by Layla Hagen
I turned the fake dismay into a fake glare. "If I'm not too hard, I'll find a real-sized boat in my yard next time to go with that tent."
He smirked. "Relax, baby. I'd never put it in your yard. I'd rent a garage."
I laughed for real now, a full belly laugh.
"I'll make you dinner, and then I'm going to work out all the tension from your system."
"Will I get a massage?"
"Yeah."
"And some sexy time?"
"Possibly."
I pouted.
"Is that all you care about?" he teased.
"Absolutely not. I appreciate all your qualities. It'd be a shame not to put those delicious sexy skills to use though."
"You wicked woman. You're lucky I love you." He took my face in his hands, studying me. "Are you okay, Lori? The truth."
"I think so. This afternoon just brought back some unpleasant memories. I've always known Jeff was a dick. He surpassed himself today... showing up like this, asking me to lie for him. No interest in Milo."
"Were you hoping he would want to be part of Milo's life?"
I shook my head. "No, I'm not an idiot. I wouldn't trust him even if he tried. He's flighty and would only hurt Milo more."
"I wouldn't let that happen. You and Milo are family to me."
"I love you so much," I whispered.
"You handled everything great today. Now, let's go home."
During the drive, I tried to calm down, but I was unsuccessful. Seeing Graham's reddened knuckles didn't help. His lips were pressed in a thin line—he was no doubt rehashing the past hour in his mind, just like I was. It set me on edge. Seeing Jeff today brought back the ugly feeling—and the fear—of being tossed aside. I shouldn't have let it get to me, but I was only human.
Even after dinner, I wasn’t feeling like myself. Graham told me as much.
“I’m not angry, or nervous, just... unsettled,” I tried to explain. “Not sure if I’m making much sense.”
“You do. Seeing someone who has hurt you before has to get to you.”
I blinked, relieved he understood, that he wasn’t judging me. “It did. I hope I never have to see his face again.”
Hooking an arm around my waist, he brought me close to him. “I love your strength, Lori.” He dragged the tip of his nose up and down my neck, making me shudder.
“Thank you for coming with me today, and for being here now.” Facing things together, as a team, was new to me. My family had always been behind me, of course, but this... this was different.
“My pleasure.” He placed open-mouthed kisses on my neck, descending to my shoulder. My hands roamed his chest, and then I couldn’t help myself and slipped my fingers under his shirt, tracing the lines of his six-pack. Then I undid the button of his jeans, and the fly, needing to touch more of him. When I squeezed his cock, he tugged at my lower lip with his teeth. Heat zipped through me.
Graham pushed both straps of my dress off my shoulders, lowering the zipper on the back. I was glad to be wearing a simple beach dress. Easy to put on. Easy to get off. He tossed it somewhere behind him in the living room, raking his heated gaze over my almost-naked body. The lingerie was so tiny that it didn’t cover much. He got his jeans and boxers out of the way, and then his erection was between us, touching my belly, hot and hard.
I opened my thighs, but Graham pushed them even wider apart as he stepped between them, guiding his erection lower, rubbing the length against my center. I still had my thong on, and the friction was making my legs quiver. With grabby hands, I took off Graham’s shirt.
“Do you have a condom on you?” I whispered. “I don’t think we’re going to make it to the bedroom.”
He laughed against my lips, then reached for his jeans. After taking a condom out of his wallet, he rolled it on under my greedy gaze. We made it to the couch, but no farther. He kissed me ferociously. His hands were everywhere. His mouth was driving me crazy.
“Baby, I’ll be rough,” he whispered.
“I like it rough, and fast.”
He didn’t even take off my lingerie, only pushed the scrap of fabric covering my center to one side. He ran his fingers across my opening, strumming them against the sensitive flesh. I lifted my hips in a wordless request. When he nipped my clit between two fingers, I nearly came. He slid inside me.
“Wrap your legs around me. You’ll take me in even deeper.”
