Chapter Thirteen

Grace was exhausted when she finally made it home the next day. Vehicle after vehicle had driven into the garage which was odd in a community where many people worked on their own cars. Grace had been forced to work through her lunch and she was disappointed when Vince hadn't shown up to give her a hard time about it.

Picking Cadence up from school had been interesting, to say the least. Mr. Franks had been doing some major butt kissing to both Grace and Cadence and while Grace was happy to see him treating her daughter with more kindness, she couldn't help but wonder what had caused the sudden turnaround.

After all of that, Grace and Cadence had had to stop by the store and get groceries. But Grace forgot the majority of her stress when she pulled in the driveway and saw that Vince's car was sitting there. Grace's arms were loaded with shopping bags as she made her way up to the house with Cadence skipping and dancing around her. The door opened and Vince came hurrying out, taking a good majority of the bags and lightening her load.

"What are you all dressed up for?" Grace asked as she looked him up and down. He was wearing a pair of jeans that fit him perfectly, emphasizing his long lean legs and nice rear. His brown leather work boots appeared to be new and he had on a blue and gray checked flannel shirt with the sleeves rolled up on his forearms. He looked good enough to eat and Grace's mind instantly went in a very naughty direction.

Vince's next words were enough to bring her out of her daydreams about night things. "We're going dancing."

"Dancing?" Grace demanded as she stepped into the house and dropped her bags on the counter. "What are you talking about?"

"Can I go? Can I go?" Cadence exclaimed, jumping up and down.

"Of course you can," Vince replied, ruffling her hair. "You'll have to dance with me and teach me just how to dance to blue grass."

"I can wear my pretty flower dress!" Cadence yelled, before dashing off to her room to find it.

"George, will you be willing to twirl me around the room a time or two?" Ester asked from her chair in the living room.

Vince grinned. "My night would not be complete without spinning you around at least twice."

"Thanks a lot," Grace huffed as she began emptying the bags and laying the groceries on the counter.

Vince frowned. "What did I do?"

"You've made it so I have to be the bad guy when I tell them we can't go to the bluegrass show," Grace informed him with irritation.

"And why can't we go?" Vince asked calmly.

"I told Uncle Pete yesterday that I would be too busy. Weren't you listening?"

"Yes, I was listening. I thought you were just trying to get rid of Uncle Pete and get back to kissing me." Vince gave her a wink that had her smiling despite her annoyance.

Grace sighed. "Vince, I have too much to do."

"What do you have to do?" Vince asked. "Tell me and I'll see what I can do to help."

"You have some kind of a hero complex, don't you?" Grace demanded, opening the cupboard and stuffing a cereal box inside.

Vince handed her a second box. "Hero complex?"

"Yes. You rode on in and have taken it upon yourself to try to fix every issue in my life."

Vince seemed to think a moment and then he nodded. "Yes. My life's mission is to see you happy and smiling always. I guess that means I have a hero complex when it comes to you."

"At least you admit you have a problem," Grace grumbled as she put the milk in the refrigerator.

"That's where you're wrong," Vince countered, catching her on her way back around the kitchen and pulling her into his arms. "I don't see it as a problem."

He gazed down into her eyes and Grace found her body molding against his as if it had a mind of its own. "Now tell me," he urged. "What has you so busy?"

Grace laid her cheek against his chest and listened to his heartbeat beneath her ear. "I was an idiot and agreed to help with the festival that's coming up which means I have a gazillion cookies, cakes, pies and pastries to make. Plus, now they want me to make cookbooks with grandma's recipes so we can sell them to all the out of town people who come in just for the festival and love her baked goods."

"So baking and making cookbooks?" Vince frowned. "That's the reason you can't go?"

"Yes," Grace sighed. "I have to get started putting the recipes together and I have to plan a trip to Lexington so I can go to a print shop there and have them all put together and made into books. I also have to get all my crusts and dough ready so I can freeze them all until closer to time or it will be a mad dash later."

Vince shrugged. "How about I help?"

Grace lifted her head and raised a brow as she looked up at him. "Help? No offense, Vince, but you can't bake as was proven by your attempt to bake corn bread earlier this week. I believe this is one time when you simply can't help me."

Grace saw his green eyes flash and she realized that she had just challenged him instead of discouraging him. She groaned. She had known that Vince was the man who took on anything that challenged him head on and her big mouth had just ensured that he wasn't going to drop this.

