Reviving Graham

by Becca Jameson

  He had no idea if he could have this same reaction to other women or not—this newfound ability to make eye contact, form sentences, press her body into the shower wall. Was it just Kate? He would never know, because he didn’t intend to let her get away. After thirty-five years of shyness and ten years in a cryostat, it was time he manned up and made several changes.

  Kate returned to his side and held out a pile of clothes. “Jerry said one of their sons is about your size. He found some clothes for you.” She didn’t glance down at his body as she spoke.

  Graham swiped a hand down his face. He was seriously losing the battle to remain calm and not have a little tantrum over his lack of mobility. At the moment, he would give anything for this phase of his recovery to be over. Helplessness didn’t suit him.

  “I’m gonna change,” Kate whispered. “Maybe you should take a nap.”

  He turned his face toward her and met her gaze. “Yeah. Give me a bit, will you?”

  “Sure.” She nodded and then fled the room as if she were scared of him. She probably was. He couldn’t blame her. He was feeling rather curt and frustrated with his lack of mobility. Getting to the bed had exhausted him, using up the last ounce of his energy. And he hated it.

  As the door shut behind her, he closed his eyes and let sleep take him under. He didn’t care that he was lying there naked with nothing but a wet towel around him. He didn’t have the energy for anything else.

  Kate had grabbed a clean pair of scrubs on her way out of the room, and she headed for the guest bath to change before making her way to the great room.

  Eliza was at the kitchen stove stirring something. Jerry was leaning against the counter near her, drinking a cup of coffee. He was the first to notice Kate, and he nodded toward the mug. “Coffee?”

  “That would be wonderful. Thank you.” She joined them, admiring the way they stood so close to each other. She’d give anything to have a man in her life who wanted to be near her even while she cooked after decades of marriage.

  Could that be Graham?

  He certainly acted like it. After three years of never showing signs he’d known she was in the room, he’d become a different human being. It was as if in hibernation he’d added new qualities. He was still the same shy man she’d fallen for underneath—the one who fidgeted a bit while trying to talk to her. The one who was aching to bury himself in a book. The one who thought he had no game, all the while not realizing that was his game.

  She was certain underneath his new attempt to flirt and tease her was the same man who would do anything for his friends and fully intended to get back to working fifteen hours a day.

  Was he intentionally trying to be someone he wasn’t, thinking he needed to be a different man to impress her?

  She was still reeling from the way he flattened her against the shower wall. He probably didn’t realize it, but that was the singular hottest moment of her life. It had been spontaneous and sexy, even though he immediately stammered over his thoughts about being tied to the bed or reversing their roles in that department.

  Not only was it adorable, but she had struggled to avoid pressing her body into his and rising onto her tiptoes to kiss him.

  Sure, she’d played it off like there was no way in hell she’d ever let a man tie her up, but she’d lied. The thought was titillating. The earnest look he’d shot her made her panties wet and her knees buckle.

  After doctoring up her coffee with cream and sugar, she turned around and found Jerry smiling at her. “Did you find everything you needed?”

  “Yes. Thank you so much.” She had no idea what the protocol was for how she was supposed to act in front of these kind people who were hiding her and Graham from God only knew who. “Graham survived the shower without falling, and he’s taking a nap now.”

  “Good.” Jerry nodded. “He’ll be back to his normal self in no time. He’s a strong man.”

  She agreed. Perhaps faster than she was ready for.

  Jerry gestured toward the pot on the stove as Eliza stirred. “My wife’s beef stew won’t hurt either.”

  Kate inhaled the aroma. “Smells fantastic. We seriously can’t thank you enough.”

  Eliza turned toward her and patted her arm. “You don’t have to, dear. It’s what we do. We help people when they need it.”

  “You don’t even know us,” Kate pointed out. The bravery of this couple astounded her.

  “Don’t need to,” Jerry stated. “When someone from SURVIVE asks for our help, that’s all the vetting we need.”

  Eliza nodded in agreement. “We weren’t much older than you two when we found ourselves in a bind. A village of people helped us out. We always knew we would pay it forward someday. And now that we own this house off the beaten path, we can do just that.”

  Kate wondered how often they had random house guests, but she didn’t ask.

  “You’re safe here,” Jerry added. “The place looks innocent from the outside, but it’s a fortress. No one is getting in, and we’ll know if they even approach.”

  Wow. Kate glanced around. There was nothing to indicate the house was that secure. They hid it well.

  “I’ll be going into town later today to get groceries,” Eliza said. “Is there anything you folks need?”

  Kate shook her head. “We don’t need a thing. Time and physical therapy will have Graham running a marathon soon. Thanks for the clothes, though. That’s our only issue. He’s only been awake a few days. He has no belongings.”

  Jerry nodded. “Clothes won’t be a problem.”

  “Again, I can’t thank you enough.”

  Eliza patted her shoulder. “No thanks required. It’s what we do.” She nodded toward the back porch. “If you want to relax for a while, the view is amazing. I’ll let you know if I hear movement down the hall.”

  Relieved, Kate took Eliza up on her offer and headed for the deck. She blew out a long breath as she took a seat, alone with her thoughts.

