Falling Into Grace (32 page)

“I told you money is not an issue. I want to give you everything you could ever want.” I realize he means this.

“I feel inferior because I can’t match these presents in return.”

“Hannah, being with you is better than anything you could ever buy me. I wanted to buy you the matching necklace and earrings, but I thought it would be too much, too fast. I want you to have nice things, so let me do this.” He picks up my hand and kisses it.

“I love it…” I want to tell him I love him, but I can’t. I shift closer and take his hand in mine. “Thank you, Grant, it’s the nicest thing I have ever gotten.” I lean my head on his shoulder, and he wraps his arms around, pulling me in tighter. He takes my left hand and kisses where my rings used to be.

“You took your rings off.” I don’t look at him. I just stare at my hand. I have marks where the rings were and probably will for a while.

“I thought I would see how it felt not wearing them. Plus, I didn’t want people thinking you were with a married woman.” I try to smile at him but fail. He kisses me and we sit like this the whole way into the city. No words are spoken; we just enjoy being next to each other.

As we get onto Park Avenue, Grant sits up.

“Are you ready for this?”

“Ready for what?”

“The press line. I want you to walk it with me.”

“What does that mean?” I sit up, alarmed.

“We stand and take pictures and answer questions about the charity and all that stuff.” I freeze.

“Grant, I have never done this before. Are you sure you want me to go with you?”

“Of course. I want to show you off to the world.” The grin comes back on his face, and I agree. I get butterflies in my stomach thinking
about it. He wants me to do this for him, so I will. It’s the least I can do, since he just gave me a forty-one-carat bracelet.

I begin to fidget as we pull up to the sea of people. I can see Becca and Aiden getting out of their limo, and I wish I could be like her. She is tall, beautiful, and confident. I watch as they begin to walk and see the flickering of all the flashes from the cameras. Our limo creeps up and I look at Grant.

“You OK?” His voice is gentle. I nod my head and he takes my hand while we wait for the driver to open the door. I watch as he steps out in one graceful movement and buttons his tux jacket. I slide over and see his hand out for me to take. I smile at him and take his hand. Slowly I step out of the limo and onto the sidewalk. Grant helps me straighten out the train of my dress, and I blush as his hand sweeps my bottom. He is what I have always wanted, but it wasn’t until now that I realize this. He places his hand in mine so our souls are touching, and we begin to walk.

I see Becca and Aiden posing together farther down, and pray that I don’t fall flat on my face. I can hear people asking Grant questions, and he shoots one-word answers back at them. As we approach Becca and Aiden, Grant stops me. He slips his hand out of mine and brings it to my back. His fingers are creeping into the side of my dress, and I shoot him a look. He gives me a sly smile and kisses me. I can feel him trying to relax and distract me at the same time, and he succeeds. He starts to lead me forward; the flashes of light are coming from every direction. I’m pretty sure I’m going to look like a deer in headlights in all the pictures. When we stop, he takes his hand from my back and wraps it around my waist to pull me closer to him. I steal a quick glance at his beautiful face and begin to smile.

People are shouting his name from every direction so they can get a photo, but he looks at me and whispers in my ear, “In case I forget to tell you later, I’m falling in love with you.” He’s falling in love with me, and I’m falling in love with him. It’s now or never Hannah. Tell him how you feel. I let my hand wander down to his perfect butt and I squeeze it.

“Right back at you,” I say, beaming with excitement. Then I hear my name. I turn and see Mrs. Grace.

“Hannah, I’m so happy you are here.” I look at her in shock as she leans in to hug me.

“Tori, what are you doing here? You should be home resting.” I pull away and take her hands in mine while getting a good look at her. Her tall, slender body looks amazing in a navy-blue gown. I see the high neckline, and I know she chose it to hide her incision line.

“Oh, Hannah, stop worrying about me. If anything happens, you’re here.” She gives me a wicked smile and winks at me.

“Mother, we have to keep moving,” Grant says, interrupting us.

“Take some pictures with me.” She gives him a loving smile, and he steps closer to her. I start to step back to get out of the way, but Grant grabs me.

“Oh no you don’t, she wants us together.” I smile at his words and think
yes, she does
.

