The Unidentified Redhead

"Candy!" I exclaimed, bringing a chuckle from the Brit.

I also noticed my overnight bag, alongside my white Polo shirt on the chair by the window next to his bag. I looked at him in surprise.

"I thought it might be nice to spend at least one night in your new house," he said shyly, looking at me for approval.

"George?"

"Yes?"

"I freaking love you," I squealed, throwing my arms around his neck.

"I love you too, Gracie," he answered and carried me into the room.

***

After the crazy love was through, we lay in bed. It was very late, although technically it was very early. I don't think either one of us wanted to go to sleep. We were next to each other, on our sides, sharing the same pillow. I gazed at him, this man who had taken over my heart completely. I took in everything, memorizing the way his lashes swept down low to almost graze his cheeks. The strong lines of his face, the cheekbones, the jaw line, the nose. The sexy stubble. The sweet soft lips that were currently pulled back in that perfect smile that still made my heart beat faster when I saw it.

The curls. I remembered the way they looked that day on the way to the beach, the blonde glinting in the sun. And the eyes, the green perfection. They were locked on mine, staring at me in quiet reflection. I guessed that he was cataloging my features as well, the way they were poring over me.

In the span of mere weeks, Jack Hamilton had turned my world upside down. He made me feel things I hadn't felt in years and I was grateful to him for it. I had gone through years of quiet hell and I had all but forgotten what it felt like to be revered so. I forgot what it felt like to be loved, which is why I think I fought this so long. He loved me thoroughly and completely and while there was a part of me that was still looking over my shoulder to see who he was really looking at, I was coming to understand it.

I loved him that way in return. I loved him as hard as I could. The bubble we had existed in for weeks was now about to burst, but I was not as nervous as I had been to see what it was like outside that bubble.

Because this was real life. And in real life, you are tested, simple as that. We'd be tested and we'd have to see how we did. There were still issues to be resolved, but I was now steadfast in my determination that we'd resolve them together. That was what grownups did…and how fu

He also taught me how to love my body again. Post-pudge Grace certainly had enjoyed the last year's sexual freedom after such a long drought, but it was his absolute devotion to bringing me pleasure that made me love my body, flaws and all. I still saw them, but the fact that he adored me so made me grateful for how strong I truly was.

And come on, the guy had practically built an altar to my cleavage. This tended to make a girl feel pretty good about herself.

I continued to stare at him, marveling still at how lucky I was to have him, and I realized, with a start, that he was lucky to have me, too. For whatever reason, he needed me as I needed him. And that was it.

He was the yin to my yang, the frick to my frack, the toast to my Chex.

We had never stood a chance trying to fight this—for me he was the one.

I reached out to scratch his head and he moved closer to me, the gazing over. I cradled him to me and he stroked my breasts, nudging his head into the crook between my neck and my shoulder and wrapping his other arm around me, underneath me. He couldn't get close enough.

"God, I'm going to miss you so much, Grace," he whispered, his voice low. I kissed his forehead, soothing him.

"I know, love, me too," I answered back.

"We'll be fine, right?" he asked. He was the one that needed assurance now. I gave it to him.

"Yes, Jack, we'll be fine," I crooned, rocking him slightly. He let his breath out in a long shaky sigh.

"Is it terrible that there is a tiny part of me that wants your show to suck, so you can come home in just a few weeks?" he asked honestly, showing me his heart.

"It's not terrible." I chuckled softly, touched by his question. I knew without a doubt that he wanted this success for me as much as I did.

We were both quiet for a moment then, our breathing in harmony as I felt his chest rise and fall. He continued his worship of my breasts, his hands soothing me now. This was not sexual in nature, this was simple pleasure for us both.

"I love you, Grace," he whispered, suddenly pulling me into a bone crushing hug.

"I love you, Jack," I answered, wrapping my legs around him to get as close as possible.

Our bodies said what we could not bear to say, responding without apology to their true partners. He kissed me, I kissed him back, and without another word, he slipped inside of me. We moved together quietly, peacefully, elegantly. There was a tenderness in this night, a silent, sweet goodbye. As our bodies rose and fell in unison, our eyes both filled with tears.

We sighed deeply as we came together, the union complete. He collapsed onto me, and I hugged him tightly, keeping him inside as long as I could. There was nothing that could keep me from loving him. We lay awake all night, neither one of us wanting to close our eyes.

***

We spent the night talking quietly, laughing and swearing, giggling and promising. When it finally became light enough that I could no longer pretend it was night, we began to make our way out of the bed and into some clothes.

After I changed, I walked through my house, my home, thinking of how much I was already looking forward to making it lived in. Jack packed up my things from last night, and met me by the back door in the kitchen. The mood had shifted this morning, the energy was different. He was quietly resigned.

I was quietly…excited?

I was excited.

As I walked through the kitchen, I slapped a post-it note on my new Sub Zero fridge, where not even a jar of mustard lived yet.

"What's that for?" he asked, smiling tiredly. I laughed, grabbing his sweet face with my hands and scrunching it up.

"I left myself a note for when I come back."

"And what did you tell yourself?" he asked, holding the door for me as we walked out towards my car parked in the driveway.

I threw my bag in the car and grabbed the keys from him. I wouldn't get to drive in New York and I wanted to soak up as much as I could. I smirked at him as he frowned at getting in the passenger seat. I dropped the top, fired up the tunes, and said, "It says, 'Welcome home, Grace.'"

Chapter Twenty-Five

Breakfast was quick. Jack made Holly and I oatmeal while I made coffee and she sliced up bananas for our bowls. We talked hurriedly about last minute plans. I would be leaving my car at Holly's. We figured it would be better to have it somewhere that someone actually lived. The two of them would check on my house about every other week or so. There were still a few pieces being delivered, but between Jack and Holly, they had it covered.

I actually offered Jack the use of my car while I was gone and he laughed, telling me he "quite enjoyed" his broken little car and, "now that the Car Snob will be away, I'll be pleased to drive it again."

Jack and I beat a hasty trip upstairs after breakfast, determined to sneak in as much time alone as we could before we needed to leave for LAX. My flight was at one and we figured on leaving for the airport around ten.

It was already eight-thirty.