by D. A. Young
“Annabelle!” She swung back around with a questioning look at Mr. Fowler’s authoritative call. “If you’re not busy this weekend, we’d love to have you over for lunch on Sunday after church?”
Lunch at the Fowler estate? Neither Annabelle nor her friends had ever seen the inside of the mansion and often speculated on what it might look like. Finally, the opportunity had presented itself. “I’d like that very much; thank you, sir.”
***
The next day was Saturday. Annabelle was lazing around in bed, watching basketball when the doorbell rang. Five minutes later, her bedroom door burst open. Samantha, Annabelle’s mom, gave a dozen white roses from The Enchanted Garden, Baymoor’s florist shop, to Annabelle. Heart beating furiously, she accepted the bouquet from her mother and tore open the little white envelope that accompanied the bouquet and read the card.
Annabelle,
Thanks for saving my ass last night. Would you please do me the honor of being my date to the prom?
Davis
The blood was roaring in her ears, and Annabelle felt lightheaded and too excited to speak, so her mother took the card from her hand and read it aloud. While Samantha jumped around in excitement, Annabelle was still in shock. How long had she waited for something like this to happen? Then, when she suddenly stopped caring…voila! Annabelle was going to get what she’d pined forever and a day for. Doors were finally opening for her.
In the years to come, Annabelle would curse herself repeatedly for not recognizing the situation for what it was and getting as far away as she could from any man with the last name Fowler, a group of men handcrafted by the devil himself.
***
The dishes were plucked out of her hand by Graham who’d joined her at the sink. “What’s on your mind, Doc? You looked a million miles away.”
Annabelle gave a faint smile while trying not to breathe in his scent as she lied. “Nothing. Just thinking about a patient that I have to deal with tomorrow.” She raised an eyebrow and held her hand out for the plates. “What are you doing with those dishes?”
Graham’s perceptive eyes called her a liar as he turned on the faucet and adjusted the temperature. “I’m going to wash them. I figured it’s only fair since I was an uninvited houseguest and you fed me. Dinner was delicious, by the way.”
“Graham, darling, how could you be an uninvited houseguest?” Edith called from the table and Annabelle braced herself. “I thought you were here to take Annabelle up on her invitation to stay with us for the duration of your visit? Annabelle, dear, didn’t you—”
“Yeah, hadn’t quite gotten there yet, Edith!” Annabelle growled over her shoulder through gritted teeth, annoyed that she’d been busted. Under her breath, she hissed, “When is that hearing going to go?! I thought with old age, it would be the first—”
“I can hear youuuu!” Edith sang making Rory giggle.
“You were supposed toooo!” Hands on her hips, Annabelle swung around to face her with an aggrieved expression as Rory’s head swung back and forth between the two women like a pendulum.
“Mr. Ram is gonna stay with us?” Buzzing with excitement at the idea, Rory quizzed her Gigi, who nodded in confirmation.
“I would love for him to stay and get to know you and Mummy better,” Edith spoke with heartfelt sincerity. Her grin challenged Annabelle to say no as her granddaughter scrambled out of her chair and ran to wrap her arms around her mother’s legs. “Nothing would make your Gigi happier.”
“Mummy ask him to stay! Mr. Ram is my friend! I want him to stay here! Pleeease, Mummy! He can be your friend too!” Rori pleaded, jumping up and down for good measure.
Out of the mouth of the babes…
“I’d definitely like to be your mama’s friend, Rory,” Graham teased out of the corner of his mouth for Annabelle’s hearing only, his voice laden with sexual innuendo. It earned him a withering glare that should have made his balls shrivel up.
“Baby, I’m sure Mr. Graham likes it better at his hotel,” Annabelle began, but Rory and her treacherous grandmother overrode her.
“Let Mr. Ram stay! Let Mr. Ram stay!” they repeatedly chanted.
