Stages of Grace (24 page)

Over dinner, I
'm hypersensitive to Ryan. He seems to be discreetly touching me, avoiding Kate's notice. His knee bumps mine. His hand accidentally brushes my elbow. I can tell what he is doing. Ryan jumps up to help me when I get up to clear the table.

"I really want to kiss you again," he whispers to me as I load dishes into the washer.

I peek out the window over the sink that opens onto the pool deck to check where Kate is. Seeing her busy with her knitting, I turn and quickly give him a peck on the lips. Ryan informs me that is not the kind of kiss he was hoping for before turning me to face him, his hands tight on my hips. My mouth drops into an o shape as he slowly lowers his lips to mine. At first, his kiss is soft and feather light, but his kiss deepens as he pulls me to him. When I sigh, his tongue caresses my bottom lip before brushing over my own. My hands rise to wrap around his neck as I arch my body into his.

"Am I interrupting?" Kate is leaning on the kitchen table.

I turn quickly and reach for the next plate. "I, um, well, no."

"Yep, Kate.
You are definitely interrupting," Ryan says, nuzzling his nose into my hair.

"
Ryan!"

"What?"

"He's fine, dear. I just wanted to let you kids know that I'm going to bed." Kate winks at us before turning and going to her room.

I stand there, shaking my head. First, I cannot believe my grandmother just winked at me, and second, we've just barely finished dinner. Kate never goes to bed this early. I can feel the heat coming off Ryan. I just don’t know what to do or how far he wants to go. Will he be fine with just kissing? I’m not sure I’m ready for anything else.

"Want to go for a swim, Grace?"

"
Okay. I have to change first."

"Alright.
You go change, and I'll finish up in here."

I change into one of my new two-piece suits and meet him by the pool. H
e's already in the water. His head is down, like a crocodile, only his green eyes visible. I slowly make my way down the stairs as he swims over to me. He's in front of me as my foot touches the pool floor. He takes my hand, pulling me to the deeper side. When we stop, I sink down and let the water cover me, standing back up once my hair is wet.

"Like Aphrodite rising from the surf."

"Hush."

"Make me." He wrap
s his arms around me, pulling me in tight.

I place my hands on his arms, feeling the strength in them. I slide
them up to his shoulders and then run my fingers in his hair as I tug his face towards mine. His lips are soft as he molds them to mine. I am drunk off of his touch, his hands trailing lazily up and down my back. His fingertips leave a trail of goose bumps in their wake. I shiver against him, making him pull me closer.

"Are you cold, Grace?" he says, moving his lips to my neck.

I shake my head and wrap my arms tightly around his neck. Suddenly, he pulls away, and I look at him, confused.

"Trying not to rush things."

"Oh."

"You have no idea how badly I want you right now."
I feel heat rush to my cheeks.

"I should probably go before I ravish you on the pool deck."

I don’t want him to leave but am not ready for what might happen if he stays. I get out of the pool and grab a towel for each of us. Ryan quickly towels off and hangs it on a hook by the pool. He pulls my towel from my hands and wraps it around my shoulders. He pulls me to him and captures my mouth again.

After kissing me soundly, he nips my ear. "See you in the morning."

I watch him walk across the backyard and to his house. He gives me a smile and wave just before he is out of sight. I go inside, locking up behind me. After changing for bed I look at my phone, still unsure of what to do with Jon's text. Should I even reply? What can I say in response to that? I have a new text. From him? I feel silly when I see it’s from Nikita instead. She loves the scarf and wants one herself. She specifically requests a purple one. I'm too amped to sleep, and it's still early. I pull out my shawl project, and I work on it as I think about Ryan and how he makes me feel. Stopping once my hands feel like they are going to fall off, I go to sleep.

