Page 35 of An Unexpected Home

“She didn’t know you were coming here?” He walked to the kitchen.

“She did, how else do you think I knew where you lived? But she didn’t just assume I would be staying all night.” Thinking better of that she said, “Or that I would have stayed more than... like five minutes.”

“It’s my fault, I should have thought about that.”

Needing a minute to text back her friend and to not shout at him for saying it was his fault, she put her finger up in a ‘wait for just a second’ motion and texted Carly.

Leah:

Sorry about that. I am safe and in case you didn’t know, at Brandon’s.

A quick reply came back.

Carly:

You know you can’t just drop a bomb like that without details.

Leah:

Later

Setting her phone down, even as it beeped again, she moved toward the kitchen and calmly spoke. “It’s not your job to remember that I should have called Carly. I’m an adult, a grown-ass woman.” She had lived too long having her parents think that she always needed to be taken care of. She was done with that.

“I didn’t mean it like that and believe me when I tell you, I know you are a grown-ass woman.”

She felt her cheeks get warm at the sexual innuendo. “I just don’t want to be ‘taken care of’ ever again.”

He finished making the coffee and came to where she was standing, but didn’t touch her. “I can’t stop the feeling inside me that wants to take care of you, but that doesn’t mean that I want to make your decisions for you.”

She looked up at him – why the hell was he so damn tall – and sighed. “I’m just starting to find myself and I kinda like the person I am becoming.”

He ran his hands up and down her arms giving her goosebumps. “I like the person you are, too.”

Standing on her tiptoes she pressed her lips to his in a light kiss. “I told you I suck at this.”

He shrugged. “We can learn together.” He took the kiss deeper, her slipping her arms around to his back.

“Do you have to work today?” she asked when they came up for air.

“It’s supposed to be my day off, but Carly roped me into coming by the studio and helping for a few hours.”

“Your brother was there a couple of days ago helping. He’s a pretty funny guy. And cute.”

“Don’t get any ideas about my brother.” He glared at her.

She scoffed. “One Graham brother is enough for me to handle, thank you very much.”

He poured them both coffee. “Do you take anything in this?”

“If you have any creamer, I’d take some.”

He pulled something out of the fridge and added a little of it to hers and his own. “Thanks,” she said when he handed her the mug.

“What time are you heading into the studio?”

“Whenever really, at least until we open next week.” She was nervous about the opening since they still had so much to do.

“I left my car at the station last night. Any chance I could hitch a ride with you?”

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