Sweet Something (Sweet #1) (12 page)

“Where have you been all day?” he said, giving her one more quick kiss, and pulled her inside, kicking the door closed with his foot. “Let me change real quick and we can go get dinner.”

“I actually want to talk to you first,” she said almost hesitating because of her nerves.

He heard something different in her voice and his heart sank. Was she going to say it was over? He could feel it. The look on her face said it all. He could feel the nervous tension, and it was killing him. He turned around and took a step toward her and looked into her eyes, trying to see if he could read her emotions, but she gave nothing away.

“Why do I have a feeling you are going to tell me goodbye?” he said.

  She took a deep breath and looked around, and then looked back at him. “Can we sit down for this,” she whispered, barely even speaking.

“No. Just say whatever it is you’re going to say. I don’t want to sit down.” His mood from earlier was gone, and he was starting to feel the panic rising inside.

“I . . .” it was like the words were there, but she couldn’t get them out. Taking another deep breath, she looked up at him and thought it was now or never as she watched her happiness walk away.

“You’re killing me here, Grace! Please just tell me whatever it is.”

“I love you, Tyler.” It came out faster than she thought it would. She suddenly felt all the nerves rush through her body, and her knees went weak, almost giving out on her.

Tyler stood there with his arms at his sides. His heart stopped. He was sure she was going to tell him it was over, and thought maybe he was hearing things. He wanted her to say it again. “What did you just say?”

“I love you,” she whispered, looking him directly in the eyes. “I love you, Tyler.”

“Grace. Am I hearing things, or did you just say you love me?” Hearing her say those words was like someone giving him back his life and his heart. He knew he loved her and wanted her, but she was never open with her feelings. She kept herself and her heart guarded, until now. He wasn’t going to lose his chance, not for anything in the world.

“Tyler, before you . . . I never thought I would love anyone again. Denny hurt me and closed my heart off to love and the idea of it. Then you came to Bar Harbor. From the first night, you started working your way, little by little, into my heart. I tried to stop it, but I couldn’t, and I don’t want to anymore. I fell in love with you Tyler. I am in love with you.”

  “Grace,” he whispered, and cupped her face in his hands while looking into her eyes. “You have made me the happiest man in the world. I love you too, Grace. I know it’s crazy, but I love you. I don’t care if it has only been two weeks. I love you like I have never loved anyone. You make me feel like I’m important. No one has ever done that to me. When I came to Bar Harbor, I wanted to get away from love, and never wanted it again. That night in Geddy’s, when I first saw you, it was like someone reached in a grabbed my heart and squeezed it. I wanted you from that first night. I will never hurt you Grace, and I will love you like you deserve to be loved.”

  Something came over her. She wrapped her arms around Tyler’s neck and pressed her lips against his, kissing him until they were both breathless. “Can we skip dinner tonight?” she asked, leaning her head back, and gave him a sweet smile.

  He turned his head to the side, thinking about it, and shook his head. “Screw dinner, it’s overrated,” he said and grabbed her, wrapping her legs around his waist. He kissed her as he carried her to his room, and kicked the door open, only to close it again with his foot. His lips never left hers until they made it to the bed. He tossed her on it, leaving her to watch him remove the only piece of clothing he was wearing . . . jeans. She bit down on her lower lip, trying to hide her smile, and gave him the “come here” signal with her finger. Climbing onto the bed, he made his way to her, pulling her down toward him, and took his time showing her just how much he loved her. It took several hours, and a mess of pillows and blankets all over the room, for him to show her. He made sure he left her knowing without a doubt just how much she meant to him.

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

Decembe
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…

“This is a death trap Grace. I can’t even salvage this thing. I think it’s time for you to get a new car,” Tyler said, looking under the hood. “This may be the biggest piece of sh . . .”

“Don’t you dare say that about my car,” Grace said. “This thing has been very loyal to me. It never left me stranded anywhere.”

Paige coughed, trying to hide her laugh. “Yeah, right. This thing has left you stranded more times than I can count on one hand. I think Tyler is right, Grace. It’s time to let the car go and get a new one.”

She stood in front of her car and looked at it, and remembered all the good and bad memories she had with it, from the moment she bought it, to taking her sisters to school, and going on dates. “I guess you are right. It might be time for a new car, seeing as it won’t even start anymore.”

