She had to go back to work tomorrow, and while he’d be fine and Noah would be here for several hours, she still wasn’t thrilled about leaving Graham. They’d fallen into a nice little routine over the last few days. Get up, have breakfast and coffee, then he exercised while she showered. Watch television, text back and forth a little when Graham got bored. She’d even guilted him into playing gin rummy with her a few times when she told him it had been her dad’s favorite card game and she missed playing it.
She enjoyed the routine, steady companionship of a man who appreciated her company. Things were a little quieter than she liked, but the desire to settle down with someone she could banter with, watch TV and play cards with, and sleep next to was more potent than ever.
Once again she remembered Mia’s suggestion to try a dating site, and a voice in her head said now was as good a time as ever, because having Graham around wasn’t a long-term solution.
Graham had fallen asleep after lunch, so she sneaked out with her laptop and settled onto the couch with a bag of chips. One of her coworkers had met her husband online, so she sent her a quick text asking what site she’d used.
Steph: TrueChemistry.com. You finally gonna sign up?
Claire: Thinking about it.
Steph: YES let me know how it goes
Claire went to the site and opted for the two-week free trial. She wasn’t about to shell out any cash before she knew if it was worth it.
After selecting she was a woman hoping to connect with a man, she created an account and downloaded the app to her phone.
She’d just entered in general information like her age and city when Gertrude’s click-clacking nails tapped across the hardwood. Claire glanced up to see the tiny asshole trot over to the front door and sit immediately underneath the hook with her leash.
“You know that haircut makes you look like you have a mustache, right?”
Gertrude blinked, looked up at the pink leash, then resumed staring at Claire.
Claire darted a look through the window at the beautiful day outside.
June in Denver was the best.
With a theatrical sigh, Claire closed her laptop and stood. “Look. I know Graham takes you on walks, like, every other day. And his house arrest is basically the same for you, and you tend to take your frustrations out on me. So, purely out of concern for the safety of my pillows and shoes, it’s probably best we take a quick walk around the neighborhood. To be clear, this is for Graham and my personal belongings, not for you. Got it?”
Gertrude continued staring as Claire slipped on her shoes. When Claire grabbed the leash from the hook, she thought she saw a faint tail wag and leaned down to get a closer look.
But everything about G’s tiny body was still as a statue except for those beady brown eyes, unrelenting and likely some form of evil.
Claire shrugged and clipped the leash to her collar.
She must have imagined it.
When Claire got into bed beside Graham that night with her laptop in hand, he raised a single brow at her.
She opened the lid and settled back. “I’m finally signing up for a dating website/app thing.”
His other brow lifted to join the first.
“Don’t look at me like that. My friend Steph swears this one’s actually pretty good at matching compatibility. As you so astutely noticed, the last guy I went out with wasn’t right for me and the only attractive guy at the club the other night—present company excluded—was a smoker. I might as well give this a try.” She clicked to the site and logged in to pick up where she’d left off.
She felt Graham’s gaze on her as she skimmed the questions she was supposed to answer. “I have no idea how to answer some of these.”
Graham pointed to her computer and gestured for her to hand it over.
Claire laughed. “You want to help?”
He nodded, expression serious.
“Just don’t hit Submit on anything,” she warned, handing him the laptop. She scooted closer to see what he was doing.
He smelled good, which was unfair since he’d just been sitting in bed all day, and she regretted the move immediately.
Note to hormones: snap out of it.
Graham focused his attention on the screen for several seconds. He’d probably come to the same conclusion she had, and wouldn’t know how to answer them, either.
But then, he started typing.
Describe your perfect day. Sleeping until the sun wakes me up. Strong black coffee and a carb-filled breakfast on the patio at a local café. Maybe a little shopping, especially if there’s a good sale. Would have to include a trip to Nordstrom Rack. A lazy afternoon on the couch binge-watching my recent Netflix obsession, then take-out dinner at home and wine on the porch until the stars come out.