Page 9 of Our Unexpected Beginning
“Kudos,” she giggled. “Compliments to the chef.” She shivered as a chill ran through her.
“Oh I see, we’re silly now.” Graham lifted his jeans over his hips and hastily buttoned the top. “C’mon, you need an aftercare blanket and some juice.” He ducked down and slipped her heels off, knowing it was safe to walk the club floor.
Three
Julia
If Julia knew she’d be walking over a mile with no cell battery, she would have picked a different pair of shoes. Wedge combat boots weren’t meant for long trips unless it was mall shopping sprints between coffee shops. But it was the most logical choice to go with her skull-flower sundress.
She pulled her phone out of her back pocket, checking the battery as she had five times before. They all yielded the same result of shit out of luck.
Julia turned the corner and sighed with relief that Graham’s truck was outside. She knew she had some explanation dodging to do with him. She hadn’t returned his call since they met up Tuesday night at the club.
The sex and connection they had was electric. It wasn’t something she’d ever experienced with someone before. Earth-shattering orgasms aside, it didn’t quell the urge to flee with her heart intact.
Julia pressed her palms against the door, pushed it wide open, and stomped into the work garage. “Where are you?” She looked past the older man at the desk and craned her neck. “Graham!”
“Here, what’s the goddamn fire?”
She walked behind the counter and followed his voice behind the partition to find Graham wiping his hands and closing the distance between them.
“You promised me she wouldn’t break down anymore.”
“Well, I told you it needed more work, but you should be fine for a few more months.” Graham casually rifled his fingers through his hair, pulling it away from his eyes, and slipped on a beat-up baseball hat, the bill facing away from her.
“Oh, that’s a crocka–” She extended her arm exasperatedly and shoved the stick shift shaft into his chest. “Well, this still came off, and I don’t know why!”
“What? How? Where’s the car?” Graham shook his head, looking over her and glancing out the window.
“Down the road on Clifton.”
“You hiked it from Clifton? The ‘no sidewalks, mostly ice, Clifton’?” He looked down at her shoes with amazement.
She looked at him with furrowed brows. “So? Oh, sorry, my broom is in the shop.”Didn’t he realize she wasn’t joking?Her nose was numb from the cold, her feet hurt, and her plans for the day were ruined by the plot twist she didn’t ask for.
Julia exhaled sharply and crossed her arms. “I’m supposed to be beading Mia’s dress, not hiking across town in the wrong shoes with half my day ruined.”
“Are you going to sit and stop pacing?”
Halting her steps, she glared up at him. “I guess I should save my energy since I’ll bewalkingfor the foreseeable future.“ She dug her toes into the ground with frustration.
“Hm. I get it.”
“Get what? My car before vultures and hoodlums pick it off?”
He held his hand and cleared his throat, stopping any further words. Graham leaned against the wall and pulled out his phone. “Hey, Jake. Are you free? Cool, can you do me a favor and do a pickup on Clifton? It’s a gray Fiat with personality.”
Did he just insult Betty’s lashes?!
“No man, this one doesn’t have Hello Kitty ears. Thanks, Jake, I owe you one.” Graham slipped the phone into his pocket and looked over at Julia.
He mimicked her stance, his gaze never left hers. The longer they held eye contact the faster her heart beat. Flashes from the other night played across her memory. The feel of his touch, the edge he seemed to know exactly how to push. How his cock stretched her and the blissful touch of his tongue between her thighs.
She’d never admit that the way he licked his lips made her embarrassingly wet.
He tossed his work towel onto his rolling bench. “I finally get it.” His tone is short and gruff. Graham tooktwo steps toward Julia, closing the distance between them.
Julia retreated three steps for every two until her back hit the wall and she squeaked.
