Deandra
Chapter 3
I enter barefoot through one of the arched side glass french doors and shut it quietly behind me. The only thing that can be heard in the massive kitchen is a soft click from the brass lock on the door as I bolt it shut.
Luckily, we remain unseen from the house maidens who must have already retired to their sleeping quarters in the lower east side wing, the only place where the help are allowed to conjugate for the night.
Determined, Grayson maneuvers around the firmly positioned and equally immaculate furniture until he stumbles upon the switch near the dark mahogany cupboards.
He presses the button and all at once the bright multiple lights encased along the white ceiling overhead flood us with a powerful uv light.
I squint my eyes for a moment, allowing the piercing sensation of sight to adjust my dull senses.
For the first time tonight I notice Grayson's tired expression.
The entire affluent 'who's who' society of Cobblestone Frair attended the Safe Shelter Childrens Foundation. Just one of the many that Grayson so openly donates his free time and hard-earned money towards.
He networked with the other established well-to-do associates during the event that took place at the infamous Bistro Ballroom.
How the Lady Sovereign Society managed to gain a reservation in the year-round fully booked banquet is beyond my knowledge; but I'm sure it had something to do with Cindra Everest, the freshest face Lady Sovereign has added since the 1990's. It has been said the councilman's daughter is more loose than her devil may care attitude.
Although, I may be one sided on the subject seeing as how I've never had the pleasure of being in her presence. From what I've heard, many a households have been turned around upside down rather unexpectedly due to the enticing young eligible maiden. Men that have succumbed to the thought of intense desire and blatant curiosity have left a lot of mothered women scorned.
Unfortunately, it doesn't seem that Miss. Everest will be leaving the quaint town anytime soon. Especially not since she has officially been dubbed a Lady. The way I see it, she might just make her permanent residence in one of the many vacant over sized homes on Fairsville Lane.
No matter how many times I have been warned about the deadly serpentine I'm not bothered with the knowledge of the unforeseen.
As far as I'm concerned, the young gal could announce the preposterous notion that she was really indeed a man and I still wouldn't bat an eyelash. Of course, it helps that Grayson isn't into blondes.
During the entire night I had watched collectedly from the sidelines as my mother-in-law dutifully stood beside Grayson up until we declared our departure.
From what I could hear, he proudly spoke to anyone that would listen about the latest technologically advanced medical device that his company helped to successfully create. Needless to say, the new generation of battery-less artificial cardiac pacemakers will become an evolutionary stepping stone in the following years to come.
I walk behind Grayson into the heart of the kitchen. A lack of balance causes me to stumble forward and almost trip over my feet but out of pure dumb luck and quick reflexes I manage to catch myself on the back of a chair nearby.
Thankfully, Grayson is too preoccupied with undressing at the moment to notice the clumsy state that I'm in. Perhaps out of pure boredom I had graciously took one too many of the sparkling flutes that were being passed around like a gift bag at a movie premiere. Of course, there was also the added fact that there were no Hours De Vours to speak of at said benefit.
Yes. That would certainly explain why the slanted room is causing me to tilt my head sideways in order to see clearly and, why I find the odd proportion of my fiance's head absurdly hilarious.
Thinking back, I realize what a long evening it was. I'm just glad to finally be rid of those god forsaken heels. Granted, I sat on a comfortable sofa chair through most of it all, but I take into account the forty steps, give or take, in front of the banquet.
Earlier, my accompaniment consisted of meagerly bored housewives who looked exactly alike, almost as if they went to the same plastic surgeon, which would certainly explain the similarly uncanny bone structure.
I quickly cover my mouth to stifle the sudden burst of giggles that threaten to escape my part lips as I remember the first time that I met Grayson.
I was still on Island time and had arrived late to my own showcasing. Something that happens more often than I would care to admit. Granted, a young couple already bought the two paintings that I had entered in the festival but I wanted to meet the buyers for myself.
