“I’m glad you’re having a good time.”
“What have you been working on today?” she asked.
“Just work.”
His simple reply had her rolling her eyes. “Right. Well, I will let you get back at it then. I’ve got to get lunch and then head back to the clinic.”
“Listen,” Graham interrupted. “If you don’t have time to do your grocery shopping today…” He was quiet a moment and she could hear the sound of the wind blowing through his phone. “You’re more than welcome to eat dinner at my place again.”
Her heart fluttered.
“And Alice, of course.”
“Of course,” she quickly agreed. “Thanks. We’ll see how the rest of the day goes.”
“Right. Well, take care Julia.”
“You too.” She hung up and did a small dance in her chair, not realizing Becky from Diamond X was stepping out of the building headed to lunch. She grinned at Julia’s display, no doubt putting two and two together. Embarrassed, Julia offered up a quick wave and backed out of the parking lot.
“Graham, if you needed my help, you should have asked me five hours ago.” Annie placed her hands on her hips. Despite her delicate frame, Annie faced off against Hastings family members with equal stubbornness. Sometimes severe stubbornness displayed on a daily basis. She knew each and every brother like they were her own sons. And she’d withstood many a Graham glare without fear.
“I didn’t think I’d be feeding them again,” he explained.
“And why are you, may I ask?” She cocked her head to the side and watched as he rummaged through his pantry. “Especially after you had me stock the guest house with supplies. They’re grown women, they can feed themselves.”
Graham sighed. “I offered.”
“I see.” She crossed her arms. “Honey, if you’re sweet on this Julia woman, just ask her out.”
Graham’s head snapped around. “I’m not sweet on anyone, Annie. I’m trying to be hospitable.”
“Oh, hogwash. I haven’t seen you this jumpy or grumpy since Molly Davis at junior prom.” She chuckled and eased her hip against the door as she continued to watch him in motherly affection. “She must be pretty special if she’s got you acting so out of character.”
“Why is it so shocking to everyone that I am a nice person?” he asked.
“You are nice, sweetie. On the inside. It’s your outside that looks like you chew gravel most of the time.” She pointed to his scowl. “If you eased up on that jaw of yours from time to time and let that handsome smile out, I imagine you’d have plenty of women coming to call.”
“I’m not after a woman.”
The sound of Alice’s truck pulling up next to his outside the house, followed by Julia’s little red Honda had him glancing out the window.
“Oh look, they’re here.” Annie beamed as she crossed over to the screen door and waved. “Hey girls, over here.”
Alice nodded in acknowledgment as Julia unloaded a few bags of groceries into the guest house. “Looks like they bought groceries,” Annie reported to Graham. “You may be off the hook.” She grinned at the disappointment that flashed across Graham’s face. She patted his cheek and he frowned at her. “Oh, stop it.” She chuckled as she turned back to the door. “Ya’ll hungry?” she called out to Alice. “Graham and I were just discussing what to make for dinner.”
Julia emerged from the guest house and walked towards Alice at the base of the porch. “She is pretty,” Annie whispered to Graham and lightly nudged him with her elbow. Annie opened the screen door and let both women inside.
“Hi there. You must be Julia.” Annie extended her hand. “I’m Annie.”
Julia shook her hand and greeted her warmly. “I’ve heard a lot about you.”
“And I you.” Annie grinned. “Come on now, ladies, let’s fix us a glass of wine and make Graham cook for us.”
“Oh,” Julia looked to Graham. “I forgot to call you. I was able to buy some groceries.”
“So?” Alice said. “Bring them over here. We got the fixings for fajitas. If you want to fire up the grill, you can do your part.”
Annie clapped her hands. “Fajitas sound perfect. Don’t they, Graham?” She narrowed her eyes at him, and they silently exchanged a conversation that had him nodding. “Sure. If that’s what you guys would like.”
“It is,” Alice confirmed. “I’ve been thinking about them the entire way over from Sheffield. How you been, Annie? Haven’t seen you in a while.” Alice accepted the generously poured wine glass from the white-haired woman and both made their way to the table. “I’m good. Henry is at Bingo tonight, so I’m here bugging the britches off of Graham. Julia, honey, I set your glass on the counter. I figured you and Graham would want to grab those groceries and bring them over.”
