Crain's Landing (41 page)

“I am nothing if not a man of my word, Natalie.” He stood and walked slowly toward me, the blanket that had covered his lap fell to the floor, revealing a very turned on Grant.

“What’s all this?”

“This is a man who is madly in love with a woman. This is that man showing that woman how grateful he is.”

I looked into his eyes; the candlelight reflected the white flakes that were scattered around the blue. He began to softly kiss my cheeks, trailing his hot, wet tongue down my neck and into the area not covered by my blouse.

I closed my eyes as he began to remove my blouse, taking his time, brushing his fingertips against my skin as he went.

“So, you planned this all by yourself?” I squeaked out.

“Mmmhmm...”

He didn’t even bother to look at me as he responded. He swayed us over to the bed of pillows he had created, picking me up bridal style as he placed me on my back. I was so turned on and my body was on fire. I didn’t even squeal as I felt the cool sheets touching my skin.

There in an empty office, in the library I worked so hard to turn around, Grant took his time and showed me exactly how much he truly loved me.

Could my life be this perfect and wonderful every day? I wasn’t sure, but I desperately wanted to find out.

I WAS THANKFUL FOR SO
many things in my life. Two of them were currently sleeping soundly in my bed. I had been called away early this morning to see a distraught mother who would only let her son be looked at by me. Turned out he had managed to shove several crayons into his ear. It had taken longer than I had hoped, since we needed to sedate him while we pulled them back out. Natalie had assured me she would love some time alone with Peyton and insisted I take care of my patient.

As I continued to watch their sleeping faces, I felt a warm sensation swell up in my chest. This was my family, and if things went as I planned this would be permanent.

I had contacted Ashley to help me; I wanted to do something amazing for Natalie. I was still upset about how I threw myself on her in my parents’ house. I had asked her if she could gather Natalie’s staff together to help me out. With the way they had planned things in the past for Natalie, I knew they could help me pull off what I had in mind.

During that meeting, Austin and Kayla were full of ideas. I wanted something over the top; giving my Natalie the assurance she was the one for me. And so in one of the meeting rooms of the library, a plan was created. Ashley surprised me when she told me she was friends with a popular recording artist and would contact him to see if he was available to help us out. Two days later, she sent me a text confirming his appearance. She had told him the entire plan and he admitted to being a sucker for a happy ending.

Once Austin had convinced Natalie to have a Sweetheart Event, I had Morgan fake some bids for the food and entertainment. Dad explained to the Board our plans and it was all systems go. My mother had recruited Lily and Autumn to assist her in getting the food and decorations ready, leaving me to perfect my part.

“Daddy?” The sleepy voice of Peyton called out to me.

I looked to see her beautiful eyes looking back at me, her fingers twirling a strand of her mother’s hair.

“Hi, sweetheart, did you have a good nap?”

She reached for me and I carefully pulled her up and into my arms. She wrapped her tiny arms around my neck and gently kissed my cheek.

“We made you cookies, Daddy.”

“You did?”

She quickly and excitedly nodded her head, her smile decorating her face and filling my heart with joy.

“Well, how about we go have some of those cookies?”

As she jumped off my lap and onto the floor, another sleepy voice spoke.

“Not until Daddy gives Mommy a hello kiss.”

I turned back to Natalie. She was so beautiful with her sleepy eyes and puffy skin. Even without a smudge of makeup, she was the most beautiful woman in the world to me. My hand moved on its own, as I cupped her cheek and placed a tender kiss to her lips.

“Are you excited about tonight?”

She smiled as her eyes glimmered. She was so proud of her staff. Looking through Natalie’s eyes, it would appear her staff had worked night and day to pull this off.

“I still can’t believe Ashley is related to Gary LeVox.”

I playfully huffed as I helped her sit up in bed. “Oh, I don’t think I like the way you say his name there, Natalie.”

She rolled her eyes as Peyton stealthily wrapped her arms around her neck.

“Can we have cookies now? I’m starving, woman!” I couldn’t even correct her as Peyton was too cute the way she said that.

Natalie, however, wasn’t taken by her sweet looks and flipped her over her shoulder, beginning to tickle her.

“Since when do you get to call me woman, little girl?”

“I-I-I-n-not little,” she said through giggles.

“Oh my, I forgot. You started driving and taking out the trash. But you still need to find a job so you can pay your daddy rent.”

I picked up Peyton by her feet and dangled her so Natalie could grab her upside down face and pepper it with kisses.

“No, Momma, I’m too little for a job.”

Peyton wrapped her body around my calf sitting her little bottom on my foot.

“Okay, little princess, tell Momma sorry for calling her ‘woman’, it wasn’t nice.”

“Sorry, Momma!” she shouted, as I raced down the stairs.

Everything was in place. Austin had volunteered to help with the child drop off. His boyfriend even came down and offered to help out, as well. Emily had outdone herself with the centerpieces. She told me to remember how much I loved them when I got the bill for them next week. The entire town, it seemed, had turned out to see Rascal Flatts and have dinner with their sweetheart. Only a handful of people knew the real reason for this concert.

