The Art of Ethan (29 page)

Finally they entered the loft. Ethan took pleasure in pulling the petals off her dress. He had torn the pink rose petals and was working on the stem leaves. Two were removed, and she tried in vain to wiggle free from him.

"Ethan, behave.” Grace tried to escape, but it was useless. He would destroy that dress before the night was over. “We have to talk, you promised!"

"We did talk. I asked you to marry me. You said yes.” Ethan gripped the next horrible mint green leaf and began tearing. “I love that sound, one step closer to pure nakedness."

"That's what you were planning to talk about?” Grace pushed at his chest, forcing him to face her, and let the petal be.

"Yeah, what were you planning?” Ethan sat back and looked at her, but he didn't let go of the dress. “Grace, we just spent an hour in the gallery. You could have talked about this then."

"I thought we would talk about the baby, how we would live, where, and what we were going to do about all this.” Grace spoke fast and fluttered her hands in anticipation. She was interested at the gallery and thought they could talk about this now.

"Well, I planned to marry you, but that had nothing to do with the baby. He just came as a bonus. I told you I would leave and live in North Carolina.” He grabbed harder on the fabric. “So, can we go back to this now?"

"NO!” Grace pushed farther away from him on the bed. She wanted to make a point. This was serious. Unfortunately, the petal ripped from the dress. She tried to keep a straight face. “Okay, first off, I'm broke, I'm a teacher, and I used my savings to redo the house. Where would you work if you moved to North Carolina? I can get a job here as a teacher."

"You'd move here for me?” Ethan realized that Grace still didn't get who he was, at least financially.

"Yes, for us, all of us.” Grace thought about it. “I can sell the house."

"I would never let you sell that house.” Ethan was getting more turned on by her selflessness than by pulling apart that dress.

"Ethan, you're an artist. All the artists I've ever read about are starving artists.” Grace looked around. “You have a business, I know, but how much can an artist make? You said you lectured, which means you probably need more money to run the gallery."

"Are you insulting my job?” Ethan smiled. Grace was innocent to the world. She had no idea how much money he made from his work. He guessed that she thought he sought out the work when in fact the colleges always called him. He enjoyed talking to new artists, helping them build what he has.

"No, God, no! You're an amazing artist. I love your portraits. I'm sure you make great money for a single man, but this is a family you're talking about.” Grace reached for him. “Kids are expensive. I wouldn't expect you to do it alone."

"Grace, that ring on your finger was my grandmother's.” Ethan held her left hand and explained. “My grandfather, Gray Alexander, bought it with the first painting he ever sold. That painting is in the Met, you know, the Metropolitan Museum of Art."

He took a breath. “He's not like Van Gogh or Picasso, or any other artist in a text book, yet. But he is real, and so is his legacy."

"I don't understand?” Grace was amazed at his grandfather's achievement but didn't understand what that had to do with Ethan.

"My grandfather left his gallery and all of his work to me.” Ethan studied her face and realized she still didn't get it. “Grace, I have plenty of money. On top of what was legacy, I happen to add to the account quite nicely on my own."

"Oh, so why do you live in a loft above the gallery if you could live in a huge apartment like Megan and Chase?” Grace lifted a brow.

"Why did you live in a huge house when you could barely afford to pay the taxes on it?” Ethan responded in kind.

"Because it meant so much to my mother."

"That's the same reason I live here. It means so much to
me
.” Ethan spun the ring on her finger. “You know, we can always split time between the city and the beach."

"How would I work?” Grace had never been without a job. Even in college, she worked.

"Do you want to work? You've been working since you were sixteen.” Ethan twisted the ring around again.

"I don't have to work?” Grace had never thought of the possibility to be able to stay home and raise their child. Megan had already turned in her notice to the PR firm she worked for.

"You do, on your book.” Ethan stopped twisting the ring. “I submitted the manuscripts you e-mailed me, and you have a publisher that's interested."

"What?” Grace was overwhelmed. “You said you would talk to someone, not submit it. Are you serious? Someone wants my book?"

"Yes, that's what I left for the other day. I had to meet with a friend and pick up a ring. All of this would have been a surprise, but you can't seem to wait for anything.” Ethan looked at the dress, two petals remained, and he could pull the back apart. “Yet, you make me wait for everything."

The way his voice dropped on that last line, Grace knew they were done talking. She had a million questions running through her mind, but Ethan had been patient. All he wanted was her. That was all he needed.

