Monday morning came with the sun playing on the snow that stopped falling during the night. Its golden suntracks chased away every little fluffy cloud turning sky into a crystal blue.

Breakfast was served for the children in New Hope orphanage and after that, the little ones went to play in the snow in the backyard.

Grace was just about to go upstairs and start to get ready for the photo shooting when the phone rang.

"I'll get that, Lillian!", she yelled out to her sister who was half way out in the backyard with the kids. Grace smiled at the sight of the little ones wrapped in jackets, caps, scarves and mittens, resembling little Eskimos, before picking up the phone "Hello, New Hope orphanage, Grace speaking."

"Why are you still there when you should be here, in my arms?"

Grace let out a shaky sigh, her lips curling up at hearing her beloved's voice.

"Lucas", she breathed out.

Lucas smiled warmly.

"Good morning, my angel", he said.

Grace bit her lower lip, slightly swaying on her feet. She leaned on the wall behind her and gently murmured:

"Good morning, my love."

She heard him inhale deeply before speaking up again.

"So…why are you still there?"

Grace giggled.

"Lucas, it's only 9.20! The photo shooting doesn't start before noon. I'll be there on time. We will have plenty of time to call your parents", she said softly.

Lucas smirked.

"Will I have enough time?", he whispered, his voice dropping down for one octave, making Grace's entire body tingle.

She let out a shaky breath.

"For what?", she silently asked.

Only to shiver deliciously at his reply.

"To mess up your hair", Lucas whispered huskily, making Grace's heart skip a beat.

She bit her lower lip as she silently murmured her reply:

"The longer you keep me on the phone, the longer you'll wait for that to happen, Governor."

Lucas leaned in his chair, his index finger slowly trailing up and down the phone cable.

"Oh, I wouldn't worry about that", his smirk grew a bit smug "There's a car waiting for you in front of the orphanage so you could be here as soon as possible."

Grace's eyes widened.

"What…", she stammered then let out a soft laugh "Lucas, I didn't even start to get ready! I just curled my hair!"

He gently interrupted her:

"When you are ready, Stephen is waiting for you. He is keeping the heat on in the car so you won't get cold", at hearing her silent exhale, he smiled and whispered "So, you curled your hair?"

Grace shook her head a little, a small smile curling up her lips.

"Just a little bit", she murmured gently.

He took a breath in.

"Mmm…so my fingers might get tangled up?", he silently asked.

Grace's smile widened, her cheeks flushing.

"You are incorrigible, Governor", she said as she shook her head.

He chuckled warmly.

"Take all the time you need. I will be waiting for you", he murmured silently.

Grace bit her lower lip.

"I'll see you soon, my Lucas", she said gently "Bye."

Grace ran upstairs, smiling happily. She knew exactly what dress will she wear and how much makeup will she put on. Nothing too extravagant, but elegant.

Her dress was hanging on the closet doors and Grace brushed her fingertips across the soft lace in front. The dress was ice white, long with the skirt flowing like a waterfall from her hips.

Quickly, Grace sat down in front of the mirror and put on a bit of makeup. She took a lipstick and opening it, leaned a bit toward the mirror to put it on, but then her hand stopped midway, her lips slightly curling up.

No.

She smiled as she opened her purse and put lipstick inside.

I'll put it on before the photo shooting starts.

Her cheeks warmed up as she thought of the reason why she didn't put lipstick on.

She let out a small, silent sigh, feeling tingles traveling through her entire body.

With a big smile, she got up and rushed to get the dress and placed it on the bed while she took off her morning clothes.

Stepping into a long gown, Grace pushed her hands into the sleeves and fiddled with the soft material until it hugged her in all the right places.

There was a knock at the doors and Grace peeked out behind the closet doors.

She smiled happily at the sight of her dear sister.

"Lillian!", she said, her voice happy and relieved "I just wanted to call you."

Lillian stepped in the room with a soft smile.

"I figured you will need help with your dress…", while she said that Grace stepped out behind the closet doors, causing Lillian to gasp "Oh, Grace! You look like a vision!"

Grace's eyes shone with happiness.

"Really?"

Lillian smiled widely as she walked toward her little sister.

"You look beautiful", her eyes misted with happy tears "Come on, turn around so I can lace you up."

Grace obeyed and held on the bed pillar while Lillian worked on her laces. As she finished, she turned around and her eyes watered.

"Thank you, Lillian. For everything", she said, hugging her sister.

Lillian teared up too as she hugged Grace back.

In the next minute, she chuckled.

"No, no tears. We wouldn't want you to ruin your makeup. You got a very important photo shooting today", she grinned as Grace laughed happily. Pulling out her handkerchief, Lillian wiped off a bit of smudged makeup under Grace's left eye and smiled.

Grace took a deep breath in and exhaling, she smiled.

Lillian rushed to get her purse from the table while Grace put her shoes on.

She looked up as Lillian gave her purse and smiled.

"Okay. This is it", Grace breathed out with a smile.

Lillian smiled as she fixed her sister's hair.

"You are going to do great. You look beautiful, Gracie", she gently squeezed her sister's hand and added "Come on, go!", she pulled her out of the room, both of them giggling.

While Grace put her coat on Lillian opened the doors and glanced at her sister.

"Perhaps you should take an umbrella, in case the rain starts to fall", she said.

Grace finished buttoning her coat.

"I also thought so, but it looks like there is no need for that", she showed with her head toward the street, her smile widening.

Lillian turned around to look in the direction Grace pointed to and she couldn't help but smile.

Of course.

"I'll see you later, Lillian", Grace kissed her sister's cheek and rushed down the stairs ""Bye!"

