The Art of Ethan Read Online Free PDF Page A

toward anyone before.
    He was scary when he was mad. He seemed dark and mysterious. It somehow turned her on. Cold shower, Gracie, get to the shower.
    "What about Megan? She's your family?” Ethan focused on his plate. This wasn't the impression he wanted to make. He hoped to have a peaceful time now that he had seen her and felt her hands on his chest and forehead. His body reheated just thinking about it.
    "Chase is your brother, you let him influence you?"
    "Little Brother."
    "Little Cousin."
    Ethan snickered. She is a fireball. He had never really been attracted to a red-head before. He was more a brunette kind of guy, yet he was simply mesmerized by her hair.
    "Can I...” He grabbed a curl off her shoulder and rubbed it between his thumb and forefinger. “Nice."
    "Uh, yeah.” Grace slowly pulled her lock of hair away from him. That was probably the most brazen thing a man had ever done. He just reached out and touched her. Trouble, he was definitely trouble.
    "Sorry, I like textures.” Ethan went back to his potatoes.
    Trouble. “You know you don't have to tell me what happened, but I feel I should clear up my own mess.” Grace had to clear the air about Mitchell.
    Maybe then Ethan would tell her about his own mishap. Either way, she didn't like being thought of as that poor thing who got left at the damn altar . She suffered enough humiliation coming home two days after him, two days on a bus back.
    "I was left at the altar in Vegas. My on again off again boyfriend decided he was ready to commit. Booked us a flight to Vegas, and after about an hour waiting next to Elvis, I discovered Mitchell had left the building. ” She used her best Elvis impersonation and smiled.
    She was uncomfortable talking about it. It made her sound like another joke, so now she told it like a joke. “It happened over six months ago, and I hadn't seen him eight months prior to that weekend..."
    "Whoa, whoa. You were going to marry this guy, and you hadn't been dating in almost a year?” Ethan felt red flags pop up all around her. He had to stay away from crazy women who wanted to get married. Going to Vegas with a guy she hadn't seen in months seemed desperate. Desperate women were attracted to him. Shit!
    "We have known each other since childhood."
    Ethan stared at her blankly.
    "I'm almost thirty."
    He still looked unconvinced.
    "No one else has asked me? Hell, I haven't dated anyone else to ask me.” Grace studied his face as much as he studied hers. Finally, she shrugged. His gaze was unwavering and unnerving. “But he did, so I went."
    "So, you just wanted to get married?” Ethan nodded.
    "No. I mean, yes. Well, no. But, I don't know. I guess I felt like why not? I mean I don't want to end up an old maid.” Grace shook her head in thought. She hadn't really thought about it at the time. It just seemed like the thing to do.
    "You're kidding me, right?” Ethan looked her over quickly. The only way this woman could end up an old maid was by choice. She was beautiful with a body to die for; she must be nuts. It was the only reason he could come up with.
    "You know I really need to shower.” Grace was feeling cornered, and that chocolate gaze was burning her up.
    No one questioned her. Everyone understood Mitchell was the one for her, the guy she was going to marry. If Ethan had lived in Beaufort all his life, he would have known that, too.
    No, she didn't love Mitchell. She barely thought he was attractive, but he did invest time in her, sort of. Her mother always thought he was a respectable young man with a good family. He always impressed her mother, and she desperately wanted to see grandchildren before she died, but that didn't happen either.
    "You didn't answer my question.” Ethan stood and carried his plate to the sink. She said no then yes. He wanted to know for sure yes or no. He didn't know why; he just had to know.
    "I did, too. You're not a good listener.” Grace set her plate in the sink and darted for the stairs