“Babe, it’s time for a new car. Trust me on this. I know cars, and this one has had it,” he said, wiping his hands on his jeans and closing the hood. “I’m shocked it lasted as long as it did for you.”

“Who would have thought you would have dated a hot mechanic, Grace?  But then again, who would have thought I would have had the hots for the good ole boy who runs the hardware store? Believe me, that man can do some hot things in the back of the hardware store,” Paige said, fanning herself.

        “You really should not be allowed to leave the house.” Grace shook her head. “You need to learn when to keep things to yourself, Paige. Ugh, the mental picture I just got will be burned in my mind forever.”

The weeks passed, and Christmas was only a few days away. Grace wanted it to be special, and wanted to give Paige the Christmas she had missed so much since she had been gone. She made it a point to put up all of her favorite decorations around the house, and even had Tyler buy the biggest tree he could find. Since Paige loved to have the biggest tree every year, it was perfect. She couldn’t be happier and more excited for Paige to see everything finished. Grace wanted it to be a surprise, so she sent her out with Grayson and told her she could not come back until after seven. It was 6:00pm, and Grace was getting more excited and pacing back and froth in the living room as the time got closer.

“Grace, she is going to love it. Will you please sit down already?” Tyler said from the couch.

“I can’t help it. She hasn’t been home in years, and now that she is home, I want to make everything perfect and make her want to stay this time. Who knows when she will pack up and go back to New York City?”

“Grace.” He got up and walked over to her, putting his arms around her. “Your sister is a grown woman. Christmas decorations aren’t going to change her mind about what she wants to do with her life. Besides, she seems to like Grayson a lot, and I don’t see her leaving Bar Harbor any time soon.  If she does, she will always come back to visit, or you could go visit her.” He tightened his arms around her and gave her a kiss on the side of her head, leaning back and looking into her face. “She is going to love everything you did for her.”

She took a deep breath, losing herself in the warmth of his body and smell of his soap and cologne. “I know. I just miss her, that’s all.”

“You are going to make a great mother one day, Grace. You love your sisters like they were your own kids.”

“Are you telling me you are ready for kids, Tyler?” she asked, resting her head on his chest and looking up at him through her lashes.

“One step at a time, but the thought of having kids with you is not a bad one.”

              Paige stood in the middle of the living room taking in all of the decorations. The smile on her face warmed Grace’s heart. “You did all of this for me?” Paige asked, trying to hold back her tears. “Gracie, this is so . . . I can’t believe you did this for me.” She hugged her sister and her tears began to fall. Being back home was exactly what Paige needed after having such a horrible year. Being dumped, unemployed, and having her apartment catch fire was pretty much enough to make anyone want to crawl into a hole and never come out.  Leaving Bar Harbor again didn’t seem like such a great idea anymore. She had everything here; a family that loved her, friends, and now Grayson. Bar Harbor was her home, and for the first time in a long time she felt happy.

  “This is going to be the best Christmas I have had in a long time. Thank you for always being there Gracie. You are the best sister anyone could ask for.”

“I love you Paige, and I am so glad you came home. Don’t ever stay away that long again! Do you hear me?” Grace held onto her sister for a little bit longer as she thought of all the special times they shared growing up.

“Do you ever think of mom, Grace?” Paige asked.

Grace took a step back and wiped a tear from her eyes. “I think about her a lot actually. But she left us Paige. She knew the way home and she never came back.”

“I know, but don’t you miss her sometimes and wish you could see her again?”

“I do. I haven’t heard from her in years. I wouldn’t even know what to say to her.”

“I know. It’s just that sometimes I wish she was around. It would have been nice to have her around, and it wasn’t fair you had to give up everything for us. We are your sisters, not your children, Grace. You never got to do what you wanted with your life. Sometimes I think about how it could have been different for you if mom never left.”

“Paige, I do not regret taking care of you and Autumn. I love you both more than my own life. You guys were more important to me than going to college or going out to parties and getting drunk like everyone else my age was doing. Don’t ever think I wish things were different, because I don’t.”

“You are the best sister anyone could ask for Grace. One day you are going to make a great mommy, I know it,” Paige said with a smile.

    “Is my biological clock ticking or something? Why is everyone bringing up having babies?” Grace asked.

“What!  You’re . . . I mean . . . are you pregnant?” She turned to Tyler and pointed at him. “Did you knock up my sister, mister?”

