“He’s staying with my parents tonight. Anchorage does a fireworks show but nothing like we do here. Jake gets scared of all the noise, and my folks aren’t big fireworks people. They’d rather spend time with their grandpuppy.”
She arched an eyebrow. “So you’re saying we have some alone time without the kids?”
“Better make the most of it.” Leaning in, Graham added, “Maybe I got a moose from Grace too.”
What was it about him that made her unable to stop smiling? Zoey’s face hurt from grinning so much, and she was hoarse from laughter. They spent the afternoon surrounded by his friends, helping the younger kids with the kid-safe poppers and spinners. Zoey happily ate what was offered her, be it delicious potato salads, incredible desserts, or unknown animal flesh formed in hot dog shapes and slathered in ketchup.
The fireworks grew bigger and better as the afternoon turned into evening. Sitting with Ash and some of Graham’s friends, Zoey found herself utterly content, watching him lighting off the fireworks, happier than she’d ever seen him. A few mishaps occurred, including one accidental tipping of a mortar. Everyone dove for cover as fiery shells zipped over their heads instead of toward the sky, exploding on the grass frighteningly close. But as she climbed back into her lawn chair, Zoey knew Graham wasn’t the only one having a blast.
Surrounded by the warm kindness of Graham’s friends, Zoey couldn’t remember ever being so happy.
When the resort started their fireworks show, each burst bigger than the last, it seemed to renew everyone’s efforts to shoot off more fireworks of their own. Zoey loved watching the colors exploding across the sky, but her eyes kept drifting back to Graham. He must have noticed the way she was watching him, because even as the resort started to roll the big ones out, Graham came over, kneeling next to her chair instead of watching.
“I parked a little way away,” he told her. “Want to help me get some blankets?”
Considering he’d waited until everyone was distracted to ask her, Zoey was fairly sure the blankets weren’t the only reason why Graham invited her to go somewhere, just the two of them, alone.
Feeling her cheeks flush in response to the heat in his eyes, Zoey nodded. “Absolutely.”
They walked around the lake to where he had left his truck. And yes, it was still near people, because everyone in town was at the lake right then, but compared to where they had spent the afternoon, it was as close to privacy as they were going to get.
Drawing her in close, Graham leaned against the side of the truck bed. Denied his hands on her for too long, Zoey pulled his face down to hers, pressing into his warm, strong body. It should be illegal to look that good, to kiss her like her legs were going to buckle, to steal her breath but keep her desperate for more. By the time it occurred to her she needed to breathe at some point, they were both winded. The air had grown cool, and it felt good on her heated neck.
“I thought we were getting blankets,” she panted.
“That was code for ‘do you want to go make out with me in my truck?’”
“Yes. We need blankets. All the blankets. Brrr, so cold.”
He scooped her up, dropping a giggling Zoey over the side of the truck and into the bed. Without bothering with the tailgate, he swung himself over, joining her. And yes, there were several blankets tucked in there, along with a cooler and some snacks, but Zoey was far more focused on sneaking a blanket over them. She kicked off her shoes for comfort, then snuggled against him.
“Oh, it’s like that, huh?” he teased her.
“Only if you want.” She watched Graham settle his weight on his elbow next to her.
“Did you have any doubt?” A hand slid down her hip, warm and slow. “Hey there, Zoey Bear.” Somehow the greeting was far softer, far sexier than ever, his voice husky in the growing dimness.
“You’re missing the fireworks,” Zoey reminded him, a shiver of anticipation rolling up her spine.
The lightest touch of his fingertips tracing along her arm caused her to shiver all over again, even as she moved in closer.
“Are you sure you won’t miss out?” she pressed.
“You or those stinky old light shows? I’m picking you any day of the week. Although as much as I’d love a recreation of the Titanic sexy scene, I don’t think we’re going to have much privacy in here.” Graham’s eyes reflected the light of a massive multicolored firework.
“That’s what blankets are for.”
A mischievous expression spread across his handsome face. “Zoey, you keep getting better and better by the minute.”
“I bet you say that to all the girls.”
“Only the tourists. They’re a dime a dozen. What’s your name again? Ingrid? Jessica?”
He deserved the playful slap of her hand on his muscled bicep. “You’re a brat,” Zoey said. “Someone should pay me for putting up with you all this time.”
“Oh, definitely.” Then Graham dipped his head to hers. For a man who spent so much of his time pretending not to care, the careful way he slid his hand down her side, squeezing her hip before tracing the length of her leg, told her everything.
“I can’t promise we won’t have visitors any moment,” he warned her.
“I don’t care.”
He gazed down at her, hunger and a hundred other indecipherable emotions in his eyes. “Zoey? Are you sure about this?”
Graham’s thumb traced a circle around her navel, voice husky with desire. Just his thumb. So far, he’d kept his contact with her minimal, but as he opened his hand, covering her stomach with his palm, Zoey wanted to know what it felt like to be in this man’s arms, his touch unrestrained.
“I’m surer about wanting you than I’ve ever been about anything. I’m just worried about what happens after.”
Some guys would have told her that didn’t matter. If Graham had told her it didn’t matter right then, Zoey would have let him convince her. Instead, his eyes shadowed, his expression growing tight.
“Yeah. Me too.”
His hair was soft and felt good between her fingers.
“How ‘in’ are you?” she asked.
“Eighty-twenty,” Graham admitted roughly. “The eighty is ready to pull this blanket over our heads, right here, right now.”
Eighty-twenty. Which meant twenty percent of him was unsure. It shouldn’t have hurt, but for some reason, that twenty burned.
“And twenty wants to go find someone else?”
“You’re leaving, Zo. I can’t…” He hesitated. “This isn’t some summertime romance. I’m not sixteen. I need more in my life, and I can’t just fall for you.”