Chapter 9 #3
Damn, that cocky grin. Why did he do that?
Look at me like I was a piece of meat. Make my knees weak at just the thought of his touch.
The fact that I knew exactly what was under that uniform did not help my situation.
I wanted him. I wanted him by myself. Not with Hunter’s approval.
Hell, not even with Graham’s approval. I wanted to take him.
Do the things that kept me up at night, dreaming of the times we had together a few months ago…
the things I thought about when I’d touch myself for the camera.
He was always what I’d return to. He was always what got me there.
Fuck! I needed to stop thinking altogether, or I’d have to explain why the parking lot was suddenly a flash flood zone.
When Katie and I made it to the checkout, I purposely avoided eye contact with him.
That little show at his car the other night did nothing to help my relationship with Hunter.
All it did was make me want out that much more.
I knew what I had with Graham. I knew he was dangerous—he’d already hurt me once—but for some ridiculous reason, it made me want him more.
It wasn’t like with Mark. He didn’t cheat… he left because he thought it’d be better for me. Like somehow him being gone was protecting me, when in reality it was just another form of running away.
“Five eighty-four, Maggie,” Nathan said, proudly holding a little white paper with the handwritten total on it.
“O-okay—” I inhaled a deep breath, the scent of the fresh-cut pines and spiced cider swirling in my nose, ever-so-slightly softening the blow of yet another overpriced purchase in Port Grey.
Thank God for my open-legged side-gig. “Did you get the wreath?” I asked, rummaging through my purse for my wallet, my mind still foggy with thoughts of Graham and his perfect abs, that V, oh god, and that perfect in every way dick of his.
“Yep.”
“Thanks, Nathan.” I pulled out an extra ten and handed it to him.
His eyes lit up like I’d given him a bag of magic. “Split that with your brother. That’s for being such great salesmen.”
“Thanks, Maggie!” he said and ran off to show Jake.
“Where to next, girl?” Katie asked.
“Over here.” I approached Graham, who was now leaning against the pallets, sipping cider from the to-go cup, observing the surroundings.
“Are you on duty already?” I asked. “Usually you work nights, right?”
“Yeah. I’ve actually been on your case all day, but Nettles asked me to be the face of the precinct at the pop-ups for an hour or so.”
“My case? Yeah… not my case.”
“Let’s keep it that way, huh?” He crossed his arms. “Where’s your bodyguard?”
“She’s right here,” I said, pulling Katie in front of me.
“I see. Where’s Hunter?”
“Probably on the bike trails. Which reminds me, I’m not supposed to be here.”
His eyebrow twitched at that.
“You know, safety… murders… He doesn’t want me to leave the house without him. Hey, you’re coming to the party, right?”
“I really don’t want to, but I guess it’s kinda mandatory to this whole friendship thing, isn't it?”
“No. I mean… you don’t have to come… but it would mean a lot. I really need help with my family. If nothing else, come in uniform so you can split up the domestic disputes.”
He blew out a breath. “Fine, but it’s my night off, and domestics will have to be handled by someone else.”
“Eeeeheeeheee—yay! Thank you!” I leapt into his arms before I could even think about it, my hands locking around his neck—and for that split second he was all I saw.
I could see the pain behind his eyes, but he smiled down at me anyway, kissed me on the forehead, and set me down. “I’ll be there.”
“Great! Seven pm Friday night, but we’ve really gotta scoot. I need to get back before Hunter, and I still have to get to Elsie’s. Say, what’s your favorite holiday treat?”
His expression tightened, determination settling in on his brow. “That’s really not necessary.”
“Fine, I’ll just get Linda to tell me on the way out.”
He rolled his eyes and took another sip of cider.
Katie popped her earbuds in and gave Graham the cold shoulder, turning to examine the display of stuffed Tomten Linda made.
Shit! I was going to get one of those. Linda told me about them and how it took her weeks to get the little beards to stay on.
“Nathan!” I hollered over to the boy who’d quickly taken to teasing his brother with the ten-dollar bill.
“Coming!” he yelled as he flipped Jake’s nose with the bill and jogged over to me. “What is it, Maggie?”
“Do you think you could add the big Tomten—the one with the flannel hat—to my bill, please.”
“Sure thing!” He quickly pulled down the plush gnome from the ladder display and held him out to me. “This one? He’s forty.”
Katie took the gnome and hugged it like a small child would.
“That’s the one.” I handed him the cash. “Thanks, bud.”
Katie turned to me with a smirk. “You know, Maggie, if you squint your eyes it’s a spitting image of that Grinch over there when he’s had too much of Santa’s nog.” She jabbed a thumb in Graham’s direction.
Graham didn’t flinch; he just stared straight ahead at me from under his brow with a look of disapproval.
I knew that look. It wasn’t judgment. It wasn’t hatred.
It was more… annoyance than anything, but the kind of annoyance a big brother would have for his little sister.
The kind that said, I love you, but you’re pissing me off.
Katie continued mocking him, playing with the stuffed Tomten like it was a gnomely officer. “Halt, you’re under arrest.” She made the stuffy hold out its hand to plush penguin still on the ladder, then picked up the penguin. “No… you’re under arrest!” Then like a child, she made them fight.
I couldn’t help but giggle.
Graham remained unamused. “Triple berry,” he said, tight-lipped.
“Pie? Tart?” I asked.
“You really have to ask?”
“Right. Pie.”
“But, like I said. Not necessary.”
“Nope. But it will be there, along with your present.”
“Max.”
“Nope. No arguing.” I brought my finger to his nose, making him go cross-eyed and booped it. “You can’t tell me not to get you anything cause I already did.”