The Art of Ethan

Excerpt:
Beaufort, North Carolina

Grace McPherson sat looking at the blank screen on her computer for at least a half hour before she began typing. Now that summer had arrived and she was no longer the cheerleading coach, there were no more excuses. During the school year, she barely had time between teaching and coaching to even think about starting her novel. Now, alone in what was once her mother’s bedroom, she mustered up two words for the screen…Chapter One.
“Now’s a good time for a snack,” she said aloud and pushed away from the desk. Luckily, the phone rang as she entered the large country kitchen. Another distraction, exactly what she needed.
“Hello.”
“Hey, Grace, it’s me.” An excited voice came through.
“Megan? What’s up?”
“Well, I wanted to see if you would like some company next week. Chase and I are free, and I would love for you to actually meet him in person before the wedding.”
“Yeah, are you kidding? That sounds great.” Grace opened the refrigerator and scrunched her nose. “Uh, what do you guys like to eat?”
Megan laughed through the phone as she thought about how her cousin lived like a college guy, instead of a southern lady. Though a southern lady she was.
“What? Why are you laughing?”
“You better go shopping, I know you. I can’t live on Oreos and chocolate pudding.”
“I’ve been working, thank you.” Grace protested as she pulled the cup of chocolate pudding from the refrigerator.
“On the great American novel, I suppose?”
“Yes, I am nearly finished.” How could she possibly tell her otherwise? She had been lying about working on the book for over two years. Thankfully, Megan was always too busy to offer to read it.
“Well, maybe I can read it when we come down.”
Grace pulled back the seal on the chocolate pudding cup and thought for a moment.
“Maybe, we’ll see.”
“Okay, I gotta go. I will e-mail you our flight schedule.” Megan hurried “love ya” and hung up.
Grace looked at the phone receiver and snickered, Megan always hung up on people. What if she had something important to say? She would never get a chance to say it. Faced with visitors only a week away, Grace had to prepare the house. The book would have to wait.
Walking through the house, Grace felt a sense of relief and comfort. Everything was familiar and easy. It looked the same as it had all her life. The only changes she could remember were adding a piece of furniture or buying a new mattress. Grace couldn’t bring herself to move one thing or paint one wall. This was her mother’s house, and though she was dead, if nothing changed, it felt like she could come walking through the door at any minute. Grace liked that feeling. She was secure here. Her memories kept her from being lonely.
Megan hadn’t been home since the funeral. Grace remembered how distraught Megan was. It seemed like a blur. Evelyn was there, her best friend from college, but she hadn’t heard from her in awhile. The thought of Evelyn crying at the funeral made Grace shut the whole memory out. She hadn’t cried at all and hadn’t cried a day since then.
It was easy to occupy time pulling out all the stops for company. Megan sent an e-mail saying they had decided to bring Chase’s brother and cousin along. Joshua, Chase’s cousin, seemed like a nice enough guy to spend time with. Megan said he was very sensitive to women. He was finishing up his degree in education after six years on the police force. The man wanted to become a teacher; now, that was something Grace could talk about.
Ethan, Chase’s brother, was another story entirely. Megan wrote about how he had nothing but trouble when it came to women. He was on a thundercloud, shooting lightning at any woman who dared walk by to scare them away. All Grace could hope was that Joshua would save her from the beast. Megan would no doubt be neck deep in Chase at every moment. Surely, her fiancé would be no different than any other guy Megan dated.
***
“Okay, I am all set to go,” Chase said as he entered the bedroom. Taking one good look around he knew Megan was definitely not ready to go. She was sitting on the bed amongst two piles of clothes with one suitcase packed and another open in front of her.
A few long brown curls had escaped the ponytail and hung defiantly in her face. She kept blowing them up refusing to drop the items up for debate in her hands. “I thought we were just going for a few days, babe?”
Megan swung her head up to look at him directly, the loose curls bounced right across her left eye causing it to wink.
“I know, but you never know what we will do. What if we want to go out somewhere nice? What if we want to be at the beach, but then it rains, then what?” Her voice began to rise as she held up two bathing suit options. “And how do I know if I will want to wear this Donna Karen two piece or this Calvin Klein one piece? Huh? You tell me, Chase, Mister I already have my suitcase packed because three outfits and a pair of swim trunks can get me anywhere!” She blew at the stray curls in frustration.
