Page 36 of Perfect Harmony

Gideon didn’t sound annoyed by her request,and Gracie’s childish jealousy swelled. She continued to stare at the table asGideon and Cheri said their goodbyes.

Rayna nudged her again. “They’re gone.”

Grace arranged an innocent look on her facebefore staring at Rayna. “Sorry?”

“I said they’re gone. You can stop trying toburn a hole into the table with your mind alone.”

Grace shrugged. “I’m not sure what you’retalking about.”

“Hey, is it just me,” Arianna leaned in, “orwas that Cheri chick totally eye banging the sheriff the whole meeting? Also, hername is my least favourite fruit. I ate too many cherries once when I wasseven and I had diarrhea for three days. It was, like, biblically bad, you guys.”

Rayna’s face turned red as she fought notto laugh. The look on her face made Grace’s own laughter come bubbling out ofher chest. Rayna snickered and then gave up completely, letting loose with thelaughter as Gracie laughed harder.

Arianna grinned at them before admiring herbright red fingernails. “You guys are pretty cool. We should hang outsometime.”

Chapter Seven

Grace rubbed at her back as she climbed thesteps to Kira’s place. Saturdays were always busy at the clinic, and she wasbeyond happy that she wasn’t going back until Tuesday. She loved her job, buttoday had been long and tiring. If she hadn’t already promised Kira she wouldcome by, she would have stayed at home, had a hot bath, and went to bed.

She walked into the house without knocking andheaded toward the kitchen. “Kira? I’m here. I need a beer and maybe a backrub and also a taco. Tell me you’re still making tacos because I was bit twicetoday, and the only cure is tacos and – Lucas?”

Lucas grinned at her from across the kitchen.“Hello, Gracie. You look beautiful today. I love your dress.”

She touched the fabric of her sundress a littleself-consciously. It was a warm evening and despite it not being summer yet, she’ddecided to wear the paisley print dress. It was one of her favourites and she’dbeen itching to wear it since the weather started to warm. The bodice huggedher full breasts and showed off a modest amount of cleavage, the spaghetti strapswere wide enough to cover her bra straps, and she loved the way the calf-lengthskirt hid her thick thighs without adding weight to her ass and hips.

“Thank you. So, um, where’s Kira?”

“She and Connor just ran out to get salsafor the tacos. They’ll be right back.”

“Oh, okay. What are you doing here?”

Lucas leaned against the counter. His armscrossed his broad chest and his smile was on the naughty side. “Well, Connor bribedme here with the promise of tacos. But I’m beginning to suspect that he andKira had more nefarious reasons for inviting me tonight.”

“Oh yeah?” Grace said.

“Definitely. In fact, I think they mightbe trying to make us fall madly in love, Gracie,” Lucas said.

“Interesting.”

“Right?” Lucas stirred the meat that was browningin the pan. “I told them I was a wild boy who can’t be tamed, but they’redetermined to make this happen between us. They probably want us to have adouble wedding or something.”

Grace laughed. “Every girl’s dream. Tomarry an untameable wild boy in a double wedding with her best friend.”

“That’s me – making women’s dreams cometrue since October of 2007.”

“What happened in October of 2007?” Grace snaggeda bottle of water from the fridge.

“My braces came off and I realized going tothe gym was what gave me these.” He lifted the front of his t-shirt and exposedhis six pack.

“The muscles are supposed to impress me,right?” Grace said.

“Am I trying too hard? I’m trying too hard,aren’t I?”

“Maybe a little.” Grace held her forefingerand thumb a smidge apart.

“Noted.” Lucas let his shirt drop backinto place. “I won’t mention then that my ass is tight enough to bounce a quarteroff of.”

He turned and wiggled said tight ass at Graceas the front door slammed. Kira and Connor walked into the kitchen and Kira kissedGrace’s cheek. “Hi, honey. Oh, you look gorgeous tonight. Connor, doesn’t Gracelook gorgeous? This is one of my favourite dresses of hers.”

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