Page 13 of Our Unexpected Beginning
“Point me in the direction of your shower.”
“It’s down the hall. The handle can be tricky if–YOU, OH GOD, WHAT are you doing!? Graham!” Julia squeaked as her feet were lifted off the floor into Graham’s arms.
He grabbed a handful of her ass. “Better be safe than sorry, you’ll have to come with me.”
“Yes, Sir!” She tightened her arms around his neck and pointed down the hall with her foot. “That’a way!”
Graham
Graham padded around Julia’s kitchen barefoot, with only a towel wrapped snugly around his waist.
He’d taken the initiative of raiding her kitchen to replenish the energy well spent in her shower. They left no part of the other untouched, washing the day away and every last bit of hot water in Julia’s apartment.
Crossing his arms he leaned against the cabinet, waiting on the oven timer, he looked around the apartment taking in his surroundings.
It was a little chaotic. The kitchen table was littered with cluttered piles of forgotten cups, sketch pads, and pens, negating the ability to eat around it.
The furniture was older–not worn out, but loved and lived in. An eclectic assortment of throw pillows and fuzzy blankets are scattered about. A climbing vine plant he couldn’t name hung in the ceiling above a swinging basket chair and had crawled its way over the curtains and intertwined in the lights that sparkled through the sheer fabric.
Her workstation was in the corner by the large window in the living room. Two garment racks, a full-figured mannequin, and a table filled with drawers that held any number of things she could need.
Her personality covered every inch, and he was thankful to be allowed into the space.
“Are you sure you don’t need help?!” Julia called from the living room, breaking through Graham’s thoughts.
He turned to lean on the island facing the couch, resting his elbows on the granite, and looked at her pointedly. “If you get off that couch, so help me, kitten. You’ll wish you could sit when I’m done with you.”
“Are you trying to deter me or are you ready for another round?” Jules grabbed her water and took a long drink. “I’m hydrated and flexible,Sir.”
Fuck. The way the honorific rolled off her tongue and around his cock worked as the distraction she’d most likely intended.
“You know, one would tease that you’re a bad host.”
“Excuse me? You’re the big oaf that insisted on raiding my kitchen and exposing the embarrassment that I’m no better than a troll gremlin.”
“I was thinking more Ariel with the hair and all.” He gestured to the chaotic shelf of knickknacks she had scattered across her bookshelves and living area.
“As long as we’re not insinuating that I’m an airhead, I’ll accept.” She looked adorable curled on the couch in a robe and an old beat-up high school team blanket.
If he wasn’t careful he’d find himself at home and content. But they weren’t there yet–he hoped she’d give them the chance to get there.
He’d been in a sour mood before Julia showed up. He’d received the fifth phone call in the span of a week asking for comments about his feelings on his father’s passing.
Genetic donation laced in scandal doesn’t grant you the honor of the title father.
Graham didn’t know his opinions on the matter were even relevant. Moving away hadn’t quelled the ebb and flow of curiosity.
He was the bastard son of Vincent Rutford. Senator Rutford.
It wasn’t something that was glossed over forty years ago. His mother was a classic case of the maid sleeping with the boss. Dueling rumors spread wondering if it was an affair or assault. The signed and sealed gag order and stuffed bank account kept the mill unanswered.
It didn’t stop the town gossip from spreading like wildfire that it was a failed entrapment attempt and that somehow his mother had nefarious ideals as a woman a few months into her eighteenth year.
Secrets and lies turned into him and Kat moving in with their mother’s parents when he was twelve. Since his mother’s death, he considered himself an orphan.
A heart attack in his sleep. It didn’t affect Graham in any way.How can you miss someone you never knew?Sure, there were stores. Factual and otherwise, but hearing about someone is different from their living experience.
No, he didn’t have any comment. He had no regrets. No, he wasn’t going to the funeral. No, he wasn’t going to contact his half-brother about family fortune or otherwise.
