Page 73 of Fourteen of a Kind

“If you insist.” I smiled, kissing her lips.

Swooping down, I picked her up and carried up the stairs and to her bedroom, where we made love. As she lay in my arms, I pressed my lips against the top of her head. I had no intentions of going to the brewhouse, but I’d barely seen her all week and missed her. As hard as I tried to stay away, I failed.

Another nightmare shook me to my core.

“Graham, wake up. Wake up.” I felt my body shaking.

Opening my eyes, Ella stared at me. It took a minute for my brain to register where I was. I quickly sat up and looked at her.

“You were having a nightmare,” she said.

“Damn.” I ran my hand through my hair as my heart raced. “I’m sorry. Go back to sleep.” I kissed her forehead.

When our alarms went off the following morning, we showered together and got ready for work. Walking down the stairs, Ella handed me a cup of coffee.

“Thanks.” I smiled, kissing her lips.

“You’re welcome. Can I come to your place tonight?”

“I’d like that,” I said. “You get off before I do.” I grabbed my keys and removed the one to my apartment. “Here’s the key to my place.” I handed it to her.

A bright smile graced her face. “Thanks. We better get going.”

We walked out the door, and I kissed her lips before she climbed into her car.

“I’ll see you later,” I said.

“You bet.” She grinned.

After a long day at the hospital, I headed home. When I walked into my apartment, I saw Ella sitting on the couch. Instantly, my night got better.

“Hi.” She smiled, walking over to me and kissing my lips.

“Hi.” I set my bag down, walked to the refrigerator, and grabbed a bottle of beer. “I went looking for you today, but you were in surgery.”

“Emergency surgery that took eight hours,” she said.

I hooked my arm around her, and we sat on the couch.

“Graham, what was your nightmare about last night?” she asked.

“I don’t remember.” I tipped the bottle to my lips.

“I think you do and don’t want to tell me.”

I furrowed my brows at her. “I would tell you if I remembered.”

“Why did you lie to me about never living here in California?”

Fuck.

“What are you talking about, Ella?”

“I know you lived in a house in the Hollywood Hills. I also know your father was a highly decorated surgical oncologist.”

“Are you digging into my past or something?” I spoke with irritation as I stood up from the couch.

“I saw an article about your father’s death. Why did you tell me that you never lived here?”

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