Divine Grace (10 page)

Grace took a moment to just sit there and admire the men as they strode over to her car. All three were so mouth-wateringly handsome in different ways. Jack was thick, strong, and hard-muscled, ever ready with a crooked little grin. Ethan was leaner, a little taller, but emanated a powerful inner strength that resonated with some deep part of her. Adam was immense and powerful in his height and muscular strength, but he projected such an aura of gentleness she couldn’t help but feel secure in his massive presence. All three of them together were a woman’s fantasy come to life. She chuckled when she looked over at Charity and caught her staring, too.

“Hmmm, they must be just as anxious to see you, Grace. I swear those men are just deliciously irresistible. I know you’re taking everything nice and slow with them, which I can appreciate. I don’t want to see you jump into anything before you’re ready. But when you take the plunge…
I want
details!
”

“Charity! You’re shameless!”

“Yeah, your point? I’m your sister. You know you can trust me!”

“Shhh! Here they come.”

“Did you just say come?” Charity snickered.

“You are so bad, Charity.” Grace giggled as she hit the button to pop open the trunk.

Jack opened the car door for her and helped her out of the car. Adam grabbed the shopping bags from the trunk, and Ethan opened Charity’s door for her. Grace rose from her seat, right into Jack’s arms. He leaned down and kissed her. He tasted like mint and Jack. Reaching up a palm to his cheek, she offered herself for another one. She’d wanted to tell him she loved him over the last couple of days, but she wanted to be alone with him, and she wouldn’t tell him the first time over the phone.

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When he finally drew back from her, Jack said, “Adam and Ethan want to tell you hello, too. Let’s get inside and you can unpack. We got over early, so we have a little time before we reveal your surprise to you.”

“Did you have a good morning?” Grace asked as he put his arm around her shoulder and they walked up to the steps. She loved that simple little gesture, as if just walking beside her wasn’t quite enough. He needed contact with her as well.

His hand traced a pattern on her upper arm, sending goose bumps over her skin. “It was fine. We had an errand to run.” He held the door open for her, and she walked into a cozy double embrace.

Charity laughed. “They
are
impatient, aren’t they? At least they share well. Wonder if they
play
well together, too?” She cackled and dodged as Grace reached out a hand to pinch her, but she was wrapped up in two pairs of warm arms.

Adam kissed her lips while Ethan swept the hair from her shoulder and kissed her neck in a sweeping line up to the hollow below her ear. She was literally sandwiched in between them. It was the hottest embrace she’d ever experienced after their kisses the other night.

“Hot holy hell! I need a cold shower, girl!” Charity quipped.

“How was your morning, Gracie?” Ethan asked as she turned in the embrace to kiss him, too.

“We had a wonderful time. I bought all new bath linens, new sheets, and a comforter for my bed. I also found a few others things I liked.” She slid her arm around his neck and kissed him again. Adam’s arm was now wrapped around her waist as he stood behind her, kissing her shoulder.

“Did you find a computer?” Ethan asked.

“We comparison shopped, but I didn’t find what I was looking for.

Maybe you and I could get online and build one just the way I want it and order it? I could really use your help with that. The salesman tried to be helpful, but I think I just got more confused.”

“I’d be happy to help. Are you looking forward to your surprise?” he asked her, the teasing tone back in his voice.

“You know I am. That’s why we’re back early. We can’t wait. What are we doing?”

“We are dropping the two of you off for a spa day at Madeleine’s in about twenty minutes.”

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* * * *

Three hours later, Grace and Charity floated into another room to have their manicures and pedicures done. Almost every available inch of their bodies had been exfoliated, oiled, and massaged. Grace could not believe how loose and relaxed she felt, having never had a massage before. Charity had a massage on a regular basis and told her Jack had paid for the very best, and they’d gotten his money’s worth.

Grace’s thoughts turned toward her men, not at all unusual these days.

She was wrestling with a dilemma, trying to reconcile her upbringing with being involved in a romantic relationship with three men. She worried about the cool, possibly even hostile, reception that news would receive. Society’s views on such things had changed over the years, becoming more progressive, but she wasn’t stupid.

This relationship would affect them socially. They might all lose friends and maybe even some family relationships along the way. It would affect them financially because that was one way society showed their disapproval, and they were all vulnerable as self-employed people, including her if she bought into Harper’s Embroidery.

“You are awfully serious and quiet over there,” Charity said from the next recliner. “You have a crease between your eyebrows. Stop it—whatever you are thinking about—right now and relax.”

Grace smiled guiltily at her sister. There wasn’t much she could hide from her, and she was thankful for her, crude though she might be at times.

