9 Ways to Fall in Love

by Caroline Clemmons

  “Keep this up and I’ll take you to the backseat of my car.” He put his hands on my arms while we danced and his skin was on fire. I liked teasing him.

  Harrison and Monica tore up the dance floor, and at one point I thought they needed a private room as well. Everyone in the room seemed to surround the dance floor and just watched them.

  Zoe was a little party freak herself, but Brent was about as quiet as they come, so her brothers kept her busy. We decided to take it home after all of us danced our final dance to “Free” by The Zac Brown Band.

  The night was a total blast. We enjoyed ourselves and it was great to have couple fun, which was something I’d never really experienced. We parted with Zoe and Brent and headed home with Monica and Harrison. They were about go back to Grayson’s place, when Grayson decided he would be cute and mention dessert again, causing Harrison to give us a funny look. I threw Grayson under the bus and hinted to Harrison what Grayson gets when he eats all of his dinner. Grayson tried to elbow me and torture me with tickling, but I didn’t give in

  Finally alone, Grayson wrapped one arm around my waist and slung me up on the bar, “Ma’am, you’ve been torturing me all evening with this dress, or more like the lack thereof. What’s under here?” He tried to peak under my dress.

  “Hmm, not much!” I flipped the front of my skirt up for a second which teased him with a view of my white lace thong.

  He had my jacket off in less than a second. That’s when he noticed that I wasn’t wearing a bra either. He quickly slipped my dress off. My body became a quick display across the bar. “You can’t wear this outfit ever again!” he would say in between kisses and tantalizations with a huge grin on his face. “Unless, of course, you promise that I get to take it off like this. You’re breathtaking.”

  “You didn’t like it?” I asked curiously. Surely he was kidding.

  “Like it? I loved it, but I’ve been so turned on that my dick is sore from having a hard-on for hours. For that, you’re gonna pay dearly.”

  And pay I did, in a glorious night of passion. He took me to the edge of orgasm over and over again before he finally made good on his promise.

  Chapter 7

  We spent the morning finalizing the wedding headcount and picking out tux attire. Grayson was going to look sharp in his black tux, white shirt and silver vest. He added a yellow and silver tie and a yellow pocket square for all of the men to wear.

  “What do you think about giving Millie a gift certificate for her to go shopping for the wedding and maybe make her our honorary aunt?”

  “She’s going to love it, Grayson, it’ll make her day. You really are such a softy, it’s just one of the many things I love about you.” It was a very precious idea. She was like a mother to him, since they were very close.

  With our checklist completed, the only item left was the final call with the resort’s wedding coordinator to firm up our itinerary, guest list, and arrival information. Part of the bridal package included a private room for me for the first two nights before I joined Grayson’s bungalow after the wedding. The Bridal Room, as they called it, looked more like a room in a castle from the photographs she sent me. Grayson had planned a special surprise for our wedding night, but had refused to discuss anything about it.

  I was deep into online retail therapy researching swimsuits when Dad called.

  “Kiddo, we got the Rockwall house. We’re going to be Texans.”

  “Yay, I’m really excited for you and Gretchen, it’s wonderful. Do you have a date for the move?”

  “First week in December. We want to host Christmas for everyone, so spread the word.”

  I reminded him that we’re all going to be together in a two weeks and he could extend the offer himself, but he insisted that everyone should have enough time to make plans.

  After we hung up, I realized that it was going to be the first real family Christmas since my mom had passed away. I missed her so much. She would’ve loved Grayson and shared our happiness.

  “What’s going on? Something happen with your dad?” Grayson had my feet in his lap, massaging them, but he stopped when I didn’t answer him immediately and pulled me into his lap. “You can tell me anything, angel. What gives?”

  “Dad and Gretchen got the Rockwall house and he wanted to make sure that we would be spending Christmas with them. In fact, he’s planning a blowout party and inviting everyone. It just made me think of holidays with my mom. It always makes me sad that she’s not here.” I wiped at my tears, but Grayson pulled my hands away.