"Watch me," he warned. He pulled away from her and fished his cell phone from his pocket.

"You actually have it with you today?" she asked and he grinned guiltily.

"Yes, I've been neglecting my responsibilities lately and I figured I should at least carry the thing. I'm going to put it on speakerphone so you can meet who I'm talking about when I talk about Patricia."

Grace simply nodded and stood there silently. She had no idea how his secretary would be any help with a festival but she would humor him and see what Vince had up his sleeve. He dialed a number quickly and it began to ring.

"Griffin Real Estate and Development," a bored voice picked up on the fourth ring.

"Why do you sound so sad when you answer the phone, Patricia? Part of your contract states that you are to sound happy and welcoming when answering calls," Vince scolded with amusement in his eyes.

"Are you teasing me, boss? I have no idea how to respond to something like that."

"I need you to do something for me," Vince stated.

Patricia laughed lightly. "Of course you do. Sir, do you realize that this is the longest I've gone without seeing that sour face of yours? I haven't been glared at, snapped at or told to mind my own business and simply do what I was hired to do in weeks! I am addicted, sir, and I need my crack back."

"Are you really that mean?" Grace whispered teasingly.

"Who was that?" Patricia demanded, sounding very curious. "That sounded like it just might be a certain mountain mechanic you've mentioned several times.

Grace's eyes widened and she was certain that Vince's cheeks flushed a bit. "Her name is Grace," Vince replied. "And there's something I need you to do, as I've already said."

"Yes, yes. Down to business as usual. You are a workaholic, boss, or at least you used to be before you got lost in those mountains. Nice to meet you, Grace. I hope you're taking good care of my lost little butterfly."

Grace frowned. "Butterfly?"

Vince pinched the bridge of his nose between his fingers and shook his head. "Don't ask. Patricia, do you think you could focus?"

"There's that surly tone I've missed so much. What do you need, sir?"

Vince blew out a long breath. "I need you to put that publishing degree of yours to good use."

"I thought I did that everyday, sir? You hired me based on my exceptional publishing skills and my superb secretarial expertise."

"I hired you because you came for the interview and refused to leave," Vince countered.

Patricia clicked her tongue. "Yes, well, persistence is often seen as an asset."

Vince sighed and pinched his nose harder. He'd had a headache long before Grace had come home today thanks to a conversation he had had with his mother. Patricia's antics were only making it worse.

"Patricia..." Vince warned.

"Yes, boss?" she asked innocently.

"I need you to use the company funds and get a flight to Kentucky. Then rent a car and drive yourself to Clifton."

"What!?" both Grace and Patricia exclaimed in unison.

Vince shook his head at their outbursts. "Grace, she can help. Patricia, don't argue. Think of it as a paid vacation away from the office. You even get to help design a cookbook and do a little baking."

"Oh I tremble with anticipation, sir," Patricia replied dryly. "Tell me, Grace, are there any eligible men in Clifton?"

"A few," Grace replied after several moments of thought. "Most of them are really young, though."

Patricia laughed. "Oh, darling, that's just the way I like them!"

Vince groaned but Grace laughed loudly. She could already tell she was going to like Patricia. She seemed like the kind of person who dealt with life with humor, sarcasm and quick wit.

Vince cleared his throat. "It's Tuesday evening now so you should be able to get everything ready and be here no later than Friday afternoon."

"Vince!" Grace scolded. "You need to ask her more nicely than that. She doesn't even have to help at all! It's my fault I have too much to do and your fault that you feel the need to play hero. She doesn't deserve to be ordered around that way."

Grace couldn't believe Vince was doing this. Calling in back up to help with her responsibilities? It was too much! Grace had never in her life had help and she was just now becoming accustomed to Vince's help but to have him calling in someone else simply so they could have time to go to a dance was beyond anything Grace had been prepared for. Was the man going to see everything in life as an obstacle he just had to tackle?

"Oh boss, I like her," Patricia stated. "She sound so cute when she speaks with that little country accent of hers. And I love the way she puts you in your place. She's quite smart you know. You really should treat your most trusted advisor and valued employee much better than you do...."

Vince grumbled. He shook his head. "Patricia, it would mean a lot to me if you could come and help Grace design some cookbooks and do a little baking. If you could be here by Friday afternoon, that would be wonderful. Do you think that would be something you could do, please?" Vince's voice dripped with false politeness.

