“Grant Cohen,” Hailey slapped Grant hard across the thigh.
“Hailey, that hurt!” Grant fired back.
“That was mean!” Hailey insisted.
“And slapping me was sweet?” Grant countered, rubbing his leg. “You know I learn from your example!”
“I’m sorry,” Hailey giggled.
“You know, woman…when they write your biography, I’m putting all this crap in there,” Grant grumbled.
Hailey smiled. “I’m just tryin’ to keep you in line.”
“That reminds me of a story,” Grant nodded. “Did you know that President Lincoln used to send staffers after Julia Dent during the war because of the positive influence she had on her husband? He had a tendency to be moody, and her good natured humor balanced his moods and kept him on an even keel. He wasn’t the best president; she wasn’t the best first lady, but they made it…together. She was a capable helpmate to her husband, and he wanted her by his side to support him.”
“I want to support you in everything you do,” Hailey said sincerely. “I want to be the best helpmate I can be…the way the Bible describes a proper helpmate.”
Grant smiled. “You teach me things all the time, even when you don’t realize it.”
“Really?” Hailey wrinkled her forehead. “I’m pretty sure we’re like 99 to 1 in that department.”
“And maybe that percentage would be skewed if it wasn’t for the life-altering implications of the things you’ve taught me.” Grant smiled, enjoying throwing Hailey’s word choice back at her now. “I remember you lecturing me about the importance of being a Godly man. You scolded me for being cynical, and you said something that I now know to be true. You told me that even a brilliant mind without Christ would miss out on blessings beyond one’s scope of understanding. I look at you, and I see my greatest blessing. I was on the wrong road, Hailey, and I was headed full-speed toward self-destruction until God dropped you in my path and dared me to keep my foot on the gas.”
“Your’re not the only one who feels blessed in this deal,” Hailey smiled sweetly.
“And that I consider my blessing as well,” Grant nodded.
Hailey gently kissed Grant’s cheek. “Julia Dent…” she repeated.
Grant nodded.
“Julia Dent?” Hailey racked her brain, trying to remember the names of all the first ladies she had read about, disappointed when her mental search came up empty. “Sometimes I forget about some of the presidents….like Grover Cleveland; I always forget about him…and James Garfield too…was there a President Dent?”
“No,” Grant shook his head.
“Well, this Julia Dent?” Hailey eyed Grant curiously. “I think I like her. How did she become first lady?”
Grant stood from the porch and walked toward the back door. He turned and, with a wink that made Hailey’s breath catch, offered a very cool, casual explanation: “She married Grant.”
CHAPTER NINE
“Hailey, if you’re gonna change your mind, do it now,” Grant breathed between kisses, his voice demanding yet oddly pleading.
As Hailey processed Grant’s words, they brought tears to her eyes. Change her mind about what? she contemplated before the meaning behind Grant’s insistence registered in her head. The tears came quickly then, before she could stop them, running warm down her cheeks. She wasn’t going to change her mind because when she had begun kissing him and running her fingers through his hair and up and down his chest, her intention had never been for things to progress any further than that. She thought she had always made that clear! Couldn’t a girl enjoy kissing her boyfriend without other expectations attached? Hadn’t they discussed this numerous times before? Didn’t he know that the option was NOT on the table…not ever…no matter how long they kissed or how good it felt? Had her actions made him question her commitment to waiting? Had she given him the idea that there was a possibility for things to go further if he just got her in the right mood?
Hailey’s tears burned hot along the edges of her eyes now, as if to shame her. “Stop,” she cried as she plastered her hands on Grant’s chest and pushed away from him more forcefully than was needed. “What do you mean?” she blurted, sounding both angry and genuinely perplexed. “Change my mind about what? We’re just kissing!”
“Of course we are,” Grant mumbled in response, not attempting to hide his frustration.
“What does that mean?” Hailey exclaimed, swatting at his hands that had come to rest on her upper thighs.
“Nothing,” Grant exhaled, closing his eyes. “You’re just torturing me!” he groaned, as if in pain.
“What?” the word leapt innocently from Hailey’s lips as she brushed away tears.
“Yes,” Grant grumbled. “You may have ironclad willpower; I don’t.”
“But…” Hailey sighed.
“Just kiss me,” Grant insisted, pulling Hailey back into his arms.
Hailey pushed him away again, more gently this time. “We need to talk,” she declared.
“Please, Hailey,” Grant groaned.
“Did you just say please?” Hailey exclaimed.
“I don’t know,” Grant grumbled.
“Grant, we talked about this,” Hailey shook her head.
“I know,” Grant nodded. “We discussed it. That should be enough, right? No matter what you do or how leading your kisses seem to be…thou shalt not be a fornicator!”
Hailey rolled her eyes. “You know I hate when you say that word.”
