Their meals came shortly after the ladies won and they went back to their seats.
As he unfolded his napkin, Ned looked up at everybody.
"I say we need a rematch. But with higher stakes", he smiled "How about a game of poker after we eat?"
Florence and Molly nodded enthusiastically, but Bill shook his head, his eyes nearly popping out of his head.
"What, with these two at the table?!", he pointed at Grace and Lucas "No, thank you! I'd like yo keep my bank account safe, thank you very much."
Grace raised her eyebrows.
"Like I told you before, judge - you're missing out on fun", she grinned, making Florence and Molly practically squeal from excitement.
"Oooh, that sounds like fun! Count me in!", said Florence.
Molly nodded with a smile.
"Me too", she said.
Bill grimaced.
"Are you people insane?! These two card sharks are going to skin you alive!", he said in a warning tone of voice.
Lucas chuckled.
"That's not very sporting, Bill", he said with a grin on his face "I remember Ned beating me once."
Ned nodded.
"Yes, I did", he confirmed.
But, that wasn't enough for Bill.
"Once?!", he groaned "And how many times did Lucas beat you, Ned?"
Grace neartly burst to laugh.
"Oh, judge, I never took you up as a coward", she said in a dissapointed tone of voice.
Lucas almost choke on his wine and Grace pat him on his back.
"Went down the wrong pipe?", she asked, her face as innocent as baby's.
Lucas coughed a little to hide his smirk.
Bill gasped.
"Coward?! Me?!", he huffed and pointed his index finger at Grace "You're on, Missy!"
Lucas coughed a bit more, harder this time, trying not to burst in laughter.
Grace put on a sympathetic face, took a pitcher and poured some water in a glass.
She gave it to Lucas, blinking innocently.
"Here, love, take some water", she deadpanned, her face perfectly calm, except her eyes twinkling like stars.
Lucas took one glance at her and burst to laughter, making Grace grin as she pat his back affectionately.
Bill gasped.
"Oh, you think you can win, Lucas? Care to put your foot where your mouth is?", asked Bill.
Lucas grinned.
"Always", he chuckled, going back to his dinner.
Molly was quietly observing Grace and Lucas as the scene went on. She liked Grace a lot, young woman had such warm aura around herself that pulled people in its orbit as if she was the Sun itself.
And she could see how much Lucas enjoyed that warmth. He looked so relaxed and happy with Grace by his side. Molly could see glimpses of old Lucas coming back; that charm was back in full force, the generosity and kindness in everything he said and done, the sense of humour and, most important of all, his self-confidence was back.
During the evening Molly noticed many secretive smiles, loving glances and small, hidden touches; a brush on arm, a palm in palm, a hand around waist and kiss on the hair.
They couldn't stand to be away from each other for long.
It was such a change in Lucas, such obvious happiness on his face that warmed Molly's soul.
He was never this happy with Elizabeth. He always had to walk on eggshells around her, watching what he says and do.
Molly heard Elizabeth and Rosemary once, making fun of something Lucas had done for Elizabeth. She cringed just remembering it.
He was never enough for Elizabeth. She wanted more and when he tried to give more to her, she would throw it right back in his face.
Molly glanced under her eyelashes at Elizabeth once again and a small smug smirk appeared on her lips.
The woman was green with jealousy!
Molly could see it plain and clear, especially when Grace would lean in to say something to Lucas and he would smile or when Lucas would chuckle about something with Grace, leaning in to kiss her hair.
Elizabeth literally bristled at any sign of affection between Grace and Lucas.
Molly smiled to herself as she excused herself to go to the ladies' room. Deliberately, she decided to pass by Elizabeth's table.
"Good evening, Elizabeth. Nathan", she greeted them with a smile.
Elizabeth produced a forced smile.
"Molly", she said through her teeth.
Nathan nodded.
"Hello, Molly, how are you?", he asked.
Molly smiled.
"Oh, just splendid, thank you!", she replied "I'm having so much fun tonight", she blinked and smiled innocently as she added "If you are up for a game of poker, feel free to join us", and with that, she was gone.
Nathan smiled as he went back to his dinner, but his facial expression quickly changed once he heard Elizabeth's voice.
"Well, don't let me stop you!", she all but spat the words.
Nathan creased his eyebrows.
"What are you talking about?"
Elizabeth huffed.
"If you want to go and play poker with Little Miss Card Shark, by all means, go", she threw her fork in the plate.
Nathan looked behind him then asked;
"You mean Grace?"
Elizabeth fumed like a pressure cooker.
"Oh, so you are already at the first name basis! How convenient!", she all but spat the words.
Nathan let out a frustrated sugh.
"Honestly, Elizabeth…", he tried to reason with her, but she was way out of control.
"Go, lose some more money to her!", she said angrily.
Nathan shook his head in disbelief.
"I told you she gave the money back to me!", he hissed.
Elizabeth huffed.
"Well, it's time you give in her charms and give it back to her!", she spat and then her eyes went wide open as Nathan shook his head and got up, throwing his napkin on the table "Where are you going?!"
Nathan took money for dinner out of his wallet and placed it on the table.
"I don't have to listen to this, Elizabeth", and with those words, he stormed out from the saloon.
