A/N: Whew! It's over. No – not the story – just the GC torture. I hope you like how I've had them "kiss and make up". This scene has been floating around in my head for a while – I hope it comes across the way I pictured it in my mind. You know - I really think I read too many romance novels on my last trip. It was a pretty long plane ride. LOL!
Melody – What makes you think they'll go to the barn? ;)
Nat – you are too funny. It's OK. We can still be friends. LOL! I honestly don't watch any other sports except baseball so that's the only one I can write about. ;)
To refresh your memory we've still got Quinn making up with Billie - the twin's wedding – to find out what Ethan's up to – and how to cure poor Katie and her baby. Finally - when will Rali get 5 seconds alone and what the heck are Caleb and Livvie up to???? I promise the answers to all that and more as soon as I make sure my GC are finally happy. LOL!
Until 19! xox-G
Chapter Eighteen
He threw open the door of the barn, still carrying Chloe on his shoulder. He set her down on a trunk unceremoniously and stepped back to stare angrily at her.
"Grant..." She began.
"DON'T." He warned her. "Don't say a word."
"OK." She replied softly. He looked so angry. She'd never seen him like this. Chloe knew he had a right to be.
Grant paced a bit, trying to find a way to begin. He hadn't even realized where he was taking her until they got there. Now that they were here he knew it was exactly the right place to have this conversation.
He looked over at Chloe, her eyes huge and shining like emeralds, her hair tossed about, her cheeks rosy and flushed because he'd sent the blood rushing to her head the way he carried her. His heart beat frantically as he fought to keep his hands off her – at least until he'd said what he wanted to say. If things went the way he hoped, he knew there'd be plenty of time for that later.
He looked around, his eyes falling on their names, etched in a heart on the post just below the one that his father had carved long ago. He had done that the first time they had been there together. It was ironic that the reason they were here now was because of the last time they had both stood in this place.
He knew her answer but asked anyway. "Do you remember the last time we were here?"
Chloe nodded. How could she forget? It was the most horrible day of her life.
"So do I." Grant said sharply. "Like it was yesterday. It was right after your mother's service. You wouldn't talk to me. You wouldn't let me anywhere close so I came here trying to figure out how to reach you. I found you sitting here – just like you are now."
Chloe bowed her head at the memory. She suddenly was right back there, reliving the day she'd told him goodbye.
She realized Grant was still speaking, his words laced with hurt, "And I begged you – Chloe. I begged you to let me help you but you wouldn't. When I tried to hold you, you actually pushed me away."
Tears began to fall down her face slowly. She'd been so wrong. "I know..." She said, trying to catch her breath.
A tear or two escaped Grant's own eyes as he watched her. Even so, it didn't stop him from speaking. He glowered at her and continued, fighting the emotions that came flooding over him as he remembered just how bad it had been. "A lot of this is my fault. If I'd done this back then we wouldn't be here now. But when you told me it was over, I couldn't even think. I've never felt pain like that. I thought I was dying when you pushed me away. I was sure of it when you took off the ring I had given you and handed it back to me."
He shook his head, not understanding how they had ended up like this in the first place. He saw his words were hurting her – but he couldn't stop until he'd said it all.
"I understand how upset you were, I know that losing her devastated you but Chloe - I have to tell you, the whole time your mother was in the hospital, you didn't make any sense. When I asked you to explain it to me you told me you were afraid for me to see you suffer like she did – you thought that because your mother got sick you would too."
Chloe sat in silence and let him get the words out. She knew it had been bottled up all year. It must have been torture for him to be holding all this back.
His words were harsh but necessary. "Cancer isn't contagious, Chloe. Just because your mother got it does not mean that you will. Now that you know what to watch out for you could see the signs your mother missed. Even if you got sick you could still live a long and happy life. And besides..." He said his voice softening a bit, fear snaking up his spine just imagining it. He narrowed his eyes at her. "If you think for one second that me not being with you would make it hurt any less if you were to die you are out of your mind."