I followed his command, bringing my knees to his sides then resting my heels under his ass. He pulled back, then pushed inside me again, filling me up, stretching me.
“Graham!”
Our lovemaking was wild and unrestrained. When he brought his palm to my lower belly, pressing down, the sensation of him relentlessly driving inside me became even more intense. Graham kissed the tops of my breasts, then pushed the bra up, releasing my nipples. Cool air hit my peaks, and then the lash of his tongue. He was making me burn everywhere, even where he wasn’t touching me. Even my toes felt on fire. And when he strummed his thumb over my clit, I came hard. He grunted out my name, a raw, primal sound, until he climaxed. Then he went still over me, bracing himself on one arm, keeping the other on my waist.
His voice was rough when he spoke in my ear. “Nothing compares to this feeling. This, Lori, is everything.”
Chapter Twenty-Six
Graham
"This is so cool!" Milo exclaimed for the tenth time, inspecting the miniature carton warehouse a week later. We'd been working on his school project for days.
"I'm sure it'll earn you first place." I'd been tinkering with it every evening, and I was proud of it.
"Boys, you ready? Milo, we have to leave or you'll be late to school," Lori called.
"Ready, Mom!"
He slung his backpack over his shoulder, then walked to the front door, holding the project carefully in both hands. Lori was waiting for him there.
After Milo skidded out the door, I closed the distance to Lori and kissed her.
"Now that's what I call a good morning kiss," she murmured.
"Want to have lunch together?"
"Can't. A handsome man is taking me to a fancy dinner in two weeks, so I need to go shopping. Today is the only day I have time."
"A handsome man, huh?"
"Handsome and charming."
"Sounds like you like him."
"Oh, I really, really do."
"You looking forward to the dinner?" It wasn't just a fancy dinner; it was a party hosted by the club to celebrate this season's results. Everyone was bringing their partners, and I wanted Lori by my side.
"Very much. I plan to blow that certain handsome man's mind with my outfit, hence why I need time to hunt down a fancy dress."
"Have fun."
***
When I stepped inside the club one hour later, the receptionist pointed to the waiting area after greeting me. "That guy sitting there has been asking for you. His name is—"
"Jeff Finn." What the hell? "I'll take care of this." I crossed the lobby to him. He rose to his feet when he saw me.
"What are you doing here?" I barked. Lori had been on edge since the meeting with that fucker last week, and nothing I did seemed to take that edge away completely.
"Waiting for you. We need to talk."
"Lori told you to contact her lawyer."
"I'm not talking to Lori though, am I? Here to talk to you."
I had no interest in what he had to say, but I didn't want to attract any attention by having him thrown out. I also didn't want him to bother Lori.
"Let's go to my office."
I led us to the upper floor, closing the door behind me once we were in my office. I stood behind my desk and didn't bother asking him to sit down.
"What do you want?"
"I didn't like the outcome of our last meeting."
"Tough luck. Maybe you shouldn't have insulted Lori, just like you shouldn't have been an ass for the last seven years and paid the child support. Then you wouldn't have to ask Lori to lie
for you."
"I didn't ask to be a father. Don't see why I had to pay anything."
"You're a fucking coward." I clenched my fists and my jaw. I detested people like him, who shunned responsibility. "If you think I'll put in a good word for you with Lori, you're wrong."
"A good word? No, that's not why I'm here.”
“So why are you here?”
“You and Lori looked... cozy in that coffee shop. I bet you wouldn’t want me to stick around and cause trouble.”
“You can’t cause any.”
“That’s debatable. If I showed up at Milo’s school to introduce myself, or at Lori’s house...”
My throat tightened. I forced myself to take in deep breaths and expel the air slowly. It didn’t help calm me down.
“You go anywhere near them, and you’re going to be very sorry.”
He sat on the chair in front of my desk uninvited. “But imagine how unpleasant that would be for Lori, and confusing for the boy too. You wouldn’t want that. I imagine Lori wouldn’t be too happy with you if you let that happen.”