  “Let them flow, Alexandra. You’ve been hiding tears from me for days. I didn’t want to say anything, because I thought you might open up eventually and share what’s bothering you. Let it out. We’re about to start our married life and I want it to be a fresh start for both of us. So please, open up your heart to me. What’s going on?” He held both of my wrists and wouldn’t let me hide my face.

  “My tears aren’t all sad ones, Grayson. A large part of me is very happy with our life. I’m so excited about you and Harrison reconnecting. There’s a part of me that mourns our little boy or girl and I worry that I won’t be able to give you the child that you want so desperately. Tara says it’s completely normal, that we’re doing all the right things and to just be patient. She believes that I expect too much of myself. She agrees with Dr. Stewart, that once I get to start back running and exercising, I’ll feel much better.”

  “You’ve been too hard on yourself. Time will heal you inside and out.”

  “Tara and I talk girl stuff, you know? I had questions about what it was like to be intimate in every way again, and why my heart was still so heavy. Stuff like that. I just wanted to know a firsthand experience of what it was like for her. My mind was going nuts with all the what-ifs. She’s been a great friend to me.” Talking about it helped, but I needed to know he was going to be okay with me confiding in someone else.

  “I’m glad that she’s been there to answer the girl stuff. Even as a doctor, it’s still more than I can physically understand.” He outlined my lips with his finger. His eyes searched mine. “I love you more and more every day. I’m blessed to have you in my life.” He kissed me sweetly, lingering his lips to mine.

  “You’re the best part of me. The part that keeps my heart beating. Those are the things that Tara helped me focus on. She kept reminding me to appreciate the good things and put a lid on the painful parts. But there was one little thing I wanted your opinion on.”

  “I’m all ears.”

  “I want to get a tattoo on my back in remembrance of our baby.”

  He just looked at me, showing no emotion.

  “I’m serious Grayson. I want to do a flower with petals drifting in the wind. Would you be okay with it?”

  “I support you if that’s what you want. They’re permanent, though. I like mine, but sometimes I wish I didn’t have them. On your back, only I would see it. It would be something between us.”

  “Not exactly. It’d show in my bikini...”

  He took my mouth suddenly in a hard, possessive kiss. When he pulled away, he winked at me. “I think it’s hot, but your dad is going to throw a fit.” He chuckled.

  “He’ll understand when I tell him why, I hope. So, you really think it would be hot?” He grinned and nodded. His reaction surprised me. I didn’t expect him to be so supportive.

  We shared a long, deliberate embrace that left me feeling warm and wanted. There is no replacement for being held in a lover’s arms.

  “You wanna get your tat today? It takes time to heal. If you’re going to do it before the wedding, you need to do it this week.” He stood up. “You can always back out.”

  He did not just challenge me!

  “Sure, let’s go.”

  Getting a tattoo was that little bit of rebellion, especially for a girl. We drove up to the tattoo parlor which managed to be in a sleazy part of town.

  “Sure you want to go in? People get diseases from these places,” Grayson s
aid, baiting me, but I didn’t fall for it.

  “Nope, I’m good.” I held my head high.

  When we walked in and I got a good look at the place and the people, my stomach took a dive. Grayson watched me for any expression, so I kept reminding myself of his challenge. I met Penz, the artist that was going to inflict pain on me. He was covered in tattoos and piercings. Seriously, how many holes can one ear have?

  I drew my idea out on paper. He drew out his own version, which was incredible and exactly what I wanted. With the design approved, I unfastened my jeans and climbed on the table.

  “Say Penz, are those new needles or re-sterilized?”

  “Really, Grayson. You ask him that now?” He was trying to torment me into backing out, which wasn’t happening.

  “Don’t pay any attention my fiancé’, he’s a doctor and can’t stop acting like one. He’s got several tats himself.”

  “Doc, we use nothing but new, sterile stuff here. You’re welcome to check out the back room if you want.”