Patricia gagged. "Now that just felt wrong."

Vince rolled his eyes. "I can't please both of you at once," he stated simply.

"You're head is hurting, isn't it?" Patricia asked suddenly.

"Yes," he replied and Grace's eyes narrowed.

"Have you talked to your mother today?" Patricia inquired. "She's been calling the office nearly nonstop since you left."

Vince appeared uncomfortable as he glanced at Grace. "I did."

"She's still quite upset about Widgett," Patricia admitted.

Vince frowned. "Widgett?"

"That's the name your father gave to that dog you got him."

"I think you mean the dog you got him," Vince countered.

"Oh yes, of course. That's exactly what I mean," Patricia replied off-handedly.

"As much as I would love to sit and continue this intellectual conversation with you, I have to be going because I have plans."

"Plans sir? I've never heard you say you have plans before."

"Yes, I'm taking Grace and her family to a bluegrass show."

"Yeehaw," Patricia mused.

Vince sighed. "You'll be here Friday?"

"I live to serve, sir."

Vince chuckled as he hung up and shoved his phone back into the pocket of his jeans. He didn't even have time to draw a breath before Grace stepped in front of him. "You have a headache?"

Vince shrugged. "It's nothing new. The doctors say it's stress and blood pressure. I'll just take some pain reliever and I'll be fine."

"No you won't," Grace countered firmly with a shake of her head. "Don't you know how bad those things are for you?"

"I tend to forget when my head is pounding."

"Sit down," Grace ordered, pointing toward a kitchen chair.

Vince raised a brow but did as she told him. Grace came to stand behind him and her fingertips began to work his temples, messaging away every bit of tension and ache. Vince nearly melted into a puddle right there on the spot.

"You're an angel," he moaned.

Grace laughed lightly. "Haven't you ever had someone message away your headache?"

"No," Vince replied honestly. "I haven't."

"Does your mother always stress you out this bad?" Grace questioned, moving her hands from his temples to his shoulders and feeling the tension he carried in them.

"She tends to have that effect on most people who are unfortunate enough to find themselves on her bad list."

"And why are you on her bad list?"

Vince sighed and leaned back into her touch. "Many reasons. I'm not making my living as a lawyer. I'm not married to a plastic bodied trophy wife from a respectable family and I haven't given her seventy-five grandchildren that she can spoil and dote over."

"You horrible son," Grace teased.

Grace was attempting to sound lighthearted but Vince suspected there was something bothering her. He took her hand and pulled her around him, sitting her down in her lap and cradling her against him.

"Vince! Cadence could walk in at any moment!" Grace scolded.

"That George always has been a rascal," Ester chimed in from the living room causing Grace and Vince to laugh in unison.

Vince gave Grace a squeeze and lightly kissed her cheek. "Now tell me what's wrong with you," he urged.

Grace shrugged. "I feel bad that your mother gave you a headache."

Vince chuckled. "Don't. It's not the first and I can promise it won't be the last--unless I throw the cell phone away completely and live off the grid."

Grace chewed her bottom lip. "Will I ever meet her?"

Grace instantly regretted the questioned when she saw the apprehension in Vince's green eyes. "Why don't we talk about this later?" he asked, his lips curving into one of those false, polite smiles that Grace hated so much. "Right now you need to be getting ready so we can go have a good time."

Grace gave him a quick kiss before hopping off his lap and disappearing in to her room. She didn't want to be hurt by what Vince had said. It was clear the man loved her and Grace didn't doubt that. But it was also clear that Vince didn't want her to meet his family. Why was that? Was she not good enough? Or was it that he didn't plan on being with her long enough for her to meet his family?

That thought hurt worse than she expected and Grace took several deep breaths to combat the pain as she shoved the worry aside. She would simply enjoy Vince for however long he was in her life. Forever would be nice but life had taught Grace that good things tended to never last for very long.

***

"Well I have to admit, this is different than the country clubs and dance halls I've been to parties in before," Vince said as he looked around the crowded community center. The band was already in full swing and the sound of fiddles and banjos filled the air.

"Vince, will you dance with me?" Cadence exclaimed, tugging on his hand.

"I think I can do that," Vince nodded, letting his gaze go over the people who were already stomping and bouncing to the sound of the music on the hardwood floor. Vince leaned in toward Grace. "This looks a lot like the dancing I saw in Ireland."

