Page 37 of Perfect Harmony

“Very pretty. Hey, Grace.” Connor put thesalsa on the counter.

Kira smiled at Lucas as she smoothed a straycurl back from Grace’s face. “Isn’t Grace beautiful, Lucas?”

“Incredibly beautiful,” Lucas said. Hewinked at Grace behind Kira’s back and mouthed, “Double wedding.”

“Addison and Harrison are coming for dinnertoo. Oh, that must be them now,” Kira said when the front door opened. “We’rein the kitchen, guys.”

Addison joined them and Kira hugged her. “Hey,honey. Where’s Harrison?”

Addison sighed. “Working late again. Hesaid he’d try to pop by later, but I wouldn’t hold my breath.”

“Oh, okay.” Kira looked her up and down. “Youlook beautiful.”

Grace stared at Addison. Kira was right,Addie did look beautiful, but, honestly, when didn’t she? Today she was wearinga hunter green A-line style dress with a sweetheart neckline and a criss-crossembellishment across the bodice. Her customary string of pearls hung aroundher neck, her hair was in a stylish chignon at the base of her neck, and blackheels completed her outfit.

Grace ran a self-conscious hand over her dress.She’d thought she looked good when she left the house, but now… she had no ideahow Addie always managed to look so put together, but she envied it.

“Hi, Gracie.” Addie kissed her cheek. “I loveyour hair today. God, I wish I had your curls.”

Grace laughed. “Trust me, you don’t.”

“I do.” Addison set her purse down on the table.“What should I do to help, Kira?”

“You can open the wine,” Kira said. “It’sso nice out, Connor and I thought we’d eat at the picnic table in the backyard. Grace, why don’t you and Lucas take the dishes outside and set the table.”

“Sure,” Grace said. Her best friend wasnot in any way subtle. She smiled at Lucas as he handed her a stack of plates.He was handsome and funny and not annoyingly bossy… why the hell couldn’t shemuster any interest in him.

You know why.

An image of Gideon flickered into her headand she shut it down immediately. Maybe if she just tried harder, she would beattracted to Lucas. Yes, that’s what she needed to do... try the fuck harder.

* * *

Trying the fuck harder was not working.

Grace drank the last of her beer. Besideher, Lucas was telling everyone a story about the time his mother caught himsurfing porn on the internet. She laughed and nodded in all the right places, onlypart of her brain engaged.

The other part was thinking about Monday andhow she’d be spending the entire damn morning with Gideon. She should neverhave said yes to Wanda, she should have known that Wanda would rope Gideon intovolunteering as well. They worked together for God’s sake and Gideon adored her.He’d do anything for her.

“Gracie?” Kira lobbed a balled-up napkin ather. “Hey, pay attention.”

“Sorry,” Grace said. “I was, um, thinkingabout the fundraiser thing for Wanda.”

“Gideon said he was volunteering for thattoo,” Kira said.

“Yeah. We’re meeting Monday to solicitdonations from local businesses,” Grace said.

“Well, that sounds horrifying,” Connorsaid.

Grace laughed. “It kind of does.”

Lucas took a drink of beer. “I could askmy boss to make a donation, if you’d like?”

“Seriously? That would be fantastic,”Grace said. “I didn’t realize Mr. Stark was here already.”

“He hasn’t moved here yet,” Lucas said. “ButI can text him in the morning. I’m sure he’ll be happy to make a donation.”

“He sent me a list of homes he wants tolook at,” Kira said. “I’m going to set up some showings for him hopefully nextweek. I also looked into some more options for you, Lucas.”

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