“Well, then,” he said calmly. “I’m headed to see if Ethan is still going. Be back in an hour.” He walked over to her and pushed the stray brown curls behind her ear as his lips touched her forehead. “You will be the best looking girl on the beach, babe, no matter what you wear.”
He smiled his boyish smile. He loved Megan and all her little quirks. He appreciated the fact that she always went all out to look her best, probably because he did the same. The difference was that Megan looked just as good to him when she woke up, with no makeup, as she did with a full face. It was her job to look good. Her promotional clients depended on it. Somewhere along the line, she started depending on it, too.
“That’s sweet, honey, but you’ve never met Grace before.” She sighed then tossed the suits in the bag with the others, grabbed the stack of clothes she had already decided on, and closed the case. Thinking of Grace and how she missed her reminded Megan of where she was going and why.
“See, all done.” She smiled devilishly up at Chase. She didn’t want to give Ethan any chance to back out. It was bad enough her first pick to lure Grace had canceled.
Megan thought about her cousin on the way to Ethan’s loft. Grace was barely a year older though she acted like she was an adult most of her life. Megan always had to drag her out to have fun, but once she got out, she was awesome, full of life and spirit.
The year Grace spent taking care of her mother, Megan’s aunt, changed her drastically. Grace was always serious and driven, but now she seemed so withdrawn and distant. Megan made several attempts to get her to come to New York, but Grace wouldn’t budge. She wouldn’t even visit. She was stuck in the house she grew up in, alone, living in a retirement community at age 30. It just wasn’t right. She had goals, dreams. Megan was determined to pull her out of her slump one way or another.
“You thinking about Grace again, princess?” Chase stroked his fiancé’s knuckles with his thumb. Megan spent a lot of time stressing out over her cousin.
“I hope this works. Without Joshua, I just don’t know.” Megan smiled a half smile.
“Well, Ethan won’t be good for a relationship, but he knows how important this is to me, so he will behave. Besides, if Grace is looking to remain single after that fiasco with what’s his face, and Ethan is only coming to get away from the women in New York, they may just hit it off and be friends.” Chase reassured her.
“She needs a friend. I won’t risk intervening personally. I can’t lose her, Chase. She’s all the family I got.” Megan nodded.
***
“Wow, you’re really going!” Chase was relieved.
Ethan had become a bit reclusive after his fiancée ran off to Los Angeles. Ethan always had women after him, so it was easy to get over Emma. He never really wanted to marry her. He wanted to please his mother, and Emma had all but begged him to say yes. When he finally submitted, it backfired, proving his theory that all women want him to commit and move away. His work, his gallery, his life was New York.
Chase shook his head. Hopefully, Ethan would be on his best behavior in North Carolina. Grace was a redhead, perfect for Joshua. Ethan preferred brunettes but was content with solitude for the time being. He wanted nothing to do with any woman who wasn’t related to him, anymore.
“Of course, I’m going.” He walked around the room as if taking an inventory. “Mom said if I didn’t go and keep an eye on you, she would be here keeping an eye on me.”
He shrugged as he visually checked the loft, slowly looking around taking in every item and every detail. It had been awhile since he had gone anywhere longer than over night. He had to trust everything would be right where it was now when he got back. “Though, why I have to look out for a grown ass man is beyond me.”
“Because she doesn’t want us to elope. She feels it is her right as a mother to be there, and you are the security net.” Chase had called their mother and told her to act concerned. Ethan needed a vacation, and everyone knew it.
Joshua had actually suggested it, figuring it would seem less awkward for Grace to have more company and not feel set up. Unfortunately, Joshua ended up having to cover for another officer at work at the last minute. That left Ethan.
“If we end up anywhere near a courthouse, you are to tackle me and ship me right back to New York.” Chase bent over as if he were hiking a football at Megan. “Isn’t that right, babe?”
She rolled her eyes then went to the refrigerator.
“Doesn’t look like I have much to worry about there.” Ethan smiled. He knew Megan. She had dated his brother for two years now, and there was no way his little brother was going to get that princess down any aisle without a Vera Wang dress and a Cinderella carriage ride. Megan had been in full bride mode for the last six months. The wedding planner cost a small fortune and so did the wedding. Chase gave in to every one of Megan’s demands. It made Ethan sick.
