Granted Wishes (The Granted Series Book 1)

by Tanya Vought

  He holds his heart when he hears the voice again.

  “I love that you’re both taking your time and waiting before becoming intimate. Waiting will be the key to winning her heart.”

  He smiles and says thank you again to the sky. He glances at his watch, realizing he needs to get ready, trying to ignore the fact someone from above is whispering to him.

  * * *

  Gracelynn is freaking out more than she did at her own wedding. She doesn’t know why but she is. She hopes that Giovanni will like her in the red dress Kat found for her while Mara did her hair.

  “Gracelynn, you look beautiful.” Anne beams. “Besides, not only will my grandson be captivated, so will every other man in this town when you arrive at our dance.”

  Kat whistles. “Damn, girl, you’re hot.” Which makes Gracelynn speechless and blush.

  “Oh, you girls are something else. I don’t know what you mean. Besides, you ladies are looking rather fine yourselves.” She stares at Kat who’s wearing a short, black dress with one shoulder sticking out with her hair nicely done and red pumps and dangly earrings. And then there’s Anne. She wears a sophisticated dark green dress, black flats and gorgeous earrings to go with her ensemble.

  Just as Gracelynn is about to get into the car, she hears a voice.

  “You’re gorgeous. You’ll make him so happy tonight.” She glances over her shoulder noticing no one is behind her.

  “I’m always here. I love you. Have a wonderful time with a man who’s yours. Your soul mate.”

  She’s taken aback by the words and shakes them off, smiling but with a bit of trepidation. What in the world is happening to her? Ever since she arrived in town, she’s been hearing voices.

  She arrives at the church and enters, seeing lots of new faces. A sign above her head reads: “Welcome to the Charity Auction Dance.”

  She nudges Anne. “You didn’t tell me this was an auction! What type of auction are we talking about?”

  “Oh my, didn’t I tell you and Gio it was an auction for all the single ladies in town?” She runs off in a different direction faster than Gracelynn has ever seen her move.

  “That little old lady,” she grumbles to herself. She stops abruptly when she notices Gio standing across the room looking right at her. He waves and walks toward her from across the room, looking sexy. God, how is it that he can look like sex on a stick any time of the day? But with that suit he looks even more handsome than ever before. The suit and the tie that Kat gave him complement his emerald eyes and her dress to pure perfection.

  “Whoa,” he says as he approaches her. “Do you know how beautiful you look at this moment, Gracelynn? Everyone is staring at the most beautiful woman in New Hope.”

  She shakes her head and then he turns her around so she can see that practically every man in the room is gaping at her.

  Gio gets closer to her and she sees him discreetly trying to cover himself up in public.

  She smiles, knowing what she’s done to him.

  “Let me stand behind you, you have no idea what you’ve done to me in this hot red dress that looks like it was made for you,” he whispers. “I may have to hurt Kat for allowing her to put you in such an amazing dress; but at the same time I love that everyone will be watching what’s mine.” He kisses her neck but stops when he notices Gracelynn tenses up.

  “What is it, Gracelynn?”

  She pretends she doesn’t hear him. “Did you know this was a charity auction? An auction where the eligible ladies in town are the ones auctioned to raise money? Please tell me you didn’t know about this?”

  He wants to plead the fifth but goes with the truth. “Yes, I know, but… I wanted to see you dressed up and dancing with me the entire night.”

  She blushes. “You should’ve told me it was an auction. What if I don’t get purchased by you?”

  He possessively holds her waist and whispers, “You, my dear, have nothing to worry about. No one in this town will be able to match me. And besides, the way they see us right now, they better know that you’re taken and to not bid against me.”

  “Ladies and gentlemen. Welcome to the annual charity for Children’s Wishes. We welcome you and would like all the single ladies in the room to please come forward,” the announcer tells the attendees from the podium.

  Gracelynn leaves Gio and goes up to the stage like every other eligible lady in the town and follows the man behind the curtain.

