Chapter 17
LORI
I woke up with a start, blinking at the sight of the restless ocean stretching in front of me.
I must have fallen asleep after we got back from the kitchen.
Before I had a chance to mull over last night, or to wonder why Graham wasn't in his bed, I glanced at the clock and immediately panicked. I'd overslept!
Tatiana from the decoration company was scheduled to have arrived half an hour ago.
I looked around for my clothes before realizing I only had last night's dress here.
My overnight bag was still in the room I'd left it in when I arrived.
I wrapped myself in the towel I'd used last night after showering.
Then I clutched my dress, shoes, and underwear to my chest and skittered out of Graham's bedroom.
I changed into jeans and a yellow polo shirt at top speed, tied my messy curls into an even messier knot, and headed downstairs. I couldn't believe I'd overslept. I never overslept. True, I never spent the night entangled with a hot and delicious man, either. How had I not heard the alarm?
I'd always been a troubled sleeper. It was rare for me to sleep deeply, but last night had definitely been an exception.
I didn't know if it was because our sexy activities had worn me out, or because being held by those strong arms had felt so good.
I wondered where Graham was. He'd told me he was an early riser, but since we'd gone to bed so late last night, I'd thought he'd sleep in.
When I stepped outside, I saw that Tatiana and her assistant, Bella, were already done taking down the decorations. Their Bridal Boutique branded truck was almost filled to the brim with boxes.
The team for the tent was also here, and they'd already disassembled half of it.
Graham was helping too. What a sight that was—arms stretched, muscles flexed.
He was wearing jeans, so I couldn't make out the finer details of his ass muscles, but I knew they had to be flexed too.
Why couldn't he be one of those who wore jogging clothing around his house?
That tight spandex would leave nothing to the imagination.
On second thought, it was better that he didn't, because Bella and Tatiana were enjoying the view as much as I was, and they didn't have to know just how defined and lean his muscles were.
Oh, boy! Was I really being possessive and jealous? Yes, yes I was. I'd been jealous last night when Jackie had all but climbed Graham, and my possessiveness hadn't dimmed one bit after having spent the night with him.
I cleared my throat to announce my presence.
"Morning," Graham said. When he cast his bright blue eyes on me, he took my breath away. For a moment, I forgot we weren't alone. I took in his tousled hair, his full lips. Now that I knew how soft they were, how thoroughly they explored my body, I couldn't look at them the same way.
"Hi, Lori," Tatiana said, snapping me back to reality. "Wasn't expecting to see you at all. Graham said your conference call might take all morning."
It took a second for me to understand what Tatiana meant. Graham had covered for me.
"Oh, I got lucky. Didn't take so long after all. Here, let me help you with the boxes. Sorry I couldn't help packing."
Tatiana waved her hand. Bella shrugged. "Didn't take long at all."
We loaded the last of the boxes all together.
Working side by side with Graham and occasionally coming so close that I could smell his body wash was a special kind of torture.
When our arms accidentally touched, a bolt of heat ran through me, spreading from the point of contact all the way to my toes.
I glanced sideways at him to check if he'd felt the sizzle too, and I startled when I realized he was watching me, gaze a tad darker than before. Oh yeah, he'd felt it too.
After Bella and Tatiana left, Graham said, "I'm going to make some sandwiches. Want some?"
"Yes, please." I glanced at the guys who were dismantling the tent. "Don't want to leave them alone, though. If I leave them to their own devices, they'll make a mess of your yard."
Graham smiled lazily, like he knew that concern for his yard wasn't the only reason I wanted to stay out here.
"I'll bring the sandwiches out here. We'll eat together."
"Sounds great."
I tried to compose myself as he headed back to the house, but I'd suddenly developed a lazy eye. The man was truly a work of art. I might as well get my fill while I could.
I slipped into full-on planner mode once he was out of sight, and good thing I did, because one of the guys had been about to throw one of the tent poles straight onto the flower bed.
"Careful there," I admonished. "Not over the flowers. Plenty of space next to it."
Both men grunted but did as I asked. This was why I insisted on watching over the disassembly.
After one of the first weddings I'd organized, I received an angry call from the mother-in-law who'd hosted the wedding on her property because two of her precious alabaster statues had been manhandled by the vendors who'd come to take back their things.
I'd paid for the damages. Since then, I'd made it a point to oversee the post-wedding activities myself or have one of my assistants do it.
I jumped at the sound of a low chuckle. Graham was a few feet behind, holding two plates. I relieved him of one.
"Thanks. I didn't hear you."
We moved a little farther away, between two giant palm trees, where there were two rattan armchairs and a table.
"I can't sit. Standing keeps me awake," I informed him. I practically inhaled my sandwich while also keeping an eye on the guys as they dismantled the tent.
"That stern look is a good one on you. I like seeing you in action," Graham said.
"Policing people isn't my favorite part of the job, but you got to do what you got to do. I can't believe I overslept. Why didn't you wake me up when Tatiana arrived?" I asked, placing the empty plate on the rattan table.
"Thought you could use the extra sleep. You need to be in top form for your trip to Universal Studios."
"You're right. I don't want to be a zombie. Milo needs my full attention."
Graham placed his plate next to mine, then shifted his position until we were face-to-face and tilted his head slightly.
"What about what you need, Lori?" He dropped his gaze to my lips. Why did he have to say my name like that? "I have a good idea of what you need, and I'll give you just that."
"Is that so? Without asking me if I want it?"
"I would, but I think you're afraid to want it. Even more afraid to admit it."
Wow. His words were so true.
"You have me all figured out, don't you?"
"No, but I'm learning. Last night was the start." He cupped my face, brushing the corners of my mouth with his thumbs.
"I'm working," I whispered, wondering if this would rile him up. Oh yeah, it did.
"If you say that again, I'll take you in my arms and carry you away in front of everyone."
"No, you will not."
"Try me."
"I can wrestle you, Frazier. I have three brothers," I said smugly. "I've had plenty of practice sparring with them as a kid, and I take working out seriously, so I'm in great shape to kick your ass."
He pulled me behind a palm tree.
"I'd love to see you try to wrestle me." His voice was low and a little gruff, sending a current of awareness right to my nipples. His cheeks were covered in stubble, and it made him look, if possible, even hotter.
"If we were alone, I'd sink into you right here, right now."
He kissed me then, his mouth hot and warm on mine. My body responded to him in a visceral way. I touched those fine muscles, lingering with my hands on his shoulders, then moving to his arms. Every inch of my skin seemed to come alive as this sexy and funny man did delicious things to me.