  Her brain was running on full speed lately. She had never in her wildest dreams expected Graham to wake up and immediately profess that his feelings for her had matched hers all along. She’d spent the past month building up the nerve to tell him she was into him, but he’d blindsided her with his returned affection.

  Did she really know him at all? The Graham she’d known had been timid and unable to make eye contact. This new Graham held her eyes and pushed her to acknowledge their relationship.

  She sighed as she stared out at the gorgeous mountain view. If she were honest, she could see that he was both men. He still had a reserved side that was cute and sexy in its own way. But he also managed to find the strength to lay it all on the line for her. She smiled as she tipped her head back and closed her eyes against the afternoon sun.

  The truth was that Graham was growing on her more every day. She might not be quite ready to totally give in to his rushed suggestion that they jump into a relationship, but she was getting there.

  She just hoped to God he didn’t test the waters and then change his mind. That would devastate her on a level he couldn’t understand. Already she knew he could be the real deal for her. The first man she’d been this attracted to. Not just physically but emotionally.

  He brought her to life. Not to mention what he did to awaken dormant body parts she wasn’t sure were fully functional even before preservation. If she gave herself entirely to him, she would be a goner. He would hold her heart in his hands and have the power to destroy her.

  Chapter 11

  Graham awoke confused, blinking as he turned his head in every direction, trying to figure out where he was. Voices in the distance told him there were other people around. It took him a few moments to remember. The Kobricks. He was in hiding. With Kate.

  He blew out a breath and glanced down. He was still wearing a towel. The sheets were pulled over his feet. Kate must have done that before she left. He’d been too warm for more covers. Somehow she’d sensed that and left him alone.

  He reached o
ut with one hand and patted the mattress, looking for the clothes he knew she’d left near him. The phone Blair had given him was sitting on the pile of clothes. She had been thoughtful. He should call his parents.

  He needed to get dressed first and foremost. The idea of exposing himself to Kate before he was able to do anything about his attraction didn’t sit well.

  He understood rationally she’d seen him naked, but a man in a coma was just a body. She was a medical professional. Seeing him naked while he was awake was an entirely different story.

  Feeling stronger after his nap, he was able to pull on underwear and black sweatpants. He would be much happier when he got his hands on a pair of jeans. But the easier clothing would have to do for now. He also managed to pull to sitting and shrug a T-shirt over his head. And then he flopped back down with a sigh.

  This really sucked. He was a horrible patient and an impatient human being. He hated not being able to do things for himself. If he could fast forward a week, he would in a heartbeat.

  He took a breath and picked up the cell, palming it for a moment before dialing with shaky fingers. He knew his parents’ home phone by heart, assuming they hadn’t changed it in ten years.

  After three rings, his mother’s gentle voice came through. “Hello?”

  “Mom. It’s me. Graham.”

  Silence. Several seconds of silence. What did he expect? “Graham?” Her tone was off, softer, questioning. “Is it really you?”

  “Yeah, it’s me.” He smiled. It felt good to hear her voice.

  Her breath hitched, and she let out a sob. “My God. It’s so hard to believe.”

  “I know, Mom. I’m struggling to grasp it myself.”

  “I followed the news. I knew there was a chance. But, I refused to let myself hope.”

  His eyes slid closed. “I know it’s crazy. I wanted to hear your voice. I don’t have much time right now. Things are…hectic. But I wanted you to know I’m alive. I’m perfectly healthy. I haven’t even aged. I’m still the same me. When things calm down, I’ll get in touch with you again. Hopefully I can come visit soon.”

  “Oh, honey, we would love that. Can we come see you?”

  “Not yet, Mom. I really want to see you, but the government is trying to handle this delicately.”

  “Okay, but soon?”

  “Yes. How’s Dad?”

  “He’s going to be furious when he finds out he missed your call.” She let out a forced chuckle.

  “Yeah, I’m sorry about that. Give him my love please. I can’t use this phone again, so the number won’t help you.”

  “Why? What’s wrong? Are you in danger?”

  “No, Mom. I’m fine. They’re being extra cautious. I promise I’ll be able to see you soon.”

  “I’m so happy. There are no words.” She sobbed again.

  “I know. I promise I’ll call again as soon as possible, but it might take a few weeks.”

  “Okay. I love you, honey.”

  “I love you too, Mom.” He ended the call and gripped the phone against his chest. Hardest call of his life. His poor mother. What she must have gone through, especially in the last few months. Waiting. Hoping. And now he’d just had to ask her to wait even longer until everything with this Blue Cell shook out.

  A soft knock on the door was followed by Kate sticking her head in.

  He rolled his upper body her direction and reached out a hand.

  She came to him, sat on the edge of the bed, and threaded her fingers with his.

  “Sorry I was short with you earlier.” He handed her the phone.

  “No problem. I remember vividly how frustrated I was for the first week. You’re way ahead of me both physically and mentally. You’ll be up walking around in no time. Did you call your parents?”

  He nodded.

  She disabled the phone and removed the battery. “Sorry. I remember how hard that call was.”

