Grace walked toward the living room, coming inside shortly after Lucas. She looked at Agatha and Carson and smiled.
"Well, I am going home. Have to get some dry clothes, Luccie isn't the only one who had a bath", she chuckled as she pointed to her wet sleeves and a part of her blouse on the side.
Lucas turned to look at her and only then noticed the state of her blouse.
"Grace, why didn't you say something? We could have found you something dry to wear!", but before she could reply, he turned around and rushed toward the grand staircase.
Grace looked after him as she was about to say that she is fine, but he was already out of her sight.
She pressed her lips tightly together and looked back at Carson and Agatha.
"We are expecting you for dinner tonight and for a feast tomorrow", her smile was back in full "The children are looking so much forward to meet you."
Agatha smiled warmly.
"It must be hard to take care of so many kids, but I can tell that you are enjoying it", she picked up her tea cup "Am I right?"
Grace smiled happily.
"Yes, you are. They bring so much joy into our lives", she was about to say something more but sneezed.
"Bless you", said Carson "I think Lucas is right, you should get out of that wet clothes."
Grace shook her head.
"Oh, I will be fine, I just…", as another sneeze came, Grace quickly took out a handkerchief to wipe her nose "Excuse me."
By that time Lucas was back and handed her neatly folded piece of clothes and a towel.
"Here. Go and change and then I'll take you home", he said.
Grace nodded as she took a garment from him.
"You really didn't have to…", as she sneezed again, Lucas creased his eyebrows in concern.
"Sounds to me like I had to. Go, before you freeze", he stepped inside the living room and sat down beside Carson.
Grace left the living room and headed to the bathroom, only now looking at the garment in her hands.
Her eyes widened.
He gave her his dress shirt!
How am I going to show up in front of Agatha in Lucas' dress shirt?!
Quickly, Grace rushed toward the peg beside the doors and snatched her coat, deciding that she will put it on her immediately.
She went inside the bathroom, quickly took her blouse off and as she wiped her arms with a towel, she sneezed once again.
Quickly, she unfolded the crisp white dress shirt and put it on.
His wonderful masculine scent hit her senses and Grace inhaled deeply as she held material close to her face.
She quickly buttoned it and she was about to roll the sleeves a bit as they were a little bit too long for her, when her fingertips touched the place where his cufflinks would be.
Grace closed her eyes, slightly biting her lip as an image of her handsome fiance fiddling with his cufflinks entered her mind.
I am definitely going crazy from the lack of kissing him.
She opened her eyes and grabbed her coat, only to catch a glance of herself in the mirror.
Her lips curled up as she noticed how his dress shirt looked on her.
I may keep this one to myself. It is a bit too wide and long…right above my hips.
Perfect for the hot summer days.
Her smile turned mischievous and her cheeks turned rosy as she imagined herself wearing nothing but his dress shirt as she danced around the kitchen, making some pancakes.
A breakfast for my handsome husband.
Her smile grew as her skin flamed up and she quickly buttoned her coat and left the bathroom.
Coming back to the living room, she noticed that Lucas wasn't there.
Noticing her quizzical look, Carson said:
"He's waiting for you outside."
Grace smiled a bit and nodded.
"Alright. I'll see you later. Bye", and with those words, she was gone.
Agatha glanced at Carson who suddenly seemed very interested in reading his medical journal. Her lips curled up.
"Young man, you don't have to walk on eggshells around me", at Carson's surprised look, she added "I know that they are engaged. It was in the newspapers. What I don't understand is why are they acting like they are not engaged?"
Carson put his medical journal down and let out a breath as he softly smiled.
"Grace was worried how Jack would react. She didn't want to upset him", he started to explain "She was the friend who called me and asked me to check on Jack."
Agatha raised her eyebrows in surprise.
"Was she now?", she asked and glanced toward the way where Grace left.
Carson nodded.
"I have known Grace and her sister Lillian for a very long time. One thing I can tell you about them is that they are very nice ladies and their care about the children is really something special", he smiled a bit "Grace is the one who had it harder than Lillian. After their parents died, Lillian was adopted, but Grace wasn't. She stayed at the various orphanages until she became of age. Therefore, she understands children's fears and traumas so well."
Agatha slowly leaned in her chair.
"Oh, heavens. Poor girl. That couldn't be easy", she whispered, only to shake her head a bit "And yet, she looks so carefree, happy, not bitter at all."
Carson nodded.
"That's Grace alright. She always tries to help others because she knows what it's like when you have nobody by your side to take care of you", he said gently.
Agatha's face turned thoughtful. She took a sip of her tea and kept silent for a while.
Taking a deep breath in, she smiled at Carson.
"I think I'd like to talk to Lucas once he gets back. Would you mind looking after Jack while we are at it?", she asked.
Carson smiled as he got up.
"Of course not. In fact, I am going to see what he is up to with that dog of his. Lucas said that they are in Jack's room, playing fetch", his smile grew "Lets just make sure they don't break anything."
—--
Lucas stood beside the car, his back turned toward the mansion as he put his gloves on when suddenly two palms covered his eyes.
His lips curled up lazily and he heard a gentle whisper in his ear:
"Guess who?"
Lucas frowned.
"Gustave?", the fingers didn't move so he tried again "Carson?", he could feel fingertips impatiently tapping on his forehead and he grinned as he said "Simon?", at hearing a huff, he slowly took the palms down to his lips "I know it's you, angel", he kissed her fingers slowly and felt her chin on his shoulder.