Molly was going back to her table when she noticed an argument and watched as Nathan got up and left.
Molly smiled smugly
"Serves you right, Elizabeth", she mumbled silently to herself and walked back to her friends.
—--
Back at the table of friends the game was on in full swing. Bill glared at both Grace and Lucas, barely standing to look at the amount of chips each one of them had in front of them.
"I knew I shouldn't have play", grumbled Bill "I'm out."
Florence gave him a look and said.
"You're next, Grace", she said.
Grace took four chips and threw them at the middle of the table.
"I follow your ten, Florence and raise you twenty", she said with a smile.
Ned threw his cards.
"I'm out", he said.
Molly nodded.
"Me too."
Florence shook her head.
"You're too good for me", mumbled Florence "I am out too."
Grace raised her eyebrows.
"Well, it looks like it's just the two of us, Mr. Bouchard", she said, her smile growing devilish "Want to raise a stake?"
Lucas smirked, his eyes flashing.
"I am following your twenty, Miss Bennett", he threw a few chips at the middle of table "And raise you forty".
Grace smirked.
"Ah, we're playing big money now. Good", she said, then turned to Molly and Florence "I saw a nightgown that I'd like to buy back home. It's quite expensive, but breathtaking", she lowered her voice to whisper to the ladies what kind of nightgown was it so Bill and Ned wouldn't hear.
But Lucas was sitting next to her so he heard her.
"It'up to here", she pointed to her hip "It's black silk with straps and a lace on top of it. Oh, the lace is exquisite, I think it's French…", she rambled on then acted like she suddenly remembered she had to play "Oh, sorry, Lucas!", she threw a few chips on the table "I follow your forty, and raise you fifty", she looked up at him and smiled like a cat that just caught a canary.
Breathe, Lucas. Breathe.
He watched her, his eyes dark as an ocean in the night as he revealed his cards.
Grace looked at the table and her smile spread lazily.
"Ah, so sorry, my love", she said with a smile "I think you just lost", she laid her cards on the table "A Royal Flush"
Lucas' lips curled up.
Oh, I don't think I lost anything.
Grace pulled the chips to herself as Bill commented.
"Well, you taught her well, Lucas".
Grace smirked, stretching her hands and getting up.
"Excuse me, I have to go to the ladies' room", she got up and left the table.
—--
Grace washed her hands and checked her make up in the mirror.
She smirked to herself as she remembered Lucas' heated gaze.
Now I really have to buy that damn nightgown.
Giving herself one more glance over in the mirror Grace opened the doors and went outside.
She made only two steps when she felt somebody grabbing her hand and pulling her away.
She barely managed to gasp in surprise when she heard the doors close and Lucas' deep, silent whisper:
"I think it's time for you to pay for what you did", he turned her toward him and moved her until her back hit the wall, making her gasp "And it's been hours since I've kissed you. And that's too long".
And with those words, his lips crashed down on hers.
Grace whimpered in delight, her lips on fire from his heated, passionate kisses.
Lucas took her hands and raised them above her head, holding her captive while the tip of his tongue licked her lower lip causing her to moan and open up for him.
He plunged in deeply, pressing his body against hers.
Grace trembled, her breathing accelerating.
He felt like Heaven.
She tried to free her hands to hug him, but couldn't find strength in her shivering limbs to do it. She kissed him back, her tongue dancing with his, causing her knees to buckle.
He pressed closer in order not to let her fall and she arched into him, making him groan in pleasure.
He pulled away from her lips and she gasped for breath as she opened her eyes and caught his heated gaze.
Lucas was breathing heavily as he slowly released her hands and wrapped his arms around her waist.
He leaned his forehead on hers and whispered:
"You and me, Grace, we're gonna last forever."
—--
To really love a woman
To understand her, you gotta know her deep inside
Hear every thought, see every dream
And give her wings when she wants to fly.
Then when you find yourself lyin' helpless in her arms
You know you really love a woman.
When you love a woman, you tell her that she's really wanted,
When you love a woman, you tell her that she's the one,
'Cause she needs somebody, to tell her that it's gonna last forever,
So, tell me have you ever really, really, really, ever loved a woman?
To really love a woman
Let her hold you, 'til you know how she needs to be touched
You've gotta breathe her, really taste her, 'til you can feel her in your blood
And when you can see your unborn children in her eyes
You know you really love a woman.
When you love a woman, you tell her that she's really wanted
When you love a woman, you tell her that she's the one
'Cause she needs somebody, to tell her that you'll always be together
So, tell me, have you ever really, really, really, ever loved a woman?
You got to give her some faith, hold her tight
A little tenderness, gotta treat her right
She will be there for you, takin' good care of you
You really gotta love your woman, yeah.
And when you find yourself lyin' helpless in her arms
You know you really love a woman.
When you love a woman, you tell her that she's really wanted
When you love a woman, you tell her that she's the one
'Cause she needs somebody to tell her that it's gonna last forever
So, tell me, have you ever really, really, really, ever loved a woman?
Just tell me, have you ever really, really, really, ever loved a woman?
Just tell me, have you ever really, really, really, ever loved a woman?
("Have you ever really loved a woman?" - Bryan Adams)