There was no way in hell he could stay under the same roof as her. Graham “Eye Fucking Candy” Carlton was a major distraction Annabelle didn’t need or want. She was still trying to recover from her earlier bout of vulnerability with him this afternoon. Everything was copacetic when she thought she’d never have to see him again. But he was here, invading her space, and Annabelle could barely resist the urge to smack that self-satisfied look off his face. His blatantly obvious enjoyment of her being put on the spot was like a rash on her eyes.
Arms crossed, Graham leaned back against the sink and patiently waited. Annabelle’s eyes were drawn to the black, intricately drawn tats on his muscular arms as he slowly rubbed his jaw contemplatively with a lazy smile on his handsome face that had her heart beating double-time. “I’m all ears on this invite, Doc, so make it good for me.”
“YES OR NO?!” Annabelle barked at him.
“Who can resist such sweet talk like that? Weeell…since you insist,” Graham replied easily, savoring the way her nostrils flared and her mouth flatlined with his answer. Those espresso brown eyes burned with promised vengeance and a smiting if he continued to tease her. If he were a lesser man, Graham would be nervous and quit while he was ahead. Too bad for Annabelle he wasn’t.
“Yaaay! Mr. Ram is gonna stay!” To celebrate, Rory started twirling around the kitchen and doing a little happy dance. She grabbed her Gigi’s hand and pulled her out of her seat to join in.
“You are sooo going to pay for this,” Annabelle snarled at Graham as she watched the backstabbing duo dance around the kitchen table. “The things I’m going to do to you—”
“Go on, I’m listening,” Graham interrupted with relish, his sexy eyes sparkling with interest. He was loving the way steam billowed out of the gorgeous vet’s ears as she came to the realization that she was clearly outnumbered. “Why don’t we compare your list to mine and see just how much dirty minds think alike?”
“Just stay out of my way!” Nose in the air, Annabelle pushed past him, ignoring an amused Edith as well, to scoop up a protesting Rory for her nightly bedtime routine.
“I know you’re mad, dear, but it’s just a moment,” Edith called out to her encouragingly. “One moment of anger but it will soon pass!”
“Yeah, like kidney stones!” Annabelle griped as Rory snuggled into her arms and gazed up at her adoringly, clearly her mother’s best friend again now that she’d gotten her way. Annabelle nuzzled her plump cheek affectionately and rained kisses all over her sweet, smiling face. “You little brat! What is Mummy going to do with you?”
Not really expecting an answer, Annabelle hurried up the stairs with her precious bundle, the cackling coming from the kitchen, chasing after her like the hounds of hell.
Chapter Nine
“If you’re ready, Mr. Carlton, I’ll show you to your room now,” Annabelle spoke stiffly to Graham’s back as he studied the black framed family pictures in the foyer.
Edith had just retired after informing Annabelle with an amused smile that Graham was waiting downstairs to be shown to the casita.
“When you’re ready to stop hiding, our guest is ready to turn in. Goodnight, my dear.” Edith’s eyes twinkled with merrily as she left a facial cream slathered Annabelle in pajamas glaring after her.
He was going to laugh. Annabelle saw it in his eyes and the twitching corners of his lips. Edith probably expected her to doll herself up for her precious Graham, but Annabelle’s days of pleasing any man were over. So, here she was, sparkling rhinestone sleep mask on her head, face mask still intact, wearing unicorn PJs, impatiently waiting to get this show on the road. If Casanova didn’t like it, the door was right behind him.
But Graham didn’t laugh; instead, he complimented her. “You have a nice home, Doc. Thank you for opening it up to me.”
A sense of pri
de filled Annabelle. After living with Davis and his preference of dark colors and traditional design, Annabelle decided her home would be the opposite. The beach house was a modern contemporary style, open and airy with large bay windows in every room to allow light in, and the walls were painted stark white to enhance the pops of jade, cobalt, ruby, and purple abstract artwork and black and white throw rugs on the mahogany-stained hardwood floors throughout the house
“Mmm, well it’s not like I had a choice, is it?” Annabelle replied tartly. “If you’ll just follow me.”