I had frantically managed to throw back the large doors to an art gallery in the city where a few of my already bought pieces were proudly hung on display when I barely walked not but five steps from the entrance and accidentally bumped into a baffled and pink-tinged cheek man, whose face I immediately recognized as Grayson Ashford Kingston the third. I knew of him from the towns encyclopedia where any inquisitive woman could find everything there was to know about said bachelor or any of the other influential Cobblestone Frair citizens who enjoy getting their picture taken.
As we collided into each other, the contents of his drink spilled down my bare chest with a few drops lodged into the crevice of my supple breasts effectively ruining the blue ruffled dress that I bought merely a day ago, for the sole intent purpose of wearing it to the gallery. What a shame it was to have such a beautiful dress ruined. Was the first thought that went through my mind at the time.
Once Grayson collected his bearings his demeanor changed from that of dumbstruck confusion and complete and utter shock to a more tongue-twisting apologetic grim expression. He reached in his left breast pocket and took out the handkerchief that held his family emblem etched royally in cursive and with shaky hands took said handkerchief and started to breathlessly clean what few wet droplets remained.
It seemed that he didn't know what to do, let alone how to properly apologize to a woman that was a complete stranger merely three seconds ago. The poor guy was so embarrassed that I decided to save the rest of his dignity and took the handkerchief from his grip so that I could dry up the most important spots by myself.
The aftermath left my skin goosebumply, sticky, and smelling of some kind of sweet alcohol. I regained my composure and returned the ruined handkerchief back to its rightful owner.
With the most polite 'thank you' that I could muster I took a step back from our close embrace and once the moment was over I noticed that we were in fact alone. The idea of having witnesses to the awkward encounter was too much to handle and caused my heart to beat madly with adrenaline.
Grayson straightened his posture and cleared his throat for a moment before offering his chauffeur to drop to me off at my house. Since my dress was properly ruined I couldn't walk around the gallery and be seen in that manner. So I accepted.
A few days later he called me with the invitation to dinner. After that it was the appropriate activities of a second date and later came the 'we're obviously compatible' fourth date. It was not long before Grayson gave me a key to his house with the high hopes of us becoming more familiar with each other. Three months later we were engaged.
Of course, many towns women felt betrayed that the long time bachelor would choose an older woman as a suitable partner. But what did a six year gap matter compared to finding your soul mate?
Grayson turns to me and raises a large black eyebrow at my sudden lift of mood.
I wave my free hand dismissively at him.
Instead, I watch as he positions himself in the middle of the kitchen behind the stationary counter and loosens the black tie around his neck. Behind him I notice the matching blazer folded neatly atop the bread counter. Only Grayson would remember proper etiquette at this time of day. Eagerly he un-buttons the top three white buttons of his shirt and lets out a low sigh of content.
This openly carefree attitude is so rarely ever displayed. He's always reserved and emotionally collected whenever I'm with him. It's a refreshing change. And, dare I say, sexy.
Despite the slight bags forming under his light hazel eyes I detect a hint of amusement swimming in his expression as he watches me plop a seat on a stool directly across from him.
All the irritated fury I once had dissolves as I release a much over due sigh.
I rest the heels of my feet on a low bar of the stool. I then lay my worn out beige stiletto heels on the counter, an act that I'm sure would have the mistress of the house pointing her nose down at.
The mere thought of my mother-in-law instantly turned my mood sour.
Grayson had a late shift and decided that it would be best if he drove straight from work to the auction with a spare tux in the trunk of his car. His mother did not say much as we left the benefit separately. But I knew she was not pleased to be riding in the limousine all by herself.
I thanked whatever higher power that was watching over me at the time for Graysons two seater. What was normally once a headache while on a trip in town had become a much needed salvation from my drunken state of debauchery.
Besides, being in the limousine with her is always a quiet and uncomfortable ride. Of course, whenever Grayson is around it makes it somewhat more bearable for the both of us.
"Must she insist on the close supervision each time I decide to spend the night?", I whisper incredulously at the mere thought of yet another lonely night. I didn't mean to sound needy but with Grayson taking extra shifts in order to get a patent for his new cardiac device we haven't had proper alone time in over week.