“Of course, yes.” Julia smiled and waited for Graham to shoot another warning look in Annie’s direction before he followed her outside. “She seems nice.” Julia led the way to the smaller house and opened the door. “I didn’t put them away yet because I wasn’t sure what the plan was for this evening.” She began sorting through the bags and removing items that weren’t needed and put them away.
“She is,” Graham confirmed. “Most of the time. She can also give a whipping that’ll make you sore for a week.”
Julia grinned. “And I’m sure you hardly ever had a reason for a whipping growing up.”
“Me? Never.” He smirked. “Maybe two. I’m a fast learner.”
She handed him a bag and grabbed one herself. “Oh, I also bought you this.” She grabbed a case of his favorite beer. “Since you’ve been housing, feeding, and tolerating us, I figured it was the least I could do. Oh, and your Diamond X order is in my car. Here.” She handed him the other grocery bag as they walked outside, and she hurried towards her trunk. She retrieved his bags and box of boots and carried them inside. “I’ll just set them in here.” She called over her shoulder as she walked to his living room and placed them on the couch.
Annie’s brow rose.
“Graham needed an errand boy today,” Alice explained.
“I hope you bought some new shirts. Some of yours are just sad,” Annie scolded. “Not sure I have any extra fabric to keep mending holes.”
“He did.” Julia grabbed her glass of wine and joined the other two women at the table. “Buy shirts, I mean. I like the dark blue one,” she told him. “It’ll make your eyes pop.”
Alice snorted as she swallowed a sip of wine and Annie looked pleased to see Julia’s comment had Graham blushing.
“I’m sure that’s why he bought it. Right, Graham?” Alice teased.
Not uttering a response, Graham started fishing ingredients out of the bags. “I’m going to start the grill.” He disappeared outside.
Julia stood again and walked over to the bags. “I’ll start on the sides.”
“We can help,” Annie offered and started to stand.
“Oh, no. Please, let me. As a thank you for setting up the guest house for us.”
Annie liked the girl more and more. “I won’t say no to that, Julia. Thank you. My feet are so sore today. I blame Lawrence, though I can’t stay too mad at that sweet boy for too long.”
“What’d he have you doing?” Alice asked.
“Oh, I was cleaning his house today. It’s not so much him I should be nagging about, but Seth. That boy doesn’t know how to clean up after himself. Lawrence is just too good of a soul to kick his own brother out. It’s time Seth gets after it.”
“He needs a good Annie scolding,” Alice encouraged.
“Oh, he got one. Both of them, because Lawrence was standing right there. Though I pulled him aside and said for his sanity’s sake and mine, he needed to help Seth get those house plans drawn up quick or else his house was going to suffer for it.”
Julia walked over and placed a bowl of salsa, guacamole, and chips between the ladies and walked back to the counter to start working on rice.
“Now this spe
aks to my heart.” Annie dipped her first chip in the roasted red salsa and ate. “I think that might just hit the spot. Elbows off the table, Alice.” Alice obeyed and dipped her own chip. “Now, how’s your daddy? And the clinic?” Annie asked.
“Good, and better now that Julia completely revamped the place today.”
“Did she now?” Annie looked over to the brunette bustling around Graham’s kitchen and liked what she saw. Graham walked back inside, and Julia intercepted him with a sheet pan full of meat and handed it to him. Without a word, he stepped back outside.
“Yes,” Alice continued. “I’m sad she’s only here a couple of weeks. I’d recruit her in a heartbeat.”
“You only say that because I cleaned up the dog vomit this afternoon,” Julia chimed in.
“That and behind the desk. Both were equally disgusting to me.”
Annie chuckled. “The poor girl comes to visit you on her vacation, and you put her to work.”
“I don’t mind it much. I like to stay busy.” Julia turned the rice on to boil, adding spices and flavors that fragranced the kitchen.
