Author's note: Thanks to Avis Minter for brainstorming with me about the conversation between Lucas and Rosemary!
Thanks to Celeste Bastos for this gem of sentence "Florence will even tell you what she doesn't know" that had me laughing so hard!!
And huge thanks to all fellow Lucas' hearties who send me reviews. I surely hope this story helps your broken hearts to heal like it helped me. I treasure each and every one of your reviews!
—--
Lucas' eyelids fluttered open slightly, his senses relaxed and warm. As he drifted from his sleep, at first he didn't know where he was or what day it was.
Was he…
He looked down and saw pedals for gas and brakes.
Yes, he fell asleep in a car.
He rubbed his eyes, trying to help them adjust to a crisp whiteness from the outside.
But…where did that feeling of warmth and softness come from?
Lucas moved his hands away from his eyes and looked up.
And his heart almost stopped.
There was his lovely Grace, blissfully asleep. Her rosy lips were slightly opened as she breathed calmly, her eyelashes resting against her milky skin, her long hair falling down in soft curls.
She was absolutely breathtakingly beautiful.
He felt her fingers resting gently against his hair. He moved slightly to see if he could get up without waking her.
She didn't move.
Lucas got up slowly and turned back to look at her. His heart clenched as he took in her loveliness and remembered how she made him relax, running her fingers through his hair until he fell asleep, calmed by her closeness and touch.
These last few days without her close by showed him once again how much she meant to him. She was the first person he wanted to tell about his day, the first one who he wanted to see when he wakes up in the morning and the one in whose arms he wanted to fall asleep every night.
He slowly took his coat off and covered her with it, not wanting for her to get cold.
Lucas took out his pocket watch to check the time. As he put it back, he looked once more at the ridge.
It felt so good to share this part of Hope Valley that he loved with her. And he was so happy because she seemed to like it as much as he does.
Glancing at Grace one more time, he made sure that she was tucked in his coat so she wouldn't catch a cold.
As he fixed it on her shoulder, one curl escaped from its place and fell against his fingers like a soft petal of rose.
Lucas gently took it between his fingertips and slowly caressed it.
If someone had told him a few months ago, back during that awful train ride, that he will be so happy and calm, he would tell him to go to see a psychiatrist.
But, his life took the most unexpected turn the evening of first attack.
To have her show up as a lightning back then was a miracle.
A destiny.
The other part of his soul finding him.
Careful not to wake her, Lucas slowly started to drive away, watching for any bumps and holes on the road in order not to disturb her peaceful sleep.
He was driving for almost ten minutes when Grace suddenly started to move.
Grace could feel her mind coming back to consciousness and she inhaled deeply, reveling in the warmth she felt.
The scent of pine filled her nostrils, mixed with another scent that shook her to the core of her heart.
And it was so close to her.
Blinking slowly, she opened her eyes only to see Lucas' brown coat covering her body.
She took a deep breath in, snuggling into his coat and letting his scent fill her senses.
A small yawn escaped her and she covered it with her palm. Once it passed, she looked to her left side and smiled sleepily at the sight of him glancing at her with a soft smile and his hand reaching out and taking hers.
Lucas gently kissed her knuckles, making her smile and closing her eyes, enjoying the feeling of his lips against her skin.
"I fell asleep", she mumbled sleepily.
"My Sleeping Beauty", Lucas gently whispered, kissing her knuckles again, making her smile grow wider and her cheeks grew warmer.
"You didn't have to give me your coat, but thank you", Grace silently said, pulling his coat up to her nose and inhaling deeply, she smiled.
Lucas glanced at her, feeling warmth washing over him as he noticed how she snuggled into his coat up to her nose, only her eyes left uncovered.
"What time is it?", she asked as she took another deep breath in.
"Around six. Plenty of time to get ready before we have to go to Ned's and Florence's place", he replied, maneuvering the wheel in order to avoid a hole in the road.
