Free Aging with Gracie by Heather Hunt Page B

said about your tastes,” he explained. “I’m not sure I believe you when you say you have simple tastes.”
“You’re kidding, right?” she asked, her brow scrunched up in offense. “I’m about as low-maintenance as a woman can get.”
    Jack watched as her fiery green eyes darkened to a deep jade. He could barely contain his amusement. Grace was so pretty when her feathers were ruffled, and he was starting to enjoy causing a little havoc in her safe, well-defined world.
    “You? Low maintenance?” He could no longer hold in his amusement and let out a rumbling laugh which echoed in the spacious room. “Gracie Woodhouse, you’ve been nothing but work since you arrived!”
    “I can’t help it that I broke my arm, Jack.” Her eyes filled with hurt. “You don’t have to keep carting me around, you know.”
    “It’s not that, Princess.” He picked up her hand and squeezed her fingers. “Taking care of you has been the highlight of the job.”
    “Then what do you mean?” Grace was itching to hear his explanation. She couldn’t fathom where he’d gotten the idea that she was high-maintenance.
    “Well, I won’t say a thing about all those little outfits you wear, but as far as Mansfield Park, you’ve got some very high expectations.”
    “First of all, my mother picked out those clothes,” Grace said before she thought. How ridiculous she must seem to him with that confession. For crying out loud! She was twenty-three years old! She quickly gained her composure and plunged on into the fray.
    “And furthermore, the changes I’m making at Mansfield Park are necessary, Jack Ellis.” Her eyes were lit with fire by this time. “They’re not some wishy-washy whim of mine.”
    He held up a hand as if to stave off her tirade, but she was beyond that point by this time.
    “Those precious people have been living in practical squalor all because somebody wouldn’t stand up for them. Well, I’m here to tell you right now that I’m that person.” She took a fortifying gulp of tea and continued. “You must not think too poorly of the place. Your own grandfather is moving in next week!”
    “Hold it a minute, Gracie,” Jack finally interrupted her. “I didn’t mean to make you mad. I was simply pointing out the fact that you have some grand ideas for the place. As the contractor, I have to make sure that your dream becomes reality.”
    “You mean you don’t think I’m doing a sorry job?”
    “On the contrary, Gracie.” He glanced toward the far end of the room where a small group was starting to set up for the music. “I’ll admit, I’ve had some reservations about your capabilities, but so far, you’re doing a great job. Now I only hope that I can live up to your expectations.”
    Grace was now speechless. Didn’t he realize that he was worlds beyond her expectations...in every way she could imagine?
    “Gracie?”
    “Uh,” she paused. “Thank you, Jack. Your confidence really means a lot.”
    “I’m glad, Gracie. I’m glad.”
    A beautiful sound filled the room and Grace’s eyes moved toward the musical ensemble. A guitarist and fiddler had begun to accompany the woman playing an instrument Grace didn’t recognize. The sound was hauntingly beautiful.
“What is that?” she asked. “I don’t think I’ve ever heard anything quite like it.”
“It’s a hammer dulcimer,” Jack told her. “It’s pretty popular around here.”
“I can see why,” she said with a smile. “It’s lovely.”
    “It really is,” he nodded. “The musicians around here try to keep the craft alive. It’s kind of a combination of bluegrass and Celtic tunes handed down from generation to generation.”
    “I would love to learn how to play one of those,” she dragged her attention away from the musicians as a pretty college-aged girl arrived with their meal.
    Jack moved his arms out of the way in order to make room for the steaming plate of food. He unwrapped Grace’s paper napkin from her silverware