Author's note: For those who don't know, Belle Star was an American outlaw.

—--

Grace pulled away a bit and smiled at Lucas, her cheeks warming up at his words.

Queen of his Heart.

She looked down at their joined hands.

"However… I gave Nathan his money back just before you came to Hope Valley", she silently said, a small thoughtful and almost sad smile on her lips.

Lucas looked carefully at her.

"You did?", at her slight nod, he felt his heart fill with warmth "What made you do that?"

Grace fidgeted a bit on her seat.

"Well…I heard Elizabeth arguing with him in the jail about losing so much money. I actually felt sorry for Nathan with the way she was talking to him. She, uhmm…she actually accused him of…uhmmm", she stammered.

Lucas peered at her eyes.

"It's alright. You can tell me", he assured her "Nothing she says could hurt me anymore. She doesn't have a hold on me anymore, Grace".

"No, I know that", Grace quickly interrupted him "I just…Well, Nathan said that maybe he did get a bit carried away and she accused him of being carried away by my charms. And…uhmmm…she asked him how would he feel if she fawned over you once you get back in a few days".

Lucas couldn't believe it.

Grace absently caressed his knuckles with her thumb as she continued.

"He tried to assure her that she was making way too much out of it, that she can't be serious about what she said she will do once you get back. And she just fired back at him that he should look into what am I doing in Hope Valley before he goes and plays poker with me", she shook her head, grumbling "You would think that she is a Mountie in that relationship for demanding from him to look into what am I doing here like I was some kind of Belle Star in the least!"

"Oh, my angel", Lucas whispered as he gently caught her chin with his thumb and index finger and gave her a long, sensual kiss. Pulling away after a few moments, he kissed her knuckles and started to talk, his gaze lovingly caressing her with its warmth "I don't know what kind of relationship Elizabeth and Nathan have and I don't care. What I know is that Elizabeth has no right to act badly toward you. It sounds to me that she was jealous".

Grace creased her eyebrows.

"Jealous?! But, Lucas, I didn't do anything that…", she rambled, but he interrupted her.

"I know, my love, I know", he gave her a soft smile "What did Nathan say when you gave him his money back?"

Grace shrugged.

"Nothing much. At first, he didn't want to take it, claiming that I won it fair and square", Grace took a deep breath in "I told him that it's not like I slaved in the kitchen for days and that I want him to have it because I heard he had some trouble due to losing money in a poker", she glanced at Lucas and hesitantly added "I don't think he is a bad man, Lucas. And it just didn't feel right to keep the money when someone was having so many problems due to losing it. I couldn't watch someone else suffering on my account, Lucas. I'm not that kind of person."

Lucas' heart felt like it would burst with love for this amazing woman that sat next to him.

He cupped her cheek and smiled at how it instantly grew warm due to his touch.

"I know you're not, mon coeur. And I love you because of it. And, I think you are right", he said, caressing her soft skin "Nathan is a good man. Actually, Elizabeth already broke his heart once she chose me, just like she broke mine a few months ago when she suddenly had a change of heart."

Grace looked down.

"She doesn't deserve either one of you. I know what kind of man you are, my Lucas. And I may not know Nathan that well, but I think he isn't a bad person either", Grace silently said.

Lucas nodded.

"He isn't. We were rivals once, but he wasn't hostile toward me once Elizabeth and I started our relationship. In fact, Nathan and I helped each other with some things in life and even though we would never be best friends, we respected each other", Lucas looked at their joined hands and added "Despite everything that happened, I wouldn't want him to go through another heartbreak. He and Allie don't need it. I was alone, but Nathan has Allie to think about."

Grace creased her eyebrows.

"Allie? His niece?", she asked.

Lucas nodded with a sad smile.

"Allie's Mum, Nathan's sister, died when she was four years old. Her Dad didn't care about her. Nathan's Mum was too old to take care of her and Nathan's Dad was in jail at that time. So Nathan took care of Allie and eventually adopted her", he smiled thoughtfully "She's a good kid. I knew she was hoping that Elizabeth will be with Nathan so they could be a family. I tried to make it easier for her because she was just a lonely little girl."

Grace's eyes softened.

"Who has a good heart now?", she softly said, causing him to look up at her. She leaned in, cupping his bearded cheeks and kissing him gently.

Lucas gave her a small smile, his face turning thoughtful.

"I think that Allie was hoping for Nathan to work things out with Mei Suo. I remember that she loved to spend time with her, even pulled her in for a photo with her and Nathan during Hope Valley days", said Lucas, only to stop as Grace silently gasped.

"Wait, what? Mei Suo and Nathan?", she asked.

Lucas nodded.

"They had quite a bond, but circumstances and timing weren't playing in their favour", Lucas silently said.

Grace's face softened.

"You know, I met Mei Suo. She is lovely. And she thinks highly of you, just so you know", she gently squeezed his fingers.

Lucas smiled, making her heart skip a beat at the sight of those gorgeous dimples.

"There's my undercover agent", he softly said, bringing her hand up and kissing her knuckles.

Grace smiled.

"She introduced me to the Queen of Hearts hot chocolate. Apparently, it's a a top secret recipe that the owner keeps to himself. Brought it from Belgium. And I as an undercover agent must

find a way to reveal that secret", her smile grew as she saw Lucas' eyes darken at her words and his smile turning almost wolfish.

"Oh, I think he'll yield without a fight", whispered Lucas and dived in to kiss her.

Oh, how he kissed her!

Still cupping his cheeks, Grace kissed him back feeling electricity shooting down her spine to her toes that curled in her shoes at the love and passion Lucas wrapped her in.

She sighed at the feeling of his lips kissing hers like there is no tomorrow. When he dived in and deepened the kiss, she shuddered deliciously and sneaked her hands to his hair, loving the feeling of it under her fingers. She gently pressed her fingers and pulled him closer, making him groan in pleasure.

His hands roamed across her back, waist and stomach, causing her heart palpitations. She gasped as he moved his lips down to her neck and gently tugged at his hair.

Next thing she knew, his hot lips sucked on her pulse point, gently until she mewled in pleasure. His tongue flickered against her throbbing pulse causing her to close her eyes and try to stifle a moan.

But when she felt his hands squeezing her lower back, she lost that battle.

Her head fell on the back of the settee as a quiet moan left her throat. Her breathing turned heavy as he dragged his lips lazily across her neck back to her lips.

Reaching her lips he kissed her longingly and whispered, his eyes half closed:

"I missed you".

She let out a breathy laugh, her pupils dilated, her breathing turned into short gasps of air.

"I missed you too", she said, pulling his lips back to hers.

—--

Don't walk around the down and out

Lend a helping hand instead of doubt

And the kindness that you show every day

Will help someone along their way.

You got to try a little kindness

Yes, show a little kindness

Just shine your light for everyone to see.

And if you try a little kindness

Then you'll overlook the blindness

Of narrow-minded people on the narrow-minded streets.

("Try a little kindness" - Glen Campbell)