Mia’s voice startled Graham out of his thoughts. “How about a wingwoman?”
“Sorry?”
“You don’t want a wingman, but you and Claire seem to get a ton of attention together. I could pose as your sister. Tell them about my kidney transplant and how my wonderful, doting brother took care of me—Oh! Want me to tell them you donated the kidney?”
Graham blinked. “Uh, I don’t think—”
“We look alike, actually,” Mia said, holding out a lock of her dark hair. “We could totally pass for siblings.”
Noah snickered, and Graham ran his palm along his jaw. “Thanks. But I’m good. I’m not looking to score a date tonight.”
Mia frowned. “Why not? There are tons of women here.”
Once again, Noah spoke quietly to her and she leaned into him with a smile. One more of those and Graham might need to relocate. He was glad they were happy and all, but he could only take so much.
“Noah and I worked hard today. I just want to relax tonight,” he lied. He wasn’t too tired to have fun, but the person he usually had it with wasn’t here.
They stayed for another hour then parted ways, and as Graham approached the condo and prepared to turn into the driveway, movement on the porch caught his attention.
Claire stood there with a man. The overhead light cast a soft yellow glow across their shoulders, and by all appearances this was an end-of-the-date drop-off. Claire had gone all out for this one—wearing one of her nicest dresses and heels. For a girl whose standard work and home uniforms consisted of scrubs and a T-shirt with leggings, respectively, a dress was high praise indeed.
Not wanting to interrupt, Graham continued past the driveway and parked along the street just beyond as if he were a neighbor. He put it in Park but left the engine running, glancing at the rearview mirror. Claire’s back was to him and the guy, whom Graham didn’t recognize, was in plain view. He was tall and lanky with light-colored curly hair. Glasses framed his eyes and he smiled down at Claire with a sort of shy expression. Claire put her hands on his shoulders and he jolted forward a little, then paused, as if suddenly unsure what he was supposed to do.
Graham winced. This was awkward as hell.
Claire’s date moved closer and put a hand on her back—way too high, if you asked Graham, and finally kissed her. It lasted all of two seconds before they separated.
Graham shook his head. If a woman was worth kissing, she should be kissed with conviction and purpose.
The guy made overly enthusiastic hand gestures as he said something, and nodded before hopping down the steps to his car, looking entirely too pleased with himself for the most pathetic good-night kiss in the history of ever.
Graham waited until the dude was down the street before he reversed and pulled into his usual spot.
When he walked in, Gertrude immediately leaped off the couch to greet him, tail wagging. He bent to pick her up with a single hand, planting a kiss on the top of her furry head, murmuring, “How’s my girl?” She wiggled in his grip, licking his face and tapping at his chest with her feet, and he set her down.
Claire waited in the kitchen with a glass of water.
She eyed him and leaned on the counter as he approached her. “I know you saw that.”
“And now I know why you didn’t come out tonight. You were on a date with Napoleon Dynamite.”
“He doesn’t look li—” She stopped and put her glass down, dropping her arms to her sides. “Dammit.”
Graham chuckled. “So how was it?”
“It was nice.”
“Nice?”
She shrugged. “Yeah.”
“And that kiss?”
She looked away. “It was fine. First kisses are always a little awkward.”
“They don’t have to be.”
Pursing her lips, Claire’s brows rose. “You mean to tell me you nail all your first kisses? No one’s that good.”
“No, you’re right. Some are awful. But with the right person and at the right moment, a first kiss can be pretty awesome.”
She looked skeptical, and Graham tilted his head as he regarded her. “You’ve seriously never had a first kiss that knocked the wind out of you?”
“I guess not,” she said, sounding disappointed. “It’s probably me. I get in my head and can’t focus.”
Graham frowned. “Maybe it’s the guys you’re kissing. When I kiss a woman, she’s definitely not thinking about anything except what’s going on here.” He tapped his lips and Claire’s gaze followed his finger. He grinned. “Or…elsewhere. You know, depending on the situation.”