  After a few ladies got ‘purchased,’ it’s Gracelynn’s turn to stand on stage in front of everyone. She’s nervous but once she finds Gio in the audience she feels better. He smiles at her, which gives her the confidence she needs to stand tall on stage.

  “Let us start with $500.00 folks,” the announcer declares.

  Gio raises his hand for the bid.

  “1000.00 dollars, anyone for 1000.00 dollars,” the announcer states again.

  A man bids in the back and she watches Gio glare at the man and then stands up loudly affirming the bid of $5,000.00.

  She smiles when the other man sits down in defeat.

  “Sold to Mr. Antonetti,” the announcer tells the crowd. Everyone claps as Gracelynn gasps at the crazy amount of money he just spent on her.

  “You may all leave the stage and dance with your partners now,” the MC tells them. As Gracelynn leaves the stage, Anne finds her and gives her a wide grin and a hug to congratulate her.

  Gio finds her talking with Anne and bows to her. “May I have this dance, my lady?”

  Gracelynn curtsies at him. “Why thank you, sir.” She allows him to take her to the dance floor. “Why did you pay so much money for me?” she questions him as soon as they begin to dance.

  “I did it because I wanted too. I could have paid more.”

  She gasps again.

  “Yes, I’m rich but I don’t flaunt my money. I’m conservative and wanted to help out the local sick kids and their families. You bring out the best in me. You make me want to be a good man for you and myself. Thank you, Gracelynn.” He kisses her check and holds her in a sweet embrace as they dance in sync to the music. No one else even matters. It’s them in the moment and enjoying the intimacy of the dance, which brings them closer together.

  At the end of their dance, Gio excuses himself to use the restroom. While he walks away, Mallory approaches the table.

  She scowls at Gracelynn. “Do you know who you’re dealing with? I doubt you do.” She crosses her arms over her tight, barely-covered chest. “You don’t know Gio like I do. He’s using you for the floozy you are.”

  Gracelynn clenches her teeth together. “What right do you have to say you know him or that he wants you? He doesn’t want you. Leave us alone. You’re delusional.”

  Mallory cackles. “Is that so? You’re the one who is delusional. Tell yourself whatever you want… but when you leave, he will move onto me,” she snaps, leaving the table before Gracelynn can reply.

  Seconds later, Gio returns from the restroom. “What happened to you?” he asks, noticing her irritation.

  “Nothing that I haven’t heard before,” she mutters to him.

  “What do you mean? I thought we said no lies—not ever?”

  “Mallory approached me while you were gone. She stated I’m a floozy and when I’m gone you’ll want her like you always have.”

  Gio inhales. “Let me make this clear. I have not or nor will I ever want Mallory. Yes, she has come onto me many times, but I have told her NO.”

  Gracelynn nods and looks around, hoping they aren’t making a spectacle of themselves at the dance.

  “I haven’t been with anyone since my wife. I haven’t wanted anyone since and can tell you I’ve never wanted anyone as badly as I want you.” He leans forward and touches her forehead with his. He takes her right hand and places it over his heart. “You have my heart. You’ve had it since t
he night I banged into your car.”

  She gasps. “You don’t know me long enough for that, Gio.”

  He nods his head and looks into her eyes. “I know it seems crazy since we’ve only known each other for four weeks, but I do. I know you well enough to know that I will fight for you. I’ll always prove to you that you’re what I want.”

  A long silence follows. Gracelynn doesn’t know what to say – she barely understands what he tried to tell her. Eventually she comes up with an excuse. “Can we leave? I’m exhausted.”

  He nods his head in agreement. “Sure, doll. All you had to do was ask. Let’s go find Grandma and Kat before we head out.” He takes her hand and they go in search of Anne.

  They find Anne at the punch bowl. “Grandma, we’re going to head out.”

  Anne comes out from around the table and hugs them.

  As they walk away, Anne stops them. “Since Kat and I are coming over for Christmas Eve dinner…. How would you both like to attend Christmas day mass with us?”

  Gracelynn looks to Gio. He nods his head. “Sure, that would be amazing,” she replies as they leave the charity dance.