Tyler held his hands up and took a step back. “I didn’t knock up anyone. I will be outside where my balls will be

safe. If you need me Grace, you know exactly where to find me . . . ,” Tyler smiled.

“Your balls are safe Tyler, as long as you don’t hurt my sister,” Paige shouted as the door closed behind him. 

“I think you scared him Paige,” Grace laughed. “And, NO! I am not pregnant! But Tyler did say I would make a great mom.”

“I’m just teasing him. I have no doubt the man is into you. I see the way he looks at you, and the way he treats you. That’s love, Grace. Real love, and you deserve it. I am so glad you are happy.”

“For the first time in a long time I am happy. Tyler makes me happy. It’s been a long day and I am exhausted.”

Both sisters yawned and nodded. Grace spent all day making sure Paige had a perfect Christmas. Paige spent all day with Grayson, helping him at the hardware store and, of course, finding time to have fun in the back room.

“The only thing that would make this night perfect is if Autumn was here. Who ever thought our baby sister would be working so many hours.  She’s never home!” Paige said as she took off her shoes and tossed them in the corner.

“Things never change, do they? Can’t you put your shoes away?” Grace asked.

“Don’t you have some hot guy’s bed to keep warm? I believe he is waiting for you outside, and wants to do naughty things.”

“You know, sometimes I wonder if you were adopted. You are nothing like Autumn. But then again, you always were a free spirit.”

“I live my life free and open. Maybe you should try it one day.  You might find that you like it. Now . . . this free spirit is going to bed. I have been very open with Grayson today, and he wore me out,” Paige said, waving her hand in the air as she walked to her room.

“You need a filter on your mouth! I might buy you one for Christmas!” Grace shouted as Paige walked down the hall. “Gotta love her, crazy and all,” Grace said to herself as she grabbed her purse and jacket to go find Tyler.

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

“Do you think she is going to like this?” Tyler asked as he looked into the glass box at the jewelry counter.

“Of course she is going to like it. It’s beautiful, and what girl would not love a pair of diamond earrings for Christmas?” Paige said. “Trust me. She is going to love it. If you are unsure, you could always add this matching eternity diamond necklace. It’s a sweet way to tell her you will love her for eternity without the whole diamond ring deal.”

“You think I should buy her a diamond ring instead?” Tyler asked as he looked at the earrings one more time.

Paige was shocked and turned around, whipping her hair off her shoulders “Wait a minute! Are you saying you would buy my sister a diamond ring and ask her to marry you?”

He took a minute to think about the possibility of spending the rest of his life with Grace. Tyler knew that marrying Grace, and having children with her, and spending the rest of his life with her would make him the happiest man in the world. He also knew he had to take things slow with her because she said she loved him, but he wasn’t sure how she would handle a proposal. The thought of her closing herself up again was enough to make him want to run out of that jewelry store. “Marrying your sister would make me the happiest man in the world, but I might ruin everything right now if I give her a diamond ring on Christmas Eve.” The thought of marrying Grace ran through his mind a mile a minute. He wanted nothing more than to get down on one knee and ask her to spend the rest of her life with him. “I’m right, aren’t I?” he asked, questioning his own thoughts while considering buying the ring.

  Paige looked around the store and back at Tyler, crossing her arms over her chest and leaning against the glass counter. She looked him straight in the eyes. It was a look that told him she meant business. “Can you stand here right now and tell me you love my sister with all your heart and she is it for you?”

Nodding his head, he shoved his hands in his pockets and took a deep breath. “I love her more than my own life. She hit me like a train, and I can’t get her out of my head. Being without her just isn’t something I want to think about.”

“Wow! I knew you felt something for her, but not like this. Grace is a lucky girl to have you. Now that I know how you really feel, and that you will love my sister till the end of days, I say screw the earrings. A diamond ring is the way to go.” She sighed and patted Tyler on the arm. “Your balls are safe around me now that I know that you love my sister. But don’t fuck this up, or they are going to get it,” she said with her finger poking him in the arm.

“You know, your obsession with my balls is starting to freak me out.”

“You will learn to get used to it. Besides, I have a new pair of balls to obsess about. Grayson’s are starting to grow on me.”

“You are very weird.” He shook his head as he walked over to the glass counter that held the diamond rings.