Grace sat up, carefully placed his coat on her lap and leaned over, kissing him on his cheek.
"Thank you", she whispered and snuggled into his shoulder.
Lucas glanced at her for a second before looking back at the road.
"For what, my love?", he asked gently.
Grace placed a gentle kiss on his shoulder then leaned her head on it again.
"For coming back to me a day earlier", she mumbled in a small voice.
Lucas was silent for a moment then suddenly, he pulled the car off the road and hit on the brakes.
As the car stopped, he turned his head to softly kiss Grace's hair as his arms found their way around her shoulders.
He pulled her closer to him and she snuggled into his side, her hand absently roaming across his chest and stomach, caressing them in slow, lazy movements.
Grace could feel more then hear Lucas sigh at her gentle ministrations. She looked up only to be greeted with his eyes sparkling with heat.
He leaned down and kissed her lips lovingly, pulling gently on them, giving them a little nibble then soothing it with his warm tongue.
Grace whimpered in pleasure, opening up for him, only to shiver uncontrollably when Lucas dived in and turned their kiss in a passionate, roaring fire.
His hands crept down her spine, roaming all over her back, squeezing gently at her lower back.
Grace shuddered, another moan escaping her as Lucas' lips devoured her, his tongue caressing the inside of her mouth so lovingly that she wanted to cry out and sing his name at the same time.
He pulled his lips away from hers making her whimper in protest only to gasp for a breath as he latched them on her neck, sending her head spinning.
Lucas hungrily kissed Grace's neck, savouring in the taste of her, enjoying the sounds she made as he gently nipped on her skin then soothed it with his tongue. She grabbed his shoulders, gasping for breath as he nipped her skin, then mewled in delight as his tongue lazily licked the affected area only to whimper as he sucked on it with his lips.
Her heart thumped so fast she was sure that it will burst through her chest.
At the next moment, his warm lips found her bare earlobe and gently sucked it in, making her moan.
Grace was certain she saw the stars as she felt his hot breath on her ear.
"I would come earlier if I could. Being away from you nearly killed me", he whispered, every word coming out in a flaming hot breath against her ear.
She gasped for breath as she felt him kissing his way sensually back to her lips and she placed one shivering hand on his cheek. Her eyes opened and collided with his heated gaze. She breathed heavily, only to moan as he placed his palms on her waist and squeezed her gently.
His eyes were dark, so dark that she was sure she will drown in those midnight black depths.
His breath was ragged and heavy against her lips and she smiled into his lips, her whole body pulsating from his love.
"I love you, Grace", he whispered "I never want to let you go"."
Her smile widened and she thought she is going to melt in his arms.
"Don't ever let me go, Lucas", she whispered "I don't want you to let me go. I love you, my Lucas", she kissed his lips and smiled "I love you so much. Welcome back home. Welcome back to me."
His eyes softened at her loving words and he cupped her cheek, placing a gentle, loving kiss on her rosy lips.
—--
Rosemary stood by the window of her office and peeked at the street.
Where are they?!
Some time ago she saw Lucas and Grace driving outta town. She was at the Mercantile when Grace rushed inside and shortly informed Florence that they accepted her dinner invitation. Florence grinned and immediately started to talk, but Grace interrupted her by saying "I gotta go, Lucas is waiting for me. I'll see you tonight, Florence. Thank you!" and rushed out as a wind.
Rosemary quickly followed her only to see them driving away in Henry's car.
But, he won't get away from me now! They have to get back sometimes!
Suddenly, she noticed Henry's car pulling into the Main Street and she rushed toward the doors.
Now he'll hear me!
Lucas was just out of the car and closed the doors, when he heard his name being called out…well, better to say shrieked out.
"LUCAS BOUCHARD!"
Lucas grimaced as he looked at Grace who rolled her eyes full force.
"Lillian would be proud how you pulled that one out", quipped Lucas, making Grace chuckle. Her sister was famous for rolling her eyes full force when somebody grated on her nerves.