"You've been to Ireland?" Grace asked with awe and just a touch of jealousy. "That's where most of our ancestors came from."

Vince winked at her and then let Cadence pull him into the dancing crowd. Grace led Ester to a set of long tables and helped her take a seat in a metal folding chair. She sat down beside her grandmother and watched Vince and Cadence whirling around.

Grace fell even more in love with Vince as he twirled Cadence around and around and threw his head back and laughed with her. He seemed to have given up on dancing like everyone else and was instead letting Cadence lead him. Grace had never seen her daughter look so happy and she knew that Cadence had needed this. She needed a father--a daddy.

A tear formed in Grace's eyes and she quickly looked away from the scene. "Are you thirsty, grandma?"

Her grandmother nodded without looking at her so Grace stood up and made her way to the refreshments table. Grace poured some soda into two plastic cups and made her way back to Ester.

"Grace!" Meg exclaimed, catching sight of her and bouncing over. "I see your man is burning it up on the dance floor with Cadence."

Grace smiled as her gaze sought them out and she saw Cadence desperately attempting to teach Vince to dance like everyone else. She smiled. "He's so good with her."

Grace sat down and handed Ester her drink. Meg sat down across from her. "He's good with you too. I've never seen you take the time to come to something like this before."

"He is something else," Grace replied thoughtfully. "And he doesn't take no for an answer."

"Aww!" Meg batted her lashes. "My friend is so cute in love."

"So where's Ben?" Grace asked, changing the subject away from her love life.

Meg pointed toward the stage. "He's playing with the band." Grace saw him and his banjo among the other men giving the crowd something to dance to. Meg tapped the table. "So, how are things between you and Mr. Perfect?"

Grace picked at a chip in the table top and shrugged. "I'm scared."

"Scared?" Meg laid her hand over Grace's and frowned. "Why are you scared?"

"I feel like it's all too good too fast," Grace admitted. "I just keep waiting for someone to leap out of the bushes with a camara crew and yell 'Haha! We got you.'"

"It's not like you to be so gloomy," Meg scolded gently. "You've always been the one who keeps her head up no matter what."

"I'm not gloomy," Grace insisted. "I'm cautious."

Meg shook her head. "Well stop! I know what a man in love looks like because I've been married to one since the day after our high school graduation." Grace looked out at Vince who caught her eye and threw her a smile. Meg laughed. "That, dear friend, is a man in love and he isn't going anywhere."

Grace felt her heart lighten a bit and remembered just why Meg had always been her best friend. They continued to talk, laugh and gossip the way friends do and lost all track of time. Meg looked up and smiled. "Uh-oh, Mr. Tall Dark and Handsome is heading this way."

Grace looked quickly toward the dance floor and saw a sweaty Vince and overheated Cadence heading her way. "I think she needs a break," Vince stated. "She's getting a bit too warm."

"You're pretty hot yourself," Grace winked.

Vince held out his hand. "Dance with me?"

Ester quickly nodded. "I don't mind if I do."

Vince gave Grace a helpless look and she smiled. "You did promise her a twirl or two."

Vince helped Ester to her feet before leaning down and brushing his lips against Grace's cheek. "I will get ahold of you before the night is over."

Grace flushed. "I'll hold you to that."

Vince grinned before leading Ester out onto the floor. Grace turned her attention back to Meg but stiffened when she heard a familiar voice behind her. "Hello Grace."

Grace turned to see Grant standing behind her with his baseball cap clutched in his hand. She gasped at the state of his face. Grant's nose was swollen and cut and his lip was split and quite fat. Grace felt a smile attempting to pull at her lips. Apparently Mr. Big City had a mean right hook.

"Hello Grant," she replied, her voice like ice. Grace felt rather than saw Vince's eyes on her from where he was dancing with Ester.

Grant shuffled his feet. "Can I talk to Cadence?"

Grace wanted to tell the asshole no and to get lost. She had never been the type to hold grudges against those who did her wrong but what Grant had done had gone beyond hurting or wrong her. He had hurt her daughter and had laughed as others had done the same. The bruise on Cadence's cheek was a stark reminder of Grant's actions.

"I don't know, Grant," Grace snapped. "Can I trust you to speak to my daughter?"

Grant nodded and his blue eyes shown with remorse. "Yes, you can."

