Chapter Twenty-five

"We have to leave here eventually." He said with a grin. Grant looked over at Chloe, dressed in one of his old t-shirts, her hair a riot of curls around her face.

"No we don't." She replied as she picked another grape off the plate in front of her. "We've got everything we need right here. And we can always have stuff delivered." She said as she popped the grape in her mouth and gave him a smile. "Get used to it Grant. I'm never leaving this apartment again."

They came straight here from the courthouse. There had been talk about a reception the next day and as sweet as the thought was - Grant and Chloe were having none of it. Their wedding was rushed, but they were taking their sweet time with their honeymoon.

"That's debatable but I know one thing. I'm not letting you out of my sight. That's for sure." He whispered as he leaned close to kiss her.

Chloe sighed as he pulled away. She stared into his eyes and said softly, "The apartment, everything here...I can't believe you didn't change a thing."

"I couldn't." Grant admitted. "If I changed it at all - it would have been like getting rid of pieces of you."

His words humbled her. Grant took what he said seriously. When they'd arrived here after the wedding Chloe broke down as she saw one of her sweaters thrown casually over the back of a chair. The mug she'd always used sat right on the counter where she'd left it a year before. Nothing she had touched had been disturbed at all. He'd lived that way for a year, with her and without her at the same time. She realized for the millionth time how lucky she was. She place a hand gently on his cheek.

"God, I was such an idiot..." Chloe began, feeling the need to apologize once again.

"Don't." Grant warned her as he placed a finger on her lips. "Chloe – please don't." He smiled when she pursed her lips and kissed his finger gently. His eyes danced as he added. "That's my wife you're talking about."

His words made her heart skip a beat. I'm his wife. She figured if he said it a couple of hundred times she might actually believe it. He's my husband. She giggled to herself she picked up the plate between them and put it aside. She crawled towards him, moaning softly as he met her halfway, taking her mouth in a fervent kiss.

The past few days flew through Chloe's mind as Grant's kiss gently took her under. She smiled to herself as she remembered how he'd flung her over his shoulder and taken her to the barn. She shivered as he touched her, remembering the feel of his hands on her skin when they made love there, after a year of being apart. She sighed as she remembered the look on his face as he placed her mother's ring on her finger. Her eyes went cloudy as she recalled how he'd carried her gently back to the place they were now, the way he'd simply smiled when he'd asked her where she wanted to go on their honeymoon and she'd replied, "Home."

Coming back to the present, Chloe whimpered as Grant moved over her, pressing her into the mattress, his hands streaking over her skin and driving her insane. She couldn't believe it was real. She had missed him so much. "Grant..." She breathed his name against his neck as his lips raced over her face.

His voice was husky and deep as it hummed over her skin. "OK. You've convinced me. We're never leaving this apartment again." Grant captured her mouth again and again - his lips and his hands teasing her and making her gasp for her breath. He grinned as he hovered above her and stared into her eyes before sinking towards her once more.

"Never..." Chloe agreed as she tilted her face up to his, her nails scoring down his back as his body covered hers and made her sigh. She still didn't believe it was real. She smiled as she promised. "Never, ever again."

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"Billie?" Tyler asked impatiently. He'd been cooped up in the bookstore all day.

"Yeah buddy?" She answered, completely distracted by the inventory report in front of her.

Ty shuffled his feet and stared at the ground. He knew she didn't like it when he nagged her. "Umm. What time is it? Are we leaving soon?"

Billie put down the report and looked at him exasperated. "Tyler. I'm working. I work until 5:30. What does the clock say?"

"Three and five o'clock." He muttered.

"What was that?" Billie looked at him confused.

"Three o'clock and five minutes after." He tried again.

"It's 3:05 - Ty." She corrected him. "Stop being lazy. You know that."

"Whatever. Billie - I'm soooo bored." He said, unable to take it a minute longer. "PLEASE. Can't I go someplace else?"

"Tough afternoon, Slugger?" Quinn asked with a grin. He'd been standing in the doorway, watching them both for a full five minutes.

