In the Lap of Luxury by Unsweetened Chestnuts

Xander glanced at her after he finished speaking. What he meant was evident enough.

Grace tightened her grip on the seatbelt as she calmly asked, "What did you want to tell me? Was it something that could be done with just a call?"

Xander replied, "You only had Luke with you. I was worried that you might have been forced to drink."

Grace asked, "You were the one who introduced Mr. Thorne to me. Don't you know the kind of person he is?"

Xander answered, "He's a gentleman. He wouldn't make it hard for you."

Grace continued, "Then you still-"

"I wanted to see you."

Xander tilted his head and looked at her as he made it clear. "Would you be able to accept this answer?"

Grace was stunned. She was clearly surprised.

She replied, "We just met yesterday."

"Meeting once isn't enough for some people."

Xander glanced over at the rearview mirror and drove out of the city center. He then slowed the car down and stopped by the roadside.

Grace asked, "Why did you stop the car?"

came over earlier. They haven't cleared up the road yet, so I figured we could just wait

was only

held his hand to stop him and said, "This is a mild one. You won't be used

it." Xander took out a cigarette and held it in

said, "Light it up,

clear and piercing under

took out a lighter and lit it up. The flame

smoke in Coronia. When

Pamore.

lit his cigarette and tossed the lighter

by some people back when she had been married to Benjamin. But none of the Hawkinses had cared about her, not even Benjamin. Needless to say, she couldn't

Grace had said. It was too mild

rolled down half of the window and said, "You did it

Even you're blaming me now, Xander." Grace was

he asked, "Have you ever thought what things might have been like if you had never come

"There's no 'if'. Even though the ending wasn't the best, at least I was happy

regret it, even though the Hawkins family and Benjamin looked down

was panicking deep down and begged, "Can you

"Are you regretting it, or do you

was too strong, but Grace felt her

fun rubbing

not. It's just