"What if I was Agatha?", Grace asked with a smile.
Lucas chuckled as he slowly turned around.
"Oh, I think it would be quite embarrassing if I didn't recognize my beautiful fiancée's hands and voice", he mumbled gently, his eyes sparkling "No disrespect to Mrs. Thatcher, but your hands are way softer", he stepped closer to her, letting go of her hands and slowly wrapping his arms around her.
Grace smiled, her heart skipping a beat.
"Thank you for the shirt", she said and then added "And just so you know, you are not getting it back."
Lucas raised his eyebrows, his smile turning curious.
"I'm not?", he asked, his voice low and velvety, his fingers slowly pulling Grace closer to him.
She let out a shaky breath and smiled.
"I think I'll just save it for the hot summer days", her breathing fastened up as their lips inched closer to each other "It won't be too hot for me to make my handsome husband some pancakes if I wear his dress shirt."
Their breathing turned heavy and Lucas gave her a smouldering look.
"That's your opinion", his palm cupped the back of her head and he whispered passionately "I think that you would be way too hot."
Grace trembled at his words and watched as his eyes never let go of hers while his lips barely touched her lips.
At the mere touch of his lips, a fire exploded in Grace and she silently whimpered, her lips begging him for more.
And more she got.
Hearing Grace let out that sweet sound fueled a fire in Lucas and he leaned in, crashing his lips against hers, kissing her hotly, passionately. His hand pulled her flush against his hard body, his other palm roaming on the back of her head, his fingers gently bringing her closer, making her moan in delight.
Just what he wanted.
He dived in, deepening the kiss, causing Grace to gasp into his lips and arch into him, her lungs releasing a sweet mewling sound that only made Lucas wanting more.
Her fingers caressed skin on his neck and sneaked into his glorious hair, slightly tugging at it, making him groan in pleasure.
They both gasped for air, their lips unlatched from each other, but their bodies didn't move an inch from each other. Grace watched Lucas' eyes, her own eyes wide and her breathing heavier than before. As Lucas leaned down and kissed her neck, Grace whimpered, feeling her knees shaking as his lips worshiped her milky skin.
"Lucas", she silently moaned his name, only to have him pull her even closer to him, and she gasped, her eyes closing as she felt every part of his body pressing into hers. Her teeth bore into her lower lip as he continued his loving attack on her neck and she tried not to lose control.
But, when she felt his warm tongue on her neck, Grace was lost.
She shook against him, one of her palms on his hair, the other on his strong shoulder and she quickly pulled him up to be able to hide her face in his shoulder, her legs betraying her as he held her close.
Lucas took a deep breath in as he slowly stopped kissing her neck and gently pulled her face into a place between his neck and shoulder, letting her to calm down. Under his other hand on her back, he could feel Grace shaking and his heart soared at the realization that he could make her feel like this.
As her breathing slowly turned to normal, he gently kissed her hair and whispered:
"Make those blueberry pancakes and you can keep the dress shirt."
He could feel Grace's lips curling up in a smile on the skin of his neck before he heard her whisper:
"No problem. And to show you how grateful I am, I will wash your back."
Grace sensed Lucas inhaling sharply.
"Grace", he whispered passionately, only to gasp as he felt her lips kissing his neck before moving to his lips. She hovered against his lips, her eyes connecting with his eyes. They breathed heavily, their breaths mingling and she whispered:
"I cannot wait to be your wife", and with those words, her lips melted into his, making him want to fly from the love that roared inside him at her words, at her touch, at her kiss. He kissed her back passionately, making both of them moan and he barely managed to pull back from her before he lost every bit of control.
He gasped and she whimpered at the break of kiss and Lucas buried his face into Grace's hair.
He felt her arms tightening her hold on him and he let out a strangled moan.
"Grace, if we go on like this, I won't be able to wait until February", he whispered in her hair "I'd have us married by the New Year's Eve."
She pulled away from him just a bit and smiled happily, causing him to chuckle, his chuckle making her giggle and Lucas picked her up in his arms and twirled her, making her let out a squeal.
As he put her down on the ground, Lucas gently nuzzled his nose against hers and whispered:
"When we marry, I will never let you go."
She smiled warmly.
"Cross your heart?", she silently asked.
Lucas smiled and kissed the tip of her nose, making her giggle before whispering:
"And hope to die", he gently tugged at her hand "Come on. I'll take you home."
—--
When you walked up behind me and covered my eyes
And whispered in my ear, "guess who?"
I rattled off names like I really didn't know
But all along, I knew it was you.
And, the longer we talked, the more we laughed
And wondered why we didn't last
It had been a long time, but later last night
Baby, we caught up real fast.
And maybe it's a little too early
To know if this is gonna work
All I know is you're sure looking
Good in my shirt
That's right
You look good in my shirt.
Well now, I'm not saying that we solved overnight
Every way that we went wrong
Oh, but what I'm seeing, I'd sure love seeing
Every morning from now on.
And maybe it's a little too early
To know if this is gonna work
All I know is you're sure looking
Good in my shirt
C'mon now
Aww, that's right
Oh, you look so fine
And maybe it's a little too early
To know if this is gonna work
All I know is you're sure looking
Good in my shirt
And maybe it's a little too early
To know if this is gonna work
All I know is you're sure looking
Good in my shirt
You look good in my shirt.
("You look good in my shirt" - Keith Urban)