Chloe fought to keep from sobbing as Grant continued. He sounded so angry and she knew he had every right to be. Through it all her head was spinning. She was so confused. She honestly couldn't figure out just where he was headed with this.
She was about to find out. Grant's voice shook as he pointed a finger at her, sounding as if he was scolding someone Ella's age. "You got to call the shots before but now that's over. I'm through doing what you ask just because I can't say no to you."
He walked to her and knelt down beside her to stare into her eyes. "I know I said we needed to stay apart but I'm done with this. I'm finished." He grabbed hold of her arms and shook her a bit making her head snap up. Her eyes locked with his. "Chloe Ramsey - I love you. I've always loved you and there will never be anyone else for me – EVER. Do you get it yet? No one even comes close to you."
He took a breath and spoke slowly, wanting to be sure she understood. "Just so we're clear let me explain it to you one more time. I'll either be incredibly blessed to live a life with you or I'll be destined to live my life alone. Those are my only two options – so you can rest easy. There's no danger of me running off with some bottle blond bimbo. If I can't be with you I won't ever be with anyone else."
Chloe stared at him, unable to believe her ears. He still wanted her – if she could just let herself she knew from the look in his eyes that she could still have him. It was as if the most amazing dream she ever had was coming true before her eyes. She reached up and gently ran a hand over his cheek.
He took it as a good sign as he inhaled deeply and finished. "I was scared before but I'm over it. I know the truth now. I love you – and I know you still love me. Everything you've done and said the last few weeks makes me sure of it. I don't know what it will take for you to understand. If you need me to say I love you every hour of every day for the rest of my life then I promise you that I will." His hand reached up to cover hers. "I've tried to live without you for far too long. Please..." He whispered. "Chloe..." His voice broke as he said her name. "Please come back to me."
She couldn't speak; she simply held his gaze and moved to run her fingers through his hair. Grant leaned closer, until his mouth was mere inches from hers. "Chloe – please," He begged her, his voice trembling as he leaned into her touch. "Say something...anything."
She couldn't find the words to tell him how what he had just said made her feel. She couldn't even begin to express how happy she was. So she did the next best thing. She decided to show him. Chloe tugged at his hair and claimed his lips with hers.
As Grant kissed her back, Chloe slid off the trunk and rose on her knees to meet him. Unlike the last few kisses they had shared there was no holding back this time. Her breath hitched as she felt his hands on her, the top she wore left her back bare and she shivered as his fingers splayed over her skin.
She rocked back on her heels and framed his face in her hands. She looked deeply into his eyes and whispered, "I'm so sorry..."
He knew she'd try to apologize. He didn't want to hear it. It didn't matter anymore. "Shh. Don't be sorry." Grant said with a smile as his lips roamed over her face, kissing her tears away. "Shh. I know...it's OK."
"I haven't lost you." She said her voice full of awe.
"No. You'll never lose me." He promised her. "I'm staying right here."
"It's not over." She sighed and shifted her body towards his. "You won't leave me?"
"No." Grant replied. "Never. I'll be with you always, Chloe. We'll be together forever."
"I love you, Grant." She said with a sob as she touched her lips to his.
"I know." He said confidently as he stole her breath. "I love you too.
"I know." She replied, her mouth parting under his, her body arching toward him as his hands moved to toy with the bow that tied across the middle of her back. "God. I missed you." She whispered against his neck as she felt his fingers work the knot free.
Her own hands pulled at his t-shirt, tugging it up and over his head and tossing it aside. "Please Grant." She pleaded as she ran her hands up his chest, twining her arms around his neck and pulling him closer. "Make love to me."
"Oh, don't worry, I'm about to." He said with a laugh as he peeled her top off her and cast it aside. His lips sought hers as he pulled her to him, crushing her chest against his.
Chloe felt the familiar sensation of the chain he wore touching her bare skin, the coolness of the metal making her shiver. As she did she realized it was not quite right though. There was something digging into her, something almost sharp. Her hands reached to run down the length of the chain, her fingers closing over what was hanging from the end. She felt not only the charm that had always been there but something else too. She knew without looking exactly what it was. "Grant..." She broke down as she looked into his eyes.
