move, as my arms push and shove students and faculty members out of my way until I reach the stairs. His foot hits the grass and it’s like something in the air changes. Neither one of us speaks; we just stare, observing one another. For some strange reason, I feel like I know him. Someone coughing behind him startles us both and causes him to look away breaking the lock our eyes had on each other.

“Mr. Jacobs, we are on a really tight schedule today. Please follow me or else we will not make it to your next event on time,” says a much older, bald man as he types on an expensive tablet in his hand. Mr. Jacobs nods his head and his handler walks away, leaving us once again staring into one another’s identical eyes.

I can’t explain what transpires in that moment. All I know is I have an overpowering sense of curiosity about this man, our soon to be senator.

“You better get going before you make the ogre upset.” Mr. Jacobs laughs at my remarks.

I can’t believe I just said that.

“Have a good day, Miss…?”

“Grace Clearwater.” Extending my hand out in front of me, he takes it. His face turns hard as if he is suddenly angered by our encounter. A camera sounds in the distance as he jerks his hand away and then quickly walks towards a long, black limo parked on the side of the road. I thought politicians loved getting their pictures taken with supporters or random people in the community.

That was strange.

I can’t shake the feeling of my strange encounter from earlier today. Putting my car into park, I notice all of the lights in Parker’s house are off. Climbing out of my car, I grab my purse and walk inside. Josie runs full speed to the door once she notices it’s me. Bending down, my hands roam her head and her adorable ears, my touch causes her long tail to wag repeatedly.

“Hey, girl! Are you excited to see me?” The smell in the air is divine. I know Parker said he was preparing dinner, but he has never cooked for me before. Well, nothing fancier than hamburgers on the grill at least. The aroma in the air has my mouth watering. Dropping my tote bag and purse by the door, I walk the few steps to the kitchen. I notice there is a lit candle sitting on the counter. I look around, but Parker is nowhere in sight, so I slide my shoes off and kick them over towards the wall. When I do, I see a folded note with one rose attached to it resting on the ground. A smile spreads across my face as I reach to pick up the note and open it.

Sweetheart,

What are the chances I knew exactly where you would take off your shoes? I knew because I know you, better than anyone else in the entire world. I love you, beautiful girl. I have a special treat for you tonight, today being the day Brody was sentenced. I thought we should celebrate and I knew you would appreciate the gesture. Now go to the bathroom for your next clue…

Park

My heart skips a beat. How romantic is my man, making a special dinner to celebrate the sentencing of my psycho ex-boyfriend? Holding my rose I skip down the hallway to the bathroom. When I open the door, the lights are off but the room is lit up with candles. The tub is full of water and there are rose petals floating in it. Another small note is attached to a bottle of wine resting in between two wine glasses on the ledge of the tub.

Sweetheart,

I hope you are reading this and that the house is not on fire because of my lame attempt to woo you. If you are reading this, the wine is chilled and ready to go…but you must eat your dinner first. Find me on the deck.

I love you for always,

Park

Careful to set the letter on the floor and not by any candles I rush back into the living room and open the sliding glass doors. The sight that awaits me is breathtaking. The wooden deck has white lights wrapped around its spindles. The roped lights weave in and out of the poles with small white ribbons holding them in place. On top of the railing there are mason jars with candles burning in them. My feet crunch the flowers resting on the deck as I walk towards the most handsome man I have ever seen. At the far side of the deck, Parker is standing in khaki shorts and a white button-up shirt, except it isn’t buttoned up, but hanging open exposing his hard chest. My eyes take in the sight in front of me as a little glint off his nipple ring catches my attention. Oh, how I have grown to love that piercing. I even joked around and told Parker that I was going to get mine done. I clearly remember that conversation like it was yesterday.

He said, “Over my dead body, Grace. Well, not that I am telling you, you can’t do it. Hell, that would be sexy, but the only studio in town is owned by Ramsey, and I’d have to be dead in order for him to lay his hands on your sweet tits. No way in hell, Grace.”

I decided not to push the issue, and in reality, while it is sexy on him, I really wouldn’t want someone stabbing a needle through my nipple.

“Parker…” Words escape me as my brain tries to process everything around me. I have never had anyone do anything for me like this. This is the stuff fairytales are made of. I am living proof that happy endings are real; as rare as they are, they are real. My happy ending is smirking at me as my feet guide me into his sweet embrace.

The look in her eyes when she opened the patio door told me what her mouth couldn’t say in the moment. I watched as her head moved taking everything in and then her eyes landed directly on me. Her mouth parted as she attempted to fight back the giant smile that eventually formed on her lips.

Those lips, my lips. Lips that beg to be kissed.

Carson thought I was an idiot to go all out and celebrate Brody’s sentencing, but the hell with Carson and Brody. Today is definitely something to celebrate.

“Come here, sweetheart.” Grace walks the last few steps and stops in front of me. My arms reach out to grab her as she giggles and wraps her hands behind my neck.

“This is gorgeous, Parker. Thank you for being the best boyfriend to walk the earth.”

“I don’t know about all that, but you’re welcome. Come here.” I grab her hand as we walk the few steps off of the deck and onto my small patio. I have the table set up looking like Christmas dinner.

“Did you seriously cook all of this?” Her laughter hints at the fact that she doesn’t believe how great of a cook I actually am.

“I’m a really good cook, you will soon see.” Pulling out her chair, she bends and sits in it. I undo her silverware and drape the napkin over her tan legs. The summer sun has really left its mark on her sexy body.

“How about some wine?” She nods. Pouring the Moscato, I move closer to her and kiss the top of her head. My hand is resting on her shoulder and I can feel her skin rising with goosebumps. The thought alone, that I have that kind of pull over her from just the smallest kiss, makes me want to bend her over this table and say fuck dinner. Refraining from doing so, I lift the napkin that covers our dinner that I worked so hard on.

“On tonight’s menu we have baked chicken topped with melted pepper jack cheese, and grilled onions and mushrooms on a bed of rice. On the side I have prepared fresh steamed cauliflower, baked homemade macaroni and cheese, and for dessert we have turtle cheesecake in the refrigerator.”

“Wow, Parker, that’s pretty impressive. And you expect me to believe you did this all yourself?”

“Believe it, sweetheart, and trust me that this is the same treatment you will get for the rest of your life. You are worth every minute it took me in the kitchen preparing this meal.”

“I love you.”

“And I love you. Dig in before it gets cold and then we can relax in the bathtub.” Giving her a playful wink, I watch as she opens her mouth to take her first bite.

“Mmm. Oh…now that is good.”

“I’ve tasted something better.” Laughter erupts from her lungs, causing her to choke on her food.

Coughing she says, “You are so bad. What am I going to do with you?”

“You mean what are you going to do
to
me? Eat your dinner and then you’ll find out.”