Author's note: Thanks to Avis Minter for suggesting the cheering for Lucas during the press conference!
—--
Grace moved through the crowded saloon in the direction of Lucas' office. Once they came from the church Lucas rushed inside at the back door to avoid the crowd. Grace, however stopped to talk to Minnie and Angela and by the time they said goodbye, she forgot about the crowd and went to the front entrance.
She was in the middle of the crowd when she got stuck. People just wouldn't move!
Sighing in frustration, Grace looked around and saw Bill and Henry standing close by.
"Bill! Henry!", she hollered against the noise and quickly caught their attention.
Bill muscled his way through the crowd, mumbling and grumbling all the time while Henry started to move people aside, trying to make some order and easier pass for Grace and Bill.
"What's got into you to go at the front door?!", Bill scolded her, causing Grace to roll her eyes full force.
"I know, I know! Just get me out of here!", after a few moments Bill and Henry managed to push her through to the front where Lucas' security helped her to reach the corridor that led to his office.
Grace exhaled as she finally reached peaceful corridor and looked at Peter and Brad who were in a security team.
"Thanks, guys", she rushed toward the office and knocked.
"Come in", she heard Lucas' voice.
Grace opened the doors and smiled.
Lucas chuckled.
"Why are you knocking? You can just come in", he said warmly, smiling as he walked toward her.
She smiled, brushing her fingers against his lapels and fixing his tie.
"There. Handsome as always", she warmly said looking up at his dark eyes with a loving smile.
Lucas took out his pocket watch.
"Hmmm…we still have seven minutes", he whispered before pulling Grace in his arms and landing a searing kiss on her lips, knocking the breath out of her.
Grace gasped as his lips devoured her, feeling a tremor shaking her body from head to toe.
When he pulled away a few minutes later, she grabbed his upper arms to keep herself from falling as her knees buckled.
Lucas quickly tightened his hold on her, as she breathed heavily.
"How do you expect me to sit calmly at the press conference now?", she whispered, feeling dizzy.
Lucas leaned down and whispered in her ear:
"That's for making me lose a poker game last night", his hot breath warmed her earlobe and she closed her eyes, stifling a moan.
He abruptly left her personal space, a slightly smug smile on his lips, fixing his cufflinks before he opened the doors.
"Shall we, my lady?", his calm, deep voice was heard.
Grace looked up at him and seeing his smug smile and sparkling eyes, she walked out from the office, saying:
"Oh, you're gonna pay for this, Governor!", she said silently as she absently fixed her hair and grinned.
His eyes twinkled.
"Mmmm, I can't wait", he whispered and taking her hand, he placed it in the crook of his arm as they walked toward the press conference area.
—--
Rosemary tried to peek inside the saloon, but to no avail. She wasn't on the list of journalists and so she could only stand at the porch along with other townsfolk and listen to everything.
She and Elizabeth stood aside, both wearing offended looks.
"I bet she talked him into not letting you attend the press conference", Elizabeth hissed "The little wench. Who does she think she is?! That she can just waltz in here and lie to everybody and just take everything that's mine?!"
Rosemary was too caught up in her own personal hell to pay attention to Elizabeth's grumbling.
"Who does he think he is?! I never liked him anyway! What did he ever do for people here?!", bristled Rosemary "I, as an estimated journalist, tend to expose fraudsters, publish the truth, boldly go to the uncharted territories and I could have organized all this way better than his precious press team!"
—--
At 12.00 sharp Sally greeted the crowd, welcoming them to the press conference and gave a short review of the project of saving the small towns from being drained out.
She reminded the journalists that after the press conference and lunch, anybody who wanted could go on and visit the hot springs.
Sally thanked them all for coming and announced Governor Lucas Bouchard.
An applause from grateful townsfolk boomed throughout the saloon. Shouts of "Thank you, Governor, for saving our town!", "Hope Valley appreciates you!" and "Hear! Hear!" were heard.
Grace watched as the support from the crowd caught the attention of journalists. Their cameras turned toward the shouting crowd that applauded for at least six minutes long.