Thankfully, now that finals are over I don't have to stay late grading stacks of papers. With Spring break in full swing I finally get some time to myself. And I don't want it spent talking about the multitude of things that haven't been booked, decided upon, or bought for the wedding.
I didn't know where in the three story mansion my mother in law was lurking around. I certainly didn't want her overhearing our conversation.
Gloria Abernathy Kingston is not Grayson's biological mom. Although they are blood related. She's actually his aunt.
When both of his parents died she took Grayson, who was then five years old at the time, and raised him as her own. She doesn't have any other children to speak of. It was effortless for her to shower Grayson with affection and discipline.
One of the many house rules that she insist upon whenever I visit is that I sleep in a different room on a separate wing of the house. If her intention was to make sure that little Grayson stays abstinent until marriage her efforts aren't entirely fruitless. Don't get me wrong, Grayson is hardly a saint. He's a virtuous man who was raised in a certain manner that would make my upbringing seem unreasonably barbaric.
Instead of answering me, Grayson turns around and opens the freezer. He rummages through the contents until he finds what he's been searching for.
He waves the white bucket of ice cream in the air with a lazy grin and places it on the counter right in front of me.
"You must be starving. I know you didn't have a chance to eat anything.", he explains.
My heart does a little pitter patter at the sweet gesture that only Grayson would do. I look from the now opened bucket of chocolate ice cream and back to his twinkling eyes, only to be cut short by the two polished spoons in his hand.
"When did you get those?" I asked.
He chuckles and hands me one of the spoons. "When you were busy complaining about not being able to see my naked body."
I grab the spoon and avert my eyes as I thrust it into the creamy goodness and spoon a healthy amount of it into my mouth. The cool dairy product calms down my heated cheeks and I happily go in for another large spoonful.
"So." he starts as he lifts the chocolaty spoon up to his mouth. "I was wondering, what do you think about my cousin being in the wedding?"
I lift my eyebrow at the very mention of an existing family member that I never knew about. "Oh?" I ask.
He licks a small trail of ice cream clean off his thumb. "Now, before you say anything, I know you've never met her. But we're running out of time and you need someone to fill the last bridesmaid position."
I roll my eyes. "Please. I'm more worried about the fact that I've never once heard you mention that you had a cousin before." I tell him as I lick the round ice cream off the spoon and hurriedly swallow the contents.
He grimaces. "Sorry. She's always busy working. If it means anything, she's a distant cousin from my fathers side."
I glance up at him past the bucket that is firmly in my grasp.
"We're not very close." he explains. As if that is supposed to mean anything.
I place the now half empty bucket back on the counter and turn to him with a slow smile. "Okay." I answer in thought. There's no point in arguing over it. Although, if he thinks that he's off the hook then he's sourly mistaken. There are plenty other ways to make a man regretful. And I knew the perfect way to have Grayson beg for repentance.
Under the assumption that all is forgiven he walks up to me and places a wet kiss on my forehead. His breathe smells of rich dark chocolate and hits my face in a cool burst of waves. "Great."
He grabs the bucket and pushes the lid firmly back in place. I leave him to putting what's left of the ice cream away and follow his lead by walking over to the dishwasher with both spoons in hand. I place the dirty spoons in the allotted slot and shut it until I hear the clicking sound that mean its properly closed.
Grayson comes up behind me and wraps his arms around my waist. I can feel his taught muscles beneath his shirt contract as he squeezes me close to his chest.
He bends down to my height and brushes his strong lips against my ear. His warm breath sends a happy trail of goosebumps down my neck. I shiver at the feeling. "Let's go to bed." he whispers.
Yes. Let's. I thought.
Grayson turns the light off and we walk up the stairs hand in hand and into his room.
If only he knew just what I had planned in store for him. I thought as he closed the door to his room with the heel of his foot. This will teach him not to keep secrets from me. Especially where family is concerned.
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