"Hey! Quinn!!! Whatcha doing here?" Ty asked looking up at him adoringly.

Quinn scooped him up and flipped him upside down. "Looking for a pitcher. You seen one around?"

Ty giggled and squirmed as if trying to resist, but it was obvious he was head over heels for the man keeping him a very willing captive. Billie sighed to herself, knowing with all her heart she'd give her right arm to keep Tyler as happy as he was right now. But his happiness was wrapped up in Quinn and she wasn't ready to go there. She couldn't.

"How are you today, pretty Belinda?" Quinn asked, trying to keep his voice light.

"Fine." She answered sharply. A shock inched up her spine as she heard him refer to her as pretty. She fought back the feelings his words stirred inside her. She couldn't keep him away from the bookshop. His mother owned it - but she could try and keep him away from her. There was no way his charm would get to her. It was a valiant effort - but completely pointless. She'd never fall for someone like him again.

"Glad to hear it." He said with a grin as he set Ty back on his feet. He turned his attention to a more receptive audience. "Up for a game of running bases – tough guy? Ella and Aidan are off from school in a few minutes. They should be here any second."

Ty shifted his gaze to Billie, knowing the real decision was hers. "Bill?"

"Yes Tyler?" She replied as she tried to pay attention to the report in front of her. Why in the world did that man seem to be so sweet? And why did he have to look so amazing while he did? Billie took another deep breath and fought to focus. Her head screamed not to trust him, but the way he treated Ty just melted her heart.

"Can I please go and play with Quinn and Ella 'n Aidan?" The way he said his friend's names made Billie grin. She loved the way he merged them together. Ella 'n Aidan - like they were one person. Her heart ached as she remembered that she was surrounded by pairs so in sync their names became one. Kate 'n Colin, Lia 'n Danny, Lynnie 'n Ethan, Grant 'n Chloe.

Billie 'n Quinn.

Where did that come from? She almost gasped in horror. Billie staggered backward a bit at the thought. No. She cautioned herself. That's something that'll never happen.

"Please?" Ty begged her with his hands clasped and his eyes wide. "C'mon Bill. I've been good all day."

"You certainly have." She crouched down and took his adorable face in her hands. "You be good. Don't give Quinn any trouble."

"He's no trouble at all." Quinn insisted.

Billie couldn't deal with him right now. The things she felt whenever he was near her terrified her. She needed to keep Quinn in his place. She looked up and glared at him before turned back to her nephew. "Get lost kiddo." She said with a grin. "I'm tired of looking at you."

Aidan and Ella burst through the door. "WOO HOO!" Aidan yelled as he ran through the shop.

Ella scrambled behind Aidan, rolling her eyes a bit. She dropped her backpack to the ground and placed her tiny hands on her hips. "Ready for me to kick your butt, Quinn?" She asked with a grin as she batted her eyes at him.

"Look at that. You lost another tooth, beautiful." Quinn pressed a kiss to the little girl's forehead.

"I know. I'm toothless." She giggled as he pulled away. "Still won't stop me from mopping the floor with you."

Ella was a riot and she was going to cause his uncle a heap of trouble when she got to be a certain age, Quinn was convinced. He couldn't help but laugh at her. "Mopping the floor with me? Where on earth did you hear that?"

"Grant said it to Daddy the other day. Daddy said he could still beat Grant kickboxing and Grant said he'd mop the floor with him." She smiled wider as she explained. "It mean's I'll beat you."

"I know what it means." Quinn laughed louder. He bent down to kiss her nose. "We shall see pretty face." He smiled as he felt her place her hand in his. "C'mon you hooligans." He called out to his brother and Ty. "Let's let Billie finish her work."

"OK. Let's go." Aidan shoved Ty towards the door, with Ella following regally behind them.

Quinn laughed as he watched them push their way out. "Those kids. I love them. I mean - really. Aren't they great? God. They are going to run me ragged for hours. I'm guessing we'll be done in time for dinner. If you want I'll feed him too. You just tell me. What time do you want him home?"