  “Nah, I’m good. I’ll stay close in case she needs me.” He paced the floor.

  “Then you need to sit down, man.” Penz let out a gruff laugh. Grayson took a seat beside me.

  It took several hours. Grayson was great at distracting me. I felt a little wild and wicked, not to mention sexy.

  Back at home, we cuddled on the couch, watching TV. My back was a little sore, but not bad. While I hadn’t known what to expect, it wasn’t nearly as painful as I imagined. After a while, I got tired of the football game and took to the internet in search of swimsuits. I found a couple that I thought were “family” appropriate and also one that was for my husband’s eyes only. I hope he agreed!

  I started working on dinner and Grayson joined me in the kitchen.

  “I love cooking with you. What are you making?” he said as he came up behind me and wrapped his arms around me, helping me stir the sauce.

  “Baked ziti. Zoe said it’s one of your favorites and she gave me your mom’s family recipe. Speaking of family, will you tell me how your parents met? You don’t talk about them much.”

  “Dad grew up on a farm in Iowa. He joined the Army just like his father had before him, both at age eighteen. He met my mother while stationed in Italy. My mom’s family had a small business that produced olive oil. We’ve always joked around that the olive oil is in our veins instead of blood, giving us great skin and hair,” he teased.

  “Did your parents marry young?”

  “Yes. Dad was twenty-one and Mom was nineteen. They didn’t have us until they moved to Chicago. I think Mom was twenty-eight when we were born. Harrison and I look like her, but we have Dad’s body build and his blue eyes. Zoe is petite like Mom, but looks like Dad. It still mystifies me how genetics blend.”

  “It’s like my red hair. They only person in our family to have red hair was my great-grandmother.”

  “I adore your beautiful hair. I never get bored of tangling my hands in it.”

  He reached for my face, gently rubbing his thumb across my cheek. My breath quickened at his gentle touch. His kiss on my lips was tender and sweet, lingering as the air blended between us.

  The oven alarm interrupted us. “Let me put dinner in the oven so that I don’t ruin my attempt at making the family recipe.”

  “What a nice surprise. Great timing, because I have a surprise for you too.”

  “Yay, I love your surprises. What is it?” I put my hands around his neck and played with his hair.

  “I’ve hired movers to pack up your things and move them to my apartment next Saturday.”

  “I thought we agreed that we’d move after the honeymoon. This was not the perfect time to tell me you invited strangers in to touch my shoes!”

  “Next weekend, I have something planned for you and I don’t want you worrying about your things, so I hired a crew to move you to my place. Besides, Monica has to leave her apartment before we’re back from our honeymoon. You want her to sleep on the porch? The movers will put your stuff in storage until you’re ready to go through it. It’ll all be taken care of while we run an errand and when we get back, it will be our place.”

  “Then it’s perfectly okay with me. I might move my files to your place during the week, and then I won’t worry about the rest of it. What are we doing that’s so special?”

  “Buying you a car. It’s my wedding gift to you!” He gaze was more like a stare, daring me to say something back after such a sweet gesture.

  “I wasn’t expecting that. Thank you!” I sealed my appreciation with a hard, wet kiss.

  “Keep that up and I may decide to start our honeymoon early, Mrs. Brooks-to-be!”

  “I’m turning the oven on auto, because dinner can wait!”

  Chapter 8

  My week flew by like a lightning bolt trying to keep work going while Grayson worked a heavy schedule himself. We had all the details down for the wedding, my final bridal fitting was done, and I’d secretly hired a photographer to do some bridal portraits. The photographer mentioned a special shoot called a boudoir shoot of photos for the groom’s eyes only, and I couldn’t wait.

  I made a secret shopping trip for items that the photographer suggested for the shoot. I picked up a black bustier, garter belt and stockings, a couple of mini-skirts and a two pair of shoes that Grayson would find extremely seductive. I also found a pair of red lace cheekies and a matching bra that were my favorite, and I’m certain would be his, too. The photographer also suggested I bring a couple of my favorite shirts from Grayson’s closet.