In his mind, he was half curious to see where this little princess came from and wondered if her cousin, this Grace character, was going to be as big of a pain in the ass. “So, it’s off to the airport, and into…where are we going again?”
“New Bern, New Bern, North Carolina, but she lives in Beaufort.” Megan used a country accent and put on her best Daisy Duke theatrics. Ethan rolled his eyes and grabbed his luggage while Chase ate it up. “Let’s go boys. We have time to eat if we leave now.”
“You heard the lady.” Chase headed for the door.
“I’m going to kill Joshua.” Ethan grumbled.
If Joshua came along, at least they could go surfing or occupy themselves. Now, he had a woman to deal with, and if she was anything like Megan, he would be in a living hell. One more conversation about plumping, surgery, or waxing, and he would die. When did women get so insecure? Doesn’t anyone appreciate the natural body anymore?


JOHN F. KENNEDY AIRPORT, NY

Megan walked and talked on her cell phone like the PR person she was. The airport was busy, but nothing seemed to slow Megan down. At five three, she walked through crowds like she was a giant. Maybe it was her attire or the crazy high heels, but people always cleared the way when she walked through.
“Gracie…yes, we are just arriving at the airport, so we will see you in a few hours. Yes, we had sushi for lunch. Don’t worry…seven, okay.” Megan made her way back to where Chase and Ethan were waiting.
“Okay, Grace will pick us up at the airport. I am so excited to see her. I just can’t wait.” She lit up with a new energy.
“When was the last time you saw her, babe?” Chase asked as he grabbed half her luggage and saddled Ethan with the rest. Ethan grumbled under his breath, but Chase ignored it.
“Her mother’s funeral. Like four years ago.” Megan went quiet for a moment then smiled again. “But this is a celebration.” She grabbed Chase by the arm and looked over her Channel sunglasses. “And we southern girls like to celebrate.”
“So, I can expect to be toting around a drunken cousin?” Ethan interrupted the fun. “Fabulous.”
***
Inside the large house just a walk away from the waterfront in Beaufort, Grace packed up her books and loose papers in preparation for company. She stored them neatly in plastic bins and labeled each one.
Looking around the guest room, which was once her mothers’ room, she felt inspired like she always did. The problem was putting that inspiration on paper. The window allowed a view of the backyard along with the trees holding an old hammock between them. Her mother would read her father’s old love letters as she swung in the original hammock.
He died when she was seven, and many hammocks have swung there since then. Her mother enjoyed their time there, reading, writing, and sharing thoughts with her daughter. Grace spent a lot of time in that hammock.
Her mother was so full of life, passion, and hope. Grace felt she must have been a disappointment. She shivered as she remembered her mother’s words. Live, risk, fall, and get back up again. Grace didn’t like to fall and wasn’t much of a risk taker. She liked to be in control of her life. Now, she was in total control of her life. She shut the plastic storage bin and put the items in the closet on the shelving system. “Well, I hope no one needs to hang anything up in here.”
Downstairs the living room was cozy and welcoming. The kitchen, freshly stocked with groceries, looked strange to her. After all, a single woman lived like a bachelor, fast food and microwave meals. She began the checklist of things she had, trying to remember the last time she actually cooked anything besides macaroni and cheese.
“How pathetic,” she said aloud.
Grace took one last walk around the house to make sure she had everything ready for her guests.
***
The small airport in New Bern was hopping. At least fifteen people flew in that afternoon. A handful of Marines were in uniform, and some locals were arriving home from vacation. There was still no sign of Megan and the guys.
It had been four years since her mother passed away, and Megan was all the family she had left. They kept in touch through phone calls and e-mails, but Grace couldn’t help feeling a little abandoned by Megan. They were so close for so long, like sisters. Even through college, they kept in touch. Megan always came to see her. Then, she met Chase.
When she refused to go to New York, Megan stopped coming to visit. Grace was about to leave the luggage claim and go as far up to the departing gate as security would permit when the belt started squeaking. She watched in anticipation for luggage to appear.
***
“I am so sorry,” Ethan handed the flight attendant the emergency bag. Megan was completely grossed out and even Chase was annoyed by her lack of concern for his brother.
“Are you all right, man?” Chase put his hand across his brother’s back. “I forgot this was a prop plane.”