Charity was a great judge of character, and it helped that she thought so much of Jack, Adam, and Ethan.

After manicures and pedicures, they were ushered over to have their hair shampooed, cut, and styled. Jack had given freedom to Grace to do as much or as little as she wanted. She talked with the stylist about a new shape and cut, making an appointment for a later time to have highlights put into her hair. That was something she’d always wanted to do but had dreaded Owen’s typical ugly reaction to any changes or improvements she tried to make over the years. Had she really put her life on hold for the last seven years? She supposed she had. Charity opted for updating her cut a little and having it styled.

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They were almost done when Madeleine came in with a garment bag and what looked like a shoe box in her hands. Madeleine took them to a dressing room with large mirrors and left them to their fun. Grace looked over at Charity, who had a knowing look in her eyes.

“Charity? What are they up to now?”

“Jack called me and asked me for your sizes. They must have gone shopping for you. Maybe that was the errand they were running this morning. Looks like you’re going out to me.”

Grace’s heart was filled with trepidation. What was in that garment bag?

What were their expectations for her? Her experiences with people buying clothing for her were not good ones. Nothing ever fit her because of the way she was shaped. She couldn’t just shop for one set size. She had to buy clothing and then alter it to fit. It’s what she got for inheriting her mother’s hourglass figure. And would the shoes fit? What about undergarments? She got more nervous. She was in her granny gear today, like always. What if what they got wasn’t what she needed?

“You know, Grace, you can work yourself up into a tizzy over what’s in the bag, as well as what’s in the future, or you can seize the frickin’ day.

Stop with the deer in the headlights look and unzip that bag before I do it myself.” She was bossy, but Grace sure did love her for bringing it all back into perspective.

“Jack had me try on the shoes while you were in the bathroom back at the house because I told him our feet were the same size. They fit perfect, plus they’re comfortable. Very sexy,” Charity said with a wink. “Open the bag. I’m dying to see what they got you!”

Grace unzipped the bag and removed the plastic-draped hanger inside, finding a smaller shopping bag in the bottom of it. The garment bag had a store label on it. A store more expensive than she would have felt comfortable shopping in.

“There’s that frown again. Stop it. Allow them to indulge you today, okay?”

“All right, but where are the price tags?”

“It’s a gift, Grace. They had the saleslady remove them. Let’s see what they got you.”

They tore the plastic bag from the hanger. The first item was a dress. It was made of black satin and had a leopard print mesh overlay. The dress had
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black satin shoulder straps and a black satin Empire waist. The underskirt was a slinky, snug black satin, and the mesh overlay flowed just a few inches beyond the hemline, giving a sexy peek of upper thigh Charity lifted the shoes from the box. They were shiny black snakeskin sandals with three-inch heels. Each had a narrow upper across the tops of the toes, and two rows of narrow straps that criss-crossed in the middle over her instep. Totally impractical and very sexy.

“I told him you had really pretty feet that you didn’t show off enough except for sandals. Either they’ve got fantastic instincts, or they know a really great saleslady. Dressing you up is going to be so much fun. What’s in the bags?”

Grace opened the larger bag on the dressing table and gasped. A pleasant little shiver rippled up her spine before descending into a warm pool in her pelvis as several silky bundles slipped from the bag.

“Holy crap, Grace,” Charity whispered. “They bought you sexy lingerie.

You are
so
getting laid. Oh! I love this black satin bra. Look.” She lifted something from the pile. “A leopard print G-string. I wonder who picked this out for you. Adam, I bet. That naughty boy!”

“I can’t wear that! My dimples.”

“Yeah, you can, with this dress. You don’t need a slip or anything with this style. What else is there?”

Grace had never worn a G-string and hoped there might be another option. Not that she was opposed to them. She just wasn’t feeling that adventurous tonight. There was also a pair of sheer black panties that had a pretty satin bow on the back and black mesh cheeky shorts that were laced up on the sides with narrow ribbon. She decided on the panties with the sexy black satin push-up bra, which was perfect for the V-neckline of the dress.

She stripped down to nothing and put on the panties, blushing at Charity’s bawdy compliments. She was beginning to feel a little daring, a little hot, and not quite like herself. She loved the bra because it did absolutely amazing things for her cleavage. There were no stockings in the bag, so she moved on to the heels. When she slid her foot into the shoe, she knew they were expensive. No shoes that looked like these could possibly be comfortable, but these were. There were no hard-stitched edges to rub against her bare foot, and the arch of the shoe fit her foot perfectly. They were made from soft leather inside and out. She was going to cherish these

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shoes. After she adjusted the straps, she stood and caught a glimpse of herself in the mirror from different angles and gulped, slamming her eyes shut.

