Chapter 4

Laura

 

As I sit at our table for two in the restaurant, I’m so nervous, I can’t get my hands to stop shaking. Grayson’s present is sitting on the table. It’s a white box, about the size of an encyclopedia, but not a thick, and I’ve tied a great big red ribbon around it on an angle, so he can open it quickly. The photo frame is wrapped carefully in white tissue paper that I had leftover from Clint’s birthday present recently. The server has come by already, setting down two water glasses, and filling the with water and ice cubes from a large pitcher. This is not the kind of place that I’m used to, where there are napkin dispensers at each table.

Instead, our table has its own mini chandelier hanging above, illuminating the table, which has a cream linen tablecloth on it. The table is round, and the cloth is long, wrapped around the stem of the table, in an angle, and caught in the center with a strip of cream-colored linen. The chairs are wooden, which I like, and they have a permanent cushion affixed to both the seat and the back of the seat, all in cream cloth. There is instrumental music playing in a low pitch throughout the restaurant, and all the servers are wearing uniform suits.

I chose this restaurant because I’ve always wanted to see if it’s as fancy on the inside as it looks from the outside. There is an actual buggy outside, like what a real horse would have pulled back in the previous century. It’s inside a small, framed vignette at the entrance, and during Christmas, they line the buggy with white mini lights. There is a patio, but I thought that for a change, we can be indoors. It adds to the ambience. I’ve polished off almost my entire glass of water before I see Grayson walk in the entrance door.

He sees me from afar and smiles. I rise and his smile grows as the hostess shows him where I’m seated. When the hostess leaves us, Grayson looks me up and down. “Wow, darlin’. You look beeeeautiful.” He says, making me giggle.

“You’re not so bad yourself.” I say, kissing him.

We sit down and he looks around. “Gee, I was going to say something coy, but I’m not sure if this place would tolerate such talk.”

“Go ahead and say it. Pretend that it’s just you and I here.”

He winks. “I was going to ask you if I get to peel that dress off you later.”

“You sure do.” I take his hand in mine. “This isn’t so bad, is it?”

His thumb skates over my hand. “Not as long as you’re here.”

I lean in and kiss him again, as the waitress comes by and delivers our menus. She tells us what the special of the day is, and then says she’ll give us some time to choose our meal.

Grayson opens his menu and his eyes bulge. “Holy wow.” A little chuckle. “It’s a good thing that we don’t do this often.”

“I know it’s expensive.”

“It was the carriage outside, right?” he says, and I smile. How well he knows me is crazy.

He sets the menu down. “I know what I want.”

I’m still looking at mine. “Steak.”

“Yep.”

“And you’re having one, too.”

“Oh, yeah.”

A chuckle. “That’s my girl.”

His eyes go to his wrapped present on the table. “What’s in the box?”

“Why don’t we save that for after dinner?”

“Is it dessert in there? You got some sexy lingerie to put on later, baby?”

I smile. “Not exactly. The gift isn’t for me, it’s for you.”

He scoffs. “Oh, make no mistake. If you had lingerie, it would be for me.”

I laugh out loud. “Shut up.”

The waitress comes and takes our orders. When she leaves us, Grayson takes my hand. “How are you doing? You know, since this morning?”

“I’m fine.” I frown. “I was fine this morning.”

“Tough as nails, you are.”

“Not exactly.” I explain. “Once I knew it was Matty, I wasn’t afraid anymore.”

“Good. He won’t see the light of day for a while. I’m sure his parents’ll lock him in their basement, too, once the law is done with him.”

“The man is nearly my age, Grayson. You’re acting like he’s a teenager.”

“He acts like he’s a teenager.”

“True.” I agree. “His brother Derek is like fifteen years younger, and he has more maturity.”

Grayson changes the subject. “So, are you really going to make me wait until after dinner to open the gift?”

“Grayson Thomas, have some self-control.” I feign chiding him. “You’ll get your present after you eat your vegetables.”

He lifts his chin. “Come here for a second.”

I look around. “What do you mean?”

He pushes his chair back and pats his lap. “Come sit.”

“I don’t think you’re allowed to do that in this kind of establishment, Grayson.”

He rises. “I’ll go ask.”

“What?” I shriek. But he turns to me and puts his index finger to his lips, shooshing me. The look on his face is adorable.

When he returns a few minutes later, he gestures for me to come over. “They said it’s okay.”

I laugh, in shock. “Who did you ask?”

“The chef himself.”

“Are you serious?”

“I never say what I don’t mean, love. You know that.” He pats his lap. “Come on.”

Blushing, I take two steps towards him. He wraps his arms around me as I plant my weight on his lap. “Hi.” He says in his sultry voice.

“Hi.”