“Get to the point. Why are you here?” I was talking through gritted teeth, and the idiot was smiling.
“I’ve got your attention. Good. Let’s talk about what you’re willing to do so I don’t pay anyone any... confusing visits.”
“What do you want?”
“I realized I can get a lot more out of this than a declaration from Lori. I want money."
"What?"
"My insurance will pay for the malpractice damage, but since I won't be able to practice anymore, I won't have an income."
"How the fuck is that my problem?" I stuffed my hands in my pockets to keep from throttling the idiot.
"I can become a problem, make Lori's life difficult, claiming paternity rights and so on."
"If she takes you to court for that child support—"
"She can get in line behind other people I owe money to." He shrugged. "You write me a check, I'll make myself scarce."
"You have some nerve, showing up here."
"The lawsuit is ruining me. I've put in one-hundred-twenty-hour weeks for years. I don't have much to lose here. I'm a desperate man. I have the nerve for much more."
It was all I could do not to physically drag him out of the club. Doing that wouldn't solve anything. Sure, Lori had a case against him in court. But I didn't want her to have to see his face ever again. That meeting was hard for her. I didn't want her to go through it again. This idiot had caused her enough pain over the years. And what if he did try to contact Milo? What if he showed up at the school? Giving him money felt like rewarding him, but if it meant he'd be out of Lori's life, I was happy to do it.
I took out the checkbook I kept in the top drawer of my desk and wrote down a six-figure amount. I handed it to him over the table. He jerked his head back when he read the sum.
"You ever contact Lori again, I'll get a restraining order against you," I said calmly.
He snorted, pointing at the photograph of Lori, Milo, and me that sat on my desk.
"Any comments, and I'll give you a black eye to go with that jaw."
"I got what I came for." He fluttered the check in the air, then turned around and left my office. My pulse was hammering in my eardrums. I was clenching my fists. I had to calm down, because I was attending a team practice and didn't want the players to see me like this. I descended to the team's training grounds, still feeling very much on edge. I was the first to arrive, but Jace stormed in seconds later.
"That Jeff jackass was here."
"Came to see me. Got rid of him."
"What did he want? I swear to God, if he doesn't leave Lori alone...." He sputtered. I hadn't ever seen Jace lose his cool. He was the most levelheaded on the team, which was why he had great potential for captain. When one of his teammates became hotheaded, I could count on Jace to calm him down before a referee had to step in.
"I took care of it. He won't be bothering Lori again."
He glanced at my hand. "Lori said you punched him the other day."
"Yeah."
After a pause, Jace extended his hand, shaking mine. "Welcome to the family."
When the coach and the rest of the team filtered in, I went to sit on the sidelines, in my usual spot. I barely managed to pay attention to the coach’s strategic indications. I replayed the meeting in my mind. Damn it, I should have called a lawyer first, have papers drawn up so I’d have it in writing that Jeff Finn would never bother Lori and Milo again. I was usually good at analyzing situations from all angles. But upstairs, I’d acted on impulse.
My thoughts remained on Lori and Milo during the entire practice.
I hoped I did the right thing to protect the woman I loved and the boy I'd come to think of as my own son.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Lori
Milo came down with a cold the following week, but he was in top shape by the time his spring break started the week after. Unfortunately, Graham caught the bug, and he still had it on Saturday. The club's dinner party was tonight, but I wasn't sure he was in any shape to attend. I took an Uber to his house early in the afternoon. If he wasn't feeling well enough to attend, then I'd just take care of him. My schedule was clear anyway. Milo's spring break had begun, and he'd gone with Marlene, her husband, and their eight-year-old son to Orlando. They wouldn't be back until Thursday. It was the first time I'd be apart from my boy for so many days, but he'd insisted on going, and I didn't want to be a hog.
I found Graham tucked in his bed, curled on one side, hugging a pillow half asleep. I crouched next to him. It was the third day of sickness, and he seemed much healthier.
