Grace waited for a moment before Skyler finally appeared.
"What did Mr. Curtis say?" Grace reached out, hoping to pull him closer.
Skyler didn't respond immediately, his tone ambiguous. "Grace, you've been a bit over the line lately."
"Is it because I brought Xenia with me today?" Grace asked. "She was helping me at the shop this afternoon when things went south, and when she heard I was visiting Mr. Curtis and Leanne, she said she wanted to meet Leanne and asked if she could come along. Leanne is so welcoming. I thought she wouldn't mind making a new friend."
Skyler looked at her, her expression a mix of anxiety and guilt. "I didn't know Mr. Curtis would be upset. Did I make things difficult for you?"
Skyler didn't answer, but after some silence, he asked another question. "Last time I proposed, you turned me down and never told me why. Can you tell me now?"
Grace lowered her head. "Your family doesn't think I'm good enough for you, and Leanne and the others don't approve of me, either. I know all this. I want to be better to stand beside you with confidence." Her voice grew more despondent. "I should call Leanne and apologize."
The Davis family had fallen on hard times, and Skyler had seen her struggles.
"You don't need to try to please everyone," he comforted, taking her hand gently. "Grace, you're wonderful. Devin is always sharp-tongued. Don't mind what he says. No matter what, I'm on your side." Grace still looked down, and her voice choked up. "You're too good to me. I don't deserve it."
Skyler's empathy had overshadowed his doubts once again. "Don't be silly. You're worth it."
...
Later that night, Leanne was soaking in the bathtub.
After a reminder from Joy, recalling Xenia's features, she did see a resemblance to herself.
Was it a coincidence?
She wasn't too concerned, only wondering what Curtis would think seeing Xenia.
While she was deep in thought, the bathroom door was open.
Dressed in a white shirt and black pants, Curtis paused at the doorway before stepping in and closing the door behind him.
The steam quickly dampened his expensive pants as he walked toward her leisurely, taking off his watch and unbuttoning his shirt.
When he reached the bathtub, he stepped in.
The clear water rippled, and Leanne found herself lifted onto his lap.
His masculine scent enveloped her from behind, his firm arms wrapped around her waist, his lips lingering on her delicate shoulder. "Shall I help you?"
"No," Leanne squirmed as his breath tickled her neck, wanting to escape but unable to. "I'm already done."
"Then I'll just have to check."
Moonlight streamed through the window, shining on Curtis' tense muscles softened by the gently undulating water.
As water spilled over the sides of the bathtub, Leanne let out a soft moan that sounded like a feather light touch to Curtis' heart.
He coaxed in a warm voice. "Baby, can you call me 'honey'?"
Leanne couldn't utter the word for some reason, as if her vocal cords refused to cooperate.
"I won't."
"You won't?"
Leanne pursed her lips.
"My stubborn girl." Curtis' hands moved to her legs, gripping her knees. "If you wouldn't call me 'honey,' maybe you can call me something else."
Before Leanne could relent, the water surged wildly, engulfing her in a punishing tide.
Pushed to her limits, Leanne flushed like cooked shrimp, tears swirling in her eyes as she clutched Curtis' arms like a drowning person clinging to a lifeline. Her chest heaved as she gasped, calling out, "Curtis..."
"I'll give you one more chance," his voice lazy and deep by her ear, like a devil tempting a soul, "What will you call me?"
Under duress, people can do anything.
"Honey," she conceded, whispering so softly it was barely audible.
Those barely-there words flew into Curtis' ears, causing his blood to freeze momentarily before surging back with greater intensity.
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