He kisses my lips. “I missed you today.”

“I miss you every day.”

“That deserves another kiss.” He says as he kisses me again.

“You’re not going to suggest that we leave now and finish those kisses, are you? Because we already ordered.”

“And defy my girl? You told me that I don’t get my present until I’ve eaten my vegetables.” He teases.

And it’s like the waitress heard us. Our food is delivered, and Grayson dismisses me from his lap, so that we can eat. We devour our food in silence, because it is worth every penny that it’s costing, and then no sooner are our plates collected, does he invite me back onto his lap. “You up for dessert?”

“Maybe in a little while.” I say, kissing his lips.

“Well, I ordered a cake.”

“You ordered a cake?” I repeat, in shock. “How on earth did you do that?”

“It’s not exactly a cake, but it comes close.” He winks.

As I sit in his lap, the chef approaches, carrying a cake, lit with a candle that is actually a sparkler. On the cake, in big, red lettering are the words, ‘Will you marry me, Laura?”

Gasping, I put my hands on my face, feeling tears prick the backs of my eyes.

Grayson reaches into his back pocket, and pulls out a ring, presenting it to me. “Baby, I know that it’s a bit of a cheesy proposal, but it’s a proposal all the same.” He purses his lips together. “Laura Warner, I love you more than I can even describe. I can’t…fathom being without you…even for a day. I want to grow old with you. You are my life, my…everything. Will you marry me?”

“Nothing would make me happier.” I manage, as a tear rolls down my cheek. he kisses me, and we hear claps, whistles and cheers, discreet, but clear, from onlookers in the restaurant, including the chef, who has stood by to observe. Grayson places the ring on my finger and I look at it. “God, it’s so beautiful.”

“I’m glad you like it. I figured it was your taste.”

I look at him. “And you didn’t have any help picking it out?”

“I can go down in history as the first male to have successfully picked out a non…what’s the word Clint used?....gaudy…ring for his wife-to-be.”

“You did good, Grayson.” And that’s the truth. It’s even more beautiful than the one that Quentin gave me. But then, we were eighteen. The ring was only worth about a hundred dollars.

The chef removes the sparkler and the server brings us two plates, a knife, and two forks, and leaves us. “Man, this restaurant has quickly become my favorite.” Grayson says.

“Mine, too.”

“You want to chow down on this? It looks good.”

“Sure.” I hop off his lap and sit down. The ring glints under the light.

“You’re going to stare it all night now, aren’t you.” He grins.

“Probably.” I shrug, looking at it.
When do I get my present?” he asks, gesturing with his chin at the box.

I stuff a piece of cake in my mouth. “Soon.” I say between chews. The cake is delicious.

“So, when do you want to tie the knot?” he asks, stuffing his mouth with cake. He points to it with his fork and looks at me, instead of telling me how awesome it is.

“I know.” I agree, shoving more in my mouth. When I’m done chewing and swallowing, I say. “When do you want to get married?”

“We can do it anytime. But I suggest doing it in the summer, so if we don’t do it soon, we should do it next summer.”

“You want to have a big or a small wedding?”

“Laura,” he levels with me. “We both have big families. There is no such thing as a small wedding for us.”

“You want to keep it simple? Get Reverend Jackson to marry us at the ranch? You come down the aisle on Trixie?” I smile just thinking about it.

“Sounds like hog heaven to me, baby.”

“It’s done then. We’ll see what dates Jackson has available.”

He looks at the box, reaching for it, trying to act like I don’t see him. I slap his hand playfully. “Aw, come on. I gave you your present.”

I cave. “Alright.” My hands shake as I push the box to him. He picks up on my nerves.

“You okay, sweetheart?” he asks, suddenly his attention is on me, not on the box. He looks at me with deep concern on his face. “You’re shaking.”

“I’m fine. Just…nervous.”

“Nervous about what? Getting married?” he takes my hand in his. “Because if you’re not ready, baby, we can hold off. Whatever you want. I just want you to be happy.”

I look at him with more conviction than I’ve ever looked at anyone with. “Grayson, in my entire life, I can’t remember a time when I’ve ever been this happy.” I push the box to him. “Now, open this, before I lose my nerve.”

A ‘v’ forms between his brows, but he’s got a warm grin on his face. Pulling the bow off at a painfully low pace, he teases me. As he pulls the top of the box from the bottom, he listens to the tissue paper moving around, and he pulls it open. My entire body is trembling with anxiety. I’m so afraid that he’s not going to be happy.

Part of me is so relieved that he asked me to marry him first, but the other part of me is wondering if maybe he won’t regret it. When he slides the framed photo out from the paper, he studies it. It’s Chip, sitting in the pasture, next to a notice board with white plastic lettering on it, framed in a faux ribbon pattern. The notice board says, ‘But I thought I was the baby’. Under that statement is, ‘ETA March 2021’.

