I closed an eye and looked up at the thunderous black cloud above us. “Well, here we are,” I said. “In yet another mess.”
Graham gave me a wet smile and then pointed.
“We can stand under there.”
I turned to see a small awning over the door of a delicatessen that was closed for the night. He took my arm and I limped quickly beside him until we were underneath it and he was pulling out his phone.
“Cab?” he asked and I nodded. “Do you mind sharing?” I shook my head.
We were quiet while we waited, the sound of the rain thudding against the awning loud as we huddled beneath it, not wanting to get dripped on by the water streaming off it but also trying not to touch one another.
I tried to think of something to say and peeked up at him, wondering if he was doing the same, but his face was turned away from me, giving me a nice view of his strong, stubble covered jawline.
It was interesting to me how different he looked from the picture on his book jackets. I wondered if he’d seen any of my work, if he’d thought the same about me. The woman he’d seen in the park was certainly not the one plastered on billboards or in magazines. And this guy standing here now with the glasses and gruff but sexy appearance, was definitely not the slick, clean-shaven, hair perfectly in place man I’d seen in photos. He had serious Clark Kent/Superman vibes.
I wondered what magic he could make in a phone booth.
The thought made me snort softly and I pretended I was covering my mouth from a yawn when he glanced over.
The taxi arrived and Graham held the door for me as we hurried inside and gave the driver our addresses.
“Thanks for agreeing to share,” Graham said as we settled in, the windows momentarily steaming from the combination of heat and wet. “Seemed silly to get two cabs when we’re headed to the same area.”
“It was the least I could do for taking your coat in this downpour.” I glanced over at him. “And for yelling at you.”
“This time? Or last time.” He grinned.
I bit my lip to keep from smiling.
“Last time,” I said. “I stand by my right for yelling at you this time.”
“That’s valid. It was none of my business.”
“It wasn’t.”
“Still…”
“Really?” I asked, turning in my seat to face him. “What do you have against Alex Clarke? Is it a competition thing? Did his last book outsell yours?”
“It did not,” he said and smiled proudly. “But he is a pompous ass.”
I wasn’t about to tell him I agreed with him, even though I did. He had no right to ask me about who I was dating, nor give an opinion on him. I was so tired of men feeling like they had a right to push their thoughts and insecurities on me.
“Maybe he is to you,” I said.
He was about to say more but then I shivered and he leaned forward and tapped on the glass separating us from the driver instead.
“Hey, can you turn up the heat please?”
“Sure thing,” the driver said.
“Thank you,” I said to Graham.
“Have to get my jacket back somehow,” he said, trying to fight off a grin and failing.
I started to unzip it but he held up a hand.
“Wear it until we get there. I insist.”