Armed with a large woven handbasket filled with toiletries, towels, and washcloths for him, they walked through the now quiet beach house. It was amazing how one little girl could bring everything around her to life. When Rory was awake, the house had the energy of a full-blown party. It was full of laughter, her chatter, and scattered with toys.
She bent down to pick up a Tonka truck, My Little Pony accessories, and a couple of picture books on the carpet by the living room entrance. Annabelle dropped them in a seagrass basket near the wall. She’d quickly learned that instead of gathering all the toys at the end of the day and dragging them back to one spot, it was just easier to situate baskets throughout the house for Rory to pillage through.
They exited the house through the kitchen door and into the contemporary designed garden. Grass was divided by stone pathways that were lined with square modern planters filled with ferns and tall rectangle planters with jade succulents and hoya ropes. A wooden pergola was off to left side and held an outdoor dining set with chairs, and a child’s jungle gym, covered by a shade was close to it. The casita was toward the back wall.
“Tell me about, Rory. What does she—”
Annabelle whirled around at Graham’s low persuasive tone, claws drawn, hackles raised, and protective instincts rising to the surface at his request. “Let’s be very clear about something…just because you get to stay doesn’t mean my life is an open book for you to read and dump on. My kid is not an experiment for you to examine and make judgments. Do you understand? She’s off limits!”
Eyebrows raised, Graham pondered, “Is that what you think I’m doing? Passing judgment? Your daughter is incredible, but I’m sure you know that like I know you just want to keep her safe and away from her father.”
“She doesn’t have a father!” Annabelle hissed. “She has me and I am more than enough for her! Davis would have done nothing but try to smother her spirit and when he was done, find someone exactly like him for her to breed with!”
Slow down, take a deep breath. Stay focused.
Annabelle spun back around and stomped ahead of him. “There was no way I was going to give her that life! My God, what if she’d been a boy instead?! She is my child, and I will protect her until the day I die. That’s all you need to know about Rory, Mr. Carlton.”
And that was enough. At least for now, Graham thought. He loved watching mother and child together. Annabelle was kind, caring, and patient with Rory. She also had steady hands. Ingrid’s volatile temperament came with swift hands that reacted to everything her children did that displeased her. Slaps, pinches, and twists were administered on a regular basis, accompanied by a barrage of verbal abuse. He knew Annabelle could be firm when the situation warranted, but she loved and encouraged her precocious daughter to be who Rory was supposed to be, a child secure in her environment.
“While it warms my heart to know that you love your child fiercely, Annabelle, I actually wanted to know what her likes and dislikes are for breakfast. Edith gave me permission to cook, and it’s the least I could do while enjoying your hospitality.”
Even if she couldn’t see his amusement in the dark, it rippled in his deep baritone. “Jerk! You could have stopped me at any time. She likes anything with blueberries and apples. Especially with pancakes.”
“I think you should consider cutting sugar out of your diet. You’re waaay too high-strung to be in charge of caring for lives.” Graham took the basket from her hands, along with the keys and opened the door to the casita. “Calm your nerves and stop being so defensive about everything. I’m the last person to judge you, Doc.”
“Sorry,” Annabelle grimaced and gasped as the mask tightened. “Crap! I forgot that I had this mask on.”
“Use the bathroom inside.” Graham watched as she turned on a lamp then entered the bathroom. Unicorns. He didn’t really know shit about them except he was jealous of the ones covering Annabelle’s luscious ass. Normally, the women he spent time with didn’t bother wearing anything to bed and would rather die than be seen in a green mask that looked like vomit exploded on their face. The feisty, smart-ass veterinarian didn’t give two fucks what Graham thought about her and wasn’t about to sweet talk him into falling in love with her. It was a refreshing change, and Graham was here for all of it.
The water in the bathroom shut off, and Annabelle reappeared with a clean radiant face. “All done! What do you think about the casita? Will it do?”
The large room was tastefully decorated in earth tones and featured a king-sized bed, sitting area, and bathroom. Graham sat down on the bed and tested the firmness. “I think this works.”
