by Various
He was across the lawn and about to step onto the porch when he caught sight of Emma’s Fiat in his driveway.
“What the fuck…” he frowned as he walked toward the car and discovered it empty.
Turning back to the house his eyes landed on the large rock he hid his spare key under and noticed it was overturned. Emma was there, in his house waiting for him.
You have got to be kidding me, he groaned inwardly. After all this time why in the hell is she here? If anything he’d have expected to see her showing up at Dane’s house, but certainly not his.
The last thing he wanted to do was deal with Emma today. His plan was to go straight to sleep and get up mid-afternoon to get ready for his date with Genevieve. Since it was their one-month anniversary he wanted to make it extra special. While most men never thought of such things, he knew it would be important to her and he could barely wait to see the big smile that would spread across her lips when she discovered what he had planned.
He sighed, as he made his way back to the house and with great reluctance unlocked the front door and stepped inside. Pausing just inside the door he stood and listened for any indication of where she might be; the house remained silent.
“Emma?” he called out, but silence answered him. Perplexed he performed a thorough search of the bottom floor and came up empty. Glancing up the staircase to the second floor he cringed and began the stairs as if he were a man walking the mile of death row.
Oh fuck me, he groaned inwardly as he walked to his bedroom and noticed the door was closed. He never closed his bedroom door. What in the hell is she doing in there? As he asked himself the question, he suspected he knew.
Opening the door he stepped inside and as feared there she was, stretched out on his bed, a wicked smile on her lips and dressed in a little teddy that barely covered her.
“What are you doing here Emma?” He crossed his arms over his chest and eyed her, waiting for an explanation. “You’re no longer welcome here, I thought we had an understanding on that.”
She cringed, but not one to be deterred she struggled to her knees and made her way to the end of the bed. “I’ve been doing a lot of thinking and I think the divorce was a mistake.”
Leaning against the door jamb, Graham shook his head. “There wasn’t any mistake, Emma. We should never have gotten married in the first place – that was the mistake. But now we’re divorced and that’s how it should be.”
“Come on. Think about it. We were good together. I’m saying I’m sorry, you’re the one I should be with.”
Graham laughed as things became clear. “You and the FedEx guy broke up, you went to Dane and he wouldn’t give you the time of day so now you’re back. I see now.”
Her lips turned into a pout and she shook her head. “No. No, it’s not like that.”
“So you and the FedEx guy are still together?”
“No.”
“So if I were to call Dane and ask if you came sniffing around he’d tell me no?”
She lowered her eyes and began twirling a lock of golden hair around her index finger. “Dane and I spoke, yes.”
“And he told you…” A part of him was getting a bit of satisfaction out of this encounter. She’d never apologized or shown remorse for what she’d done. With Emma everything was everyone else’s fault but her own, and she was so beautiful and was able to charm people so well that people usually bought what she was selling. But not this time. Graham knew her and her games way too well now.
“It’s not important.”
“That’s what I thought.” He sighed, thrusting a hand into his blonde hair. “And why in the hell are you even in my house?”
Her head jerked back up and her eyes narrowed at him. “You were ignoring my calls.”
“That’s the beauty of divorce, once those papers are signed, I’m no longer required to speak to you.”
“Besides, Graham, you leave the key outside for anyone to use, for a cop I’d have thought you wouldn’t do something so foolish.”
“Yes, I should have moved it once your ass was out of here.” He pointed to the hallway. “Now you have to leave.”
“Why the rush?” A smirk touched her lips and he immediately knew she was up to something, or had done something. Any amount of amusement he was feeling at seeing her squirm was fading fast. He wanted and needed her out, immediately.
“Most importantly, because I don’t want you around anymore. But also, I had a long day and I need some sleep, so you need to leave. NOW!”
“Is it because of that girl you’re seeing?”
Graham fought back the surge of anger that was beginning to simmer within, as his jaw clenched. “What do you know about her?”
Emma shrugged as she slid from the bed and walked toward him, swaying her hips seductively. “She dropped by. I sent her home.”
“Sent her home?”
“She’s not right for you. I can tell.”
“Where did she go?”
“Why should I care?” She reached out to touch him, but he grabbed her wrist.
“Don’t touch me Emma. I’m going to find her and you’re going to get out of my house.”
“This was our house.” She yanked her wrist from his grasp and scowled at him.
“WAS our house, but not anymore. When I get home I want you out, otherwise I’ll have you escorted out and charged. Are we clear?”
Anger flared up in her blue eyes as she glared at him.
“I asked, are we clear?”
“Asshole! Now I remember why I fucked around on you.” She grabbed her handbag and a duffle bag from beside the bed, then stormed past him, nudging him in the stomach with her elbow as she went past. Out in the hallway she spun around and caught his gaze. “And by the way, the FedEx guy wasn’t the only guy I fucked in our bed!”
What in the name of God did I do to deserve this bullshit? Graham groaned inwardly, not bothering to answer back and encourage more of an argument with her.