~*~

Ryan and I fall into a comfortable rhythm, spending most of each day together. On Thursday, Ryan takes a group out fishing and asks if I'd like to be his first mate. The only boat I've ever been on is the kayak. The idea of being so far from the shore is exciting. He's taking a group of six out into the gulf for the day. Darrell is also going. Ryan and Jack own two boats for offshore fishing: a swanky luxury mini yacht named Seabreeze and a simple flats fishing boat named Squirt. The group going out that day consists of local lawyers celebrating a merger. Since they'll be taking Seabreeze, Ryan thinks I'll have fun coming along.

A couple of the attorneys attempt to flirt with me until Ryan announces that I'm his girlfriend and not part of the tour.
Hearing that title shocks me. I know we're dating, but it overwhelms me that he already considers me his girlfriend. I’m stressing out over it so much that it must become obvious to him. He pulls me aside to explain he used the term to keep the guys from flirting with me and that he isn’t trying to rush me. Does that mean he doesn’t want me to be his girlfriend? I curse myself for my emotions being so all over the place. I don’t know how to feel about him calling me his girlfriend. Now it seems to bother me that he may not have meant it. Our first official date is tomorrow. I still have no idea where he's taking me.

The charter trip is fun but more work than I'd expected. When Ryan drops me off, I tell him I'll probably eat something and go straight to bed. The next day, I stay in the office having had too much sun the day before. W
e're busy but somehow the day still seems to drag. I’m counting down the minutes until my date. I'm having fun working with him, even though I spent Friday in the office he makes a point to swing by and steal kisses whenever he's free. I feel so comfortable around him, it doesn’t stop my heart from racing each time he is near me.

I absentmindedly check the time on my cell phone. I have a text from Nikita asking me how her scarf is coming along. I finished the shawl for Kate but haven't given it to her yet. I want it to be special, like a gift to thank Kate and make sure she knows how much everything she does means to me. I haven’t even started the scarf. I'm not even sure if Kate has purple yarn or if I will need to go buy some. I’m really getting into the idea of creation, of how cool it feels to make something. I even talk to Ryan about it during one of our drives into work. He tells me I'm adorable and if I like I can knit at work whenever we're slow.

"Grace?"

I look up. "Sorry."

"Did you hear what I asked?" Jennifer huffs.

"I didn’t. What's up?"

"So do you know where you guys are going tonight?"

"Ugh. No, and it's driving me crazy. I don’t like surprises, and I'm not sure how to dress. Ryan says anything is fine but that doesn’t help."

"Have you guys done it yet?"

"Jennifer!"

"Is that a yes or a no?"

"It’s
a none of your business."

"Oh, come on. You guys live right next door to each other, and I've totally seen you making out with him when you think no one is watching."

I flush. "Either way…"

"If you haven’t,
do you think tonight will be the night?"

I hadn’t thought about that. What if that's what he’s planning? I look down to the dock where Ryan is standing. His back is to me. He must have just gotten out of the water. I can see drips of water coming off of his suit as it clings to him in a mouthwatering way. It’s like he can sense my eyes, and he turns to look back at me. He waves, so I blow him a kiss. Instead of playfully catching it like your average male, Ryan sprints to me and kisses me soundly. When he finishes, Ryan takes in my glazed expression with twinkling eyes and is off again back to the dock.

"You guys are so doing it tonight," Jennifer mumbles to herself.

I feel warm all over at the thought. I check the time again and sigh, thinking it's not moving fast enough. The sound of a little black sports car squealing into their parking lot startles me.

"Da na na na." Jennifer hums “Bad to the Bone.”

"Someone you know?"

"Yep. Jack's back."

Oh, Jack, the partner with a bad case of wanderlust. I wonder if he even knows who I am or that I'm working here. I stand as he approaches us.

Whether he knows who I am or not is quickly answered with a, "So this must be Ryan's girl."

I redden and put out my hand.

Jack instead pulls me into a hug. "Lucky guy."

"Unhand my woman, scoundrel"
Ryan walks up grinning.