His hand went around her shoulders as he winked at her and said:
"Here we go".
Grace bit her laughter back and wrapped her hand around his waist as both of them turned around at the saloon porch just as furious Rosemary reached them and immediately launched a verbal attack.
"Lucas Bouchard, how could you come to Hope Valley earlier without letting us know?! We were planning to form a Welcome Committee made out of the most esteemed members of our town to give speeches…", Rosemary rambled, but Lucas interrupted her.
"I didn't ask you to do that", he replied in his calm voice. Looking over at Grace, he smiled and added "I got the best welcome any man could ever get without any planning."
Rosemary gasped.
"But, it was important for Hope Valley!", she all but shrieked.
Lucas' face darkened.
"I think that I did enough for Hope Valley, Rosemary. Anything else?", he tried to stay calm, but Grace felt his back muscles tightening. She soothingly rubbed his back with her palm in slow circles to calm him down.
Rosemary theatrically threw her hands in the air.
"And what about preparing a venue for the press conference?", she bristled "You didn't even send us a plan to…", she tried to have another go at Lucas, but he was having none of it.
"My press team arrives tomorrow and will take care of everything. I don't know why you would think that you would be in charge of organizing anything", said Lucas in a matter of fact tone of voice.
Rosemary stammered for a moment then decided to pull out a winning card and throw it at Lucas.
"Alright. Then you must give an exclusive interview for the Valley Voice before the press conference! This is after all the town that made you a Governor!", she all but spat the words.
But, Lucas laid four aces on her statement as he took one step toward her and said:
"No, thank you. I am not going to show favoritism to the Valley Voice. You will have a chance to ask questions just like the other reporters at the press conference", he turned to leave, but stopped and turned back, his voice icily cold "In fact, I will put only Lee's name on the journalists list. He will be the only one who will represent the Valley Voice at the press conference because I think you may have a biased attitude."
And with those words, Lucas pulled Grace closer to his side and left to the saloon, leaving Rosemary completely stunned, mouth wide open in shock!
Grace looked at Lucas, concern etched in her face.
"Lucas, are you alright?", she silently asked as they entered the saloon.
Lucas nodded, placing a kiss on her hair as she snuggled into his side.
Grace shook her head.
"She really has the nerve to attack you like that!", Grace bristled "What meddlesome, spiteful woman!", she looked up at Lucas, her palm reaching to the left part of his chest and resting there "Do you want me to cancel the dinner?"
Lucas shook his head.
"No. I have friends in this town and I won't let the ones like Rosemary stop me from seeing them", he softly smiled at her "But, thank you for offering, angel", he playfully pecked her lips, making her smile "I'll meet you here in an hour."
Grace nodded with a smile.
"Good. I will be the one with a love sick puppy facial expression", she quipped and winked at him before she rushed upstairs.
Lucas laughed as he watched her go.
I love you, Grace Bennett.
—--
At 20.00 sharp Grace and Lucas arrived in front of the Yosts's home. As they left the car Molly and Bill approached them.
"Ah, good, you're here!", said Bill "We only just arrived."
Molly looked at Grace and creased her eyebrows at young woman's biting her lower lip.
"Oh, darling, are you nervous?", Molly warmly asked as she placed a hand on Grace's shoulder.
Grace gave her a small smile.
"I'm fine", she said as all four of them climbed the stairs that led to the porch of Ned's and Florence's home.
Bill stopped at the doors and knocked, turning to look at Grace as he smiled.
"It is just a friendly dinner with friends having friendly talk. Florence will even tell you what she doesn't know", he said joyfully, making Grace's eyes go wide open as she bit her laughter back and Lucas' hand on her waist to shake from his silent laughter.
And they didn't even enter the house!
Florence opened the doors and pulled Molly in for a hug.
Grace's shoulders shook from inner giggles as she gently elbowed Lucas to stop him from bursting to laughter.
Oh, judge Avery, you're gonna pay for this!