“Yeah, just that damn sushi and then this, well I guess you would call it a plane.” Ethan always had a sense of humor even when he was at the receiving end of it.
“Let’s move people. I want to get off this plane now!” Megan passed Ethan a piece of gum, tussled his hair, and walked down the aisle to exit.
The blonde haired, blue eyed flight attendant was very concerned.
“Sir, is there anything I can do to make it better?” She smiled and leaned forward to see him eye to eye.
Her lashes flittered, and her cheeks blushed. He was no stranger to women making him offers. She had unbuttoned the top two buttons, and cleavage was definitely in view, but he was not interested in her or any woman, anymore. He hadn’t been in a long time.
“I’m fine, thanks.” He pulled himself out of the seat. She watched with a sigh as he exited the plane.
***
Megan entered the airport like she owned it on a mission to find Grace. Even with four-inch heels, she was fast. Chase held back and waited for his brother. They walked together as Ethan took in the sights of the miniature airport.
“Thank you for flying pterodactyl airlines,” Ethan said sarcastically.
As they made their way to baggage claim, he searched for a bathroom. His stomach was turning again. Suddenly, he was distracted by a red flame across the way—long bright red hair, long tan legs, a serious figure. If she would just turn around, so I can see the front…No, there’s a bathroom to the left. Must go.
Grace had watched two pieces of luggage pass by when the Louis Vuitton bags popped out. The clicking sound of heels got closer until finally she heard a squeal from behind her followed by her name.
Grace turned to see her cousin moving toward her in her ridiculously high heels as fast as her legs would carry her. She beamed and rushed toward Megan, catching a glimpse of heaven before he darted into a men’s room. Oh well, that was always her luck.
“Oh my God, Grace, you look so good!” Megan grabbed her again and squeezed harder than her petite frame should have allowed. She released her bear hug and grabbed her cousin’s hands. “Look what I brought.” She smiled her devilish grin. Turning around toward Chase, she noticed he was the only one there.
“Where is Ethan?” She stomped. Chase made a face as he pointed to the men’s room.
“Any-who.” She rolled her eyes. “This is my Chase.”
Grace could see why her cousin was in love. He was like a Tommy Hilfiger ad come to life. The one photo Megan sent showed more of Megan than the man she was sitting on. In his button down shirt and khaki pants, his smile was genuine and bright. He towered over Megan’s petite frame; he had to be at least six foot tall.
Grace looked over Chase’s shoulder to catch a peek at the man she had noticed before. She blushed and stared, apparently too much, because he smiled at her and seemed to be coming right for her. Shit! Before she could escape, Megan’s voice chimed in.
“This is Ethan, Chase’s brother. I told you about him in the e-mail. Joshua couldn’t make it.”
Grace could barely focus. Chase let go of her hand and stepped aside as this living sculpture stepped in to grab it. Ethan didn’t look a thing like his brother really. He had chocolate brown hair and eyes, was nicely tanned, and wearing old jeans, which were worn in all the right places. A black T-shirt hugged every curve and muscle.
At his touch she felt faint. A shock of electricity penetrated her body. Though her lips moved, no words came out. What the hell was happening?
Ethan couldn’t believe this was Grace. Her bright red hair was just wild with long curls. From what he could tell, she didn’t have on any makeup. It was just Grace. His stomach jumped, but he was sick. She had said her name twice, and yes, she was going to say it again.
Let go, she thought. Let go of my hand.
Once he did, she could focus again. Though she was sure she had already said it, she said it again, “I’m Grace.” She could feel the heat rising on her face that smiled widely yet spoke no more. His face flushed as the smile faded.
“Excuse me,” he said and darted off toward the men’s room.
He couldn’t help appreciate the woman. She wore a thin cotton T-shirt that displayed one hell of a rack. Cut off jean shorts showed off those shapely legs. Flip flops for crying out loud, he hadn’t seen a woman in plain flip-flops in ages, at least not an attractive one. Damn his stomach, he may actually want to talk to her.
Megan didn’t miss a beat. “That is for you, straight from New York. When he stops throwing up, you’ll thank me for him. I think.” She scrunched her lips and brow.
“Chase, honey, grab my bags. That belt is getting them dirty.” She smiled and winked as he obeyed her every whim. Turning back to Grace, she noticed she was still looking toward the men’s room. “You like?”