He pulls me back in, with Mrs. Grace on the other side. With both of his arms around us, we pose for a few more pictures. I hear them yelling, “Who is your date, Mr. Grace?” Mrs. Grace steps away.

“This is Hannah, Grant’s girlfriend,” she announces.

We look at each other and laugh. We haven’t even talked about it yet, and here she is telling the world we are together. I don’t think he minds because he did just tell me he is falling in love with me.

After what seems like hours of posing and smiling, we walk into the hotel lobby. I feel like an arm ornament, and I want to find Becca. I glance over at Grant, who is in deep discussion about a hotel he is building on a private island and think he won’t notice if I slip away. I slip my hand out of his, but he grabs it back. He stops talking and directs all his attention to me. The men surrounding him stare at me as well. I feel shy all of a sudden.

“I’m just going to talk to Becca,” I whisper in his ear, trying not to draw any more attention to myself.

“I hate to see you go.” He gives me the million-dollar smile and I walk away. I get a few steps away when I hear him say, “But I love to watch you leave.” I turn around, blushing.

“Behave, will you.” He takes the few steps that separate us and kisses me. I place my hands on his lapels and gently push him away.

“Come find me when you are done talking business.”

“Do I bore you, my love?” I love the sound of those words as they slide off his tongue.

“Terribly,” I tease. I kiss him again and walk away, smiling, because I can still feel his eyes on me.

CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE

I
see Becca talking to a man, and as I approach her, I feel a hand on my elbow directing me away. When I turn, I’m face to face with Aiden.

“I need a moment with you.” His voice is serious, and I follow him a few feet away to a small alcove in the lobby. When we stop, he faces me. “I don’t want this to be weird.” I sense his uneasiness.

“Aiden, don’t.” I make sure not to show any expression. We are surrounded by hundreds of people, and I don’t want to draw any more attention. “It is what it is. I wish you the best with Becca.” I smile at him and in a friendly gesture, I touch his arm.

“Hannah, I don’t want Becca. I want you.” His look gets intense.

I try to remain calm and collected, but his words hit me deep in my soul. I feel like the wind has been knocked out of me. I want to cry at his words, because they are what I wanted to hear days ago, before falling for Grant.

“Well, you fucked it up.” My voice gets lower, and he steps closer to me. “I would be here with you if you didn’t fuck my best friend and call me a fucking whore. You did this, not me.” I step back and see Grant’s eyes glued to me. The look in his eyes changes in an instant, and he walks away from the group of men he was in deep discussion with. I have to get away from Aiden.

“It’s done, don’t do this again.” My tone is harsh, and I walk toward Becca, who seems to have been watching us as well. When I reach her, she smiles at me.

“Are you going to tell me what that was about?” Her tone is nonchalant, and I watch her take a sip of champagne.

“It was nothing.” I brush it off.

I feel Grant’s presence before he slips his arms around my waist. I enjoy the feeling of his hands as they glide around my waist on the silk.

“I’m not letting you out of my sight again,” he breathes into my ear, and kisses it gently. Becca gives us a weak smile, then walks away to Aiden. “What did he have to say?”

“Nothing of any importance.” I look into his eyes and watch as they adjust deeper and darker like a stormy night. It’s amazing how he and Aiden have the same angry eyes.

“I don’t want you talking to him, or anywhere near him. Do you understand?” I see a flash of lightning through his eyes, and I can tell he is pissed. I shift a little, feeling uneasy of his mood.

“I wasn’t the one talking; he was just apologizing to me, Grant. I’m here with you, only you.” I see the darkness fade from his eyes and the blue oasis is back. I take a deep breath and realize I diffused the situation fast.

When we start to mingle, I see John and Autumn. I begin to wonder if Grant really told him about us and if Aiden did the same. I feel my stomach turn at the thought and try to push it out of my mind. As always Autumn looks amazing. She is wearing a strapless fitted gown that hugs her curvy body perfectly. I can see a sexy slit that runs up her thigh, and her leg peeks out with every step she takes.

“Hannah, it’s good to see you.”

I lean in to kiss John on the cheek and feel awkward all of a sudden, like he does know.

“Good to see you again, John,” I say. Autumn pulls me in for a double-cheek kiss.

“Hannah, I love the dress.”

