It was Thursday and the big old clock just chimed 10.30 when the footsteps were heard from the outside.
Grace rushed up the stairs, slightly breathless and she was about to knock at the doors when they opened and Lucas himself welcomed her with a soft smile on his face as he quickly stepped outside.
She smiled happily as he closed the doors and came into her personal space, cupping her cheek and kissing her lovingly without a word. Grace inhaled sharply, her heart pounding from excitement and happiness. She hugged Lucas and kissed him back fervently, her hands wrapping around his waist.
As he slowly unlatched his lips from hers, she smiled and sighed, her eyes closed.
"Oh, this brings back memories!", she felt his thumb gently caressing her cheek and her eyes opened "Last time you opened the doors of the mansion for me, my entire life has changed for the better."
Lucas' heart soared at her words and he smiled happily before diving in to kiss his beautiful fiancée one more time. Grace eagerly welcomed his kiss and tightened her hold on him, pulling him closer to her.
He smiled into her lips as he slowly stopped their kiss.
"As I recall, Miss Bennett, you accused me of sending all staff home so I could be alone with you in the mansion and seduce you", he murmured teasingly, causing fire to lick Grace's senses.
Her breathing got heavier and she pressed into him, robbing him out of breath in a matter of milliseconds.
"As I recall, you didn't deny it, Governor", she whispered back and in the next moment she slightly whimpered in pleasure as his lips descended on hers in the most passionate, sensual, feverish way. She gasped, opening up to him, only to shudder most deliciously in his arms as she felt his tongue caressing her mouth and he slightly dipped her to get better access to her loving lips.
As their kiss broke Grace gasped for breath, her legs turning into a jelly under Lucas' heated gaze. She smiled at him, her heart pounding and sighed as his palm cupped her cheek and she heard him whisper:
"Bonjour ma magnifique fiancée tant aimée" ("Hello, my beautiful and beloved fiancée").
Her smile widened, her heart skipping a beat at hearing him speak French.
She melted against him as she murmured gently, her smile never leaving her lips:
"Bonjour, mon amour" ("Hello, my love").
His hands hugged her around her shoulders and for a moment they just stood there, holding each other in a loving embrace.
Lucas felt Grace's lips gently kiss his neck and he heard her murmur warmly:
"You're gonna freeze", she pulled back a bit and their eyes locked and she smiled gently "Let's go inside", as he nodded slightly with a small smile on his lips, he gently kissed her forehead and whispered:
"I didn't have time to put on a coat. The interior designer only just arrived."
Grace's eyes widened.
"He is here?!", she asked.
Lucas nodded, amused by her reaction.
"Mhm. I just told him I had to go put out a lamp in the garden", he said, chuckling at how lame that excuse sounded and Grace laughed in disbelief.
Letting go of him, she took his hand and walking toward the dors, she quipped:
"Governor, you have to try and sound more diplomatic than that!"
Lucas grimaced comically.
"I know. I'll try", and with those words he winked at her and opened the doors, letting her inside.
—--
Helen sipped on her tea as she slowly went through the list of photographers' names. She wanted the best one for her beloved son's wedding. She wanted to make that day unforgettable for both her son and his lovely bride.
Helen's chest ached in pain as she remembered how broken he was. How that despicable woman heartlessly dumped him only three weeks before their wedding… How he tried to put on a strong, brave façade for her and Martin and cancel everything by himself; the catering, the music, the photographer, the flowers…but Helen stopped him right then and there. She couldn't let him deal with that. He was broken, hurt, betrayed, suffering and yet, here he was, trying to make the terrible shocking news easier for his parents…No. Helen took everything in her hands and called off the entire thing, not even caring about the rumours and scandal it caused. She only cared about her son.
Seeing that awful, pathetic, dishonourable woman in Hamilton shook Helen's composure. She didn't know how she managed to restrain herself not to slap her, faced with such cruel, cold-hearted haughtiness.
What a despicable woman.
She doesn't deserve my boy.
Taking another sip of her tea, Helen looked up at the framed engagement photo of Grace and Lucas that stood on her desk and her Mother's heart immediately started to calm down.
What a blessing that sweet girl was.
Slowly placing a cup down on the saucer, Helen took a framed photo in her hand and a soft smile curled up her lips.
She remembered the first time she laid eyes on Grace Bennett. She was holding a little girl in her arms, her face and dress smeared with some chocolate frosting, a few feathers in her hair, but it was her warm smile that disarmed Helen. Grace Bennet had such a warmth about herself like she was the Sun itself…
And her son was drawn to that Sun like a moth to a flame.
Helen still remembered how her heart soared at seeing Lucas laughing his heart out as Lillian told her and Martin a tale about Grace and Lucas teaming up against her… She could see her son and Grace barely stifling a laugh until they glanced at each other.
And bursted into laughter.
God bless you, dear heart.
Helen closed her eyes, a few tears rolling down her cheeks as she remembered that awful moment when her son was stabbed. She remembered screams, Bill and Marcus restraining the attacker, she and Martin running toward their son, and Grace…
Dear, sweet Grace.
Helen's heart bled in pain as she remembered seeing Grace catching Lucas before he fell to the floor and in the next moment, without even thinking about it, tearing up her dress and pressing the material to his wound to stop the bleeding, crying all the time.
And Helen remembered Grace's fear and desperation as her son slipped unconscious from the pain and bleeding.
"No, no, no…NO! Lucas, open your eyes!", Grace turned around and screamed "Get a doctor! Somebody! Get a doctor!", she broke down in tears, still pressing her hands on his wound.