"How are you feeling?" I whispered.
"Like I died three days ago and now I'm coming back to life."
I pressed my lips together. Men. You'd think he had leprosy.
"I'm sorry you caught the bug."
"How come you haven't?"
"I'm a mom. I have enough antibodies for two lifetimes. I'm going to the kitchen to make you some tea."
While I was busying myself around his kitchen, I heard a faint buzzing from his living room. His phone was ringing, the word Nana appearing on the screen. I ran upstairs with it, but Graham had fallen asleep.
When I returned to the kitchen, it buzzed again. I decided to answer.
"Hi, Na— Ms. Scott." I'd nearly called her Nana. "This is Lori. We haven't met, but—"
"Lori Connor? Graham's Lori?"
"Yes. He's down with a cold, and he's asleep right now."
"Can you tell him to call me back?"
"Of course."
"Thank you. You know, when he was a kid, I used to make a concoction for him when he had a cold."
"Can you give me the recipe?"
"Do you have anything to write on?"
I put the phone on loudspeaker and opened the application for notes on my phone.
"Yes I do."
I typed into my phone as she spoke, then held it to my ear again once she was done.
"Thank you. I'll check if he has any of the ingredients, and if he's missing any, there's a farmer's market a few blocks away. I'll go shopping there."
"He talks about you often, you know."
"He does?"
"Of course. About you and Milo. He's quite taken with both of you. Graham is a great man, Lori. Take good care of him." Even though her tone was still warm, it held a hint of warning.
"I promise."
We chatted for a while, and she regaled me with stories from his childhood. I loved this window into his past and was already making mental notes about all the ways I could tease him. Nana was giving me excellent ammunition.
After hanging up, I checked his fridge and pantry, but he was still missing a few herbs for the concoction, so I headed out to the farmer's market. By the time I returned and prepared the remedy, we were on a time-crunch. Graham was already awake when I brought it to his room. I handed him the mug, and he looked up in surprise.
"Y
ou know how to make this?"
"Now I do. Spoke to Nana."
"My nana?"
"Yes. I brought you the phone when she called, but you were asleep, and then she called again. I answered to tell her you were sleeping, and we started talking. She gave me the recipe. Found some things in your kitchen, and bought the rest from the farmer's market. You should call Nana back when you have the chance."
He took several sips and didn't say anything in between. Had I committed a faux pas by answering his phone? I hadn't even stopped to consider that maybe I'd overstepped some boundaries. He downed the entire contents of the mug, set it on the nightstand, and slid lower on his pillow. He patted the mattress, and I climbed right next to him. I still felt a little awkward about the phone call.
These past two weeks, I'd sensed some unease on Graham's part; a few times he'd seemed to want to talk, then changed his mind. Maybe I was reading too much into everything. I'd been jumpy since the meeting with Jeff, and felt guilty that he'd driven Graham to violence. I hoped Graham didn't think this kind of drama was bound to happen again. My life was usually drama-free.
"Graham, did I do something wrong? Should I have not answered your phone?" He turned on his side, facing me. "No, not at all. I'm just surprised you went to so much trouble."
"It wasn't trouble at all," I assured him, detecting a hint of emotion in his eyes. Did he think he wasn't worth that "trouble"? I had to rectify that. I scooted closer to him, intending to prove my appreciation.
"So, what did you and Nana talk about?"
"You, of course. She told me many stories. I can tease you for years."
"I knew it. Should have been there for your first conversation, so I could save face."
"I'm fairly confident Nana would've dished dirt on you even so."
"Probably." He kissed my cheek. "I won't kiss your mouth, just in case."
"I came all the way here, and I don't even get a kiss?"
"I said I won't kiss your mouth. Didn't say anything about other body parts."
He scooted closer, kissing my bare shoulder and my neck.
"You're taking advantage," I informed him, failing to work any sort of severity in my tone.