  At first, the thought of doing it made me extremely self-conscious, but I was grateful that Monica was going with me.

  While we were out to lunch, she threw me a curveball. “Before you go to the shoot, you may want to visit this place.” She started giggling as she handed me a business card.

  I studied the card. “What’s so funny? I really don’t have time for a visit to the day spa.” I just looked at her questioningly.

  “Girl, every little thing will show in the photos. You’ll want a Brazilian wax and they do a great job, call them now for an appointment,” she ordered while handing me the phone.

  “There’s nothing wrong my ladyscaping! Seriously, if I need to be that slick for these photos, I’m not having them done!” Suddenly, I was terrified of the idea.

  “With the shoot, bikinis, the honeymoon, and not to mention the surprise for Grayson, trust me, you’ll be glad you did. I’m going next week. See if they can get you in with me. Now call!”

  To humor her, I made the call. I made certain the appointment was after hers, just in case I decided to chicken out. The idea didn’t sound the least bit sexy to me. The only thing I could picture was this huge flashing neon sign that read “open for pain” and I wasn’t the least bit excited.

  ***

  Saturday morning, the crew arrived to pack up my things and move them to Grayson’s place. I was thrilled to be moving in with him and gaining our privacy, but also starting our new life of together. When we left, I had no doubts that he had given the movers specific instructions and everything would be just perfect.

  “What are we driving up to Plano for? Don’t they sell cars in Dallas?”

  “Yes, but I met a young man from this particular dealership some time ago when I treated his mother. I promised him that I would see him for my next car purchase.”

  “I hate everything about buying a car. The salesmen are always icky, the finance guys try to sell you a million add-ons, and the whole process reeks of dishonesty. That’s why I put it off for so long. Not to mention that this baby is paid for.” I gave Grayson my best sad face.

  “There’s no way I’m letting you continue to drive this POS. It’s not reliable. It’s been in the shop three times in the last three months.”

  “I happen to like my ‘piece of shit,’ as you just called it, but okay, fine. Have it your way. I love the new car smell. So what did you pick out for me, or is that a surprise as well?”

>   “Well, you’ll see it soon enough, but I got you a Lexus 450H. It’s a hybrid sport utility vehicle. Very safe car, very comfortable, even for tall ladies, and plenty of room for a car seat and stroller. It should last you a long time.”

  “That’s what Harrison has for his corporate guest in Chicago, isn’t it? I loved that car.”

  “Yes. He suggested it. I had the bigger SUV in mind, but I thought you might like the green component of the hybrid.”

  “Hmm, this is exciting! Thank you, sweetheart. My safety man!” I leaned over and loved on him.

  “Just try to enjoy it. Maybe we can stop somewhere for dessert in the car on the way back to our place!” He said that with a twinkle in his eye. My man was always a step ahead of me.

  “Oh, your dirty, dirty little boy! I can think of a few things to definitely get us into trouble in a car!” We shared a laugh. I remembered back to the night that Grayson proposed. I kept propositioning him in the car on the way to the lake. He threatened to make me ride in the backseat if I didn’t behave.

  The Lexus really was a beautiful car. I appreciated the gift from Grayson. He was right, it was very comfortable.

  The salesman was a really nice guy, not at all what I thought he would be. He went over all of the features of the car, one by one.

  “The back seats on this model recline,” he pointed out helpfully.

  “Oh? Really? I asked with a teasing tone.

  Grayson coughed to cover his laughter at my innocent act.

  “Yes. And here we have the automatic transmission with sequential shift. It’s much easier than handling a stick,” the salesman continued, completely unaware of the inside joke happening between Grayson and me.

  “Oh, you don’t say?” My wide grin was surely going to give me away, so I turned to hide my face. That is when I caught Grayson’s look. He had his hands conveniently covering just the right place on his body, hiding the fact that he was turned on.

  The salesman continued describing the features. “It’s a very quiet ride and the shocks are super-absorbent, with minimal bounce.”