  He didn’t deserve her, but he wasn’t going to let her get away either. From the moment she’d revealed she’d been attracted to him, he’d vowed to himself that she would be his. It didn’t matter that he’d thought she was out of his league, because it was apparent she didn’t see it that way. So, he was not about to give her a moment to change her mind.

  “Can I stretch your legs? We haven’t done any exercises today.”

  He nodded and rolled back so he was flat and staring at the ceiling. “The lucky thing for you is that I’ll never forget how well you took care of me when I needed it most. When you’re ninety and you fall and break your hip, I’ll dote on you like you’re the queen.” He shot her a grin.

  She rolled her eyes as she lifted his closest leg and stretched it upward. “You’re incredibly confident about us. It makes me nervous.”

  Bingo. “Why?” he asked. He would push her because he really didn’t think whatever her hesitation was had anything to do with him.

  She shrugged, not meeting his gaze. “It’s just that we’ve kind of only known each other a few days, and we’re living under seriously intense circumstances. I worry.” She let that last word drop off as she bent his leg another direction.

  He reached for her wrist on his leg and squeezed it. “We’ve known each other for years. I realize I was an idiot for all those years, hiding from you while thinking you were too vibrant and alive for me, but I know what your heart looks like.”

  She shot him a glance, frowning. “What does my heart look like?” She brought his knee to his chest and stretched his glutes.

  He still held her wrist. “You’re incredibly devoted to saving lives and work tirelessly to find a cure for any disease that hits your desk. You’re funny, with a friendly disposition that makes everyone around you feel better no matter what kind of day they’re having. When you laugh, the room lights up.”

  She didn’t meet his gaze, but he could see the flush growing up her neck and cheeks.

  He gave her arm a tug to make sure she was paying close attention. “I’m positive that when you love, you do so with everything you have and everything you are. I won’t squander the opportunity to own that.”

  “I wouldn’t know,” she murmured, and then she climbed onto the bed and over his legs so she could work on his opposite leg.

  “I get that. I’m sure you don’t give your heart away flippantly. I’m humbled that you would give me this opportunity. I promise I will never for a single day in my life make you sorry you took a chance on me.” Deep words for a burgeoning relationship that had no legs yet. They hadn’t even kissed. But he knew. And he also knew she did too.

  She didn’t respond, and he let her continue working in silence for another ten minutes, though he watched her closely. When she finished, she surprised him by crawling up to his side and flattening her body along his, her head resting on his shoulder, her hand on his belly.

  He held his breath, thanking God for this step, and gently settled his hand around her.

  She lay there for several minutes before speaking against his chest. “There are things about me you don’t know. I’m worried about what you might think of me after I tell you.”

  He swallowed. It was impossible to imagine she had deep secrets he wouldn’t be able to live with. “I’m sure there are hundreds of things about you I don’t know. Give me a chance. Maybe if you tell me a few important ones, I can put your fears to rest.”

  She sighed and hesitated a few beats before dragging her fingers around his chest in an absent-minded pattern she was most likely unaware of. “You said you thought I was out of your league, when the truth is I have extremely limited experience with men.”

  He sucked in a shallow breath, not wanting her to notice any reaction from him. Inside, he was fist pumping. Damn, she was hot. If she thought her lack of experience made her less attractive, she’d lost a few marbles. What were the chances two grown adults would have an equal lack of experience? “Why would I be disappointed to hear that?” he finally managed.

  She shrugged against him. “You’re sudde
nly so confident and sure of yourself. And maybe you’re too sure of me. I’m worried you’ve got some inflated fantasy about me as if I’m some sort of sex goddess who’s going to rock your world.”

  He couldn’t help it. The laugh bubbled out of him before he could stop it.

  When she stiffened and then started to push off him, he grasped her tighter. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to laugh. You just shocked me.”

  She stopped shoving, but she did lift her face to glare at him, propping her upper body off his torso. “Graham, this is the hardest conversation I’ve ever had in my life, and you’re laughing. I’d rather take a verbal exam about human anatomy in front of a twelve-person board of professors than look you in the eye and explain my lack of experience.”

  He sobered fast, wiping the smile off his face. “Kate, I’m so sorry. It was a knee-jerk reaction to your concerns. It’s physically impossible for you not to rock my world. I was shocked you would think so.” He ran a hand up and down her back, hoping to calm her. “I’m truly sorry,” he repeated in a lower voice.

  Her face was red, and she looked away, pursing her lips. This was very serious for her.

  He needed to tread carefully. His laughter hadn’t helped. He reached up and tucked a lock of hair behind her ear. “Let’s clear the air here. How many men have you slept with?” Did she think she might not be able to please him in bed? Because that was crazy.

  She took a slow breath. “None.”

  Fuck me.

  Graham seriously needed to choose his words carefully. They mattered. She mattered. A fuck of a lot. “Okay. Let me set you straight on a few things. One, that is the sexiest thing you could ever say to me. So, if you think I would be put off by that, you’re wrong.

  “Two, my understanding is that when you’re with the right person, it all falls into place perfectly. It’s instinctive.”

  She flinched. “How many right people have you been with?”

  He smiled. “None.”

  Her eyes widened but then narrowed. “How many wrong people have you been with?”

  He gave her another shy smile. “None. I’m a virgin.”