The Tourist Attraction (Moose Springs, Alaska #1)(101)

“Graham doesn’t want whatever this is, Lana. He made that crystal clear.”

“That boy has no idea what he’s doing, but how he feels is not up for negotiation.” Setting the brush aside, Lana wrapped her arms around Zoey’s shoulders, pulling her close. “I know a lot of people, dearest, but I think you’re my only real friend.” By the softness in her voice, Zoey knew Lana had been scared too. “And as my only friend, it’s my job to tell you that he loves you. If you love him too, he deserves to know. Even if this is done, he still should know.”

Zoey nodded wordlessly, then leaned into Lana’s shoulder, listening to the rain outside. Trying to find the courage to do something even more reckless than four-wheeling in a storm.

*

Punching someone hurt like a son of a bitch.

It had been a long time since Graham had gotten into a real brawl. His temper had gotten him in more than one scuffle in high school, but it seemed like the only times he ended up in a full throw down was over a woman.

“Women are rough, Jake. You’re lucky you’re neutered.”

From his place at Graham’s feet, the border collie wagged his tail, acknowledging being acknowledged. Graham had been icing his busted knuckles on and off since he’d come home, and the swelling seemed to have reached the worst it was going to get. Two Tylenol had taken the edge off the soreness, but it would be a while before flexing his fingers didn’t make him wince.

“Guess I’ll have to close tomorrow. I deserve a day off, don’t you think? You and I could hang out and lick our wounds together?”

Jake’s ears perked, then he whined. His blind eyes followed the path of whatever vehicle was coming down the driveway.

“Whoever it is, they can keep on going,” Graham grunted sourly.

Gravel crunched as the car came to a stop outside.

This time, Jake’s whine was softer, happier, his tail wagging furiously as he wriggled and scooted toward the door. He only acted like that for one person.

They both only acted like that for one person.

When she knocked, Graham stayed at the table, staring down at the faded yellow tablecloth. Maybe it was time he changed it.

“Graham?” That voice, sweet but strong, was seared into his memory. He’d never forget her, not a single inch of her. “You don’t have to let me in. I just need to know you’re okay. You weren’t picking up your phone.”

No. No, he wasn’t. Because it was still sitting in his bathroom, bloodied from Killian’s face exploding all over them both.

“I just…” Zoey drifted off, then cleared her throat. “I just wanted to say thank you. Thank you for caring enough to look for me. I was really scared, and if it wasn’t for you, I’d still be out there, still scared. So…thank you.”

When Zoey fell quiet, Graham knew she would leave. If he just stayed in his seat, kept his heart and his eyes and his mouth shut, she would leave and this whole thing would be over. He could go back to life as normal.

That was the problem. Normal would never feel like normal again. Not after Zoey had walked into his life and wrapped her slender fingers around his heart. Right now, it felt like those fingers were squeezing for all they were worth.

But she was going to leave.

Right this instant, she was leaving.

Here, at his kitchen table, the rain thrumming on the metal roof, was where he lost her.

Jake whined again, more plaintively this time, but Graham was already on his feet. The border collie scooted out of the way as he opened the door.

“Haven’t you spent enough time in the rain today?” he asked quietly.

She looked tiny on the other side of the screen door, still pale and drawn, but the fear no longer lingered in her eyes. It was the fear that had flipped his rage from barely contained to unreasonable in the big house. Graham couldn’t stand it, the idea that she would ever be anything but safe.

Her palm was against the screen door. And when Zoey saw him, she sighed with the same longing that was tearing him apart and leaned her forehead against the screen.

“Thank you, Graham. For everything.”

Closing his eyes, Graham placed his hand to the screen opposite hers, resting his forehead to Zoey’s own.

And when her thumb pressed into his, the lightest of touches, Graham was done.

“I can’t do this anymore.” His words a desperate rasp of misery as all reason abandoned him.

“I know. I just—”

Jerking open the screen door, Graham took her face in his hands and kissed her. He kissed her because not kissing her was like trying to swim backward in a riptide. Whether he liked it or not, his heart had pulled him to her, and there was no going back now. She was leaving, and Graham couldn’t do a damn thing to stop that.

All he could do was make the most of what time they had left.

When Zoey pulled away, breathless and eyes wide, Graham allowed himself a moment to let this sink in. To enjoy the anticipation of having her in his arms. Running a thumb along her jaw in silent question, he waited for her. And when she nodded, reaching for him, wrapping her arms around his neck, Graham picked her up, walked a few steps, and set her on the counter.

He closed the door with his free hand, locking it this time because he was not getting interrupted. Wanting her was like breathing, an involuntary reaction necessary for survival. Touching her was coming home. Never had Graham known how lost he was, but he was lost without her.