  Chapter 31

  IT’S CHRISTMAS EVE. Everyone is anxious. Gio is nervous and tries not to show it, but Gracelynn can tell. She decides to do something fun when she sees it has snowed overnight and is still lightly snowing outside.

  “Gio, can you come outside and help me with something?” she asks.

  “Yes, why?”

  “Just meet me outside, please,” she yells from the living room. She hurries to get her jacket, hat and gloves on. She rushes outside and hides behind the tree, waiting for Gio to approach her hiding spot. She laughs as she hits him with a snow ball landing directly on his cheek.

  He curses and wipes his face off with a huge grin, which she knows is trouble. In the short period of time she’s come to know him, she’s learned he can be quite competitive.

  “I will get you back, Gracelynn. Don’t you know paybacks aren’t very nice where you’re concerned?” He starts walking around the property as she hits him again in the face, head, chest and even his butt. He lets her have her fun and then grabs a huge ball of snow and whips it at her, knowing her exact location. And his snow ball hits her directly in the chest.

  “Oh man, Gracelynn, did I hit the gals?” He chuckles and grabs another snow ball and before Gracelynn can dust the snow off her chest he comes around and pulls her close to his body, drops the snow ball and leans her back and kisses her cheek, her nose and leans into her mouth and takes her for an earthshattering kiss.

  She breathes rapidly and doesn’t notice that he has her on the ground, on top of her and kissing her senseless. It’s like she’s somewhere else when he’s kissing her.

  “Do you know what you do to me?” he whispers. “You look like a snow angel in the flesh. You’re beautiful in the snow, Gracelynn.”

  She blushes under his sincere statements.

  “Do something with me?” he asks quietly.

  She nods as he picks her up and carries her over to the front of the house. He asks her to lie in the snow. She does so without question.

  He lies down next to her. “Would you like to make snow angels with me?”

  She smiles as they make angels, reminiscing of doing so as children. They stand up and try to not step in the angels and look down at their angel forms and laugh.

  “Thank you for doing that with me. You make me enjoy all the old nostalgia I’ve long forgotten,” he gushes to her as they still glance down at their angel prints.

  They spend the morning and afternoon with one another and Holly. They have a great time getting to know one another, baking pies and watching a few movies that are on TV for the holiday. Gio tells her that they should start getting ready for dinner. They decided they would make a classic ham, potatoes, vegetables and a delicious apple pie.

  * * *

  As Gracelynn leaves the room to get ready for their guests, Gio becomes anxious. He hopes that she’ll love the presents that he’s purchased. He decides his special present will wait until tomorrow morning so she can have a special present from him since she is leaving on Friday. He decides to go get ready and work off some of his anxiety.

  He’s in the bathroom getting ready and hears singing. He hasn’t heard Gracelynn sing before and wonders why… she has an amazing voice. Having her in this cabin is amazing. He looks down at his own wrist and remembers the bracelet he and Gracelynn share and hopes she’ll like her early Christmas present she’ll be getting tonight.

  Trying to decide what to wear, he thinks of something Gracelynn would like. He smiles when he finds a green sweater. He knows she’ll love it and then goes for a black pair of jeans and his comfy brown slippers. He styles his hair, sprays on his cologne and is off to check the ham again.

  Since Gracelynn is still obviously getting ready, he starts prepping the kitchen. As he starts to set the table with candles and poinsettias and four placemats, he notices Gracelynn standing in the doorway.

  “Wow. You’re a vision, you know that?” He practically drools all over. She wears a pair of blue jeans and a low cut green sweater with a white scarf wrapped around her neck. Her hair is up, and she wears light make up.

  She chuckles. “Like what you see?” She smirks at him, daunting him. The little vixen can come out and play when she wants and he is enjoying this side of the sexy Gracelynn.

  He decides to play dirty himself. “Want to see how happy I am to see you?” He smirks back at her. “Let’s make a wager, shall we?” he asks competitively.