“What?” she mumbled.
“You heard me.” Megan gleamed.
“No, I didn’t actually.” She smiled because she did hear her. “Do you think he’s okay?”
“Ethan, okay, no I think he is H-O-T, and by the look on your face, Grace McPherson, so do you.” She looked directly at Grace to see her reaction.
“I mean, do you think he is okay in there?” Grace scowled.
Megan knew her all too well. It didn’t matter if she thought Ethan was hot, what woman with a pulse wouldn’t? Grace had a tendency to send men screaming in the opposite direction or booking flights to get out of the country, but Ethan would be family, Megan’s family, so she had to give him a warm welcome or at least try to.
“Oh, I don’t know.” Megan looked around for Chase, who was struggling with the luggage. “Honey, maybe you should check on your brother.”
“Yeah, Megan. and I can load this stuff up.” Grace walked toward the luggage and grabbed a handle. The look on Chase’s face was priceless. He beamed as Megan clicked lazily toward the luggage and grabbed her own handle with a pouting lip. “The car is right outside. We’ll meet you there.”
Grace popped up the other handle and began rolling the bags. Megan let out a whimper as she popped up her own two handles and headed out behind Grace.
“Why is he looking at you like that?” Grace whispered.
“Grace, I don’t carry luggage. That’s why I got a man, honey.” Megan pouted.
“Hi, nice to meet you, I’m Grace. Where’s Megan?”
“Gracie, you will ruin my status. Chase thinks I’m elite. He treats me like a princess.” Megan beamed. “He calls me princess, too, just in private.”
“Thanks for sharing.” Grace rolled her eyes. Megan nudged her with a smile. It had been a long time, but they were still family, and Grace missed her terribly.
Ethan emerged from the bathroom as the ladies were passing through the exit, and Chase walked toward him with the last of the bags. “You okay, man?”
“No, I think I may be dead. I thought I saw Megan pulling luggage.” He gave a knowing look at his little brother. “I feel a little queasy, but it’s bound to pass.”
“So, what do you think of Grace? That girl is b-e-a-utiful.” He shot Ethan his own knowing look this time. Ethan felt like shit, but he had noticed Grace, and Ethan hadn’t noticed any woman in a very long time.
“Well, a pretty face is intoxicating, and just like alcohol, it can make you lose your senses. I have no plans to drink and Grace while I’m here.”
Ethan was a little glad his cousin canceled. He may not be interested in Grace, but she’d be great to look at for the next week. Joshua would have scooped her up immediately. She was a red-head, and Joshua loved red-heads. Ethan could torture him with wild tales when he got back to the city. Make him really pay for leaving him with Chase and Megan for a week.
“I thought you liked the look of her.” Chase smiled as they exited the building. He saw something in his brother’s eyes the moment they entered the airport. When he realized why he was smiling, he thought Megan’s plan might just work. Well, if Ethan stopped throwing up anyway.
***
After three stops on the way from New Bern to Beaufort, Grace wondered if the man was going to make it to her house alive.
“Pull over,” he growled.
“Again?” Megan huffed. She was agitated. He had thrown up three times already.
Grace pulled the car over, and Ethan hit the pavement, feet then knees then hands. “This has to be all of it,” he growled to himself. “I think these women are trying to kill me.”
Grace watched and empathized with the poor guy, this amazingly tall, tan, sculpted, guy. She caught herself stealing peeks and pleasure although he was obviously in agony. She felt sick herself but in the psychiatric sense. Shame on you, Grace! Ogling this poor guy at a moment like this. God he has a great ass.
“Can you drive a little slower?” Ethan groaned as he situated himself in the car again.
“I’m trying, but I have to at least do the speed limit.” Grace wanted to be sympathetic, but she also didn’t want him to throw up in her new SUV. She had saved for too long to get it. “We’re almost there. Just over the bridge, and there is no stopping on the bridge.”
“Then, I would drive fast.”
Ethan looked at her, and his face seemed to lose color as he closed his big, sad, brown eyes.
She had a clear shot to be the lead car over the bridge, so she punched it before it turned to a one lane.
As they pulled in front of the house, she knew there was only one room he could stay in and be comfortable. The only one with a bathroom attached, hers.