Morgan had his football team dressed in tuxedos and was using them for servers. Several cheerleaders were dressed to the nines and helping people find tables. I stood looking around, hand in my pocket, the velvet pouch clasped tightly in my fist.

Ashley made her way to the microphone. She was glowing, pregnancy definitely agreed with her. Drew was never far from her and seemed to always have his hand on her expanding tummy. No one was the least bit surprised when they snuck off to Charleston and married in the courthouse. Ashley refused to have anything flashy or be the center of attention.

“If I can have your attention, please?”

The conversations began to die down and every eye turned to look at Ashley.

“Thank you...ladies and gentlemen, thank you to each of you who have braved the weather to come and enjoy this event tonight.”

It was still early in the spring and the current temperature outside was in the low forties. My mother had searched out every portable heater in the county and the temperature inside the tent was a comfortable seventy degrees.

“Tonight, sit back and enjoy the wonderful food that is being served. Now, the moment many of you have been waiting for... Ladies and gentlemen, Rascal Flatts!”

The crowd erupted into applause as the curtain drew back and the band began to play.

“Want to join me, handsome?” Natalie’s warm hand and warmer breath pulled me out of my nervous state.

“I thought you would never ask.”

I took her hand and let her lead me to an open table near the rest of my family. Pulling out her chair, I looked to my proud faced mother and gave her a wink. I took my place and began trying to eat the food on my plate.

Ashley and I had planned to have the band perform three songs before I made my move. The third song began and I took my cue. I leaned into Natalie, whispering I would be right back.

I waited in the wings as the song came to a close. One of the roadies motioned for me to come on up as he handed me a guitar. I placed the strap around my neck and nervously crossed the stage, where I found a wooden stool waiting for me. Gary was already sitting on the other stool. As I took a deep breath, I looked to see my mother and Autumn had joined Natalie at the table; a look of confusion plain on her face.

My voice cracked slightly as I spoke into the microphone.

“Hello, everyone...um...I’m certain you are wondering what I’m doing up here, since you really want to hear these guys play and not me talk. But if you would just endure me for a moment of time, I will tell you the real reason you guys are here.”

I had waited for this moment since the first time I laid eyes on Natalie. She had strongly stood by my side through some difficult times. She had proven her love and devotion to me over and over. Now, it was my turn to tell the entire town what she meant to me.

“Natalie Reid, will you come closer to the stage, please.”

A member of the security team placed a wooden step that joined the audience to the stage. Natalie slowly walked toward me as the security team helped her to sit on the stairs.

“Natalie...when I first saw you, I knew I had to get to know you better. What I found out made me want to be a part of your life. You didn’t make that easy for me and for that I am grateful. If you had fallen at my feet, I wouldn’t have noticed how truly strong you are.”

I turned my attention back to Gary, who cued the band to begin playing. I hadn’t had much time to play the guitar since high school; college took up a lot of my time. As soon as I knew I was going to do this, I began to practice every chance I got. The words to the song spoke more eloquently than I ever could. Conveying to her how much she amazed me each and every day.

My eyes never left hers as I sang each word. I watched as her face turned from a nervous smile to tears streaking down her beautiful face. I removed the guitar from around my shoulder as I walked closer, holding my hand out to her. Kaylin held Peyton’s hand as she brought her to stand beside me.

“Natalie Reid, you have blessed me with your love and compassion when I didn’t really deserve it. You have stayed by my side when I needed you, and even when I didn’t think I did. You have made my house a home by filling it with love and laughter. I don’t want to spend another day without you in my world. Please say you will marry me?”

Natalie didn’t leave me hanging as she pulled me into a bone crushing hug and said the words I prayed I would hear.

“Yes...Grant, yes, I will.”

Peyton became impatient with our embrace and began to pull on my jacket sleeves.

“Daddy, it’s my turn.”

I moved Natalie slightly as I took the ring out of my pocket and carefully gave it to Peyton. She stood proud as a peacock as she took Natalie’s left hand in her tiny one and placed the ring on her finger, after counting them to be sure she had the correct one.

I had forgotten we were in a tent full of people until an overwhelming “aw,” sounded after Peyton bowed.

Natalie and I danced to nearly every song that night. I refused to let her go and she seemed to feel the same need. Mom and Dad wanted to take Peyton home and get her into bed. My face hurt from all of the smiling I did.

As we lay in our bed, after a couple rounds of lovemaking, Natalie snuggled into my neck as she drew patterns on my chest with her finger.

“Well, Grant Crain, you are certainly a man of your word.”

I chucked as I drew her body closer to me. “Oh, really? What are you referring to?”

“You told me once, that when you decided to propose, it would be something the town would never forget.”

I wrapped my free arm around her and kissed her forehead. She was right, I had said that to her. Only I managed to surprise myself with this proposal.

“Oh, my love, you haven’t seen anything yet. Wait till the town attends our wedding.”