Those long hours spent in the hospital as they waited for any word about Lucas and how that darling girl thought it was her fault his life was at stake broke Helen down completely. Knowing what she knew about Grace's and Lillian's past, how Grace grew up without parents' love and protection woke Motherly feelings in Helen for this remarkable young woman who clearly loved her son with all that she was.
And Helen remembered the first thing Lucas asked as he woke up from anesthesia after the surgery…
"Is Grace alright?"
"I want to see her."
Letting out a shaky breath Helen wiped her tears and her fingertips caressed Grace's face on the photo.
Her lips curled up in a wobbling smile and she sent yet another prayer of thanks to God for bringing Grace Bennett into her son's life.
Taking a deep breath in and wiping her tears away, Helen glanced back down at the list of the photographers when the phone ringing broke the silence.
She picked up the phone receiver.
"Hello?", she listened for a moment and her lips curled up softly "Good morning, doctor Shepherd. I'm fine, how are you?", she listened for a bit longer and then asked "What can I do for you?"
And as Carson started to talk, Helen's face fell and her eyes misted with tears.
—--
Grace looked up at Lucas as the interior designer announced that they should start and went to climb up the grand staircase.
She smiled as he put her palm in the crook of his arm and they followed Jim, the interior designer.
"So, what room should we start with?, asked Jim as they reached the first floor.
Grace slightly creased her eyebrows and glanced at Lucas, wondering what would he say.
But, for the life of her, she didn't expect him to say what he did:
"The main bedroom."
Grace's eyes widened and she froze on the spot. Noticing her reaction, Lucas looked apologetically at Jim and murmured:
"Will you excuse us for a second?", as the older man nodded, Lucas slowly pulled Grace away to the secluded place behind a pillar.
He looked down at her, apologetic look in his eyes and he murmured quietly:
"I'm sorry. I should have told you, but I got too excited about renovating this place with you and I forgot. If you don't feel comfortable, you can stay outside", he slowly put a stray curl behind her ear "I just want it to be your room too. And I want to know what would you like to have in it."
By now, Grace calmed down a bit and instead of anxiety she felt warmth washing all over her.
She looked up at Lucas, her heart melting at seeing regret on his face. It fueled love in her heart and she murmured gently:
"No, it's fine", she shyly glanced down and whispered "I guess I am just nervous", her shoulders moved slightly as she shrugged "I never was in your bedroom."
Lucas slowly stepped into Grace's personal space and cupped her cheek. As she looked up at him, her cheeks aflame, he felt his heart swell with love for this amazing, lovely woman.
"Well, let's turn it into OUR bedroom, shall we?", he whispered gently and his face glowed with happiness as his Grace slightly nodded, a soft smile curling up her lips.
He gently kissed her lips and slowly dragged his hand from her cheek over her neck, shoulder and arm until his fingers reached her palm and intertwined with her fingers.
They went back toward Jim and Lucas led the way down the long corridor toward the private quarters area.
He opened the doors and both gentlemen stepped aside to let Grace enter first.
Grace bravely crossed the threshold and in the next moment she felt breath knocked out of her lungs and her heart speeding up.
Oh, my God.
The most private quarters of the man she loved and whom she will marry in less than a month revealed itself in front of Grace's eyes. His wonderful scent was in every corner of the room. There was a book on his nightstand, right beside a ledger and a fountain pen. His dark blue suit jacket was on the chair and she bit her lip as she glanced at her handsome fiancé while he talked to Jim. His dark blue pants and vest made a breathtaking contrast to his white dress shirt.
Goodness, he was so handsome!
Grace swallowed hard as her traitorous mind toyed with her, bringing the vision of her freeing him of more than just a suit jacket.
As both men looked up Grace quickly turned around and started to inspect the room, while trying to breathe and calm down.
Unbeknownst to Grace's inner struggle Jim gave a critical eye to the room.
"I can see why you want to redecorate, Governor. This room is quite outdated", he commented.
Lucas pressed his lips tightly together.
Not exactly the reason why I wanted to do it, but alright…
Jim walked through the room and reached the windows, eyeing the curtains with utter disgust.
"You'll definitely need new curtains", he said and then looked at the Governor's fiancée "What do you think, Miss Bennett?"
Grace flinched, startled and she looked up, eyes wide opened and completely flustered.
"Yes, closet would look good there", she mumbled, causing Jim to crease his eyebrows, turn to look at the window and frowned.
Lucas creased his eyebrows in confusion.
"But, closet would block the window", he said, causing Grace to look at him like he just grew three more heads.
"Why would you want to move the closet there?!", she asked, her voice laced with disbelief.
Lucas' eyes widened as he replied incredulously:
"I don't!"
Grace frowned in confusion.
"Then why are you talking about it?!", she hissed quietly.
Lucas' heart melted as he realized that she had no clue that she was the one who mentioned the closet in the first place.
She was so flustered.
And beautiful beyond words.
Jim huffed out a breath.
"You know, why don't we leave moving furniture around for later?", he asked and added "Why don't you tell me what kind of bed would you like to have?"
Lucas watched mesmerized as Grace's face brightened with the loveliest smile ever as she replied:
"Canopy bed. Dark wood with beige baldachin. The back of the bed should be high and also beige", as she spoke, her cheeks turned bright red, but she didn't care.
Jim glanced at Lucas.
"Governor? Are you okay with that?", he asked.
Lucas felt like his heart will jump out from his chest as he felt Grace's hand sneaking around his waist. He slowly hugged her back and nodded.
"Absolutely."
Jim nodded and said as he wrote all that down in his little notebook:
"Alright. We'll start with that."