It takes him a second to clue in on what’s happening. When he does, his warm smile is telling. “So, we have a little present of our own coming soon, I see.” He looks at me. “Is this what you’re so nervous about? Telling me that you’re having my baby.”

I sigh, clasping my hands under my chin. “Just a little.”

He rises. “Come here.” He murmurs. His arms stretch around my body, pulling me close to him. I feel his head tuck inside the nook between my neck and my shoulder. His grasp on me is so tight, it’s like he’s trying to tell me in a hug, how happy he is. “Thought I couldn’t love you any more, Laura.” He says, as thought he can’t believe it himself. “Was just thinking that earlier, as I was trying to come up with a way to ask you to be my wife. That there isn’t possibly any more ways that I can love you. But as of twenty seconds ago, another way just popped up.”

He kisses my neck tenderly and pulls back so we’re nose-to-nose. “And you’re happy about having a little one?”

“Always wanted one, Grayson. Just…forgot until now.”

“And you’re…feeling okay? Not sick or anything?”

I shake my head no. “Not yet. Just a little tired.”

“And you figure you’re what…two…three months along?”

“About that. I won’t know until the ultrasound. Clint’s setting all that up.” I grin. “It’s sure going to be nice to be married to a doctor, when we’re trying to raise a child.”

“Sure will.” He kisses me. It’s so tender and needy I feel my emotions well up inside me. A knot is in my throat as he pulls back. “Now you’re hiring some office help for yourself. With a baby on the way, there’s no way you can manage the hours that you’re pulling off, darlin’.”

I look downward. “I know it. I’ll get on that next week.”

“Okay.” He smiles, holding me close, kissing me sweetly. We’re still standing in between the tables, holding each other. It’s like we’re in the middle of a dance floor, and nobody else exists but us. “Do you want to get out of here?”

“Sure.”

He takes the photo and wraps it carefully in the box again. “I think I’ll put this on my desk.”

“That’s a good idea.” I pause. “But, we should keep this under our hats until my second trimester.”

He looks at me. “Oh yeah. I forgot about that.” Then he cocks his head. “Who knows so far?”

“Just me, you and Clint.”

His eyes bulge. “You haven’t even told Lisa yet?”

“No.” I say firmly.

“Golly, Laura. I gotta hand it to you.”

“To be fair, I only found out this morning. It hasn’t even sunk in yet.”

“How did Clint take it?”

I shrug. “He’s pretty tickled about it. First niece or nephew.”

We walk to the front of the restaurant, and Grayson hands the hostess his credit card, indicating who our server was. We didn’t even bother to wait for the bill. She pulls up the order on the computer, and hands Grayson his card back. “This has been paid for, sir.” She says.

“That’s impossible.” Grayson insists. “Are you sure it isn’t because we didn’t wait for the bill?”

She shakes her head no. “No, sir. A ‘Dr. Clint Kelsey’ covered the bill, including the tip.”

My heart swells. I place my hand on my chest, feeling my eyes water. “Oh, Clint. What a sweetheart.”

“He didn’t have to do that. Awful sweet of him, though.” Grayson comments, looking at the hostess. He pulls out three twenty dollar bills, and hands them to her. “One’s for you, the other two are for the waitress and the chef with thanks.” He tips his head.

“Thank you, sir. That’s very gracious.” She says, beaming. “Would you like a receipt for that, sir?”

He shakes his head. “No, that’s alright, but thanks. Have a good night.”

“You too sir, and ma’am, too.”

We leave the restaurant. Grayson takes my hand in his. He looks up at the carriage mounted beautifully in white slate gravel. “Climb on up there, darlin’. We should take a picture to remember tonight.”

“That’s a great idea.” I say, climbing in. We hear someone coming out of the restaurant. It’s the hostess.

“Would you like me to take your picture?”

Grayson smiles, handing her his phone. “Sure, sweetheart. That would be lovely.” He climbs in next to me as she aims the camera lens our way. “We’ll call this our engagement photos, I suppose.”

“Congratulations, you two.” She says after taking several photos of us.

“Thank you.” Grayson says, taking his phone back.

As we drive home in my car, Grayson’s hand is in mine. “Life sure has changed, hasn’t it.” he states.

“Sure has. All for the good, too. We’re very blessed.” I point out.

“That we are.”

As we pull up to the house, Lloyd is sitting on the front porch with the rest of the boys. “Where’s Kurt?” Grayson asks, noticing that his brother is the only one missing from the crew. “He laying low tonight?”

