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missed dressing up, missed caring about the way she looked. Megan spent a lot of time and energy on her looks. She always had. Grace had a balance once upon a time, or so she thought. However, years of Mitchell and their on again off again relationship had worn her self-esteem down. When her mother died, well, she just became numb.
    God, I'm turning into Evelyn. At that thought she shivered and decided to start anew or at least try to.
    * * * *
    Ethan had already made a huge stack of pancakes by the time she returned. He soaked in the sight of Grace slowly. Her hair was back in a braid. He liked it down and wild. Her outfit was nice and simple. The air conditioner brought great life to her ample breasts. He didn't have to touch them. He just knew they were real. Grace wasn't small and skinny; she was lush and curvy, all woman. She was oddly tan for a red-head, and that made him wonder.
    "I didn't think you guys were coming back.” He handed Grace a plate as he looked her over from head to toe again. He liked her toes and the bright pink polish. Maybe he could convince her to let the artist paint them. He fought the smile that somehow came to him whenever she was around. It wasn't like she made him happy; no woman could do that.
    "Girl talk.” Grace smiled. Ethan had put two Oreo cookies on her plate in addition to a short stack of pancakes.
    How sweet. On second thought, he thinks I'm fat. She lifted a brow at him. He was eyeing her with a small smile. Men. Can't kill ‘em.
    Chase was almost finished with his breakfast when Grace sat down. He knew better than to wait on Megan. If she actually ate pancakes this morning, he would insist she buy a pregnancy test this afternoon. He wondered if Grace knew they were trying. “So, tell me about this bus we're going on. Is it a long trip?"
    Grace couldn't help but laugh. “No, we could actually walk it, but the bus is more fun.” They had no idea why Megan had pulled back the curtain, probably thought it was her being cute.
    "What do you mean?” Ethan asked sitting across from Grace next to his brother. He wanted to be able to see her face, so he could try to read her. He could always read women. He didn't always listen to the warning, but he knew women well. They wanted him; he knew that for sure.
    "You can look right out the window and see it.” Grace pointed out the front window with the curtain still open. She didn't know why it bothered her, but the fact that he sat across from her and not beside her left a slight void. He had a certain amount of warmth that he radiated.
    Chase went to the window for a better look. Sure enough there was a big red double-decker bus just like the ones in England right there in little ole Beaufort.
    "Is that authentic?"
    "Yes, they'll tell you the whole story on the tour.” If that got attention, she might drop the big one. “You guys know where you are, right?” Grace lifted her eyes to Ethan, who seemed interested in her every word. “This is a pirate town, home of Blackbeard. Well, one of his homes. There are ships right out there in the bottom of that water. My mom used to tell us we were descendants, but I think all parents tell their kids that around here. Some of the homes are even haunted."
    "Can you dive?” Chase was getting more hyper by the minute. He looked like a little boy at Christmas. He was swaying and pacing. Grace thought he might start hopping around.
    "I uh ... we can find out.” Grace shrugged. She knew all the stories of her town but had never really thought about it being this interesting to people from New York.
    Certainly she never considered getting in the water to see the ships beneath it.
    "Do you like to go diving?” She looked back at Ethan, who was staring intently. It made her stomach flutter.
    "What's that?” Ethan replied. He had been studying her face, her eyes, her lips, her hands but not listening.
    "Diving, do you ever go diving?” Grace lifted her brow. Suspect mister, you are becoming a