Page 4 of Sweet Harmony

“It means, he’sso not my type. Even if he agreed to help me out by fake dating me,no one - including Daniel - would ever believe it.”

Grace tappedher finger thoughtfully against her cheekbone. “Hmm, you make agood point. Preacher is kind of… rough looking.”

“That’s anunderstatement,” Kira said. “Do you think there’s any part of himthat isn’t covered in tattoos?”

“Some girlslike that look.”

“Well, Idon’t,” Kira said. It was Daniel’s body she was thinking of. Thatsmooth, perfect tanned skin not marred by ink or piercings.

“Preacher is agood guy,” Grace said.

“Yes, he is,”Kira replied. “You think I don’t know that? I’ve spent plenty oftime with him and Gideon. But he’s not my type and besides, Gideonwould freak out if I was dating his best friend. You know how heis.”

“He’s not yourguardian. He can’t make decisions for you.”

“No, but he isthe damn sheriff. Preacher might be his best friend but thatdoesn’t mean Gideon won’t arrest him if he thinks he’s beinginappropriate with me.”

Grace rolledher eyes. “Okay, fine. Preacher’s off the table.”

“Give me backmy phone,” Kira said as Grace stared thoughtfully into space.“There isn’t anyone else who’ll fake date me. I appreciate yourhelp, Gracie, really I do, but -”

“I’ve got it!”Grace suddenly declared. “I have the perfect man for you.”

Kira gave her asuspicious look. “Who?”

“Connor.”

“Your boss? Dr.MacMillan?”

“Yes.”

“No.”

“Why not?”

“He’s adentist.”

“So?”

“What do youmean, so?” Kira said. “Dating a dentist isn’t,” she fumbled for theword, “cool.”

“Oh, for God’ssake. You’re twenty-five years old and a real estate agent, Kira,not a damn rock star. This isn’t high school anymore and no onecares if you’re ‘cool’. Dating a dentist is perfectlyacceptable.”

“He’s fromWillington.”

“He hasn’tlived there in a while.”

“He’s still anout-of-towner,” Kira said. “What would people say if they knew Iwas sleeping with an out-of-towner?”

“You’re notactually going to sleep with him,” Grace said.

“Yeah, butpeople don’t know that. My dad would roll over in his grave if heknew I was dating an out-of-towner. Especially a Willingtonwhiner.”

“He’s a reallygood guy. Just because he’s from Willington doesn’t make him awhiner,” Grace said. “This town’s stupid rivalry with Willingtonhas always driven me batty.”

“Why would hefake date me?”

Grace leanedforward and lowered her voice. “Okay, so you can’t say a wordbecause Connor told me this in confidence one night when he’d had alittle too much to drink, but -”

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