"Enough talking, you're a man of action.” Grace gripped his hand and pulled him toward her. “You should save this material and make something out of it."

"Good idea.” Ethan didn't bother with the petals. He just gripped the back seam and ripped. Underneath Grace was completely naked. Megan had insisted the dress be flawless. Now, it was on the floor. Ethan agreed, flawless.

Grace expected him to ravage her, but he simply looked at her. His eyes covered her entire body head to toe and back again. “You are amazingly beautiful."

"Soon, I will be amazingly fat.” Grace felt beautiful. That was a new feeling. One she stole from him.

"Pregnant is not fat.” Ethan ran his finger over her stomach. “I can't wait for you to get huge."

"What?” Grace looked at him with a brow raised.

"Each month I will paint you, both of you. Instead of pictures, you will have portraits, and the last month we will open the gallery."

He placed his lips on her belly. “Gray Alexander Young, the first boy in over thirty years."

"How do you know it's a boy?” Grace smiled.

"Because, that's how Chase and I got here. We both broke the condoms.” Ethan smiled. “We're strong Young men."

"That was so bad.” Grace laughed anyway.

"I know.” Ethan looked in her eyes. “So, woman, you want me to leave my clothes on or what?"

"Do you own that shirt?” Grace bit her lower lip.

"Yes, I do.” Ethan's eyes glimmered.

Good.
She pulled, and the buttons began to pop. Ethan laughed. He ripped the shirt free and pulled her on top of him. He was out of his pants in no time. As soon as he kicked them off, he was home. Grace seated herself right on him.

"You better enjoy this now. I'm not sure if I'll be able to do it later.” Grace slid down the length of him.

"We'll work it out.” Ethan groaned.

The small wedding took place in Ethan's parents’ backyard a week later. Stephanie had blended pieces of Grace's mother's dress, Ethan's mother's dress, and a dress she found in a bridal store. It was beautiful and elegant. Everyone was impressed, especially with the silk floral bouquet of mint green and pink roses. Ethan wore a traditional black tuxedo and looked more stunning than ever.

Joshua moved into the house in Beaufort and took Grace's job teaching the second grade. He was a really big man to teach second grade, but he wanted out of the city and his life there so bad, he leaped at the opportunity.

Eight months later, Gray Alexander Young decided the best way to open the “Amazing Grace” exhibit would be with a baby. After all, he was the star of the show. Ethan had no sooner stepped away from the reporter when Grace's water broke.

"Kid knows how to make an entrance.” Ethan lit up in excitement. His first live work was on the way. “Chase, Stephanie!"

"Shit!” Chase headed for the backdoor to get the car.

"Fabulous.” Stephanie had to deal with the mess
and
the press.

"Megan,” Grace called to her cousin, who waddled after them. “Hurry!"Megan was also having a boy but not tonight.

Cara began writing as a young child. She created stories for friends and family. She got into a lot of trouble for a particularly scandalous one her freshman year of high school. Since then she continued to journal and one bleak winter she wrote an entire novel—in journals! Needless to say that manuscript has not made its way to the keyboard yet, but many others have.

Tequila Makes Her Clothes Fall Off was the first novel size work published in 2006.

The first novel she wrote for print is The Art of Ethan, part of The Beaufort Series to be released in October 2007. She has written short stories for e-publishers to include:

Fraternization for Phaze Publishing, Seduction of the Siren for Midnight Showcase Publishing, and several novel length manuscripts coming soon to Tease Publishing LLC.

The Country Music Collection

Tequila Makes Her Clothes Fall Off re-released August 2007

She Thinks My Tractor's Sexy re-released September 2007

The Beaufort Series

The Art of Ethan October 2007

Chasing Joshua January 2008

Ayden's Secret April 2008

Other Novels to be on the lookout for:

One Hot Momma July 2008

Save a Horse Ride a Cowboy December 2008

Suicidal

Veronica Grimm: Don't Fear the Reaper

Veronica Grimm: Fear the Reaper

Judgment

Cara North is available to speak or hold workshops on the following topic in person or online:

Writing for Small Press Publishers

How to write Romance

How to write Erotic Romance

Finding yourself in fiction: take your personal experiences to a new level

Feel free to ask questions and send requests for promotional materials to:

Cara North

PO BOX 234

Swansboro, NC 28584-0234

Or e-mail me at [email protected] www.sirensandmuses.com www.myspace.com/caranorthwriter