Chip runs up to us from the pasture, jumping up and down. Grayson kneels and pets him.

Lloyd chuckles. “You could say that.”

Grayson smiles, trying to figure out why they all have smirks on their faces. “What’s going on?”

Simon can’t help himself. “Kurt and Lisa left together.”

I blurt. “Together?”

Simon is enjoying himself. “He and her went into his room for a while, and then later, she came back, and they went out. All dressed up, too. Kinda like you two.” He gives me an evaluating glance.

“Oh boy.” Grayson growls under his breath. But he takes my hand in his and leads me into the house, Chip in tow. As he closes the door behind us, he asks me. “Do you want to talk about that, or do you want to celebrate?” his arms wrap around me.

“I thought we already celebrated.” I state, even though I know full well what he’s saying.

He kisses me. “I thought we could celebrate more. In the tub, or by the fire, wherever you want.”

“I suppose we could do that.” I say, my voice is low.

He rubs his nose on mine. “You think Lisa and Kurt are doing exactly what we’re about to do?”

“Probably. Knowing Lisa.” I chuckle. “She’s not one to play hard to get.”

“I sensed that.”

My hand trails down his chest, past his belt, and I grasp him gently. “I take it you sense something else.”

His eyes hood. “You better not do that with the boys on the other side of the door.”

“Let’s go upstairs.”

“I’ll race you.” He says, and then slaps my rear and runs, giving himself a head start.

“Cheater!” I shout, following him up the stairs. Chip thinks it’s play time, so he’s barking, running after us both. Grayson runs into the bedroom and dodges me as I reach him. Grabbing me by the upper arms, he throws me on the bed, and hover over me. “That I’m not. Nor will I ever be.” He says with his eyes as dark as night, but his lips quirked up into a smile.

“What?”

“A cheater.” He confirms, repeating what I said a moment ago. “I’d never cheat on you, baby. Not in a million years.” he kisses my lips, letting it linger and go deeper.

“I know that, Grayson. The thought never came to mind.” I say between kisses. Chip starts barking, thinking that play time isn’t over yet.

“Time for mama and daddy to have a little playtime of our own, Chip.” He says, ushering the dog out of the room. When he steps back to the bed, he undresses, not taking his eyes off mine. I watch him. It’s the sexiest thing in the world, watching him undress.

“Would you like me naked too?” I tease, pulling my blouse over my head, revealing my sexy bra underneath.

“God, you are such a sight for sore eyes, darlin’.” He murmurs to me, watching me undress. When we’re both naked, he kneels, so his face is at my navel. He kisses the flesh just below. “Hi, baby.” He speaks, and I feel a lump in my throat. “Your mama and I are gonna make love. I’ll be gentle with her, don’t you worry. You’ll be safe.”

He kisses the flesh, and goes down lower, and keeps kissing every inch of me, until my back arches. It takes every ounce of resistance not to cry out, as his mouth moves on me, waking up all the nerve endings in my body. When my breathing is ragged, and every exhale is a moan, I feel my release, and Grayson trails kisses up my body, not missing an inch, until he reaches my lips, where the need in him is evident with his mouth.

Grasping me gently, he pulls me to him, as he creates our intimate bond, grunting softly as he feels intense pleasure. “God, baby, I’ll never get tired of making love to you. It’s no wonder we made a baby so fast. I’ll make a hundred of them with you if it’s always like this.”

His words shake me to my core. While I clench tightly, I watch his face, as he absorbs the pleasure that I’m bringing him, as he just brought me moments ago. We ride the waves together, until Grayson’s eyes shut tight, and a sexy, breathy grunt comes from him, as I climax with him. As we lay in bed together moments later, Grayson kisses my left hand, just above my engagement ring. “So, do we need to keep this a secret, too? I almost told the boys earlier, but I figure we should do that together.”

“We can tell people. However you want.”

“But we wait to tell them about the baby.” He confirms.

“Yes. It’s always a good idea, just in case.”

He looks at me. “Does this include Lisa?”

“It is especially about keeping it from Lisa. You know that that girl can’t keep a secret to save her life.”

“Can you keep it from her?”

“I’ll certainly try to.”

He snuggles in tighter behind me and kisses my head. “Let’s go up to El Paso this weekend. So you can meet my family and we can announce our engagement.”

“Sure. That sounds good.”

“And then we’ll get married before the summer is out.” Grayson states. “I assume you want to tie the knot before junior here is poking out, right?”

“If Reverend Jackson can accommodate, sure.”

“I’m sure he will.”

“Goodnight, Laura.”

“Goodnight, Grayson.”

I bend back to kiss his lips. “I love you.”

“I love you too.”

The next morning ends up being a total surprise, as if we hadn’t had enough surprises.