Tyler looked at every ring in the store that day until he could barely even think straight. With Paige’s help, he picked a ring he knew Grace would love. The ring was a pear-shaped Halo Diamond with little diamonds all around the band that was sure to make Grace fall even more in love with him. Before he even left the store, he felt his nerves start to build. How was he going to walk around for the next day, knowing what was in his pocket, and not tell her? He wanted it to be special, and he wanted to make sure everything was perfect when he asked her to marry him.

Christmas Eve was finally here. The lights on the tree twinkled, and Paige put on some Christmas music while Autumn finished wrapping the last of the gifts she bought for her sisters.

“Do you think they are going to be here soon?” Paige asked as she looked out the window to see if she could spot her sister and Tyler.

“They will be here soon. Grace said she wanted to finish wrapping your present. I think she said it was some sort of mouth filter,” Autumn said and shrugged her shoulders. “What is wrong with you? Get away from the window! Why are you in such a hurry for them to get here?”

Paige chewed on her thumbnail and looked out the window one more time. “No reason, I just . . . I am nervous, that’s all.”

Autumn put the tape down and looked at her sister with a confused look on her face. “Ok, spill it. You are never nervous, or this anxious, for Grace to come home. What’s going on?”

“Nothing is going on! Why would anything be going on? Nothing is going on.” Paige was definitely nervous.

“Paige Carter, what are you hiding?”

“This is killing me! You know I can’t keep secrets.”

“What the hell is going on, Paige? What do you know that I don’t know?”

Paige took a deep breath and spun around toward Autumn. She couldn’t hold back anymore. “Here it goes sis . . . Tyler is going to ask Grace to marry him! That is . . . if he hasn’t already, but I am pretty sure if he did, Grace would have called and said something,” she said quickly.

Her mouth dropped open, and she stood there shocked and wide-eyed. Autumn could not believe what she was hearing. “How long have you known about this?”

“Just a day or two. I went with Tyler to pick out the ring.”

Autumn threw a bow at Paige and ran across the room to where she was standing. “You did what? How could you not tell me about this? Grace is going to get married? Oh shit! What if she says no?”

“Great way to stay positive Autumn. She is not going to say no when she sees the gigantic ring he bought her.”

“Oh, wow! Denny is going to be so pissed. I can’t wait to see that scumbag’s face when he finds out Grace is getting married. He came into Geddy’s the other night and got wasted and just about starting crying his pants off about Grace. I told him to suck it up, and that he blew it when he screwed half the town and the tourists passing through.”

Autumn and Paige spent the next hour pacing and wrapping gifts while waiting for Grace and Tyler. Then, there was a knock on the front door.

“Grace has a key. Why would she knock?” Paige asked, getting up from the floor to open the door.

“Maybe it’s the Grinch, and he is coming to steal our presents!” Autumn giggled.

       It was cold that night, and a gust of wind blew in and hit Paige in the face as she opened the door to find Grayson standing on her doorstep. He looked like a walking sex toy to her, and her lips tipped in a sexy smile.

“Well, you are no Santa, but I would love to sit on your lap,” she said, and rested her hand on his shoulder.

“Hi Paige. I know you are probably busy, but I wanted to stop by and give you your Christmas present early.” His hands were behind his back, and he smiled as his eyes took in the sight of her.

“You bought me a Christmas present? Let me see it. I want it now,” Paige said, clapping her hands together.

“Ok, close your eyes,” Grayson whispered.

He drove her crazy whenever he whispered in her ear. She closed her eyes, and then peeked through one as she smiled at him.

“Close both eyes. You are peeking.”

“Oh, come on, I am dying here. Just give it to me,” Paige whined.

Her words made him laugh as he pulled the little box out from behind his back and held it out in front of him. “Open your eyes.”

She opened them slowly and saw a little red box with a tiny green bow on top and her stomach fluttered. “What is it?”

“You have to open it to find out.”

She looked at the box and put it up to her ear and shook it. Nothing made a noise or rattled. She smiled at him again as she opened the box slowly. Her mouth fell open and her eyes watched the little sparkle coming from the box. “These are beautiful Grayson,” she said, as she

looked at the heart shaped diamond earrings in the box. She jumped into his arms, wrapping her legs around him and almost knocking him back, and kissed him. He wrapped his arms around her and kissed her back.

  “Well, it looks like you guys are having a Merry Christmas. You should probably watch your balls though, man. She has an obsession with them,” Tyler said as he walked up the driveway with Grace.

