29. Chapter Twenty-Nine
And the fourth story on the news was about a fire in LA. No one cares about rumors tonight.
* * *
Graham’s eyes are closed and his head rests against the back of the seat in the SUV that is driving us to his house.
The plan is to get Loki and head back to my house.
Maybe it would be best if I just had the driver take me home, and Graham could spend his evening relaxing.
I look out the window as the city settles in for the evening. Today was probably the best day I’ve ever had on a set, and it wasn’t only because I kissed Graham all day long. Admittedly, his attention was nice.
He didn’t sabotage our scenes, even if he teased about doing so. He was attentive and asked questions that only made the scenes better when Jean-Claude agreed with him. He made sure I was fed and had water, and he took care of Penny’s needs, too.
Usually between takes, I wouldn’t have seen Graham. Today, he was by my side, as if we had a connection.
I look back at him, easily asleep and peaceful.
We do have a connection.
Why did it take some stupid rumor to make us come together?
The car slows in front of Graham’s house and comes to a stop.
Graham’s eyes flutter open and he draws in a deep breath.
“Sorry,” he says. “I guess I fell asleep.”
I smile at him. “Why don’t I have him take me home. You’re tired.”
He shakes his head as the driver comes around to the back of the car and opens my door.
“That was just a little break,” Graham says as the driver then opens his door. “Let’s get Loki and head to your house. I won’t stay long, but Loki needs some time out of the house, and I could use some time one-on-one with you.”
I press my lips together to keep them from turning up into a smile. He wants to spend more time with me when we’ve worked together all day.
My stomach flutters at the attention he’s giving me. I know he doesn’t have to do that. It’s not part of the agreement. But he’d said he had feelings for me, and didn’t I then admit the same?
Graham steps out of the car, and I step out of my side. He thanks the driver and waits for me to clear the car before taking my hand and walking toward his house.
I can hear Loki’s welcome from behind the front door, and it makes me smile. What a wonderful thing, to have someone waiting for you when you got home.
“Why don’t you take him to the set?” I ask as Graham slips his keys into the lock.
“He wouldn’t behave.”
“You don’t think so?”
“Oh, I know so. That’s why I don’t take him. We’ve tried before. He gets too much attention and then starts to look for it,” he chuckles as he pushes open the front door and Loki bounds toward him.
We step into the house and Graham crouches down to accept the welcome from his dog.
“Hey, boy,” he says, nuzzling his face against the dog’s fur. “I’m happy to see you too.” He kisses the top of Loki’s head. “Look who I brought.”
Graham steps to the side, and I watch Loki’s head lift to look at me before he rushes past Graham and to me.
He jumps up, his paws coming to my shoulders, and I lean in to hug him.
“Hi, sweetheart,” I say as I take a moment to hug on the dog that stands as tall as I do on his hind legs.
Loki sets himself down and runs a few circles around the living room, where I notice Milo lounging on the couch watching TV.
He looks up at us, shifting his glance between us. He’s leery of what’s going on between us, and I’m sure he’s spent the past few years being a sounding board for Graham’s feelings about me, so I can’t blame him.
“He was snoring a few minutes ago,” Milo says with some humor. “Now he’s all riled up.”
Graham slaps a hand on Milo’s shoulder. “We’re going to take him with us. You can relax in silence.”
Milo sits up. “Are you taking him all night?”
Graham shifts a quick look in my direction. “I’ll be home in a few hours. We’re going to eat and relax for a bit.”
Milo nods slowly. “How was your first day on set?”
“Best one yet,” Graham says, shooting me a soft smile. “Have a seat. I’m going to change and get Loki’s stuff together. I’ll just be a minute.”
I nod and sit down in the oversized chair next to me.
As I sit and cross my legs, Loki comes over to me and rests his head on my lap.
I think I’m as taken by the man’s dog as I am with the man.
I run my hand over Loki’s head and look up to see Milo studying us.
“Loki doesn’t usually take to women like he has to you. Mind you, he only usually sees Graham’s mother, and he likes her. But you’re different,” Milo says.
“Why do you think?”
He scans a look over me and Loki. “I don’t know. I guess any woman I bring home doesn’t spend a lot of time with him.”
“What about the women Graham brings home?”
Milo’s brows draw in, and I realize that a girlfriend wouldn’t put it that way.
“I mean that he used to bring home,” I amend.
Milo puckers his lips. “Graham doesn’t just bring women home. The man always has a sea of women pining for him, but he’s not that kind of showman, if you know what I mean.”
That flutter that had started in my belly moves up into my chest.
Graham is tall, dark, and handsome. He’s smooth and smart. I can’t believe he hasn’t shared that gift with all the women in state—in the world.
“Well, I’m honored to get to be around Loki then,” I say, and the dog lifts his head to look at me before turning and trekking down the hall to Graham’s room.
Milo leans his forearms on his knees. “I hope you don’t think I’m prying, but this thing between the two of you is a bit surprising.”
Don’t I know it.
“I mean, he hasn’t really had a lot of good things to say about you working together,” Milo continues.
I swallow hard, uncross my legs, and rest my forearms on my knees to match Milo. “We’re all a mystery, aren’t we? I mean, we change how we think, dress, and eat all the time. We like one political candidate until they do something we don’t like, and then we change our perspective. Sometimes you take a moment to get to know someone you didn’t care about, only to find out there’s something there.”
Milo nods and sits back on the couch. “I guess you’re right. For the record, he’s been really happy the past month. Maybe this is a good thing for the two of you.”
I shrug and sit back in the chair.
I’m just hoping I defused that doubt.
Graham and I might be starting to have feelings for one another, but we’re still in this for selfish reasons. And, after today, and listening to Jean-Claude bark orders because he thinks streaming movies are beneath him to create, I’d really like to work on a Penelope Mondragon movie.