The Tourist Attraction (Moose Springs, Alaska #1)(68)

“Book or movie?”

“Does it matter?”

Zoey nodded emphatically. “It definitely matters.”

“Movie. I couldn’t make it through the book. Too boring.”

“You don’t stop reading a classic because it’s boring,” she argued.

“Maybe you don’t stop reading a classic because it’s boring. I do it all the time.”

“Was there a point?”

“I’m getting to it.” Inhaling the scent of her hair, Graham rested his chin against her shoulder, then placed a single kiss to the side of her neck. “There’s this scene in The Last of the Mohicans.”

“Is it a good scene?”

“It’s the best scene. They’re sitting like this, and he’s holding her, like this.” Graham wrapped his arm across her chest, his hand covering her stomach. “And then she’s dramatically craning her head off to the side while he stares into the distance.”

“Like this?” Giggling, Zoey tried to stretch her neck out, head tipped.

“Almost, but I think there was more postcoital, heaving bosom action.”

She heaved as best she could.

Graham squeezed her into a hug, resting his chin on her head. “Good try, but you look like you’re having an asthma attack.”

“No, I’m sexy. I promise.”

She was more than sexy. She was perfect. And like a bad karaoke song with interpretive dance, she was one hundred percent real.

“Hey, Zoey? How many more days?”

“Seven,” she whispered, threading her fingers through his own. Graham held her tighter, and when her smile slipped, he found it again with soft kisses and gentle teasing. But inside, Graham knew the truth, and he knew why this was a terrible idea.

A week would never be enough.





Chapter 12



The line for the Tourist Trap started early. Zoey knew Graham didn’t open for lunch until eleven, but when she drove through town at half after ten, she couldn’t resist going past.

To her shock, the line was a solid twenty people deep already. Zoey parked behind the building next to Graham’s truck because there wasn’t much room in the parking lot, then she pulled out her phone. Fiddling with it to try to get at least one bar of reception, Zoey stood in the back of a growing line. On the third attempt, her call finally went through.

“Hey, darlin’,” Graham greeted her in his lazy drawl. He sounded sleepy, which was to be expected. They hadn’t come back from their picnic until almost dawn. “Tell me you’re coming to save me from the masses.”

“Technically, I’m part of the masses. This is nuts, Graham.”

“You’re outside?”

“And way back in line. I was just coming by to say hi, but…” Zoey looked at the line, already shifting and grumbling to themselves. “They seem to be an aggressive group today. Might not be the best idea to get in the way of these people.”

“Just cut the line. I’m at the door.”

Easier said than done. With every “excuse me,” “sorry,” and promise she wasn’t actually cutting line, the looks grew meaner. When she reached the front of the line, Zoey found a man with legs braced outward glaring her down with the determination of one who wanted lunch and would be getting it. The door swung open, and in that moment, Zoey worried as much for Graham’s safety as she worried for her own. She was already regretting this idea.

“Just her,” Graham told the crowd in a deep, authoritative voice. “We open at eleven. Back off, man.”

Graham stepped forward, his sheer size and hard frown forcing the belligerent crowd to give way. Zoey squeezed in the space between his rib cage and the door, grateful for his bulk between her and the angry muttering accompanying her entrance.

“Wow. I knew your place was popular, but this is ridiculous.”

“That’s what I keep saying.” Turning the dead bolt on the front door, Graham pulled a shade down so they were out of view of prying eyes. Then he turned, leaning a shoulder against the door, arms folded over his chest.

“Hey.” One single word and those warm eyes sliding over her was all it took to roll a shiver of anticipation down Zoey’s spine. “What’s the plan today?”

That was a normal question. There was no reason to feel like this, except for the fact Graham was standing close, voice lowered and attention completely on her.

“I didn’t plan anything. Today was supposed to be an unscheduled spontaneous adventure day.”

“Tell me you have unscheduled spontaneity written in your planner.”

“Maybe…probably.”

Graham was extremely handsome, but somehow just standing there, gazing down at her, reaching over and tucking an errant strand of hair behind her ear, he was the most attractive man she’d ever seen. Momentarily overwhelmed, Zoey took a step back, retreating to the safety of somewhere not within arm’s reach.

Just because they’d kissed the night before didn’t mean Graham wanted her to launch herself at him in the middle of the morning with a mass of hangry customers outside.

It wasn’t so much like being hunted as there was an invisible rope between them. Zoey moving back meant he was going to follow. And she was fairly certain if he had gone a different direction, she would be following him. When Zoey’s hips bumped the table, it occurred to her that she may have deliberately lured him somewhere she could shove him down and have her way with him.