Chasing You (Thirsty Hearts Book 4) (28 page)

A
t five thirty
, Alexa tapped the incoming message alert, opening up a text message that contained nothing but a photo of Graham’s bicep along with a sweating smiley face emoji. The background looked all too familiar.

Skipping out of her office toward the gym, she caught herself grinning uncontrollably.

Sure enough, Graham stood with a wide stance in the free weights area, watching his reflection for correct form on his hammer curls.

Guess he’s gotta keep those biceps in shape.

Their glances crossed in the wall-length mirror.

“One hundred and one, one hundred and two…Oh, hey, Alexa. Pushing my reps today.” He smiled through an exaggerated grunt.

“Really? A hundred curls? Impressive.”

“Maybe for other guys. You know, just another day at the gym for me.”

He lifted his shirt to wipe his face. His sweat-slicked abs flexing with each breath. Her pulse kicked up, and she swallowed.

“FYI, I processed your application. The gym fee processes on the twentieth of every month. You should get an email with all the details.”

“I’ll check when I’m done here. Thanks. Are you teaching anything today?”

“Nope. I trained this morning and then subbed for a midday class, but I’m nearly done for the day. I have to get ahead. I leave town Thursday for Taryn’s baby shower. It’s Saturday.”

“That should be fun.”

“It will be. My parents are meeting me in Dallas, so I’ll get to see how my dad’s been doing.”

“But he seems good?”

“He does. He’s…my dad, you know. Always kidding around.”

“He sounds like a great guy.”

In some ways, Graham reminded her of her dad. The situation doesn’t exist that either of them can’t joke their way through.

Graham positioned his weights back on the rack. Sweat streamed down his neck and disappeared into his muscle tee. He leaned over, dropping a hand on his knee as he huffed.

“Those curls really got to you.”

He heaved a laugh. “No. I was only on, like, rep two, but I did some cardio intervals right before you came over. Either that or just seeing you renders me breathless.”

She made eye contact with a non-existent client over his shoulder to keep from focusing on his sexy grin and her own sexy thoughts. After the whipsaw of Adam, then Graham, and then Adam again, she needed a break. “You’re a charmer. That’s for sure.”

“I try. I don’t suppose I can talk you into a drink.”

Her body screamed, “Yes,” on a cellular level, but she resisted and shook her head. “Shower prep, then I’ve got to get home.”

A flicker of concern flitted across his face, but he said nothing.

“Another time though. Maybe I can beat your ass in pool again.”

“And you think I’m cocky.”

“Is it cocky if it’s true?” Alexa tipped her head to the side with a smile. “Anyway, I just saw your text and wanted to say hello.”

“Well, hello, then. I’ll see you around.”

“Yeah.”

Her affirmation floated toward his back as he scooped up his things and headed for the door.

* * *

“
H
ave
you made plans to see her or what?” Jonah barked over the phone line.

“No. I’m playing it by ear. Besides, she’s out of town this weekend.”

Graham ran a hand through his damp hair and flopped onto his couch. He cradled his phone in the crook of his neck and pulled his computer to his lap. His favorite food delivery site gave him a lifeline to the best Thai food in the city, and his workout left him famished.

“Playing it by ear, huh? What does that mean?”

“I’m giving her space to figure things out. The last guy was a crazy stalker. She’s gun shy.”

“She was gun shy before the stalker. I think that’s who she is.”

“Maybe.”

Something slammed on the other end of the line.

“Not maybe. That’s how she’s been since you started up with her after New Year’s. I don’t know, man.”

“She’s gone through a lot—with her dad and the ex.”

“All the excuses in the world don’t explain why she’s jerking you around.”

“I’m not getting jerked around. If there’s one thing I understand, it’s cold feet. Not all of us fall instantly in love and imprint like ducklings.”

“If she’s who you want, I’m glad for you, but tick tock. You can’t sit around forever waiting for her to pull it together. All while you stroke her ego. Women like that—they’ll suck you dry. All they want is some guy to follow them around adoringly. Then, that gets boring, and they find a new puppy.”

Jonah had always had his back, but his take on Alexa had Graham close to fury. “I’m not a lovesick puppy. I know what I’m doing.”

“Fine. I’m just saying—”

“I know what you’re saying. You don’t know her. You can meet her at my Memorial Day party and see that she’s not the devil. You and Shannon are still coming, right?”