The intimacy of the situation did not go unnoticed by either party. They assessed each other as the air thickened with this thing between them. There wasn’t a name for it to be defined yet because they were only skimming the surface. Annabelle twisted the ends of her shirt, torn between reluctance to go and anxiety to stay. Graham chose to make the decision for them. He stood up and slowly approached while Annabelle retreated until she felt the door at her back, eyes wide with apprehension and licking her lips nervously.
“Did you need something else, Doc?” His breath caressed her face, and Annabelle found herself watching his lips. They were so close. Surely, there was a way for her to accidentally run into them, right?
““Yeah...uh, I mean no! Uh…” Words failed her. She couldn’t think with those eyes intently focused on her.
Graham leaned in, and Annabelle closed her eyes as his goatee grazed her cheek. The electricity between them crackled as she angled her head, eager to feel those lips on her skin. Instead, she heard the twist of the doorknob as Graham opened the door behind her and stepped back. “Goodnight, Doc.”
“Of course.” Humiliation complete, Annabelle opened her eyes and avoided his gaze as she stepped into the warm, balmy night.
What was she thinking?!
“Yo, Doc!”
Annabelle swung around, grateful for the darkness that hid her mortification.
Graham stood in the doorway framed by the soft light behind him. “Listen, I wasn’t at all trippin’ about your choice of night attire or the mask. I like your pajamas. This is your house and I respect that as well as your prerogative.” He placed his hands together and implored, “But if I could please make one request?”
“What’s that?” Annabelle was genuinely curious. Awww… he liked her unicorn pajamas! Perhaps he wasn’t as bad as she thought.
“Could you not wear Looney Tunes? That’s my ultimate weakness! I won’t be able to control myself if I even see Daffy Duck plastered across your—”
“You’re an ass!”
“Goodnight, Doc; sweet dreams.” Graham chuckled as he watched her stomp across the yard and enter the house. When she was in safely, he glanced down at his hard-on that was ever-present in Annabelle’s company. “C’mon, man. We gotta rendezvous in the shower.”
Chapter Ten
“Doc, you in there? Doc?” Dotty buzzed through on the intercom. “Doc!”
“I’m up!” Annabelle automatically replied as she jackknifed in her chair and smoothed her braids away from her face. Stifling a yawn, she corrected herself, “Here! I meant I’m here. What’s up, Dotty?”
“Nothing; I just wanted to remind you that Mrs. Farlow will be here shortly with Rocco. Is everything alright? I haven’t seen you in awhile. Not that anything is going on out here. Just me and Toussaint kicking back.”
&nbs
p; “Yeah, everything is fine. Just doing payroll. I’ll be out soon to greet them upon arrival.”
Dotty buzzed off and Annabelle stood up and stretched. The last week had been slow, and she’d been able to take power naps between patients. She’d been getting no sleep at home thanks to the rat infestation at her house. The rats, Edith and Rory, idolized Graham and thought he walked on water. He could do no wrong, and everything he said was just the funniest thing they’d ever heard. While Annabelle went to work, they went to the markets and explored the island on bikes. They’d established a bond and Annabelle was the interloper.
It didn’t help that she’d been avoiding alone time with him. Annabelle could see the questions in Graham’s eyes regarding Rory, but that was no one’s business but hers, and unlike the loveable rats, she wasn’t about to just roll over for him, even if Graham looked like he’d totally make it worth her while if she did. He was a mystery to her. One that Annabelle was still uncertain that she wanted solved or not. But she was fascinated with him. The man was never tired even though he never slept. Annabelle knew that because her room overlooked the casita. Through her sheer curtains, she could see him watching television or reading, stretched out on the bed in boxer briefs with one arm behind his head, his big body propped against the headboard.
He could have been reading the Berenstain Bears for all Annabelle cared. She was too focused on long, muscular legs, powerful thighs and arms, v-cut, ripped abs, and broad chest. Were the boxers really necessary? Graham reminded Annabelle of Christmas mornings as a giddy kid—the happiness of receiving presents and going bonkers over where to start the process of unwrapping and playing with them.