  She grins at him. She intently twirls a strand of her hair that she left down by her face between her fingers, licks her lips and stares at him. She looks him up and down, making him even more drawn to her.

  He gulps. The damn vixen knows how to play dirty.

  “Well, what is the wager? Because if it is staring at each other all night, I could do that and then some.”

  “Now, I wouldn’t mind staring at you all night, which is a definite, but I think each time we wink or smirk at one another, we shall have to drink and tell each other a dirty thing we’ve done or would like to do.”

  “Oh God. You want to get me drunk on Christmas Eve? Because that’s what will happen.”

  “I didn’t say alcohol, did I?” he says, and wants to smirk but stops as she laughs at him.

  “You were so going to smirk.”

  He nods his head.

  “What will we be drinking then?” she replies, looking like a true warrior, ready to win this game.

  “I was going to say soda, but now maybe would do shots or a vodka cranberry instead.”

  “I could do that. Let the fun begin. But, Gio, how are we going to be able to play when Anne and Kat get here?”

  He ponders, puts his finger to his lips and watches her reaction to his naughty, seductive ways.

  “I don’t think they will mind. Besides if they do, they can just leave since they’ve been in the room for the last five minutes watching us.”

  “OMG, seriously?” She gasps and slaps Gio’s arm. “You’re such a jerk, you know that, Giovanni Antonetti?”

  He chuckles as do Kat and Anne. “Gio, you should apologize to Gracelynn. You knew when we entered, but she didn’t.”

  “Yes, Grandma.”

  He leans towards Gracelynn and touches her cheek. “I’m sorry. That was insensitive of me when we were having fun to not let you know they were there; but I enjoyed seeing the funny side of you and didn’t want to stop it. Besides you know…”He wiggles his eyebrows with mischief. “I would’ve told you to stop should we have gotten too dirty for them.” He kisses her on the cheek.

  They eat dinner, sing songs, listen to Anne play on the piano and take turns telling each other what they’re thankful for this year. They all go around and finally when it’s time to for Gio an
d Gracelynn, both look at each other and reply with, “We are thankful for our family,” and they watch Kat and Anne look at them with an odd expression.

  * * *

  Gio looks around the room in trepidation. Gracelynn asks noticing something is wrong with him, “What’s the matter, Gio?”

  “How did you know that something is wrong with me?” He is shocked that she is able to notice his moods in the short period of time knowing each other.

  “You scrunch up your forehead like you’re deep in thought.” She rubs his forehead for him.

  The intimate touch brings him peace. “I was just thinking about handing out the presents. If that is okay with everyone.” They all nod in agreement and he can’t wait for the three women in his life to open their presents this year.

  * * *

  “How about you and Kat go first, Anne.” Gracelynn brings the camera out and watches the ladies open their gifts. She didn’t know what to get them so she purchased Kat a new pair of boots, jewelry and also some new nail polish. She bought Anne a beautiful vase with fake flowers in it with the outside saying, Faith, Hope and Love.

  “Thank you so much for my presents, Gracelynn. You shouldn’t have.” Anne gushes and stands up to hug her.

  “You give awesome presents, girl! Thank you so much.” Kat stands up as well and gives her hug.

  They also open the gifts Gio purchased for them. Gift certificates to the spa for a mani pedi and some small other items they would need and he also gets a giant hug from them.

  When it’s Gracelynn’s turn to open gifts from Anne and Kat she is so surprised. They made her a 10X13 photo of her and Gio dancing at the ball looking deliriously happy. They also gave her a pair of comfy pinks socks, which she’s thrilled to have.

  She stands up to hug the ladies as well and returns back to her seat to see Gio opening his gift, which is a photo of the same picture Anne and Kat gave her and a few other small gifts.

  Now that Kat and Anne gave the presents, she knows she should give Gio his now. She’s nervous and hopes Gio will be surprised and love her present. She unwraps her scarf and tells him that he’ll need to get closer to her to see it. His mouth drops open as she moves her green sweater off her shoulders.