“I love yours.”

“You haven’t seen Shane and Annie yet, have you?” I ask her.

“Grant didn’t tell you? She was having some trouble with the baby.” She looks around. “They haven’t released it to the press yet, so don’t say anything, but they put her on bed rest in the hospital. They are hoping to get her a few more weeks along so the baby can develop a little more.”

“Grant never told me. I hope everything will be OK.” I see Grant hugging Shane. I catch his eye, and he smiles at me as he walks over.

“Hannah, you look beautiful.” He hugs me. When he feels my bare back, he pulls back, taking my hand so I can spin around.

“Lucky bastard,” he says to Grant. I laugh at him.

“You look dapper yourself, Shane.” I look his tux over and smile.

“Oh, this old thing?” He pulls at his bow tie and his perfect teeth peek through his lips. I wonder if I should bring Annie up or leave it alone.

“Annie wishes she could be here tonight, but you know, with the whole baby thing right now, I had to lock her up in the hospital room.” He still has his sense of humor with all that is going on.

“Shane, everything will work out. It’s best that she stays there. They can monitor the baby and her.”

“She wanted to call you yesterday, but felt stupid.”

“I wish she would have; tell her to call me whenever she wants. I would love to go see her. I can take the day shift, if that helps.”

“Hannah, you don’t have to worry about our problems.”

“I wouldn’t offer if I didn’t care.” I give him a reassuring look, and he returns it with a thankful one.

“Grant, you have a good one here; don’t fuck it up.” Shane slaps Grant’s back and Grant takes my hand in his.

The giant ballroom looks exquisite. I look around at all the delicate details and feel the excitement in the air. Grant leads me through the room to our table. Of course it is the biggest and most extravagant table, in the center of the room facing the dance floor. Mrs. Grace is already seated, so I walk around the table.

“How are you feeling?”

“Hannah, stop worrying about me, you’re not at work. I’m fine.” I can tell she doesn’t want to discuss her health. “You can sit next to me.” She pats the seat next to her, and Grant pulls it out for me.

“Now, Mother, please don’t scare her off.”

I bat my lashes at Grant. “Your mother would never do such a thing.” She nudges my arm and Grant laughs at us.

“You have no idea what she has done in the past.” He gives his mother a stern look.

“It was never me.” She looks offended, but a smile appears on her lips.

I love the family teasing and banter, and for the first time, I feel part of it. Shane, John, and Grant begin to talk about business, so I direct all my attention to Mrs. Grace.

“How have your follow-ups gone?”

“Hannah, relax, we are at a gala. I don’t want to discuss my health.”

“I’m not going to relax till you tell me.” I cross my arms and lean back in the chair. Autumn and Becca are talking, and I can see Autumn looking over at us now and again.

“Fine,” she finally says. “Dr. Mitchell cleared me, and my cardiologist at home said everything is going great.” I see her tense up a bit.

“Are you lying to me? I can call Dr. Mitchell now, if you would like.” I call her out. She sighs heavily.

“Fine, you got me. I’m going back in on Monday for some more testing. Something’s up.”

“See, that wasn’t hard, was it?” I take her hand. “Now can you please relax?” She motions and a server comes over with champagne.

“I see my son has forgotten his manners, and hasn’t gotten you a drink.” She makes sure to say it loudly enough so her sons turn around.

“I’m sorry, Hannah, I’ll get you a drink.”

“No thank you, Grant. Your mother was thoughtful enough to get me one.” I take a sip of the cold, crisp champagne, then wink at him. His sexy grin appears, and he takes the glass out of my hand and places it down on the table.

“I will return her shortly, Mother. I need to show her off a bit.” I look at him, horrified.

“I’m not an accessory, you know.” I try for insulted and fail.

“No, I thought you were more like a trophy or badge of honor I want to flaunt.” I playfully slap his chest, and he takes me in his arms in front of his mother.

“You are out of control today; your mother is watching us,” I whisper lightly in his neck.

“Let’s give her a show then.” With that he kisses me and picks me up. I surprise him by kissing him a little deeper and harder. He stops and places me down. “Will you behave? My mom is staring at us now.” I love the amusement all over his face. I look over at Mrs. Grace, who is smiling from ear to ear.