She waited for his response, and when one didn’t come she huffed and stormed down the staircase. He didn’t follow, but waited until he heard the front door open and close before he released the breath he hadn’t realized he’d been holding.
He looked over to the bed; it beckoned to him, but he had more pressing issues. He didn’t even want to imagine how torn up Genevieve would be feeling right now. He’d worked so hard at making her feel as special as she deserved to be feeling and it would be shot to hell because of his bitch ex-wife.
Not bothering to take the time to change out of his uniform, he waited until he heard Emma’s car start and tear out of the driveway before heading downstairs and grabbing his car keys.
Chapter 16
~ Graham ~
Where is she? After going to her apartment and coming up empty he visited her boutique, curious to see if perhaps she’d gone to work early to clear her head. He found a note on the door apologizing to customers that the boutique was closed for the day.
Almost home, he pulled off to the side of the street, grabbed his mobile phone and rang her number for the fifth time. As per the previous calls, it went straight to voicemail. He wasn’t sure if she had her ringer off or was flat out avoiding his calls.
Frustrated, he tossed the phone onto the passenger seat of the car, then shifted it into gear. He was almost home when he decided to make a stop. It was almost noon so surely Dane would be up by now; if he wasn’t then he’d hang out and wait for him to get up. Maybe if Dane called her she’d answer the phone; he hoped anyhow.
Fifteen minutes later, he was coming up onto Dane’s house and immediately spotted Genevieve’s car in the driveway. Anger and hurt rumbled within him.
Of all places for her to go and of all people for her to run to, she went to his brother? He attempted to keep a clear head as he pulled into the driveway and shut off the car.
Why shouldn’t she go to Dane, she thought he was messing with Emma, he reasoned with himself as he made his way up the driveway toward
the front door. At least he’d found her and he could get things straightened out. Just because she was with Dane didn’t mean a thing, it meant she wanted to talk about him and who better than with his twin brother? The more he mulled it around in his mind the more it made sense and his anger faded.
Not bothering to knock, he flipped to Dane’s key on his key ring unlocked the door, opened it and let himself in. The house was completely silent – too silent for a couple of people chatting, unless they went out. As he walked further into the house, he heard soft snores coming from the living room.
Upon entering the living room his entire body froze as he laid eyes upon Dane, clad only in a pair of boxers, lying on the sofa with Genevieve curled up next to him. They looked like a couple of lovers. It tore at him. Did her encounter with Emma simply drive her to the man she really wanted to be with? Just like with Emma, was he ultimately the consolation prize?
A part of him wanted to wake them and demand an explanation and explain the situation. Dane would back him up and verify he was working, since he had worked the same shift. But another part, a stronger part, was done. He was done with competition and fighting with his brother over a woman. He cared for Genevieve deeply and thought they had a great future ahead of them, but he knew he needed a woman who was one hundred percent positive it was him she wanted in her life.
He refused to be a consolation prize again. Refused. Quietly, he made his way back out of the house, got into his car and drove home.
~*~*~*~*~
Genevieve awoke to a thumping sound. Groggily, she opened her eyes and smiled to see Graham under her, still sleeping. Closing her eyes she rubbed the sleep from them, glad that it had all just been a dream. With her eyes cleared, she opened them back up and her body froze; it wasn’t Graham’s body she was draped over, but Dane’s.
Oh shit. The realization sent a dagger into her heart, and sadness flooded through her again.
She pushed herself into a sitting position and pushed back the tears. Tears wouldn’t do her any good. The faster I forget him the faster I can move on.
Her movement woke Dane and he stirred next to her. Slowly he opened his eyes and smiled up at her. “Hey you. How are you feeling? Ready to talk?”
“Yes… No…” She sighed. “I don’t know.”
He sat up and stretched, before standing and offering his hand to her. “Come on. I’ll make us…” Dane glanced over to the clock on the wall. “Lunch. And you can tell me what my ass of a brother did to ya.” A wide smile spread across his lips and he jerked his head toward the kitchen. “Come on.” Accepting his hand, she allowed herself to be pulled from the sofa and followed him into the kitchen.
“So, ready to talk about it?” he asked, opening the fridge and surveying the contents as she leaned against the kitchen counter, arms crossed over her chest.
“Oh, well. I guess.” She uncurled her arms and raked her fingers through her satiny locks. “Today’s our one-month anniversary of making it official.”
“Uh-huh.”
“So I went to his house planning on surprising him when he got home after work.”
“Right.” With an armful of ingredients for sandwiches, he deposited them onto the countertop and gave her a hip bump, moving her a couple of inches and out of his way. “So, was he a cranky ass when he got home? He can get like that sometimes when it’s been an insane night. You’ll get used to it, it’s nothing personal, but the job can mess with your head sometimes.”
Genevieve laughed. She couldn’t imagine Graham being cranky with her, but then again, she couldn’t imagine him going back to Emma, but…
“So spill it. What’s going on?”
“It’s Emma.”
His body tensed up and his brow furrowed as he turned to face her straight on. “Emma? What does she have to do with anything?”