Paige’s lips never left Grayson’s as she gave Tyler the middle finger. After a few seconds, Paige broke the kiss and Grayson put her down slowly, giving her one more quick kiss.

“I take it that means you like your present,” he said.

“I love it. And . . . uh . . . speaking of gifts? Tyler?” she asked.

He shook his head and mouthed the words ‘tonight’ so Grace could not hear him.

“Let me see your present, Paige,” Grace said, letting go of Tyler’s hand to hold the little red box. “Wow! Good job Grayson. This man knows how to give a gift.”

     Paige looked back at Tyler and winked, letting him know his choice was going to make Grace very happy. Tyler spent the entire morning a nervous wreck. As the day went on, he thought he was going to completely lose it and just ask her in the middle of the street just to get it over with because her not knowing was killing him. There were only a few more hours before Christmas Eve was over, and the box was starting to burn a hole in his pocket. After

dinner, presents, and spending time with Grace and her sisters and friends, Tyler wanted to take her back home and ask her the question that had been on his mind all night.

“Are you alright, Tyler? You have been quiet all day, and tonight . . . you really didn’t say much,” Grace said as they walked back to his house.

  Putting his arm around her waist and pulling her close to him, he kissed the side of her head and looked down at her. “I am fine. I’m just tired, that’s all,” he said, trying to hide the nervousness in his voice.

She could tell something was bothering him. All night he looked like something had been on his mind. She hoped he was just tired and that tomorrow would be different. They walked in silence the whole way home, and when he got to the doorstep, he felt the wave of nerves hit him again. He put his hand in his pocket and squeezed the little black box and took a deep breath.
Do it now and stop waiting
, he thought to himself. He turned, almost pushing Grace down the porch step. “Shit! I am sorry Grace. Are you ok?” He said, grabbing her arm.

“I am fine. Tyler what is going on with you tonight?” A million thoughts raced through her mind, and the only one she could focus on was that he was either going to leave her or tell her he changed his mind about how he felt. She felt sick all of a sudden just from the thought of it.

“Can we go inside, please?”

“No, Tyler. Tell me right now what is wrong.  I am not going inside with you unless you tell me what is wrong

right now.” She pulled her hand away from his and took a step back. She could feel her heart breaking again, and wanted to turn around and run before she had to hear the words he was about to say.

His hand squeezed the ring box again, and he knew it time to tell her. He reached for her hand pulling her back to him. “Grace, wait. It’s not what you think it is. Fuck, this is harder than I thought it was going to be,” he said taking a deep breath.

“Tyler . . .” she could feel the tears in her eyes and tried to hold them back, but they started to fall one by one down her cheek.

     “Grace, please don’t cry. Please. Look at me,” he said, tilting her head up to look into her eyes. “I love you, Grace. I know it sounds crazy when I say it out loud because it’s only been a little while, but I love you, and nothing and no one is going to change that.” Taking another deep breath he wiped another tear from her face and looked into her eyes. “Marry me. Spend the rest of your life with me and let me make you happy.”

Her world stopped. Everything was spinning as she heard the words he just said. She waited so long for Denny to say them, and he never did. It made her feel like no one would ever want her forever, but here stood this man who wanted nothing more than to make her happy and spend the rest of his life with her. “Tyler, I . . . I thought you were going to tell me you didn’t want to be with me anymore,” she said and wiped another tear with the back of her hand.

“Marry me, Grace.” He held the box out and opened it. “Let me make you happy and love you forever. I want you Grace, and no one else. You make me feel alive, and I have never felt like this before. I don’t want it to ever end. I love you Grace Carter, and I want you even if that comes with a crazy sister who wants to kill my balls. I love you. Marry me,” he said.

“Oh Tyler! The ring is so beautiful. Tyler I don’t know what to say other than you have made me the happiest woman in the world. The way you love me is like no other love I have ever had. Are you sure you want me forever? That’s a long time, you know . . . forever,” she whispered between tears.

“Forever is not long enough with you Grace. I want you now, and I want you forever. So, will you marry me?”

Grace looked at the ring and then back at Tyler, and saw her whole life in his eyes. She knew he was it for her, and no one else could ever love her better than he could. “Yes, Tyler. Yes, I will marry you.”

   He slid the ring on her finger and pulled her into his arms and kissed her like it was the first time he ever kissed her. It was as if she were meant for him. He was lost until he walked into Geddy’s that night and met her. She was his light, his everything, and he was keeping her forever.