Page 28 of Perfect Harmony

She grabbed Grace’s hands and squeezed themtight. “You take care of us, honey. You always have. Maybe it’s time to letsomeone take care of you. Maybe what you see as trying to control you, isGideon’s way of taking care of you.”

Grace didn’t reply and Addie squeezed herhands again. “Look, we all know Gideon likes to be in control, but it’s likeKira says – that doesn’t necessarily make him controlling. Gideon’s known you foreverand he knows who you are. Trying to control you would be like trying to stuffan angry cat into a pillowcase. It would just end in blood and sweat and tears.”

Grace laughed. “Cat in a pillowcase? Why onearth would you be putting a cat in a pillowcase?”

Addison giggled. “It’s just an expression.”

“An expression that you just made up.”

“Maybe.”

Grace smiled at her. “I appreciate whatyou’re saying, I do, but I didn’t mean to whine and complain about how I’mnever going to be with the man I love. Gideon and I will never be together,and I need to accept it. But I wanted to ask you not to say anything to anyoneabout what you saw, especially Kira.”

“I won’t,” Addison said. “I promise. Andanytime you want to talk about Gideon, I’m here for you, honey. Okay?”

“Okay.”

“Good. Now, let’s get the cheque and getout of here. I need a giant coffee if I’m going to stay awake during Harrison’sballgame.” Addison checked her phone. “Don’t tell anyone, and I’ll deny it ifyou do, but I’m kind of over watching baseball games.”

Gracie gasped in mock dismay. “You’regonna be chased out of Harmony Falls with pitchforks if that gets around.”

“Don’t I know it,” Addison said. “Honestly,the realization that I’m going to spend the next thirty or forty years of mylife watching Harrison play baseball three times a week, is almost enough tomake me consider cancelling the wedding.”

Gracie laughed and Addison grinned at her.“C’mon, cutie-pie. Coffee’s on me.”

* * *

The Thirsty Beaver, the biggest and most popularpub in Harmony Falls, was slow tonight. Gideon nodded to a few of the seniorswho had gathered to drink beer and watch the baseball game and then slippedpast a group of women playing darts.

Preacher was sitting in their usual booth,and Gideon slid in across from him. “Hey. Slow in here tonight.”

“Yeah,” Preacher said. “Thought you had a ballgame tonight.”

“Tomorrow night,” Gideon said.

He smiled at the curvy redhead who stoppedby their table. She was wearing a Thirsty Beaver Pub t-shirt and had a black aprontied around her waist. “Georgia? What are you doing here?”

“Hey, Sheriff. It’s been slow over at Nan’s,so I picked up a few extra shifts at the Beav. What can I get you?”

“I’ll take a beer, whatever’s on tap.”

“Perfect. You want your usual, Preacher?”Georgia said.

Gideon didn’t think it was his imaginationthat Georgia was looking over his best friend like he was a delicious steak shecouldn’t wait to dig into.

“Yeah. Thanks, Georgia.”

“Anytime, handsome.”

She left their table, a sexy little sway toher ample hips. Preacher checked out her ass before turning his gaze to Gideon.“What?”

“You slept with her yet?”

“No, and I’m not going to. You know I don’tdate women from Harmony Falls. Too messy and complicated.”

“You don’t exactly date anyone,” Gideonsaid. “Sleeping with a woman a few times before moving on, isn’t dating.”

Preacher shrugged. “They know what theyget with me. I never lie to them and I’m always upfront about what I want.”

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