Graham covered the ground between he and his friend fast, hoping to end on a point of agreement.

“Yes. We’ll be there. How’s your development project going?” Graham’s friend asked, sharply changing topics.

“Still delayed.”

“That sucks.”

“Yeah. We’re making progress.”

“How’s your idiot partner holding up?”

“Idiotically as always. I’m really hoping Carmichael buys him out completely. He’s going to need the cash. He’s getting divorced. That’s what happens when your wife finds out about your predilection for dominatrices.”

“At least he’ll enjoy the punishment of an expensive divorce,” Jonah quipped.

They shared a dry chuckle, letting the air out of their argument.

“How are Shannon and the baby?”

“Both are good. He’s kicking away, keeping her up at night.”

“You know it’s a boy?”

“Crap. That’s supposed to be a secret. Don’t say anything to anyone. Shannon will kill me.”

Graham cackled. “Again with thinking that I have anyone to discuss your baby with but you.”

“I don’t know. You’re getting so sensitive and caring these days. I thought maybe you’d be gossiping about it with your girlfriends over brunch.”

“Funny.”

“I have to go. Don’t drink too many mimosas. See you in a couple of weeks.”

Graham cursed at Jonah and hung up.

Like he was one to talk about getting all soft over love. The debut of “L” word in his mind straightened Graham’s spine, but he let it settle, waiting for a panic that didn’t come.

Turning back to his computer, he brought up Amazon.com and searched for a book on women entrepreneurs he’d heard about on the radio. He plugged in Alexa’s address, added a note for the gift card, and hit the ENTER key.

She’d enjoy it. Jonah didn’t know what he was talking about.

O
ver the next
week and a half, Graham wooed Alexa with little notes and gifts that kept him on her mind every day. Nothing overtly romantic—just a slow drip of thoughtful moments sprinkled throughout her day.

His first delivery had her heart skipping. It arrived the day before she left for Dallas.

Heard this book reviewed on NPR, and I thought of you.

Graham

She opened the package and found a book about women business owners. Sweet. It was probably the first time a woman got gushy over a book with a forward written by an editor at
The Wall Street Journal
.

When she got back in town, he dropped by with a smoothie, sent her a tin of M&M cookies, which she shared with her staff, and had a bottle of Pinot delivered to her house.

When Holly called her about another delivery, Alexa tittered as she asked her receptionist to bring it back to her office.

“Here you go.”

Alexa took the UPS envelope. No sender name, and an Austin address she didn’t recognize. There was a card inside, so she slipped it open with quick, nervous fingers. The rose petals falling out blew a chill over her like she’d opened an industrial freezer.

Our two souls therefore, which are one,

Though I must go, endure not yet

A breach, but an expansion,

Like gold to airy thinness beat.

He didn’t sign the note, but Alexa recognized the taste in poetry. Her belly convulsed. More John Donne. A sonnet for lovers whose hearts never part—even with distance.

She chucked the thick, peach-colored paper in the trash and swept the rosy detritus into the can after it.

Was this a goodbye? She held on to the idea that at least he was letting her know she didn’t have to worry about seeing him around town. Still, no contact meant no contact.

A local phone number popped up on her mobile, and she answered it before she had time to consider who it might be.

“It’s me, Adam. Don’t hang up. Please.”

Alexa ran her finger on the edge of her phone, but didn’t tap the red button. “You have sixty seconds.”

“You got my note.”

“How do you know that?” Her throat closed up as the hammering accelerated in her chest.

“I got a text notifying me when it was delivered. I’m headed back to London.”

“Okay. Glad to hear it.”

“That’s all you have to say?”

“Pretty much.”

“I’d hoped you would know that I do care about you. It’s so hard to reach you. All I wanted was to be in your heart like you’re in mine.”

“Don’t make this about me. You broke into my house. I shouldn’t even be talking to you. In fact—”

“Wait. Can’t you let me apologize?”

Alexa pulled the phone away from her ear and stared at it.

“I guess not.” His sharp voice shot from the phone like a switch blade.

She heard him call her a word tossed around much more casually in England as she lowered the phone to hang up, which she should have done the second she heard his voice.

At least he was going back home.

She dialed the detective with whom she’d filed the complaint against Adam. All she wanted was him gone. With any luck, he’d have his happy ass back in London before the police could catch up with him.

