Chapter 17

Sawyer smiled slightly as he watched Ana, Kate, Mia, Tara, Dr. Grey and Mrs. Trevelyn down another shot of whatever they were drinking at this bar. Part of the bachelorette party was a bar crawl through the trendy bar district of Seattle. It was a very good thing that Kate listened to Christian and took his offer of a stretch limo with Reynolds as the driver and Sawyer as a bodyguard. Of course, Ryan was also patrolling and offering protection. This was the fifth bar that the ladies had visited since their very private and exclusive dinner at The Mile High Club. Each wore grey sweat suits with gold piping trim down the legs and the arms. Ana's sweatshirt proudly announced that she was the Bride and each member of the party was recognized for their bridal duties. Kate was the Maid of Honor, Tara was the Bridesmaid, Mia was known as "The Little General", Dr. Grey was "the Mother of the Groom" and Mrs. Trevelyn was lovingly called "The Ring Leader"! It was all for laughs courtesy of the Groom. The ladies decided to change after their dinner and wear these sweat suits out while drinking to be comfortable. Sawyer mused that Mr. Grey bought these for the ladies so that Ana would not be dressed to sexy without him being about to protect her. However, watching Ana, Kate, Mia, and Tara out on the dancefloor dancing together, it didn't matter what they wore, they were hot pieces of ass! Sawyer kept a keen eye on the ladies and kept any would-be Romeos away.

As the sun came up, Sawyer was more than relieved to carry Mia to the stretch limo and take the drunken crew of ladies home. It was a long night and all Sawyer wanted to do was to fall into his bed and sleep for a full twenty-four hours. He had to carry Mia into the house as Ana and Kate slowly made their way up the stairs of the Grey Manor. Tara stood by the door and laughed at her friends.

"You need to go on to bed, Miss Holt." Sawyer said as he started up the stairs with a very passed out Mia.

"Sawyer, put Mia in the family room." Grace said softly. "It's easier than you trying to cart her up those steps." Grace wasn't feeling bad at all. She had let her hair down and let herself have some fun. "Thank you so much for watching out for us tonight. I will make sure that Christian gives you hazard pay for having to deal with a drunken bridal party." The good doctor began to laugh and stumbled a bit before finding her balance. "You know, I think I might be drunk."

Tara hid her smile and looked away. Dr. Grace Trevelyan Grey was damn funny when into her cups. Tara pushed herself off the door jam and offered the good doctor her arm. "Let me help you up the stairs, Dr. Grey."

"Tara, how many times do I have to tell you that I am Grace? Or you can call me Mom…or in your language, Mum…"Grace was feeling the full effects of the alcohol. "You speak English…I speak English…it's almost the same…" She rambled on to Tara's sweet delight. "You know, my son is marrying the sweetest girl in the world?"

"Yes, I know. Ana is my best friend."

Grace's legs felt like lead as she slowly made her way up the stairs. "I really love that little girl." Grace swung around quickly to hug Tara and to tell her that she loved her also, but Grace swayed and nearly toppled over. She righted herself just as Tara started to fall backwards. Grace watched in slow horror as Tara stumbled down a couple of steps, then was miraculously caught and steadied by the ever quiet Luke Sawyer. "Fuck, you are Superman." Grace loudly proclaimed.

Sawyer cleared his voice nervously, not used to hearing the ever elegant Doctor swearing. "Dr. Grey, let's get you upstairs and into bed." He still had his hands on Tara's waist. "You, too, Miss Holt."

Twenty minutes later, Sawyer was ready to be relieved of this duty. Watching over beautiful women when they were drinking was more dangerous than a night time raid in Baghdad! He was grateful that everyone was in bed, or as in Mrs. Theodore Trevelyan's case, taken home, so he could get a few moments of peace and quiet. It had been a wild drunken night between great friends. He made his way into the Grey kitchens in hopes that there were a few left overs. Mia or Dr. Grey usually kept a plate of sandwiches on standby in the refrigerator for the security detail. He sat down with a sandwich, a glass of milk, and his phone at the kitchen table. He took a bite of the roast beef and savored the rich but delicate taste of the meat. Peace and quiet soothed his soul.

"I'm hungry…don't eat all the sandwiches." A soft feminine voice declared. Sawyer looked up to find Tara Holt, still in her grey sweat suit, smiling at him from the door way.

Those crisp clear eyes of a soldier swept up and down Tara taking in every little detail of her person as she walked toward him. "I noticed that you drank very little this evening." He finally said breaking the silence between them.

"I wanted to keep a clear head this evening. Ana deserved a nice outing to celebrate her wedding." She approached the table and pulled out a chair. "She is very happy."

"She is that." Sawyer said softly. He couldn't keep his eyes off Tara. "Are you?"

Tara looked away. "Define happy." She said lowly.

"That guy in the hospital…he's yours…or was?" Sawyer asked carefully.

"He was never mine. He was a very bad decision on my part. I let a pretty face with lovely words turn my life around. I let him hurt me because I thought I loved him and he would love me if I …" Her voice trailed off. It still hurt to think that she thought so little of herself to be treated in such a way. She pulled out a chair and joined Sawyer at the kitchen table. "It's all water under the bridge now. The past is where it should be, behind me."

Sawyer nodded agreement. He pushed the plate of sandwiches toward her. "So, can I count this as a date?"

Tara's dark eyes went wide. She dropped the sandwich that she had chosen for a midnight snack. Was the gloriously handsome Luke Sawyer asking her for a date? Whoaaaaa! She was taken back and unable to answer. He sat there smiling at her with that cute little smirk of his. "I… I…I"

"Is that a yes?" He gave a low chuckle.

"I don't know." She felt her face flush. Her heart was racing. She couldn't put two thoughts together. Her mind was racing with all the reasons to date Luke Sawyer, such as he was as handsome as sin, built like a brick shithouse, and as sweet as honey. She knew he was physically fit, very intelligent, and could handle the most stubborn situations…ie…Anastasia Rose Steele. But, she wasn't ready, was she? Could she be able to let another man close to her and her heart? Could Luke Sawyer be the one?

"I'm not asking to run off and get married. I think you are beautiful, spirited, charming and … well…damn sexy! I would like to get to know you on a more personal level."

Tara bit her lower lip and slowly nodded agreement. "I would like to get to know you also."