All or Nothing at All (Stevens Book 3)

Deleted Scene 1

Authors Note: This excerpt was the original Chapter 13 for the story. It is after the scene where Grace runs into Bryce at the theater and joins him and his family for dinner afterwards.  Instead of going home to her apartment that night, I had her going home with Rainer to cry on his shoulder. I deleted it because I felt that it was not something that was not true to Rainer's personality. He loves to poke the bear, the bear being Bryce, but he wouldn't intentionally hurt him.  Please leave me your comments, and let me know what you think of the scene.

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The following weekend another Stevens extended an invitation to dinner. Cassie insisted the Grace attend her first dinner party. It was the first weekend in a year and a half that she wasn't working, and she wanted to enjoy it with friends and family, the only problem was that she had very few friends and she needed another woman.

Grace had had a particularly trying week. Rush had been on the war path and had not left her alone for a minute. She was so agitated that she had to sleep with all of the lights on in her room and she was exhausted, but when she tried to beg off but Cassie wouldn't hear of it and said that she would send Mason around to collect her to make sure she didn't get lost.

The day had been spent been working at Fosters and she wasn't t quite ready when the doorbell to the house sounded .She knew that it would be a shock to Christine and Angie if they opened the door to find Mason Stevens waiting on the other side, so she threw on her shoes and darted down the stairs but she was too late. Mason and Rainer were standing just inside the door being gawped at by the women

"Ah, there you are love. Come on shake a leg, we don't want Cassie's dinner to burn," Mason said. giving her a quick peck then passing her to Rainer, who hurried her out of the door. She was wedged in the back of a taxi between Rainer and Mason while they were having a heated political debate of some sort. She couldn't help but wonder if this was the normal behavior of older brothers, and if she had had any if they would have treated her similarly. 

When Grace walked into the old Brownstone, which was not far from hers, all she could hear were angry words coming from the kitchen. Mason and Rainer before shooting twin looks of such fear that Grace couldn't help but feel sorry for them.

Grace sighed taking off her coat. "Fine but you owe me Rainer."

The kitchen was large and modern with exposed brick walls, a fireplace and marble counter tops she noted before turning her attention towards a crying and cursing Cassie, who looked at her beseechingly.

"Grace it's ruined. Lizzy said she would help me, but she was running late and Bryce is bringing her later."

Grace's spine tingled a little at Bryce's name. This was not the way to avoid him, she should have been stronger and told Cassie no when she had issued the invite. She looked at the dinner, noting that it was burnt beyond recognition then she looked in the sub zero fridge and took stock. "You don't have much to work with do you?"

"No," she wailed.

"Here's what we will do, we will have breakfast for dinner." Grace couldn't help but remember the last time she had had breakfast for dinner. "Unless you want to order take out which would be easier."

Cassie shook her head.

"Fine." Grace looked at the large kitchen table. "How many are coming?"

"Seven. Davis will be joining us too."

"Then if it is family it will be family style. Go clear the dining table so no one is the wiser." She said taking charge.

"But Mason and Rainer?"