Grace clenched her jaw tightly and nodded. Grant stepped beside her and then crouched down to be on Cadence's level as she sat in her seat and leaned in close to Grace. The girl shirked away from Grant and looked up at Grace.

"It's okay, gremlin," Grace assured her and, if it wasn't and Grant tried to do anything out of the way, he'd have her foot so far up his manhood that he'd have to go to the hospital to have it removed.

Grant sighed. "Cadence, I want to tell you that I'm very sorry for what I did and what I allowed those boys to do. Bullying and being mean to others is always wrong and I never should have allowed that to go on. I'm going to try to put a stop to bullying in our school and I think, with Vince's help, I may be able to do just that."

"Vince's help?" Grace frowned. "What does Vince have to do with it?"

Grant looked up at her. "He met with the principal and several of the teachers today. He's going to fund an anti-bullying campaign and I'd say they'll talk about it at the next PTA meeting. He wants to line up guest speakers and offer rewards for good behavior and stiffer punishments for those caught bullying."

"That man..." Grace sighed as her eyes caught Vince's across the crowded room. He smiled at her and suddenly Grace knew. She knew that she had found the man she wanted to spend the rest of her life with. Vince was the man that she wanted to marry. The way he was with Cadence and Ester was unlike anything Grace had ever dreamed of. He was kind, protective, caring and strong. For the first time in her life Grace felt like she was living in a fairy tale and it was all because of Vince.

Grant cleared his throat and had her attention coming back to him. He was once again looking at Cadence. "Cadence, will you forgive me for laughing at you? I did a very bad thing and I know that and it will never happen again, I promise. If you can't forgive me, I understand, but I'd really like it if you could give me another chance to prove I'm sorry."

"It's up to you, gremlin," Grace assured her when Cadence looked up at her. The girl chewed her lip and picked at the flowers on her skirt. She sighed and shrugged her shoulders. "Okay."

Grant nodded. "Thank you, Cadence." He stood up and looked at Grace. "Can I talk to you in private for a minute?"

Grace stood and glanced at Meg. "Will you keep an eye on Cadence?"

"Sure thing," Meg replied, throwing a glare that would freeze fire at Grant whose shoulders slumped.

Grace followed him outside and rubbed her arms. The air was getting cooler and a breeze was picking up. Grace saw dark clouds rolling in and realized a storm was coming. She looked at Grant. "What do you want?"

"Grace, I really am sorry for how I've been acting. I just kept the hope up for so long that one day you and I would be more than friends and when I saw you falling for someone else, especially an outsider that none of us knew, it brought out a jealous side of me that I'm not proud of."

Grace wrapped her arms around herself and shrugged. "I'm not sure what you're wanting me to say, Grant. I forgive you, I suppose, since Cadence does, but our friendship is over. You aren't the man I thought you were because the man I thought you were wouldn't have done that to a little girl who couldn't defend herself."

Grant sighed. "I'll work hard to earn your respect back."

Grace was going to respond but instead let out a yelp of shock when a clap of thunder tore the evening sky and rattled clear to her bones. "Oh no..." Grace moaned and, on cue, Cadence's scream could be heard over the music and noice.

"Mommy!" she cried as she came barreling out of the community center and flew into Grace's arms so quickly she nearly caused them both to go toppling to the ground.

"It's okay, Cadence. It's just a bit of thunder, nothing to be afraid of," Grant assured her.

Lightning flashed in the distance and another clap of thunder, louder than the first, shook the air. Cadence began to cry and Grace smoothed out her hair. "It's okay, gremlin. We'll go on home."

"What's wrong with Cadence?" Vince demanded as he came out of the community center with Ester on his arm. He threw a threatening glance at Grant but Grace shook her head.

"It's the storm," she assured him. "She's scared of them."

Vince nodded and released his hold on Ester. He crouched down and held out his arm and Cadence went running to him, throwing her arms around his neck. He stood straight, pulling her with him and her legs wrapped around his waist. "I better be getting you ladies home," Vince said as the first drops of rain began to fall.

Vince put his arm around Grace's shoulder as she took hold of Ester. "It's raining, George," Ester stated as the cold drops picked up tempo.

"Yes it is, Ester. I better get you home before you melt."

Ester snorted. "I won't melt."

Vince laughed. "Sure you will! Something as sweet as you can't be left out in the rain."

Ester smiled and nudged Grace with her elbow. "That George always has been a charmer."