Page 13 of Lie for a Lie

My workout consists of a twenty-minute jog before some upper-body work. While finishing my last triceps dip rep, a man catches my attention. I have only been here a few times, but I don’t recall seeing anyone who looks like him around here before. From behind, he almost looks similar to Graham, but he is wearing a black baseball cap, so it is hard to see his face from this angle.

What I can see, though, is the work and respect the man has put into his body. He is broad-shouldered and well-defined and at least a foot taller than me.

I want to climb him like a mountain.

I can’t help but stare at the ridiculous number of pull-ups he is doing, and I abandon my workout altogether. I decide to approach him, which is something I haven’t done before. Only I find myself nervous when the man turns around, and I drown in the ocean-blue eyes that meet mine. Suddenly, I panic wishing I had put a little more effort into my appearance.

Shit.

I close my eyes and let out a slight whine before opening them in time to see dimples deep across his face.

“Hey, Graham, right?”

Graham’s smile widened as he took a few steps towards me.

“Fairy porn girl?”

I can’t help the laugh that leaves me as we come to stand face to face. My body wants to close the distance completely, but I don’t trust myself.

“Paige, but fairy porn girl works too,” I quip back, and he chuckles softly, almost seeming to linger on me, so I just start talking. “How is your day going?”

His smile somehow deepens again.

“Dropped Kat off at the airport and I’m on call. Nothing too exciting. You?”

I smiled softly.

“Worked a few nights. Got home around eight this morning and finally fell asleep around noon. Bre came barging in about an hour ago demanding my attention, and here we are.”

“Here we are.”

He seems to laugh before we both linger on each other a bit. This is something I have never felt before. I want to reach for him, but I fight it.

“How is Kat doing?”

I am curious, and by the look in his eyes, he seems to be conflicted, but I don’t want to pry.

“Things seem to be back to normal,” Graham says, and his smile softens, causing my heart to ache. I hate she dims his light like that.

“Good.”

I smile as I hear a phone ring. Graham sighs rather disappointedly before clearing his throat.

“Excuse me.”

He smiles softly, and I nod before he steps back. He doesn’t take his eyes off me as he answers the phone.

“Dr. Beckett.”

Damn, this man’s name sounds like porn in my mind. Dr. Graham Beckett.

I can feel the frustration on my face, and he smiles in response as he continues to ask a few questions before giving some orders. I can tell he is talking to a nurse, and I suddenly want to role-play in a very different way. I clear my throat, needing to shut the thought down immediately.

“Yeah, I can be there in thirty.”

I feel disappointment hit, and his eyes meet mine again. Both of us just focus on each other before he finishes his conversation. Hanging up the phone, Graham offers me almost a pout, causing me to giggle. It is pretty damn cute.

“Like I was saying, I am on call.”

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