“She was there when I got there.”
Lunch forgotten, his frown deepened. “I don’t understand. She was there? What did she want?”
“Graham apparently. And it seems he wants her because she was in a little teddy-like thing when she answered the door.”
Confusion was etched in his expression and shone in his eyes. “What did Graham tell you?”
“I didn’t speak to him, she wouldn’t let me. She told me they’d had an exhausting night and he was sleeping. He was supposed to be at work, but apparently he’d lied so he could be with her.”
“Graham did work last night. He was still at the precinct filling out paperwork when I left this morning.”
A spike of hope raced through her until she remembered it was his brother she was talking to. “You don’t have to cover for him.”
He huffed and turned back to making the sandwiches. “Trust me, the last thing I’d do is cover for the guy who stole you.” Despite his words a grin touched his lips.
Genevieve laughed. “He didn’t steal me.”
“Either way, you’re with him and not me so I consider that stealing.”
“But his car was there when I got there.”
He turned back to her. She could see him thinking. “You know, I think he went in with his partner; they went to a game before work. They do that once in a while.”
“Why didn’t you go?”
Dane shrugged. “Just didn’t.”
“So how did she get in?”
He turned back to her, passing her a ham and cheese sandwich. “How were you planning on getting in?”
“The key under the rock behind the garbage bin.” She took a bite from the sandwich, not even realizing how hungry she was until that moment.
He reached out and tapped her on the nose. “Bingo.” She giggled and jerked away from him, swatting at his hand.
“Shit. I never thought of that.”
“Yup. That’s my guess.”
“But they’re divorced.”
“I’m guessing she’s pissed because I turned her down the other day and she’s trying to” – he made air quotes – “ – get back at me.” With a huff, he grabbed his sandwich and took a hearty bite from it then spun around and leaned back against the counter, continuing to eat.
It all began to click into place and she groaned inwardly. “I’m such an idiot.” She immediately felt an intense guilt. How could she ever think he’d go back to Emma?
“Nah, he’s the idiot for not changing the hiding spot of that key.”
“Then I think I’m going to have to go and see him.”
“Yeah, if Emma was there, I’m sure he could use seeing you right now. She has a tendency of riling him up pretty bad and considering the insane night we had last night with calls I imagine he was already in a foul mood.”
“I’m going to go check my phone and see if he called.” Leaving the remainder of her sandwich on the countertop she made her way into the living room, grabbed her handbag from next to the sofa, opened it and grabbed her phone.
“Did he call?” Dane asked, following her into the living room as he stuffed the remainder of his sandwich into his mouth.
“Five times. And there’s voicemail.”
“Well, there ya go.”
Smiling, she went over to him and wrapped her arms around his waist and gave him a hug; he responded by pulling her tight and placing his chin on the top of her head. It wasn’t the hug of would-be lovers, but of friends – sweet and comforting, but nothing more. “Thank you Dane.” She pulled away and her smile widened. “For understanding.” She was about to pull out of his arms when he caught her, holding her to him.
“Graham’s a good man, Ginny. Much better than I am. He deserves a woman like you and you should be with him ’cause you’ll never meet a man who will treat you better than him.”
Genevieve’s eyes began to water and she swiped at them with the backs of her hands. She knew that. She’d let her own insecurities and fears cloud the truth. “You deserve someone too, Dane. You really do.”
He chuckled and released her, giving her a quick smack on the bottom, making her giggle and yelp i
n surprise. “Well get going, no doubt he’s giving himself an aneurysm worrying about you and in a mad search of the city.”
“Okay.” She gave him another smile and half-wave before turning from him and leaving, not looking back.
~*~*~*~*~
~ Graham ~
Graham upped the speed on the treadmill and broke into a run. Whatever tiredness he’d felt upon getting home was long gone. Now he was filled with an adrenaline rush, his mind working overtime. After spending close to an hour attempting to sleep he’d decided to try and work it off in his small basement home gym. Maybe if he pushed himself to the limits of his exhaustion he’d be able to fall into a blissful sleep.
He’d been running for close to fifteen minutes, his heart thumping rapidly in his chest and sweat covering virtually every inch of his body when the doorbell rang through the house. He ignored it. The last thing he wanted was to talk to someone – anyone.
But the person outside seemed to be intent on speaking with him. After a minute of hearing the doorbell ring, he sighed in resignation.
Maybe it’s Genevieve, or Dane, maybe it’s both of them, a voice in the back of his mind chimed in. He didn’t know what he thought of that option. Maybe there was a reasonable explanation for them being cuddled and asleep on Dane’s sofa. She had thought he was back with Emma. Maybe she ran to Dane for comfort…
But Dane could have told her he hadn’t been home and indeed been working. Anger surged up within him as he took the stairs two at a time to answer the blasted door and the insistent person on the other side of it.
Not bothering to look out to see who it was on his doorstep, he pulled the door open and came face to face with Genevieve. He didn’t know what to say so he said nothing and simply stared at her waiting for her to speak.
