Stiff: A Graves Family Romance by Kim Linwood

Author:Kim Linwood [Linwood, Kim]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Kim Linwood
Published: 2018-08-05T16:00:00+00:00

22

Sadie

“Where are we going?” I ask as Carter opens a door out of the convention center floor and into a narrow corridor running parallel to the main room. “Are we supposed to be in here? I’m pretty sure that sign said Staff Only.”

He looks back at me with a dangerous grin. “Probably not, but let’s see what we find.”

“I’m getting the feeling your family isn’t big on rules.”

Carter shrugs and picks a door, seemingly at random. “Most rules are there to keep the sheep out of trouble. If you want to be a wolf, you have to test the fence now and then.” The door opens into a small store room filled with caskets lined up on wheeled tables, presumably ready to go out on the floor for display.

“Wow, these are all Hoffmeisters. Top of the line. These things are expensive.”

“Are they? I really don’t get why people spend so much money on boxes that will just end up in the ground.” He closes the door behind us and leans up against the doorframe.

“Really? You wouldn’t want a fancy vehicle for your final send-off? I would’ve thought you’d be the type to go all out.”

He laughs dryly. “Me? Nah. I’ll probably end up in the family plot, but they could just toss me out with the cat litter for all I care. A party would be nice, though. Something with decent music and enough alcohol to keep my family from killing each other. It’s the worms that will do all the work in the end.”

“How… thoughtful. The funeral’s not really for you, you know. You’re right, the dead don’t really care what shade of varnish their casket has, but it means a lot to the people you left behind. Like Mr. Graham, for example. That huge, fancy funeral is for him, not for his wife. It makes him feel better to give that one last gift to her, and if she helped with the planning, it’s more special.” I run my finger over the smooth finish of the closest casket. Maybe we should get one of these for the showroom at the office. “It’s about closure.”

Carter nods, not looking overly convinced. “Speaking of closure, are we ever going to get some?”

“Excuse me?” I step back reflexively at the hungry look in his eyes. “Do you mean the sale, because—”

He closes the distance and drops his hands to my hips, as if he’s worried I’m going to run away. “No, I don’t mean the fucking sale. I mean you and me. I’m sick and tired of this dance we’re doing.”

I don’t pull away even though I probably should. Instead, I reach up and straighten that one lock of hair that’s been teasing me all day. “Has it really been that bad?”

“When we’re together, all I want to do is touch you, kiss you, but I know I’ll just end up burned if I do, and then I fucking do it anyway because I can’t stop myself. And you… you keep talking

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