Graham stepped back inside, and Julia stepped towards him to grab the pan. He shook his head. “I got it. Keep doing what you’re doing.” He walked over to the sink and began washing the sheet pan with warm soapy water. He felt her eyes on him and he turned to see Annie studying him closely. He tried to send her a mental “knock it off” but Annie just grinned. His hope of seeming less obvious in his attraction to Julia seemed to be failing. He didn’t think he was acting much differently, but apparently, he was. He turned and Julia gasped as she’d turned at the same time and her bowl of beans spilled down the front of his stomach and pants. He flinched as they both stood a moment, frozen in motion, both gauging their next move. The beans were hot, but not scalding, the sludge slopping to the floor. Her panicked brown eyes darted up to his. “
“I am so sorry.” Julia nervously placed the bowl on the island and began swiping her hands down the front of his shirt to swipe away refried beans. Realizing her efforts were pointless, she took a cautious step back and held her hands to her sides. “Graham—” She started to apologize again, but he just shook his head.
“I’m going to change. Watch the meat.” He disappeared up the stairs and Julia looked to the other women in horror.
“I feel so bad.” She dropped to her knees and began swiping up her mess. “Ugh, I can be so clumsy.”
“Honey, that boy wasn’t looking where he was going either. It’s fine.” Annie stood and walked to the door. “I’ll go flip the meat right quick. Alice,” Annie snapped her fingers and pointed to the mess on the floor. “Help her clean this up. You can’t just sit there and expect a free meal all the time.” And with that, she walked outside.
∾
“I cannot believe I just spilled beans all down the front of Graham.” Julia tossed the last of the ruined beans in the trash and walked to his pantry hoping he had a couple of cans of beans inside. Thankfully, he did. She retrieved them and placed them on the island as Alice washed her hands. “So smooth,” Julia muttered. “He’s already being so nice to let us eat over here and then I go and mess it up.”
“Don’t be so hard on yourself.” Alice acknowledged Annie’s return with a nod as she walked back to her seat at the table and they both watched Julia fret about the kitchen. “If anything, I bet he enjoyed you wiping your hands down the front of him.”
Julia’s mouth dropped. “I did no such thing.” Her face flushed crimson. “Well, not in the way you mean. I was trying to clean the beans off of him.”
“Were you?” Alice teased. “Get a good feel of his abs in the process?”
Annie chuckled as Julia’s face flamed an even brighter shade of red. “I did not, thank you very much. That would have been—”
“Delightful?” Alice finished.
“No.” Julia started to place her dirty hands on her hips and stopped realizing they were covered in beans and walked to the sink to rinse them off.
“Delicious,” Annie added and made Alice laugh and Julia’s lips twitch.
“No.” Julia tried to keep a straight face as the women continued to tease her. Graham’s footsteps had her holding a finger to her lips and giving the two women a warning look.
“Meat was almost done,” Annie reported when his foot hit the last step. “Best take it off to rest. Looks like Julia’s almost done with everything else. You soak that shirt?”
“It’s in the laundry room.”
“Yes, but are you soaking it?”
“Yes ma’am.”
“Good man.” Annie nodded in approval.
“Graham, again, I apologize.” Julia reached towards him and lightly grazed her fingers over his arm, debating if she should reach out to him or not. Her hand fell to her side when his navy eyes landed on her. He didn’t seem angry, which was a good sign, but his expression was unreadable.
“It’s no big deal.” He walked out to the porch to fetch the meat.
Julia blew a frustrated breath. “Guess that’s all I’m going to get out of him.”
“What did you expect?” Alice asked.
“I don’t know.” Julia shrugged.
“I think the real question is, what do you want to get out of him?” Annie asked. “That boy’s always been the quiet, serious sort. It’s his nature. Always watchful, protective, stubborn, and a bit stand-offish. Don’t let that scare ya, honey.”
“He doesn’t scare me,” Julia assured her. “He’s just a hard one to get to know.”
“And Julia really wants to get to know him,” Alice baited.
“Hush.” Julia slapped a towel her direction. “I do not. Well, I do. But I want to get to know all of the brothers.”
“Oh, so should we be expectin’ more company?” Annie glanced at her watch and Alice laughed.
