She caught his eyes and nodded. She knew everything she needed to know and she had no intention of wasting any more of their day discussing Emma or Alex. Graham was right, now that Dane was on the same page as them there was nowhere to look but forward.
“In that case, on to more enjoyable topics. So what did you have planned for last night anyhow?”
He leaned forward and kissed her forehead. “Can’t say or I’d be giving away what we’re doing today. You’re not opening the store today are you?”
She shook her head, turning her attention back to the breakfast in front of her and popping another piece of bacon in her mouth. “Nope, I don’t open on Sundays until December through New Years. I work from open to close almost every day so I like having at least one day off.”
“Do you have any employees?”
She shrugged. “One. Brittany, but I haven’t needed her since the break-in and she’s a university student so her studies come first. I brought her in for the afternoon a couple of days ago.”
“Could she have…”
“No. She doesn’t even have a key.” She gave him a lopsided grin. “I guess I have some trust issues when it comes to the store. Dane already checked into her despite my telling him it was a waste of time and she was clean.”
Finishing the rest of her breakfast, she removed the tray from her lap and placed it on top of the night stand. She repositioned herself, stretching out beside him and cuddling to his side.
Nipping at the side of his neck, she was rewarded with a low groan coming from him.
Encouraged, she slipped her hand onto his stomach, tracing the lines of muscle. Her fingers moved lower, until they reached the waistband of his boxers.
“No. No no no.” Graham’s hand shot out, grasping her wrist lightly and moving her hand back up to his chest, despite his rapidly growing erection. “This hasn’t changed a thing. We have a day of fun and excitement planned. You’re not distracting me with sex.”
She groaned, rolling over to her back and rolling her eyes. “Fine. Woo me then.”
Laughing, he sat up and slid from the bed. “Get ready and dress comfortably. It’s going to be a packed day.”
“But if we wear ourselves out with activities today then how are we going to have energy for tonight?”
“Trust me, I’ll have plenty of energy for tonight.” He winked and exited the room. “Now get your ass moving!” he shouted from the other room.
A day of fun and excitement, huh? She smiled. She couldn’t wait.
~*~*~*~*~
~ Graham ~
This wasn’t what he’d planned for the previous night, but looking at the look of excitement in her eyes and smile on her lips, he was actually glad those plans got derailed. He wasn’t sure if Coney Island was something she’d be into, but from what he could tell, he couldn’t have picked a better date.
“Oh damn. He’s not going to put that in his nose!” Her nose crunched up and she buried her face against Graham’s chest, periodically looking at the carnie who was about to shove a moving drill up his left nostril. The carnie turned the drill on and she let out a little, barely audible “eek”
sound, but turned her head so she could watch.
Instead of watching the carnie, Graham’s eyes were on her. With each inch the carnie pushed the drill into his nostril the wider her eyes got. By the time the drill was fully entrenched in his nose and he began to move it in and out her mouth had dropped open into a big O to match her wide eyes.
The carnie pulled the drill from his nose to a round of cheers and whistles.
“Thank you everyone. Have a great visit.” His announcement of being done was greeted by groans of disappointment, but people quickly left the room in search of their next thrill.
Genevieve pulled away from him and gave his hand a tug. “Aren’t we leaving?”
“Nope.”
“Holy shit, about time you came around here, asshole.” The carnie leapt down from the stage and made his way over to Graham and Genevieve.
Genevieve’s body froze, her brow furrowing as she watched the carnie approach them. She leaned into him, whispering., “You know him?”
“He’s my cousin.”
“I’m Kirk.” He extended his hand to Genevieve. “Since you don’t know who I am I guess my suspicion that I’m the black sheep of the family is justified.”
“Genevieve.” She hesitated then grasped his hand, giving him a smile as their hands shook.
“You’re cousins?”
Kirk released her hand and stepped into him, giving Graham a brief hug before stepping back. Grabbing a black band from his pocket Kirk pulled his shoulder-length scraggly black hair into a ponytail. With his hair tied back, his tattoos – a combination of flames and chains circling his neck went on full display.
Graham nodded. “Yup. We have a diverse group of people in our family, you’ll see.” He waited for her response, watching her expression.
“I bet.” She smiled.
Kirk hooked his thumb in Graham’s direction. “He show you any tricks?”
Oh fuck me, Graham groaned inwardly.
She tilted her head to the side, looking up at him questioningly. “Tricks?”
“Yeah, tricks. We came here to learn the trade together. He pussied out after the fire eating and refused to swallow the swords. Decided to sell out and become a cop instead.”
“I didn’t sell out.”
Kirk ignored him, jerking his thumbs in his own direction. “When I do things I go all the way.” He gave Genevieve a suggestive smile and wink. “Keep that in mind when you get bored of him.”
Her cheeks turned a rosy colour as she turned her attention back to him. “So, you fire eat?”
Graham nodded, becoming slightly embarrassed himself. “Yup.”
“And you were planning on becoming a carnie?”
“Yup.” When it looked like she was going to burst out laughing he put a finger to her lips.
“But keep in mind, I was eighteen and it seemed like a good idea at the time.”
“Stay there. I’ll be right back.”
Before Graham could respond Kirk rushed out back and a couple of minutes later he reappeared with a bottle of oil, two performance torches and lighter. Kirk’s expression was determined as he set his eyes on Graham.
“Fuck no, man. I’m not…” He hadn’t practiced in a couple of years and he didn’t want to embarrass himself – or worse – in front of Ginny. He was beginning to regret bringing her to Coney Island after all.