Her next call was as mandatory as the first. She needed his light humor and calm. She needed his reassurance. She needed him.

* * *

G
raham arrived
at Alexa’s house before she did, so he waited in his car until he saw her electric blue BMW swing around him and into her driveway. She jumped out of the car and reached into her backseat, extracting a large paper bag. Their dinner, no doubt. The woman loved her takeout.

He strode over. “Do you need a hand?”

“Yeah. I will when I get to the door. Plus, I have a little twinge in my back.”

“I’ll take that.”

Graham dropped his own grocery bag into the larger sack and followed Alexa to her door. She clicked open the double bolt—a new installation since his last visit—and turned off her alarm.

Despite Adam’s claim that he was on his way back to England, Graham thought she still needed to be careful. The new security was a small step, but he didn’t want to argue with her about telling her dad or doing anything else. She had her own mind.

“Thanks. Can you carry it into the kitchen?”

“Sure. Did you hurt yourself?”

“I don’t know what I did. Maybe something happened when I was doing deadlifts the other day. I need to get a massage. What did you bring?” She led him to the kitchen.

“Wine and dessert.”

“You may have to do dessert by yourself.”

“You sure?”

He reached into the plastic sack and pulled out a family size pouch of Skittles.

“You’re an evil man.”

“I’m an angel. And you know it.”

She smiled. The spread she unpacked on the table included two lasagnas and, of course, steamed vegetables.

“Pasta?”

“I felt like a little comfort food splurge.”

“Then I did okay with the Skittles.”

“Yeah. You did okay.”

Graham reached for one of the containers at the same time that Alexa went to grab them both. His hand brushed hers, and he allowed it to linger. His fingers stretched, finding their way between hers.

A flush fell over her from her cheeks to her shoulders. The smooth skin of her chest deepened in color right down to where her cleavage disappeared into her cotton V-neck. Desire begged him to trace the deep rose brown with his lips.

She untangled her hand slowly from his and gathered up the two trays of pasta.

“I’ll heat these up.”

Graham pulled out a chair and sat, scooting close to the table to conceal his arousal. “Oh, I wanted to ask you. What are you doing for Memorial Day?”

“Melissa and Kyle are cooking out, I think. I said I’d stop by. Why?”

“I’m having a party at my house with my partners and some other business associates. I do it every year. It may be a little stuffy, but it should be fun. I’m setting up tents in the yard. I can guarantee you good food and good booze. Jonah and his wife are coming down. You can meet her.”

“Tents in the yard. Is this a fancy garden party?”

“Kind of.”

“Okay. I may have to buy an outfit. I have workout clothes and go out clothes. Not much in between anymore.”

“Most of the women wear sundresses or…I don’t know. Nothing too fancy.”

She crossed the room, shaking her head. “You don’t understand the dress codes women have. You have to wear an outfit specifically for the occasion.”

“That sounds like an excuse to spend money.”

“Of course. But, hey, we didn’t make the rules.” Alexa slid their meals onto plates and popped them in the microwave.

“So, you’re coming?”

“I’ll be there.”

“Great.”

She gathered silverware, glasses, and napkins for the table.

Graham leaned back in his chair and put his hands behind his head—making his way back into her kitchen giving him a surge of satisfaction.

“How was the baby shower?”

“Fun. Since it was co-ed, we didn’t have to be bored out of our skulls with cutesy baby games, which was fine by me. I’ve tasted enough baby food and guessed the number of enough pacifiers in jars.”

Graham made a sour-milk face. “I have never been to a baby shower a day in my life. Jonah’s wife is pregnant, but no man shower for me.”

“Men are included in the whole process now.”

“I might want to go back to the time when our only job was to smoke the cigars in the hospital waiting room.”

“That’s not the only job the man has. There’s a bit at the beginning.”

Mischief sparkled in her narrowed eyes.

He grinned. “That’s not work.”

“Neither is smoking a cigar.”

“Touché.”

The microwave dinged loudly, disrupting what Graham thought was excellent progress in turning up the heat in Alexa’s kitchen.

She arranged their meal on her kitchen table with the table settings and serving spoons while Graham opened the wine. He took advantage of her wine glasses’ oversized bowls.

“Whoa. That’s a heavy pour.”

He set a half-empty bottle between them. “Go big or go home. I can drink yours, if you want.”