Julia inhaled a deep breath and caved. “Okay, fine. I find him intriguing.” She pointed a finger at the two women. “Don’t say anything. Besides I’m only here a couple weeks, not like I can get to know him that well anyway. Just thought it would be nice to have some friends to talk and hang out with whenever you’re busy the next couple weeks.”
“So, you choose the most alienated man in Parks?” Alice pursed her lips as she nodded. “Good plan.” Her sarcasm dripped like dark honey and had Annie chuckling.
“Oh, how I love that boy.” Annie grinned. “Shake him up, Julia, even if it is for a couple of weeks. It’s time he sees there is life outside this ranch.”
Graham walked back inside and caught the last of Annie’s sentence. “Life outside the ranch, what?”
“Nosey.” Annie waved away his interruption. “Just telling Julia you boys needed a life outside the ranch.”
“We’re happy with the way things are,” Graham grumbled, turning his back to them as he transferred the meat to a large cutting board and walked the pan over to the sink once more.
“Sure you are. So, you girls plan on church this Sunday?”
“I believe so,” Alice said. Julia just nodded as if she were here for whatever Alice wanted.
“Good. You’ll sit by us,” Annie invited. “Sixth pew on the left.”
“I know where you sit,” Alice stated.
“Oh, do you? I hadn’t seen your face there in a while, so I wasn’t sure you remembered.”
“I get it, Annie.” Alice smiled. “I’ve been lazy in my attendance the last several months.”
“If I can get all seven Hastings brothers to church every Sunday, then Alice Wilkenson, you can drag your butt there too. Besides, I’ve got pot roast planned for Sunday lunch at my place. Henry loves his company on Sundays.”
“The boys confessed their lack of attendance lately,” Alice pointed out. “But how is Henry?” Alice asked, concern etching her forehead.
“Oh, the same horse’s behind he always is,” Annie affectionately said. “That’s my husband,” she told Julia. “He and Graham are two peas in a pod.”
“Because they�
�re both horse behinds?” Alice asked with a smug grin towards Graham as he turned to let his dislike of her comment be known.
Julia patted him on the back as she reached for the shredded cheese beside him. “She only recognizes those of her own kind,” Julia whispered and had his face lifting into that charming smile before he laughed at Alice and Annie’s surprised faces. Julia wrinkled her nose and stuck out her tongue at Alice before continuing her task of setting out the sides on the island. She pivoted to check the rice on the stove and her shoe slipped in the damp spot on the floor where the beans had been cleaned. Graham caught her by the elbow before she landed hard against the island, and her heart bounced into overdrive.
“Karma,” Alice whispered as she took a sip of her wine.
Julia placed a hand over her heart. “Thanks for the save. Guess I didn’t wipe up the grease as well as I thought.” His grip lingered on her arm as she looked up at him, and his face grew serious. Something shifted and stirred between them, like the wind before a storm, heavy and full of a potential outburst.
“Ahem.” Alice broke the silence. “You’ll have your chance to hold her close when we go dancing tomorrow night. Is the food ready?”
Julia jumped from his touch and began setting out the plates.
“Dancing?” Annie’s eyebrows lifted and shook her shoulders. “That sounds fun.”
“Actually, about that,” Julia began.
“Already backing out?” Alice frowned.
“Well, Graham and I were talking, and we—”
“Were you now?” Alice crossed her arms and waited patiently for an excuse.
“We were thinking bowling instead,” Julia rushed to finish as she handed a plate to Graham and Annie.
“Bowling?”
“Yes. And dinner, maybe.”
Alice pondered the idea. “That could be fun. Alright, let’s do it. I’ll group text the rest of the family.”
Julia sent a wink towards Graham at their success of changing the dancing plans. The exchange did not go unnoticed by Annie, but she didn’t say a word other than to bow her head and wait for Graham to say grace. When he obliged, the rest of the evening was spent with Annie sharing embarrassing and sweet childhood stories of Graham and his brothers’ shenanigans that only endeared Julia to them more. Annie’s love for them was obvious, and Graham treated the woman like a mother. Their bond special, and she was glad that Annie hugged her before leaving and seemed to like her.
Graham Page 8