"You don't have to feed him." Billie said, her voice a bit broken. She was kicking herself for letting him get to her. She wished Quinn would stop making her feel like this. She was so off balance. She had to give him credit. He was playing this exactly right. It was clear that the easiest way to her heart was through Ty and Quinn had been better to Ty than anyone she'd known before.

He could see the battle waging in her mind. He fought to put her at ease. "I don't have to do anything. I want to Billie. Should I feed him or bring him home for dinner? You just tell me."

Sighing, Billie grabbed her purse from under the counter and dug out her wallet. Quinn placed a hand over hers and glared at her. "You don't have to like me – but don't insult me. I'm treating the kids to dinner. Yes or no Billie. Do you want me to include Tyler or bring him home? You decide."

Her face flushed crimson as her grip loosened on the wallet. She let it fall back into the bag as she swallowed her pride and whispered, "I'm sorry. Yes. Please include him in dinner. Thank you."

"It's OK. You're welcome." Quinn moved towards the door - arguing with himself. He was surprised as to which side won. Before he could lose his nerve he whirled around and faced her. He braced his hands on the counter and leaned down to stare deeply into Billie's eyes. "Just so that we understand each other – I need to make something clear. Someday you're going to have to deal with me, Billie. I understand that you're not ready and that's fine. But someday you're going to have to deal with the fact that I don't come around to hang out with an eight year old. Ty's a fabulous kid, but I'm much more interested in you."

Stunned speechless, Billie just stood there and stared at him. Satisfied Quinn gave her a grin and pushed off the counter, whistling to himself as he walked out the door.

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"Forget the apartment – are we ever leaving this bed?" Grant buried his nose in Chloe's hair and inhaled deeply.

She rested her chin on his chest and blew her hair out of her eyes as she gazed at him. "Nope."

He laughed as he tried to lift his hand and found his energy had been severely depleted. "Clo, I can't reach the phone. This is dangerous. We might starve to death."

"I think you just need to gather your strength." She giggled as she placed kisses across his chest.

"You're insatiable." He whispered as he felt her mouth inch it's way towards his again. "I forgot that about you."

"You're irresistible." Chloe laughed as he kissed her back. "Grant." She sighed. "We're married."

"Yes." He nodded, gently brushing her hair off her face. "We are."

"Can you believe it?" She asked breathlessly. Chloe shivered as Grant ran a hand over her cheek and stared into her eyes. It was amazing how just a look could affect her.

"Yes. I can. I always knew it would happen." He replied, his voice full of confidence.

"Even during this year?" She asked him then.

"Even then." He insisted. "I always knew you'd come back to me, Chloe. When things were bad – when they were at their worst - I still couldn't give up."

"I know you couldn't. It was selfish of me. I should never have let it get that far." Chloe leaned her chin on her hand and stared into his eyes.

"Shh." Grant shook his head at her. "It's over, Chloe. It's done. Let's not worry about the past. We have our whole future to concentrate on. We have forever." He whispered as he kissed her softly. "Nothing else matters anymore."

Tears spilled from Chloe's eyes as he pulled away. "You really mean that don't you?"

"Yes. I mean it." Grant promised her as he kissed her once more. "Chloe. I won't let you do this. It was the hardest thing I've ever done, living without you – but we both know why it happened. We both know what the reasons were and it's over. Do you understand me? It's done. I love you. You're my wife." Grant's voice caught a bit as he continued. "I'm your husband. Nothing and no one will ever come between us. It's impossible. So." He grinned as he kissed her nose. "Stop worrying." He moved to place featherlike kisses over her eyes, forcing them to flutter closed. "Stop talking. Just relax and think about us." His hands began to tease her beneath the covers. He could hear a rumbling in her throat and knew she was about to protest again. He was having none of it. "Shh. Don't. Just think about me."

"Grant..." Chloe sighed as he kissed her. "Grant..." She said again, struggling to keep her wits about her. It was useless. Grant knew his plan was working. It was written all over her face. Within seconds he knew he was absolutely the only thing filling her mind.

Grant smiled smugly. "That's more like it." He whispered against her lips, knowing he was once again victorious.