Page 3 of Our Unexpected Beginning
“Lex said she’s never moving again, so she’s doing this place right. Even if it takes six times.” Julia looked at Mel through the mirror’s reflection and pointed at her chest. “I should know; she’s changed the curtains on me twice. I hope to repurpose the first fabric and make a little extra.”
“She can’t make another change, or you won’t have enough time to finish Mia’s dress.” Melody sat on the edge of the bed and slipped on a low pair of black heels. She wrapped the attached gold ribbons around her ankles.
“Wes has definitely changed your style.” Julia wrapped the underbust corset around her middle, zipping the internal panel and pulling the laces tight until her breasts were presented.
“I don’t think it has changed.” Melody stood from the bed and helped Julia with the corset tie. “He doesn’t make me feel judged. I can’t be stupid or too goofy in his eyes.The things I do aren’t silly and childish.” Her cheeks reddened beneath her freckles, and her green eyes met Julia’s. “He’ll do anything to see me happy.”
Julia smiled, gathering bracelets from the dresser and fixing her J necklace. “I love that for you; you deserve it. I still don’t know how you talked him into a glitter beard over the holidays.” It took them no less than four school-size containers and two hairspray bottles to cover Wes’ beard fully. Three months later, they still found traces of glitter.
“Magic.”
“Oh yeah, I bet I know what kind.” Julia wiggled suggestively, deepening Melody’s blush.
“Stop, we’re going to be late, Miss Titty Parade.” Melody laughed, poking the tops of Julia’s breasts.
She turned around on her heel, twirling her skirt. Julia stopped and faced Melody. She shook her shoulders with a laugh. “See. The minions are secure and aren’t going anywhere.”
“I wouldn’t test that theory by jumping up and down anytime soon.” Melody grabbed the keys from the dresser. “Let’s go.”
Two
Graham
“How the fuck did you talk me into this?” Graham grunted, shifting his end of the heavy desk, sweating through the long-sleeved flannel despite the winter cold air.
“I was only dropping off the kid and my mom’s cookies.” Graham loved taking his niece, Sarah, to spend time with Grandma Sawyer. Now that the munchkin was enrolled in first grade, the hour-and-a-half drive to see family required additional calculations.
“Well, it was perfect timing,” Wes chuckled, hoisting the other end of the table as though lifting a simple notebook.
“Really? So this is how we bribe each other now? With beer and manual labor?” Graham protested, the sound of struggling laughter bubbling up within him.
“Hey, if it works, it works,” Wes replied with a grin.
Graham paused, leaning against the door frame as Wes navigated the bulky desk through the narrow hallway. “I knew I should have stayed home today,” Graham muttered, shaking his head with a smirk.
“Quit whining. We’re almost done. There’s two steps coming up.”
They slid the desk into its designated spot with a few more grunts and adjustments. Graham stepped back, inspecting their handiwork. “Looks good to me,” Wes said, brushing off his hands.
Leaning against the bar, Graham sighed in relief. “I’m too old for this.”
Wes chuckled and reached into the fridge behind his desk. “Here, you earned this,” he said, handing him an ice-cold beer. Graham took it with a grateful nod, twisting off the cap and taking a long sip. He sat the drink next to the cookies, his mind returning to his niece.
Sarah’s mother, his sister, bolted out of town before she was six months old and never returned. After leaving behind her newborn, she embraced their father’s worst trait. History has a way of repeating itself, and that’s exactly what she made happen when she left. He and Kat were raised by their grandparents after their mother’s passing.
Their grandparents raised them and instilled in them hard work and seeing things through, but lately, it didn’t seem as though Graham had his shit together. He was older than Kat, but it didn’t make him feel any wiser.He was a mechanic edging forty with no sight of settling anytime soon.
Graham was thankful Wes never took his frustrations and abandonment issues out on him for his sister’s doing. Sarah had been the highlight of his life during the darkest moments. Watching her discover her personality was a privilege of the highest honor. He’d also gained a good friend in Wes.
“Let’s slide it over here,” Wes urged.
They set the desk down in the far corner of the room with the other pieces waiting for pickup in his pseudo-brother-in-law’s office. “I request proper compensation.” He clapped his hands together, rubbing heat into his fingertips.
“Well, I ain’t suckin’ your dick that’s for sure.” Wes smacked him on the back, laughing good-naturedly.
“Jerk. Buy me a real drink. I want to walk the main floor tonight.” It had been two weeks since he’d heard from Julia. They weren’t anything: no labels or strings.Only chemistry.
Nevertheless, she’d crawled beneath his skin, and he couldn’t shake the anticipation of seeing her.