Lillian smiled as she closed the doors. She still remembered how broken Grace was after that fiasco with Patrick and how, little by little, Lucas healed her broken heart.

And she was certain that Lucas will make Grace happier than she ever was.

Lillian shrugged and smiled as she went back toward the yard where the kids were playing.

Or I am going to strangle him.

—--

Grace closed the car doors and rushed up the stairs toward the entrance.

She knocked on the doors and pressed her lips tightly together, pushed her fingertips in her palms in order to stop herself from bouncing.

The doors opened and she smiled as she saw Simon.

"Good morning, Simon", she greeted him as she entered the mansion.

Simon smiled softly.

"Good morning, Miss Grace. May I take your coat?"

Grace nodded, unbuttoned her coat and gave it to Simon with a soft "thank you". He put it on a peg near the doors and turned to start escorting her.

"Governor is waiting for you in the library. I just brought a tea tray in. Would you like anything else?", as Grace slightly shook her head with a smile, he nodded "Good. This way, please", he extended his hand in the direction of the library and started to walk, but Grace stopped him.

"That's alright, Simon, thank you. I know the way", and before Lucas' butler could say anything, she rushed up the grand staircase, heading toward the library.

Simon slightly raised his eyebrows and smiled to himself.

This house will get happier than it has been for a very long time.

Grace reached the first floor and went quickly down the long corridor, passing by the ballroom, a big dining room and finally she reached the doors of the grand library.

She took a deep breath in and smiled as she pressed the doorknob and opened the doors.

Only to find the grand library empty.

Confused, Grace stepped inside and looked left and right, then decided to see if he was walking between the shelves.

And that was when she heard the library doors close with a soft click.

She started to turn around, but barely was able to move a bit to her left when she felt his arms wrapping around her waist and she felt his strong presence behind her.

Her eyes fluttered closed as Lucas pulled her into him, slowly brushing her curled hair away from her right shoulder. Not wasting one precious second, he latched his lips on her neck, kissing her skin lovingly, passionately, sending her mind into a complete mess.

Grace silently whimpered at his loving kissing, only to gasp as she felt his tongue flicking across her porcelain skin.

Oh, my goodness.

She could barely breathe.

As his lips sucked lovingly on her skin, her head lolled back on his shoulder and she let out a soft moan as he got a better access to her neck.

His lips sneaked his way closer to her face and she turned slightly to her right…

Right in time to collide with his warm lips.

She kissed him with such longing and passion that he felt his heart floating away from his chest. Slowly turning her in his arms, he dived in and deepened their kiss, making her whimper in pure pleasure. Her shivering fingers grabbed his shoulders, pulling him closer to her.

Closer.

As the need for air became desperate, they broke their kiss, Lucas leaning his forehead on Grace's.

Her breath came out in a few short gasps and he sneaked one hand from her waist to the back of her head, his fingers getting lost in her soft, brunette curls.

She swallowed hard and looked up at him, her lips curling up in a small smile.

"You will ruin my hair", she whispered.

He gave her a small smile back, his eyes darkening.

"Would you mind?", he asked, his voice barely audible.

Grace felt her heart reaching a racing point.

"Never", she replied silently and inhaled sharply as his lips kissed her again, making her breathing fastening up again before it even had a chance to calm down.

All of a sudden he broke the kiss making Grace gasp in surprise at the separation.

She glanced at him, storm pooling inside her brown eyes.

Lucas pulled her closer to him and gently nuzzled his nose against hers.

"You are late" he mumbled silently.

Grace let out a shaky breath.

"What are you talking about? It's not even 10.30 yet…", she tried to reply, but his lips stole words from hers, making her whimper in delight.

He lazily moved his lips against hers, sending delicious shivers through her entire body.

"You are LATE, Miss Bennet", he whispered "We still have to make a phone call."

Grace kissed him back, loving the way his lips melted into hers.

"One phone call", she whispered against his lips "I don't understand why are you fussing about the time, Governor."

The minute she uttered those words, Lucas pressed his lips into hers, his tongue deliciously moving across her lower lip causing her to let out a breathless moan, only to moan a bit louder in pure pleasure as he deepened their kiss.

She arched into him, a delighted whimper escaping her. He held her more tightly against his body as he broke the kiss once again, driving her absolutely mad.

He gave her a smouldering look that made her insides flame up in fire.

"That phone call will take at least ten minutes of our time", one of his hands reached inside his pocket and Grace heard a soft click. She bit her lower lip as she saw Lucas' eyes sparkle

seductively. He glanced down at his pocket watch, then back at her as he silently added "Which means I barely have one hour and forty five minutes to mess up your hair."

Grace let out a sound between a sigh and chuckle, her blood boiling in her veins.

"Well, then, let's go, Governor", she said, her lips curling up in a flirtatious smile "Time's a wastin".

She didn't have to tell him twice.

—--

Now I've got arms,

And I've got arms,

Let's get together and use those arms.

Let's go, times a wastin.

I've got lips,

And I've got lips,

Let's get together and use those lips.

Let's go, times a wastin.

The cake's no good if you don't mix the batter and bake it,

And love's just a bubble if you don't take the trouble to make it.

So if you're free to go with me, I'll take you quicker than 1, 2, 3,

Let's go, times a wastin.

Now I've got blues,

And I've got blues,

Let's get acquainted and loose those blues.

Let's go, times a wastin.

Now I've got feet,

And I've got feet,

Let's start to walk where the lovers meet.

Let's go, times a wastin.

You've got me feeling love like I've never have felt it,

You're full of sugar and I think I'm the butter to melt it.

Now I've got schemes,

And you've got schemes,

Let's get together and dream some dreams.

Let's go, times a wastin.

("Times a wastin - June Carter & Carl Smith)