“You’ve have always had such great posture, you know that, Grace? All those years of Mom telling us to stand up straight really paid off.
Stop it
. I see what you’re doing. Open your eyes and stop looking for flaws that aren’t there. We were never ever going to be stick people, you and I. We are voluptuous and beautiful. You look absolutely stunning in that lingerie and those shoes. That is
real
power. I would totally do you.” Charity smirked.

“You are incorrigible, Charity, but I love you,” Grace said as she removed the dress from the hanger. Charity took it from her and helped Grace put it on, careful not to mess up her hair. The bodice was snug, accentuating her curves, but the fabric had a little spandex in it, so while she felt dressed up, she was also very comfortable. She walked to the mirrors and looked at herself from different angles, and she smiled in relief at what she saw. She looked good.

Charity opened the box in the smaller bag, which came from a different store, and turned to her with big eyes.

“Don’t freak out. Okay? You’ll ruin your make up. Sit down.”

“Why? What is that?” Grace asked, afraid to know but also dying to know.

“I’m going to put this on you. Sit down.”

Charity lifted a necklace out of the box. It consisted of small gold rings interconnected to form a random pattern. It was a larger piece of jewelry than what she normally wore, but it went well with the dress. The links lay flat against her chest, glistening under the lights. There were matching dangle earrings and a bracelet as well. Charity put them on her and closed the box, holding it in her hand.

“You’re not freaking out. That’s good. They look beautiful on you.”

“Why would I freak out, Charity?” Grace asked with a sneaking suspicion because Charity kept commenting about it.

“Because that’s not costume jewelry,” she replied, handing her the box from the jewelry store. “Clay Cook doesn’t sell costume jewelry. All his pieces are handmade. Oh, my gosh. I’m here for one of your life-altering moments, aren’t I?” Grace gazed into Charity’s wide eyes in the dressing
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table mirror. “Boy, talk about non-verbal communication. Only a man, make that men, in love would buy something like this.”

Grace put her hand up to the necklace, the cool metal warming to match the temperature of her skin. The earrings moved as she did, catching the light, along with the bracelet.

“I don’t know what to say. This is too much. How can they spend so much money on me for one evening?”

“Do you
really
think this is about one evening, Grace? Really? They want you to feel special and worthy of these things. They are trying to show you they love you, and don’t you
dare
tell them it’s too much. Tell them you love it, the whole outfit. Tell them you love them for indulging you like that and for being so sweet and thoughtful. Accept the gift and don’t mess up their blessing.”

“Yes, ma’am.” Grace laughed tremulously. She got up and went to stand in front of the mirrors again. Just then, there was a light tap on the door.

Charity opened it and let Madeleine into the room. She took one look at Grace and gasped, her hand going to her lips.

“It’s perfect on you, Grace! Mr. Warner has great taste. He chose well for you.”

“With a little help from my sister, I think.” She smirked at Charity.

“Hey, I only steered him in the right direction and gave him your sizes, that’s all.”

“Well, you look stunning, Grace. I also came to tell you they’re waiting for you out front. I was instructed to call Jack when I delivered the bag to you. I’ll let Jack know you’ll be out when you’re ready.”

Madeleine left the room, and Charity hung Grace’s clothing in the garment bag. When she put in Grace’s sandals, she found one other parcel in the bottom.

“We almost missed this!” It was a black sequined evening bag, just large enough for her wallet, lipstick, and cell phone. Switching Grace’s things for her, Charity handed her the evening bag and put her purse in the bottom of the garment bag.

Grace looked at herself in the mirror, feeling like a million bucks, and noticed that Charity was gathering up the extra panties they had purchased for her and placing them back in the shopping bag. She held up a hand and stopped her. If she was going to go for it, then she needed to really
go for it.

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“Slight change of plans, Charity.”

She reached carefully under the skirt of the dress and carefully pulled down the sheer panties she was wearing. “Hand me that G-string, sis?” she said as the black panties hit the floor and she stepped out of them.

“Change your mind, Grace?” Charity asked with a sexy laugh. “I’m totally enjoying watching you emerge from your shell. It’s about damn time, too!”

Folding the panties, Grace handed them to Charity and sat down, carefully slipping the G-string on. The barely there, open, sexy feel of the strings as they slid over her hips and bare ass was an immediate turn-on. She blushed and smiled at her reflection.

“It’s time I seized the day. Don’t you think?”

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