Page 68 of Perfect Harmony

“It really is.” Kira grinned at her. “It’slike I just needed that one sale from Mr. Stark and then boom… I startedkicking ass at selling houses. You know, when I got my real estate license, Idid it because I didn’t really know what else I wanted to do. But now, I actuallykind of love it.”

“That’s awesome, honey.”

“I’m still looking at some places for Lucasto buy.”

“Oh yeah? I thought he wasn’t moving here untilSeptember.”

“He doesn’t start his new position untilSeptember. But he’s actually moving here in August.”

“That’s a hell of a commute to New Casselfor work,” Grace said.

“He has a month’s worth of vacation builtup that Mr. Stark said he had to take before he started his new position herein Harmony Falls.”

“Lucky him,” Grace said.

“He’s a really great guy. Don’t you think?”Kira said.

“I don’t know him that well,” Grace said.

“I know he comes off as kind of sarcasticsometimes, but he’s actually really sweet. He sure thinks you’re gorgeous. Andfunny and smart.”

Grace laughed. “Just say what you want tosay, Kira.”

“I think you should date Lucas. He’stotally into you. He’s mentioned to Connor a few times that he’d like to getto know you better.”

Grace picked at her nails. “I’m not interestedin him.”

“Why not?” Kira said. “He’s good looking,he has a good job, he’s funny. I don’t get why you’re not interested.”

“I’m just not, okay?”

“You haven’t dated anyone in...” Kira pausedin thought, “at least three years. At least. Maybe even longer. Hell, you’renot even having a sex only fling with someone. You can’t tell me you don’tmiss sex.”

She squinted at Grace. “Wait, are youhaving a sex only fling with someone and not telling me?”

“No,” Grace said. “There’s not a lot ofroom in my life right now for a relationship.”

“Now you sound like Gideon,” Kira said. “Hehasn’t dated a single person since he moved back home. Not one, Gracie! Iguess he could be having sex with someone and not telling me about it.” Shemade a face. “Which I’m actually thankful for because I don’t want to think aboutmy brother banging someone.”

“No one does,” Grace said.

Kira laughed. “Anyway, I really do wishyou’d give Lucas a chance. Just one? For me?”

Grace hesitated before shaking her head.She knew Kira meant well, but she wouldn’t do that to Lucas. It was bad enoughthat she’d agreed to have coffee with him last Sunday. She shouldn’t have goneout with him, and she wouldn’t make that mistake again. She wouldn’t lead Lucason when she couldn’t get the sound of Gideon’s voice or the memory of his fingerson her clit, out of her head. “I can’t, Kira. I’m not interested in him.”

“Okay,” Kira said. “It’s probably for thebest anyway. Gideon can’t stand Lucas for some reason, and he’d probably freakout if you started dating him. You’re just as much his baby sister as I am,and you know how weirdly protective he is of who we date. Wait, that’s not whyyou haven’t dated anyone since Gideon moved back home is it? Because you’re worriedwhat he’ll say? Because he might be our brother but that doesn’t give him theright to tell us how to live our lives.”

“No, that isn’t it,” Grace said. A wave ofdepression was washing over her. Kira would never see her and Gideon as anythingbut brother and sister. Grace needed to accept that and move on or she’d neverbe happy. So, why couldn’t she just move the fuck on?

“Hey, are you still sleeping okay?” Kiraasked.

“It comes and goes,” Grace said. “I didn’tsleep at all last night, but I got a few hours on Saturday night.”

“Sweetie, you really need to talk to yourdoctor again,” Kira said.

“I know.” Grace stared out the window. Thedoctor would do what he always did which was prescribe sleeping pills that eithermade her feel logy and slow or didn’t work at all. Her Gideon shirt talismanwas starting to lose its power and it panicked her more than she would admit.The last week or so of getting solid sleep every night had made her realize justhow bad her sleeping habits were. If Gideon’s shirt stopped workingcompletely, she didn’t know what she’d do.

Sleep in Gideon’s bed.

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