He reached for her glass, and she shooed his hand away. “Back off.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

She tipped her glass back for a long sip. “It’s really good.”

“You saw your parents. Didn’t you?”

“Yes.” Her smile glowed. “My dad looks good. He’s joking about all the time he’ll have to fish once his arm is back in shape—after he retires.”

“How’s he handling that?”

“Hard to tell. My dad doesn’t emote. He cracks jokes and pretends everything is okay, no matter what. My mom says he’s a little depressed.”

Graham dug into his lasagna. “How long has he been a cop?”

“About thirty-five years.”

“That’s a long time to find yourself suddenly having to do something else.”

“I know, but I’ve never seen my mother so at peace. As terrible as the whole ordeal has been, it’s like if this is the worst that it’s going to be and now it’s over, hallelujah. You know? She’s been on edge for almost thirty-five years.”

“And you too, I imagine.”

Alexa chewed, poking her food with her fork, but Graham wouldn’t let her get away with dodging the topic.

“You must have been scared growing up.”

“He loved being a police officer. I dealt with it.”

“You were a kid.”

Alexa’s eyes misted over. “I was. The hardest part was helping my mom deal.”

“You are allowed to be scared. Kid or adult. Having the threat of losing a parent looming constantly had to change who you are.”

“It has. But I’m good at not thinking about it.” A tiny smile changed the light in her eyes. “Which is what I’d like to do right now. He’s on the mend. This is good news. I don’t need to think about those things anymore. He’ll find something new to do with himself, and we’ll all move forward.”

“Is that the power of positive thinking or avoidance?”

His question drew her eyes to his in challenge. “Does it make a difference?”

“I guess not.”

“What’s going on in the world of wheeler dealer real estate?” She finally stopped pushing the lasagna around her plate and took a bite.

“Nothing earth-shattering. Construction has restarted on that project that stalled, which is a relief to one of my partners. He tends to overextend himself, and any hiccup sends him into a panic. It drives my other partner nuts. He’s more of a ‘slow and steady wins the race’ kind of guy.”

“And you? You seem like more of a risk-taker to me.”

“Not in business. I take a more measured approach. I like to evaluate my options and make safe bets.”

“Huh. I figured you for more of a wildcatter.”

“No. I find the right deal and then focus and follow through. Boring, boring.”

“I’ll bet you find a way to make even real estate thrilling. It’s in your nature.”

Graham thought of Sierra’s lackluster assessment of his straight-laced career in commercial real estate and laughed to himself.

“What’s funny?”

“Oh. Nothing. I have a friend who disagrees. She called what I do for a living terminally boring. And—”

Alexa’s eyes narrowed. “What? Finish what you were going to say.”

“It’s one of the reasons she decided I’m not boyfriend material. She’s a creative type. Her hair changes color every other week. Her new guy is in a band. More her speed, I guess. His name is Larry.”

“This is the woman you were out with when I called you.”

“Yes.”

“You said she was a friend. What does boyfriend material have to do with it?”

“Well, we…used to hang out occasionally. And that stopped.”

“Recently?”

“When I met you. When she met Larry.”

“No longer fuck buddies, huh?”

Heat spread from his cheeks to his earlobes. “No, but still friends.”

“You think that’s possible?”

“We’re friends. And we’re not sleeping together any more.”

Her tongue flew to the corner of her mouth and hovered there between parted lips. “I’m not sure that’s the best example.”

“We’re not friends?”

“I don’t know what’s going on between us, but it’s not just friendship.”

Graham’s heart thundered. Finally, an acknowledgement from her that this could be something more. “No. It’s not. I’ve missed hanging out with you. I want to see you. More of you.”

“How much more?”

He grinned. “As much as you’ll let me.”

“I’ve missed you, too.”

Graham’s interest in his Italian takeout took a nosedive. “I never thought I’d hear you admit that, but I’m glad. Maybe I’ll make it to first base tonight.”

Alexa took a deep breath. “The coach may be waiving you around.”

“How far?”

“The third base coach hasn’t decided yet. I might be okay if you stayed the night.”

“Third base and a sleepover?” He dropped his fork and rubbed his hands together, enjoying the new flush overtaking her chest. “I’ll take it.”

He reached across the table and took the fork out of her hand, cradling her fingers in his palm. She tickled the center of his hand and withdrew.