A Deep and Dark December(46)

“Works for me.”

She uncorked a bottle of red and poured two glasses. She handed one to Graham. “You’re not on duty tonight?”

“No. Not really.”

She pulled a couple of bowls and spoons out and set them on the countertop next to the stove. Leaning back against the counter next to him, she sipped her wine. “What does that mean ‘not really’?”

“I’m the sheriff. I’m pretty much on call twenty-four-seven in a town this size.”

“Sounds like you’ve gotten used to it.”

He made a face.

“Or not.” She set her glass down, deciding on a subject change. “Tell me, what happened out at Old Man Rooster’s house? I heard he shot himself in the ass, trying to shoot his neighbor’s dog for barking at his ugly wife.”

Graham rolled his head in her direction, one corner of his mouth kicked up. He had a naughty gleam in his eye that was probably the undoing of a lot of ladies’ intentions. “You really want to know?”

“I asked.”

He switched off the burner and turned toward her. “What’ll you give me for it?”

“Give you? You’re drinking my cheap wine and are about to eat my…” He leaned toward her and she suddenly lost all thought but the memory of his lips on hers.

“Erin?” he whispered, close enough for her to catch his scent. He smelled of the ocean and something altogether new and dangerous.

“Hmm?”

“I’ll tell you if you tell me what happened with Keith.”

“Blackmail is beneath you.”

“I always get what I want.”

She lowered her gaze to his mouth. “I’m surprised you just don’t take it.”

“Where’s the finesse in that?”

Her reply caught on a gasp as his hand grazed the back of hers. Accidental or on purpose?

“Tell me you broke up with him,” he said.

“I did.”

“How’d he take it?”

“How would you take it?”

He rested a hand on the counter next to her, leaning in. His thumb brushed the inside of her wrist. Once. Twice. “Not well.”

“That makes one of you.”

“Really?” He drew out the word, stretching it as thin as her resolve.

“He seemed more concerned that you knew about him and Deidre.”

“What exactly did he say?” All languidness gone, Graham’s gaze sharpened.

“He demanded to know who told me about their affair.” Instinctively she rubbed her arms where Keith had grabbed her.

He tracked the movement. “Did he hurt you?”

“No.” And that was the strangest part of all. There’d been no hurt between them. No affection either, apparently. Keith’s regard was equal to hers. They’d both been forcing the relationship. She knew why she’d stayed in a relationship that never should have begun. But why did he? Was it all just a cover up for him?

“What did you tell him?”

“Just that I knew about the affair…and the baby. I asked him if he was the father.”

“And?”

Flexing her fingers, she tried to smooth over the invisible imprint of Keith on her skin. The way he’d looked at her—wild, panicked—she’d never be able to blot out. “He was seriously freaked. And desperate to know who’d told me about their affair.”

“Desperate?”

“How I found out was more important to him than my knowing about it.” She snatched up her wine glass and stared into the ruby red liquid. “I expected more…” She made a wide gesture with her hands, sloshing her wine up the sides. “I don’t know.”

“Remorse?”

“Yeah.” She crossed her arms and took a sip of wine. “Some remorse would’ve been nice.”

He eased toward her. “Maybe a little groveling, too?”

“Groveling might have been a bit much.”

“Probably.” He captured her glass and took a sip before setting it on the counter at her hip. “But seeing him on his knees begging for your forgiveness…”

She pressed her lips together, quashing a smile.

“Ah, not too much after all,” he guessed.

She playfully smacked his arm. “Stop. I’m picturing it.”

Graham dropped to his knees, his hands clasped under his chin. “Please forgive me, Erin. I didn’t mean to fornicate.”

“Stop it.” Laughing, she tried to pull him up. “Don’t make fun of him.”

“It’s just that the freezers are so cold and she was so warm. And I’m surrounded by all those melons all day long. Please forgive me my trespasses.”

She bent over, giggling, trying to tug him up off the floor. “You have to stop.”

He allowed her to pull him to his feet. “I think that’s the first time I’ve ever seen you laugh like that.” He was so close, grinning down at her, his eyes creasing at the corners. “Did you know you have a dimple?” He touched her cheek with a finger. “Right there.”

She wrapped her hand around his finger and brought it down between them. “Stop pointing out my flaws.”

“You don’t have any flaws.”