Grace smiled, proud of her man.
This was what he deserved.
Lucas stepped up in front of the microphone, a small, humble smile on his face as he watched his friends and neighbours cheer for him.
"Thank you", he said as the voices drifted silent "There is no bigger reward than to know that people in small towns can live without fear of their lives being jeopardized by greed. Today, we are in Hope Valley. Tomorrow we can be in your town. If you have a problem like Hope Valley had, contact my team and we will see what we can do. The worst thing to do is to stay silent.
That way you let corruption and greed win. And I don't think that anyone wants their children to live in such a world."
Another round of applause boomed through the saloon and speakers so even the ones outside could hear it.
"Governor, will Hope Valley go forward with building resorts around hot springs?, one journalist asked.
Lucas shrugged.
"I believe that's a question for a mayor and not me", he replied.
Another journalist raised a hand.
"Governor, will you come back to Hope Valley once your mandate is done?"
Lucas glanced at Grace and gave a soft smile.
"I don't think so. My life is in Capitol City now. Besides, I never get attached to places. It's the people that count", he said, causing a murmur of approval in the crowd.
Grace smiled warmly at him, her eyes misting with tears.
The heart of this man.
He could heal the wounds of the entire world if given a chance.
Another journalist raised a hand.
"Governor, could you tell us the update on your second project, the New Hope orphanage in Capitol City?"
Lucas' eyes met Grace's gaze once again and he smiled, his dimples coming out in all their glory.
"We just had a fundraising event that enabled renovation of the entire orphanage, including changing the windows, doors, buying new beds, hiring more people to help with the kids", he explained.
"How many children are there at the moment?", one journalist asked.
"There are 42 kids in the care of the New Hope orphanage right now", Lucas replied "We had eight kids adopted and settled in their new families in the last two months."
"Governor, why did you decide to take that as your second project?", one journalist asked.
Lucas took a deep breath in and glanced lovingly at Grace. She was glowing with happiness, her fingertips quickly brushing away a few tears that escaped her eyes.
Lucas looked back at the people in front of him.
"I lived a privileged life. My parents always provided everything I needed. But, there are people in this world who are not that lucky", he said seriously "If you can help somebody due to your position or with money you have, you should do it. What's the point of having influence and money if you don't use it to help others?", he smiled warmly, his eyes getting a bit of faraway look "And let me tell you, those kids steal your heart with their honesty and love. I treasure every moment I spent in their company. If I can help them in any way, I would do it again and again. As we all should."
Another round of applause, this one being the strongest one out of all three, boomed through the air.
Grace swallowed hard, trying to hold her tears at bay.
How I love you, Lucas Bouchard.
The room grew silent once again and then another journalist raised a hand.
"Governor, can you tell us what do children in the New Hope orphanage need now the most?"
Lucas thought for a moment and then nodded.
"I could tell you, but I think that there is someone here who would know more about it than me", he warmly smiled "One of the founders of the New Hope orphanage is here with us today. Miss Grace Bennett. Why don't we finish for now and Miss Bennett and I will be more than happy to give interviews to everybody who is interested."
The crowd applauded in approval and Lucas got up with a soft smile.
While Sally invited journalists to make themselves comfortable and take some refreshments before interviews, Lucas stepped down from the stage and went toward Grace.
She was smiling through her tears as he approached her.
"Oh, you were marvelous!", she mumbled, hugging him tightly, not caring how that would look like, nor who would see. Grace always acted on her emotions, without calculation "I am so proud of you, my Lucas!", she whispered as he hugged her back "And so grateful for everything
you said and done for the orphanage", she laughed through her tears "I think I will faint from stage fright!", she looked at him, her smile widening "How will I be able to give interviews when I am shaking like a leaf?"
Lucas' eyes softened as he slightly tightened his hold on her.
"We'll do it together", he put a strand of her hair behind her ear "Remember, Grace, you and me together - we can change the world."
Grace nodded.
"And make it a better place for living", she said before hugging him once again.
And if the few cameras took a few shots of their hug and conversation, then so be it.