“Morning.” He dipped his chin in acknowledgment.
Wilbur was ecstatic, letting out little yips as he circled Graham’s ankles. I bet even his ankles were sexy, and I’d never paid attention to anyone’s ankles.
Graham knelt to pet Wilbur, and my ovaries swooned. “Morning, Wilbur,” he said in that low gravelly voice he had. “He sure knows how to make someone feel welcome.”
He straightened, and his eyes landed on mine again. As soon as our gazes made contact, it felt like a sizzle sparked through the air. I cleared my throat. “He does. It’s always good to see him at the end of a long day. He thinks I’m the best person ever.”
Graham chuckled, and that sent a prickle down my spine while my belly shimmied and swooped. “I wasn’t expecting you here this morning,” I said inanely.
Wilbur barked and started to dash off the porch. Graham’s reflexes were lightning fast as he leaned down and scooped Wilbur into his arms. We looked out to see something dart into the trees.
“What was that?” I asked.
“I think it was a coyote. I just saw the tail, but that’s my guess. Can I come in?”
Wilbur was wiggling like crazy in his arms, but Graham had a good hold on him. “Of course.”
I stepped back, opening the door wider as he walked through. He didn’t release Wilbur until I closed the door firmly. Wilbur gave him an affronted look once his paws were on the floor before scurrying to look out one of the windows that flanked the door.
“Do I have to worry about coyotes too?” I asked when I looked up at Graham.
He nodded. “It’s Alaska. There are plenty of coyotes around, and you might see the occasional wolf, although those aren’t as frequent. It’s fall, so the coyotes are pretty well fed. If you’re around next spring, you’ll definitely want to be careful because they’re looking for easy food. Do you let him out much on his own?” He nudged his chin toward Wilbur.
I shook my head. “He only goes out when I go out. I don’t usually keep him on a lead because he’s a good boy, but I should probably be careful.”
“Definitely.”
“Would you like some coffee?” I heard myself asking.
What are you doing offering him coffee? my brain screeched. That means he’s going to be here long enough to have coffee, and our hormones can’t handle that.
My hormones were all, Hell yeah, we can! We can take a nice long look at Graham.
Graham looked surprised, but he nodded. “I always say yes to coffee.”
He followed me into the kitchen. “Have you been in here before?” I asked.
“Not many times, but yes. Harold spent about six months of every year here. He wasn’t huge on having visitors, but I would stop by and check on him.”
Graham’s gaze whisked around the space. “Looks the same. Janet took good care of it for you.”
“She did. I’m grateful he had someone checking on the place.”
I crossed over to the counter, fetching a mug from the cabinet and filling it with coffee. “Cream or sugar?” I asked.
“Neither.”
I gestured to the table by the windows. “Have a seat.” I did have manners. I wasn’t going to kick him out now that I’d offered coffee. He sat down and took a swallow of coffee. His eyes lit up. “Good, you like it strong.”
“I don’t see any point to coffee that isn’t strong.”
Wilbur had lost interest in the front door and entered the kitchen, plopping down beside my feet when I sat down across from Graham. “So, what brings you here this morning?”
He took a swallow of his coffee, and my eyes lingered on the motion of his throat. I blinked, trying to focus. Sweet hell. I even thought his throat was sexy.
Oblivious to my state, Graham commented, “I’m still getting used to having a teenager. Allie can get annoyed with me real fast.”
“Most teenagers can,” I offered gently. It was downright endearing to see the sheer worry in his eyes about his daughter.
Graham shifted his shoulders, looking slightly uncomfortable. An uncomfortable Graham didn’t dim the brightness of his hotness wattage. “Look,” he began before pausing to clear his throat and take another swallow of coffee. “I was rude last night, and I apologize.”
“You don’t need to apologize to me,” I said, shaking my head.
“But I do,” he insisted. “Allie frequently loses track of her charger. Sometimes, I think her phone is actually an extension of her body, but the charger isn’t.”
I couldn’t help the laughter that slipped out. “She is a teenager.”
Graham rolled his eyes. “That she is, and it isn’t easy sometimes.”
“Like I said, no need to apologize to me, but thank you. I can’t imagine trying to raise a teenager on my own. Talk about difficult.”
My heart squeezed a little for him. This tough guy firefighter looked so uncertain. It was downright endearing to see him apologizing for being a grump. “Yeah. Kids don’t come with an instruction manual. I figured that out when she was a baby. Unlike other things, every phase needs a new manual.”
“She’s a great kid. Obviously, you’re doing a good job.” He looked uncomfortable again and lifted a hand to run it through his rumpled curls.
My hormones got even more excited. I was on the verge of handing over my ovaries.
“She is a great kid. Here’s hoping she doesn’t hate me by the time she hits eighteen.”
“She won’t,” I said confidently.
He shrugged. “She hates limits, and I’m not cool, and I can’t paint her nails with her.”
“Well, you could,” I teased.
“I did let her paint my toenails once, but she said it wasn’t the same as doing it with a mom.”
“She’s kind of a girly girl, and you’re not a girly guy,” I offered softly.
“I’d let her paint ’em again if she wanted, but she wants a mom.”
“Oh.”
There wasn’t much more to say to that. I had so many questions, but I didn’t feel like I knew Graham well enough to pummel him with my nosiness about why Allie’s mom wasn’t around. Her dad was all Allie mentioned, and she thought he hung the moon. Until he came over and gave her a little hell for not bothering to text him.
“Just so you know, if you’d rather her not stop over, all you have to do is say so.”
“That’s not how I feel. It would break her heart if I said she couldn’t. She’s a social kid. She used to like to come over and visit with Harold.”
“How about we agree that when she does come by, I’ll text you to confirm what time you can expect her back? I’m pretty good at keeping an eye on the clock, and I never let my phone die.”
He nodded slowly. The sound of his rough chuckle sent goose bumps chasing over my skin. This Graham—whew. He was going to make me crazy. I was busy trying to tell my hormones to chill out, and they were blowing me off.
“Thanks for the coffee,” he said a few minutes later as he stood.
Of course, it was only when I stood from the table that I realized I was still wearing a bathrobe. Gah! I was practically naked, and I’d forgotten about it. He followed me over to the sink.