As he finished ordering their meals, and some coffee and tea, Lucas looked back at Grace, only to find her watching him with a dreamy look, biting on her lower lip.
His eyes softened as he leaned closer to her.
"What did I do to earn that kind of look?", he asked with a smile curling up his lips.
Grace leaned her chin on her palm.
"You are amazing, do you know that?", she whispered, sitting back up in her chair and taking his palm in both of her hands "And I love you. And I am so happy that I can say it out loud", she brought his hand up to her lips and slowly kissed the inner side of his palm. Unable to resist, she flickered a tip of her tongue on his skin and kissed his palm once again before she put their hands down.
Just in time to see his eyes turning into the deepest black before he cupped her cheek and dived in, kissing her lips, making her silently whimper in delight.
Oh yes. This was quite the way to wake up in the morning.
His lips moved lazily, agonizingly slow against hers, makin her whole body shiver in anticipation and desire.
Oh, it felt so good to be able to kiss him this early in the morning!
He pulled away and looked in her eyes.
"You know, if Gustave said anything that upset you in your dream, just tell me and I'll fire him", he smiled, giving her a sweet, short peck on her lips.
Grace giggled.
"You'd fire your cousin because of something he said in my dream?!", she grinned.
Lucas winked at her.
"All you have to do is ask", he smiled, looking back down at her smiling lips and whispered "All you ever have to do is ask and I'd do anything for you."
Grace felt a wave of warmth and love washing over her and she leaned in, kissing him gently, lovingly.
Pulling away slightly, she leaned her forehead on his and gently nuzzled her nose against his.
"I love you, Grace", she heard him whisper "I love you so much."
Her heartbeat accelerated and she cupped his left cheek, looking at him with adoration.
He turned to his left side, kissing the inner side of her palm, eliciting a soft sigh from Grace's mouth.
It was at that moment that the waiter brought their breakfast and beverages. Grace reached for a bite of French toast before she took a sip of her delicious coffee.
"Oh, coffee is delicious!", she mumbled silently before she took a bit of butter and started spreading it on her French toast. Looking over at Lucas she said with a smile "Bon appetit."
He smiled back at her as he took a fork and picked up a bite of scrambled eggs with paprika and zucchini.
"Bon appetit", he said before both of them started to eat.
They ate in comfortable silence and after they finished, they leaned in their chairs, enjoying their tea and coffee.
As she put down her cup, Grace asked:
"When do you have to form the Governor's Board of Health?", she asked.
Lucas took a sip of his tea.
"Hopefully, by the end of January. I will give Carson a call when we get home", he looked warmly at his love "That was a great idea, Grace. I still can't believe it that I didn't remember Carson myself!"
Grace smiled gently.
"Glad to be of service, Governor", she quipped, making him smile "When did he leave Hope Valley?"
Lucas put his cup back on the saucer.
"About three years ago. Henry told me that at first Carson was stationed at Baltimore, but now he is in Hamilton", replied Lucas, taking out his pocket watch and checking the time.
Grace's eyes widened in surprise.
Hamilton?
As Lucas looked back up, she smiled and took a sip of coffee, a plan forming in her mind.
Looking back at Lucas, she asked:
"Did you get his number?"
Lucas nodded.
"Yes, I got his home number plus the number at the General Hospital in Hamilton", said Lucas.
Grace smiled as she thought of her good friend.
"I hope he accepts your proposition. It would be so good to see Carson again", she said.
Lucas nodded.
"Yeah, it would. He's a great guy. We could always talk about everything. I remember how he struggled whether to accept the job and leave Hope Valley or not", he smiled at the memory "He was in the saloon and we started to talk about what kind of dreams we had as young boys. He asked me what did I want to become when I grow up."
Grace's lips curled up in curiosity.
"What did you want to become when you grow up?", she asked.
Lucas' smile widened.
"That's easy - Robin Hood", he replied, grinning.
Grace giggled, leaning in to kiss him.
"It suits you", she smiled as she pulled back and asked "You said he struggled whether to accept the job or not. How come?"
Lucas pressed his lips tightly together, absently brushing his fingers on the edge of the teacup saucer.
"Because of Faith", he replied.
Grace's eyes slightly widened.
"Faith? As in Dr. Carter?", she asked.
Lucas nodded.
"Faith and Carson were in a relationship. He actually encouraged her to continue her studies to become a doctor. He called his friend and managed to get her back into studies in Chicago for a year", Lucas shook his head "But, once the year was up something changed. Faith changed. She didn't seem to be comfortable at his side anymore, she would often snap at him for one thing or another. And all that time, he was actually thinking of proposing. He even bought a ring. She told him that he should accept the job offer and go to become a surgeon at the John Hopkins Medical in Baltimore. He asked her to come with him, but she didn't want to leave Hope Valley. Then he said that he will stay, but she said that he shouldn't do it."
Grace slightly shook her head.
"Sounds to me that you and Carson were treated in a similar way. While your situation was much worse, it seems to me that Carson was also hurt badly by a woman he loved", she said gently.
Lucas slightly nodded.
"Yeah, I thought so too", he silently replied "I know that they kept in touch with Faith calling him when she needed medical advice in some particular case, but that was it. Later on, Faith was attracted to Nathan and Carson's name stopped being mentioned."
Grace slightly creased her eyebrows.
Not wanting to leave Hope Valley. Being attracted to Nathan.
She shook her head in disbelief.
What was wrong with those women?!
"Well, I hope that he will accept your offer. He is an excellent doctor and would bring so much as a children's surgeon at the Hospital", she said and then asked curiously "He wanted to be a surgeon?"