"You never were good at sharing." Jack releases me and greets Ryan with a light punch on the shoulder.

"This is a surprise. What brings you into town?"

"My oldest, confirmed bachelor best friend meets a girl he can't stop talking about. I was too intrigued not to come see what all of the fuss was about."

I feel like locking myself in the bathroom, I don’t know if I've ever felt this evaluated before. Ryan comes to stand next to me, wrapping his arm around my waist. I shoot him a confused look, and he shrugs, waiting for the evaluation to be complete.

After another moment, Ryan says, "Well?"

"She's smoking. Well done, you. Sure you won't share?"

My mouth drops.

"No chance."

"Worth a shot."

"I'm still standing here" I add.

"Right.
Grace, this is Jack. Jack, this is Grace."

"We've met."

"So really, why are you in town?"

"Bored mainly.
Think Kate will mind another for dinner?"

"It will just be the two of you. Grace and I have plans tonight."

"I can call her," I offer, pleased my date is still on.

"That'd be great."

I grab my cell and dial Kate. When I explain, a third time that Jack is in town and would like to come for dinner, my grandmother sounds thrilled.

"Well, that's settled. So, where are you two headed tonight?"

"That's a surprise."

Jack turns to me. "Need a lift home?"

"I already have a ride," I say confused.

"Come on. It’ll give you more time to primp, and I can hang out with Kate."

"I don’t primp."

"Ever?"
He seems shocked.

"Well, I guess sometimes." This really is the strangest conversation.

"And for tonight?"

"I have no idea where we are going." I glance up at Ryan. "He said to wear anything I'd like."

"That sounds clothing optional to me."

Who is this guy?

Ryan looks down at me. "It's not that kind of date."

"Bummer.
Those are the best kind." He turns to Jennifer. "Still only into chicks?"

"
Fraid so."

"So how long will you be in town?"

"Maybe a week. Can I crash in the spare?"

He hesitates. "Sure. In fact, it's almost quitting time. Jennifer, can you close up?"

She nods, and he turns to lead me out of the office. I stop, turning back to grab my purse and wave goodbye to Jennifer before reaching for his hand. Jack pulls out in front of us and speeds off.

"Well he's interesting."

"Jack's a character."

"And a flirt."

"Definitely a flirt. Good thing I asked you out before he got here."

"Why?"

"The girls go for Jack."

"Not for me. Thanks. My friend Niki
ta would be all over him, besides you have the hot accent."

Ryan relaxes "Hot? Well, when you put it that way."

Jack is parked in front of Kate's house when we pull up.

"So what time are you picking me up?"

"Seven. Feel free to primp."

"Good to know," I say, leaning over to give him a kiss.

He puts his hand on the back of my neck and deepens it. When I pull back, he has a dreamy expression on his face. He looks so cute I give him another quick peck before getting out of the car. I can hear Kate and Jack out by the pool. His voice carries, and I laugh when I realize he's flirting with Kate. I can tell Kate's loving every second of it.

"Hello, Kate. Jack."

"Oh, Grace, dear. Come sit with us. Jack was just telling me the funniest story about this girl in Brazil."

"Can’t.
I've been told to ‘primp.’” Then I remember Nikita's text. "Kate, do you have any purple yarn?"

"Another knitter?"
Jack asks.

"I taught her myself. And yes, dear, I do." Kate beams and then reaches into her basket for a couple skeins.

Taking them, I thank her before heading to my room. Once there, I regard my closet. Primp. That means dressed up, right? But how dressed up? I settle on a black maxi skirt with a white V-necked tank and pair it with a wide brown leather belt and sandals. I take a quick shower and shave my legs. After changing into my outfit, I dry my hair and put on some make up. Not much, mainly my eyes and some lip gloss. I think about curling my hair, but it seems like a wasted effort. Without tons of hairspray, the curls will never hold. I wear it down but slip an elastic around my wrist in case I want to pull it up.