Love on the Dotted Line

Chapter 12: Grace Under Pressure

"Okay, let's go, baby," Dion says, parking his car in front of the house.

Grace is sitting in the passenger seat. She can't believe what just happened. She was only supposed to meet her future fake husband in the morning. And now she's in front of his house to meet his family. She feels like she wants to go back. Then she realizes that it's only for a year. She takes a deep breath and looks at Dion. She looks at Dion, catching him mid-stare. Their eyes meet, and Grace's face flushes. Grace's face flushes as her heart dances, encountering Dion's dark blue eyes. She can't believe she's sitting in Dion Dimitriadis' car with him.

"What's wrong, darling? I hope you can remember the script," Dion says, smiling.

"I'm... I'm fine. I feel a bit nervous," Grace says in a tiny voice. She feels like she can't speak.

"Come on, baby. Don't worry. I'll stand right beside you," Dion says.

"There's no one around. Why are we talking like this?" Grace asks. She's not a good actor anyway. But Dion looks like a good actor who deserves to get punched by an Oscar award.

"Ever heard the phrase 'walls have ears'?" Dion says, getting out of the vehicle. Grace tries to open the door on her side, but Dion quickly comes around and opens it for her.

"Whoa, whoa, baby. Let the gentleman open the door for his future wife," he says. Grace feels uncomfortable with this fake act. She feels scared. Dion looks like he's enjoying this. Grace feels like she needs to run away.

"Are you okay, Grace? You look pale and about to faint?" This time, Dion asks in a serious tone, his voice softer than a summer breeze.

He puts his arm around Grace's waist, and she feels a tiny flutter in her stomach, surprising her like an unexpected plot twist. The warmth of his touch is surprising, and Grace finds herself leaning into him slightly, almost without realizing it.

For a brief moment, Grace forgets this is an act. She can't help but notice how easily she fits against Dion's side, like two puzzle pieces clicking together. Her heart does a tiny somersault, catching her off guard.

"I feel scared," Grace says softly, looking down.

"Let me fix it, darling," Dion says, his voice as smooth as silk. He slowly turns Grace to face him, his movements as gentle as a butterfly landing on a flower.

Dion cups Grace's face with his hands, his touch as soft as a whisper. Before she can process what's happening, his lips meet hers in a kiss that lasts a few heartbeats.

When he pulls back, Dion's eyes sparkle with mischief, a smile playing on his lips like a cat that got the cream. "So, how do you feel?" he asks, his tone teasing.

Grace's mouth drops open in surprise, her brain short-circuiting like an overloaded power strip. Sure, she knew kissing might be part of the act if necessary, but she wasn't prepared for a lip-lock this early in the game. It's like showing up for a casual jog and finding yourself in a marathon.

"Looks like you want a French kiss. I can do that too," Dion says, his voice as smooth as honey. He leans in, closing the gap between them like a lion stalking its prey.

"No, no, I'm fine," Grace squeaks, stumbling back a step. Her legs feel like they've suddenly turned into overcooked spaghetti.

The kiss rattles Grace more than a martini in James Bond's hands. At the same time, she feels a tiny spark ignite somewhere deep inside her, like a firecracker going off in slow motion.

Fear creeps in, wrapping around her like a chilly breeze. 'What if I'm falling for him?' she worries, the thought hitting her like a cartoon anvil. It's as if she showed up for a casual game of checkers and suddenly found herself thrust into a high-stakes chess match.

Grace tries to steady herself, both physically and emotionally. But her heart seems to have other plans, doing a little happy dance that she's desperately trying to ignore.

"Oh, you two came," Antonio comes out from the house, his fake smile as bright as a neon sign.

"Oh Dion, is this your girlfriend? So we finally meet!" Maria bursts out of the house, her arms open wide like a game show host revealing a prize. She envelops Grace in a warm, enthusiastic hug like a long-lost friend finally reunited. Grace tries her best to act natural, but next to Maria's Oscar-worthy performance, she feels like an amateur in a Broadway show.

"Dion, she's gorgeous! You have a good eye," Maria beams, her smile brighter than a toothpaste commercial.

"Yeah, he has a good eye like his father," Lakis, who's watching the scene unfold from the living room doorway, says to himself. Relief washes over him like a cool breeze. Dion with a girlfriend means a slice of the inheritance pie. Lakis may not be Dion's biggest fan, but he's as happy as a clam at high tide.

"He came with a girl," Lakis hears a murmur and turns his head to see who it is. Then he sees Katerina, Harrison, and Gianna staring at Dion and his girlfriend. Katerina's face is as stormy as a thundercloud, her eyes flashing like lightning. If looks could kill, Dion and Grace would be six feet under.

The mood in the house shifts with Dion and his girlfriend's arrival. It shifts faster than a chameleon changes colors. Some faces light up like Christmas trees, while others darken like the sky before a storm. It's a real-life soap opera, and Grace stands smack in the middle.