Saving Grace #Wattys2016

Chapter Twelve

BENJAMIN STONE AS SAM HALE

At five, the whole Hale family and I piled into a limo the length of my house and some. After ten minutes, we all piled out again to a restaurant with a French name I couldn't repeat. "You look so breathtaking, Grace. Every guy is gonna be mad he didn't have you on his arm tonight." Hardy stated at the table. We opted to sit together since the restaurant couldn't fit all of us at one table.

"Hardison, you're too much." I looked up from the menu and gave the waiter my order. "But that's exactly what I want in a man. I love you." He said it. He said what I've been feeling since Houston, before I could even realize it myself. Ii don't think anyone could ever feel as amazing as I could to have this hot, rich(but that doesn't matter), caring white man love me for not my body, not for some fetish but for me. My eyes almost tear up to see his chest swell up in pride. He reached across the table in the mist of everything and gave me a longer kiss than the usual ones.

"Those are gonna add up. I promise. For now, dance with me." He held out his hand for me to take as we passed his family's table. "Shut it or I'm gonna stuff you like a roasted pig." Hardy pointed to his older brothers with a serious face as he walked me onto the dance floor, preparing for a slow song but out the swing. "When in Rome," Before I knew it, I was twirled, spun, and lifted around

the dance floor. By time we were done, the place were clapping and the cameras where flashing.

So this was what it was like being famous?

I kinda liked it.

"Okay, Ms. Stewart, you had your fun; we gotta hightail it to the theater. "I didn't want to leave but Hardy started to tug on my arm. We hurried and got to the theater to change. Emma and Olivia helped me into my dress and Susan just kept saying "Oh my God."

"How bad is it?" I winced.

"Look," She twirled me around. A part of me didn't want to see how horrible I looked. The other wanted to see how my trip on the rich and famous

side paid off. I know one thing, when I turned back around to the mirror, I looked beyond perfect. It shocked me, this woman in the mirror. She was as gorgeous as her dress. Her body was set with perfect curves. "Wow." was all I could say. "I-I'm speechless."

"Girls," A muffled male voice came through the door. "We have to get going; the show's 'bout to start."

"Coming, Jack." Olivia called back.

"How's Grace? How does she look?"

"See for yourself." Susan pushed me out the door. And straight into Hardy's arms. He was just as speechless as me when we got a glimpse of what the other was wearing. His hair was in an almost slicked back look and the tux fit him like a glove.

"My God, you really do look like James Bond." Came out of my mouth without me knowing. Hardy seemed just as surprised about my dress as I was him.

"Now that we've all seen what the other's wearing," Emma piped. "We can get moving. The shows about to start." The rest of the family started to head out but Hardy was still looking at me.

"Hardy?"

"I didn't think it was possible. To see you look anymore perfect than you already do." I gave him the same kind of kiss he gave me during dinner before grabbing his hand.

"So what's this play 'bout?" Hardy was guiding me up a narrow, dark staircase

that led to the seating box.

"A prince who fell in love with a peasant girl he met hunting in the woods.

That's what my folks say." It's funny how similar our stories were to each other; Prince Hardy met peasant Grace in the crowd. Freaky, actually. Then we got to the box which was dimly lit but had an amazing view of the stage and seats below.

"Wow." I sighed. "Don't you guys get scared all the way up here?"

"Hardy only gets scared in planes." Sam joked and his brother elbowed him.

"I would too; I've never been on one." They all looked at me in shock. "What? We never really had enough money to go anywhere; I'm not even supposed to be here with y'all. And I would like to take a train first then work up."

"Deprived child." Susan muttered as the lights dimmed. In the beginning of the play, it was good and funny but got sad real quick.

"We only have one night before they find us." The prince gathered the peasant girl up. His parents found out of his doings and sent for the girl to be punished. "I want it to be the best night of our lives." A mesh curtain closed over them but didn't cover the sounds of their lovemaking. I didn't realize I was crying until a teardrop landed on my hand.

"I have to go out for a minute." I whispered to Jack who was sitting next to

me. Hardy saw me get up and followed after.

"Honey?" Hardy's voice cooed out into the darkness. "Grace, what's wrong?"

"I'm sorry." I sniffled in the corner of the stairwell. "The play just got to me." A sound of sadness came from his throat as he wrapped around me. "Hardy?"

"Grace, it's time for me to pay up."