Page 38 of Perfect Harmony

“Perfect,” Lucas said. “Grace, I’m notheading back to New Cassel until tomorrow afternoon. Would you like to havecoffee say around eleven tomorrow? I’ll have an answer for you about Stark’sdonation.”

Grace glanced at Kira. Her best friend wasgiving her a,say yes, you dummy, look. Feeling weirdly guilty, Gracenodded. “Sure, that sounds good. Do you know where Grind My Beans is?”

“I don’t,” Lucas said.

“It’s right downtown on main street,”Connor said. “It’s easy to find.”

“Great. I’ll be there at eleven,” Lucas said.

“It’s a date!” Kira clapped her hands beforesmiling at Connor. “Honey, can you get Grace another beer?”

“I’m good with just the one,” Grace said. “I’mdriving, remember?”

“You can stay the night,” Kira said.

“It’s been a long day. In fact, I shouldget going,” Grace said.

“Oh, but it’s still so early and I thoughtmaybe we’d play cards,” Kira said. “Lucas loves Euchre, just like you do.”

“Thanks, but I’m gonna beg off,” Grace said.

“But who will be Lucas’s partner? Gracie, youhave to stay. Just for one game,” Kira said.

“I’ll play a game,” Addison said.

Grace hoped the,you are a goddess and Iwill love you forever look,she aimed at Addison was clear.

It must have been because Addison winked atGrace before standing. “Lucas, you should know that I am a ruthless Euchre playerand I expect nothing but the same from my partner.”

Lucas laughed and stood, holding out hisarm for Addison to take. “I will strive not to fail you, my Euchre queen.”

* * *

Grace cursed and yanked viciously at herbra. The wires were poking, and the band was digging into her soft flesh.

“Fuck it!” She was almost home, but sheabsolutely couldn’t wear this hellish torture device one minute longer.Holding the steering wheel with one hand, she arched her back and stuck herhand down the back of her dress before clawing at the hooks of the bra. Thecar weaved into the other lane and she cursed again before steering it back toher own lane. The hooks finally released, and she moaned happily when the bandloosened.

She pulled the bra straps off her arms,yanked it out from under her dress, and tossed it into the back seat just as asiren went off behind her. She jerked, her hands tightening on the steeringwheel as she stared in the rear-view mirror.

“No, no, no,” she said. “Are you fuckingkidding me?”

For one crazy moment, she thought aboutjust stomping on the gas before she came to her senses. She turned off themain road onto a quiet side street, parked, and shut off the car. Maybe itwouldn’t be him, maybe it would be Ian.

Either way, get your bra on, dumbass!

It was too late. The door of the police vehicleopened, and the big body of Gideon Walker stepped out. He was wearing a pairof jeans with his shirt and police vest, and the denim clung to his thighs.

“Fuck, fuck, fuck,” she whispered. Shestared frantically at herself. The sun had set but it wasn’t very dark yet.There was more than enough light to see the way her heavy breasts pushed at thethin material of her dress. It was obvious that she was braless, and she quicklyclamped her arms over her tits as Gideon stopped next to her window and leaned down.

“License and registration.”

“Gideon,” she said. “Seriously?”

He raised one eyebrow at her. “License andregistration.”

She sighed in irritation and keeping one armacross her chest, she yanked her wallet from her purse and fumbled it open.She pulled out her license and handed it to him before unbuckling her seatbeltand reaching into the glove box for the registration. He took it from her andperused both as she scowled at him.

“Why did you pull me over?”