Chapter 7

Sarah

I’m thrilled Graham wants to see me again. I thought he might call me a week after our date. Instead, he came to ask me out in front of my sister and niece the very next day. If that’s not a statement, I don’t know what is. I’m flattered he wants to spend time with me again so soon. I’m also curious about what he wants to do. And a daytime date is usually hard to pull off.

When I stand in front of my closet, deciding what to wear, I’m nervous. I’m more nervous about today’s date than I was about Saturday night’s date because even though I know Graham a little better, I also know that things can go a lot further this time. That nearly happened the other night. If it wasn’t for the phone call, who knows how far it would have gone?

What makes me more nervous is that I know I won’t say no. I want Graham. But I haven’t been with a man in so long — most of the guys I’ve gone on dates with weren’t worth my time, let alone worth spreading my legs for. This time, it’s different.

At least, this time if anything happens, it will get Monica off my back about dating and finding a man.

I do hope it goes further. After Saturday night, I was relieved that we were interrupted, as I didn’t want to rush the first date, but since then, I’ve had time to think about what might have happened and how I feel about that. This time, I’m sure what I want, and I want him.

I’m not just on board with sex, but with dating as well. Of course, I’ll never admit that to Monica. She did advise that I take it slow. I’m not so sure how slow I’m taking it if I’m really considering giving myself to Graham, going on dates with him so soon, and doing everything you do with someone you’re serious about.

Still, if he comes on to me, I’ll let him. Graham is hot, and even if it doesn’t end up going anywhere, I deserve to let loose and enjoy myself occasionally. I’m fairly certain an evening in bed with Graham will be enjoyable.

Finally, I decided on something to wear. I lay the clothes out on the bed and get into the shower.

Graham comes to pick me up at noon, and he looks neatly dressed, but casual. I’m relieved because I chose skinny jeans and a long-sleeved shirt with it. I’m wearing another pair of boots and a windbreaker.

“You look great,” Graham says, kissing me on the cheek. His cologne is in my nostrils, and it makes my stomach flip. He looks good, too. “Are you ready?”

I nod. “I don’t know where we’re going, but I’m ready.”

“It’s nothing fancy, you’ll see,” Graham says with a smile, and we walk to his car.

We drive through town, and he parks in front of what looks like an art studio. I’m curious, and when he leads me inside, I realize that it’s a painting and pottery place.

“This is different,” I say.

“I thought it would be fun to do something different,” Graham says. “If you don’t like it, we can go somewhere else.”

I shake my head. “No, I like this. I like creating things.”

Graham smiles, and we get rid of our coats. We are taken to a bench where we make what they call a couple’s painting. I create one half of the picture, Graham creates the other, and when we hang them side-by-side, the images become complete. Graham and I talk and laugh as we paint, and even though he’s not as artistically inclined as I am, I’m surprised at how good it comes out.

“This is really nice,” I say when the paintings are finished. “What are we going to do with it?”

“I think we should take each other’s paintings and hang them up. If this ever becomes more, we can hang them together one day.”

I smile at him. “That sounds like a great idea.” I don’t add that I hope that’s exactly what will happen one day, and we’ll end up hanging the two pictures side-by-side in a house that we share. That’s jumping the gun a little bit. Well, a lot, but a girl can dream, can’t she?

When we’re done and the paintings are dry, Graham drives us back home. I can’t believe how well we get along. Throughout the day, we didn’t have awkward silences once.

The sun is starting to set, and everything feels romantic when Graham pulls up in front of my house. He turns to me, and the atmosphere charges around us. His eyes slide to my lips, and I know what he’s thinking just before he moves closer to me. When his lips press against mine, I sigh. Kissing Graham is like a dream. One hand moves to my cheek, and the other buries itself in my hair. His tongue slips into my mouth, and he tastes me, exploring me.

When he breaks the kiss, I’m breathing hard.

“Do you want to come in?” I ask. I don’t care that I’m being forward. I didn’t get the chance on Saturday night and I know that I want him. Every nerve ending is alive, and something at my core aches for Graham.

“Yeah,” he breathes, and we get out of the car, walking to the front door. I unlock it, determined not to let this end on my porch again. As soon as we are inside, Graham is on me. He pushes me against the wall, pinning me with his body. I could feel his erection in his pants, and I gasp. He grinds himself against me, his hands on my breasts, and I’m melting into my panties. God, I want him. I want him to undress me, to take me to my bedroom, and to fuck me.

Just as I think it, he starts to peel off my clothes. In winter, there are so many layers to get through, but I’m a patient woman. He can take all the time he needs. The reward will be worth it.

When he’s about to pull off my shirt, his phone rings again.

Graham swears under his breath. I sigh, exasperated.

“Sorry, I should see who this is.”

He fishes for his phone and glances at the screen. I hope he will ignore it and let the call go to voicemail. A phone call interrupting us is exactly what I don’t need right now.

“Another client?” I ask, and I can hear the irritation in my own voice. I’m turned on, horny, and ready to let Graham take me.

Graham frowns at his phone. “Actually, no. It’s my sister.” He clutches the phone, looking up at me. “I really need to take this. It might be an emergency.”

I can’t imagine ignoring my sister when she might need me during an emergency. We speak almost every day. I nod.

“Of course,” I say. “If it’s important, you better take it.” Deep down, I’m disappointed. I hope it’s important, and that Graham is not just blowing me off. He couldn’t have planned this, though. The timing is too precise.

The phone stops buzzing, but Graham still has it in his hand. “You’re really great, Sarah. I promise, I’ll make this up to you.”

I nod. That part, I know I can believe. He’s already made up for the last interruption to me today. He presses a quick kiss against my lips before he turns around and walks to the front door. I stay behind, flushed, hot and bothered, without any kind of release or satisfaction.

I close the door behind Graham and lean against it, sighing. Maybe that’s a good thing, I tell myself. Yes, I would have loved to have sex with him, but it might be good that this is going slower than I would have let it. I don’t know anything about him, after all, and it’s good to spend time together, not doing anything intimate until we are better acquainted.

Once again, because of his phone, I’m forced to be rational about my frustration. If his phone hadn’t gone off, we would have been getting undressed together right now.

Sometimes, the universe talks to us in strange ways. And sometimes, I’m just looking for excuses why things are working out the way they are. If this happens a third time, I’m not sure how I’ll feel about it. I don’t mind being interrupted because of emergencies, but I don’t want to be placed anywhere else than the top of the priority list. If Graham won’t prioritize me, it’s something I won’t be able to live with. No matter how nice he is, I’ll have to break it off with him. Whatever “it” is.

I know what Monica would say to me now if she knew what I was thinking. She would go on about how I always find flaws in a man again. She doesn’t seem to understand that I respect myself enough to only spend time with people who are worth my while. So far, phone calls aside, Graham seems to be that guy.