He took her hand in his with a smile. "Yes?"
"I can't believe..." She trailed off as she gazed at the delicate diamond ring resting in his palm. "All this time..."
"I've worn it since the day you gave it back to me." He replied as he eased back and unhooked the clasp, releasing the ring from the chain. He held it in his fist and smiled at her.
"Grant." She whispered as she fought back tears. She was completely overwhelmed by the love she felt. She never thought she'd ever feel this way again.
"Chloe." He murmured as he kissed her again, his knuckles moving to graze her cheek. "It's OK. I'll give it back to you now." He said with a smile.
Before he could speak again – Chloe backed away. It was as if suddenly something was wrong. "Wait..." She said as she shook her head. "This isn't right."Grant's face fell. Not now, he thought desperately. They had come so close. "Chloe...please don't."
His fears were put aside as he saw her smile at him. "No. It's my turn." She whispered.
"What?" He was completely confused. He tried to take her hand again.
Chloe inched closer, knowing now for sure that her worries were over. She'd be able to feel like this every day for the rest of her life.
She was just about to make certain that was the case. She had kept him away and now it was up to her to set things right again. "Grant." She said softly a smile lighting up her whole face. "Will you marry me?"
"Chloe..." He breathed, his voice a bit broken.
"Please?" She asked as her lips touched his. "Please say yes. Grant. I want to be your wife."
"Chloe..." He said again, kissing her deeply. Grant knew he'd never been happier in his life.
Chloe was once again overcome with joy. She almost forgot what it was like. How amazing being with him was. How he could drive her crazy with just a look, with just one kiss. Now that she was in his arms, miraculously it was as if the last year had never happened.
When she had first been here with him he was a just boy and she was so young and naïve. They were both nervous and shy and fumbling, simply happy to find themselves alone together at last.
Now he was a man, very sure of himself and he knew just how to touch her, how to make her breathless and weak in the knees. Of course that worked both ways. Chloe remembered well exactly the way to drive him insane. Laughing softly, she decided to go ahead and do just that.
She fought to catch her breath as she tore her mouth from his. "I don't just want to marry you – Grant, I want to have kids with you." She added as she pressed herself closer to him, her hands moving towards button on his jeans. She heard him groan and smiled wickedly as she leaned back in his arms. "You know, we could start working on that right now." It felt so amazing to be able to joke with him again. Her fingers hooked on his belt loops and she tugged him towards her. "That is - if you want to..."
He inhaled sharply as her hands teased him. "Chloe..."
"Are you going to answer my question?" She asked as her lips made their way up his neck to his ear. "Are you going to give me that ring back?" She caught his earlobe between her teeth and bit down gently as she whispered. "Because I really want it." She giggled as she trailed kisses down his throat. "Almost as much as I want you."
He laughed as he fisted a hand in her hair, gently dragging her mouth back to his. "Yes." He said with a smile.
"Yes what?" Chloe asked as he turned her in his arms, gently bringing her to rest on the hay strewn floor. He covered her body with his and ran a hand down her side, his fingers teasing her along the way before coming to rest at her waist.
Grant wanted to give her the answers she wanted so he pulled back and stared into her eyes. H couldn't believe it was finally over. He took Chloe's mouth in a drugging kiss, causing her head to spin. "Yes. I'll have kids with you and yes – we can start right now."
He pulled away and reached for her hand. He held it gently, leaning down to kiss her slowly as he slipped the ring back on her finger. He murmured against her lips. "And now...you have your ring back." He kissed her again, his hands threading through her hair, loving how it felt as it slid through his fingers.
Chloe's eyes clouded with desire as his hands moved down to run over her skin once more. Grant fought for control but it was getting increasingly more difficult. He was tired of talking - it was clear they didn't need words anymore. Still he had one thing left to say.
"Of course, I'll marry you, Chloe." He smiled as he kissed her, stealing her breath as he added. "I've been waiting my whole life to."