Lucas nodded.
"Yeah, he did. From what I've heard, he used to work as a surgeon before he came to Hope Valley, but…", Lucas' eyebrows slightly creased as he thought of his friend "He was married once, but his wife got very sick. She had a tumour and he performed a surgery in order to save her life…but, she passed away during the surgery."
Grace gasped, her palm covering her lips.
"Oh, my God! I didn't know that!", she mumbled.
Lucas nodded.
"Neither did I, but I heard people in Hope Valley talk about it. It seemed that he didn't practice medicine for quite some time after that. But, once he was back, he was great. And, the most important thing, he treated every person the same way", he smiled sadly "Minnie told me once that he restored her faith in doctors", at Grace's blank look, he explained "Angela was born healthy, but when she was two years old she got measles. They took her to see the doctor, but none would examine her", Lucas shook his head in disbelief "And she lost her eyesight."
Grace gasped in shock.
"Oh, my God! Lucas! What is wrong with some people?! How can they treat another human being, let alone a child like that?!"
Lucas shook his head.
"I don't know, Grace. Some people's prejudices are equal to cruelty. I could never treat Angela or Cooper differently because their skin colour is different than mine and yours", said Lucas.
Grace nodded.
"Neither could I", she took his hand in hers and gently brushed her thumb over his knuckles "And they think the world of you. Both of them", she smiled lovingly at him "I heard that Cooper and you had quite some fun fishing", she giggled at his groan "I heard that somebody slipped on the muddy shore and fell straight into mud!"
As he glanced at her, both of them burst to laughter.
"Cooper and I were laughing so hard that we couldn't get up! Joseph didn't dare to come and help us fearing that we'll pull him down as well!", said Lucas, sending Grace into hysterics. He laughed, his eyes sparkling "Oh, look who's talking! I heard that you and young Master Canfield had a close encounter with the barn doors!"
Grace gasped for breath, but only made herself laugh harder.
"I had to try and bring his brain cells in order as he wouldn't accept that I am better at tag game than he is!", Grace wiped tears from laughter.
Lucas smirked.
"Oh, I tend to agree with him on this one", he quipped, causing Grace to gasp in surprise "You can't be THAT good!"
Grace raised her eyebrows.
"Oh, really?", she asked and at Lucas' nod and playful smile, she grinned "Care to put your foot where your mouth is, Governor?" she asked, already getting up.
Lucas' eyes sparkled.
"Absolutely", he got up and brought out a challenge "Race you to the compartment?"
Grace grinned.
"Oh, you're on!", she replied and held his gaze for a few seconds before quickly maneuvering around the table and rushing toward the doors of the restaurant, with Lucas hot on her heels.
"Hey!", he laughed "No cheating!"
Grace giggled as she bursted into the corridor, apologizing to an older couple for almost bumping into them.
Lucas followed her close behind, a sight of her running through the wagon bringing back the last night vision of her running down the long corridors of the Governor's mansion, her white dress fluttering around her.
Doing her ballerina twirl with her hands up.
Laughing as she rushed down the grand staircase in the Governor's mansion barefoot, carrying her shoes in her hand, telling him that he could try, but he won't catch her.
He caught up with her just before she reached the doors of his compartment and picked her up in his arms from behind, making her squeal and giggle in delight.
He buried his face in her hair, inhaling deeply as he slid the doors opened with one hand.
She managed to free herself from his grasp then, but only until he closed the doors of his compartment.
He took two big steps and pulled her back in his arms. Her hands immediately grabbed on his shoulders as their lips crashed into a kiss.
Lucas' hands sneaked into her soft wavy hair as he kissed her passionately.
"I love you, Grace", he mumbled between their heated kisses "I love you."
Grace gasped, her whole body shaking in a delicious tremor from his touch.
"I love you too, my Lucas", she whispered as she sneaked her palms to the back of his head, pulling him closer to her.
—--
I'm in a little bit of trouble
And I'm in real deep
From the beginning to the end
He was no more than a friend to me.
The thought is makin' me hazy
I think I better sit down
'Cause like the sweetest serenade
Bet he knows he's got it made with me.
Twisting 'round on a carousel
This speeds' too much to stop
One second I'm thinkin' I'm feeling the lust
And then I feel a lot.
Ooh, that man is like a flame
And, ooh, that man plays me like a game
My only sin is I can't win
Ooh, I wanna love that man.
Ooh, that man is on my list
And, ooh, that man I wanna kiss
My only sin is I can't win
Ooh, I wanna love that man.
Now it's like I'm on a mission
Headed everywhere
And if it takes a little long
And it feels a little wrong, who cares?
My baby fits the description
And does it easily
A little Gable, some Astaire
When he dances I can hardly breathe.
Someone call a doctor
I need some help to rescue me
One second I'm thinkin' I must be lost
And he keeps on findin' me.
Ooh, that man is like a flame
And, ooh, that man plays me like a game
My only sin is I can't win
Ooh, I wanna love that man.
Ooh, that man is on my list
And, ooh, that man I wanna kiss
My only sin is I can't win
Ooh, I wanna love that man.
Uh, I'm gonna find that man
You bet ya, I'm gonna find that man
Hey, I'm gonna find that man
I'm gonna find that, I'm gonna find that man
I'm gonna find that man
Uh, I'm gonna love that man
Ooh, that man is on my list
And, ooh, that man I wanna kiss.
My only sin is I can't win
Ooh, I wanna love that man.
(Caro Emerald - "That man")