Page 23 of Lie for a Lie

I smile softly and am slightly startled. I order a glass of red wine and another glass of the whiskey Graham has sipped.

“You don’t have to do that.”

I roll my eyes, ignoring him completely. I know he’ll forgive me for it.

“And your point?”

I smile at him and then hide my face behind the menu. When the waiter returns with our drinks, I’m starving and order the highlight Tomahawk dinner to share, fully intending to pay. Graham does not object to anything, letting me take complete control. Once the waiter leaves our table, I pick up my wine and take a small sip. Graham still seems to be hypnotized by my every movement.

“Something wrong?” I finally ask after several moments of awkward silence.

His smile deepens to dimples, and his blue eyes peer into what feels like my soul.

“Absolutely nothing,” he says with a flirty tone. “I really like that fucking dress.”

He lingers on the word fucking, as if it was more of a need, and I feel a slight tightening in my core.

“What, this old thing?”

I laugh, fanning myself dramatically, trying not to focus on his lips.

“You probably shouldn’t wear that one to work anytime soon.”

Graham chuckles softly.

We lock eyes, and I can feel the redness in my cheeks deepen. I finally let myself drink him in fully. The navy color of his tailored suit is causing those ocean blue eyes to storm, and his button-down shirt is as bright as his perfectly dimpled smile. I take another large sip of my wine, hoping to take the edge off.

“Yeah, there are a few people there that probably shouldn’t see me in this,” I say with a soft laugh as I play with my glass.

“Kat’s admitting doctor asked me if you were seeing someone. I met him years ago in medical school. The guy is a total tool,” he says, giving me the cutest damn dimpled smile before sipping his whiskey.

“Nickelson?” I ask with a shocked laugh as I cover my mouth with my hand.

His laugh in response leaves me longing for him in a different way I don’t quite know how to describe. I don’t think I have ever felt it, and feel like I can’t control myself.

“It’s almost a damn shame you are engaged,” I say after we finally stop laughing.

His eyes lock on me as his jaw tenses slightly before the waiter approaches with our appetizers. Graham’s eyes never leave me as I exchange polite conversation with the waiter before reaching for my wine. Once the waiter leaves, I don’t even give him a chance to speak.

“What’s the deal with you and Katherine? I understand if it isn’t my business, but...” I pause momentarily to collect the right words before motioning between us. “I know I am not crazy, and you can feel that too, right?”

He finishes his whiskey before leaning back in his seat and unbuttoning his jacket and the shirt’s top button. I can’t help but watch every movement of his nimble, precise fingers as his chest hair peaks through. I usually don’t find myself interested in doctors, let alone an engaged one, but I am toying with the idea of changing my mind. I may be many things, but I have never been the other woman. But something deep down tells me I would be Graham’s only woman.

He lets out a long, tired breath.

“A lot can happen between two people in six years.” His eyes meet mine. “This thing I feel with you has nothing to do with that. I just want to get to know you, Paige, since I think there is a chance we might keep running into each other since Chris seems pretty serious about your sister.”

He leans forward slightly, seeming to struggle with whatever is going through his head. He brushes his hand across mine, resting on the table. I look down at where our skin has touched, and my chest tightens.

“With that being said, Paige, you are damn beautiful.”

His tone matched those ocean eyes roaming with hunger over every inch of my face before lingering on my deep red lips.

I playfully trace my fingers on his hand before sitting back in my chair, needing to fan myself slightly before trying to focus on something else.

“Please, you are way prettier than I am,” I tease, attempting to play off the longing energy his attention gave me before reaching for my fork.

His smile returns as he reaches for some of the food between us.

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