Page 5 of Sweet Harmony

“A little toomuch to drink? How close are you to your boss?”

“We’refriends,” Grace said a bit impatiently. “We’ve gone for drinks afew times. He’d never admit this, but I think he’s a bit lonely. Ikeep wanting to invite him out with the gang but I’m not sure howit would go over. The good town folk of Harmony Falls aren’t alwaysfriendly to outsiders.”

“You’re tellingme,” Kira said. “Honestly, I’m surprised his office is stillopen.”

“Well, it helpsthat his business partner is a Harmony Falls lifer. But, he’s alsoa very good dentist,” Grace said. “You know that – he’s yourdentist for God’s sake. So, what do you say? Do you want to fakedate him? He’s handsome.”

“Is he?” Kirasaid. “He’s always wearing a hospital mask when I see him. Icouldn’t pick him out of a line up. Besides, you still haven’t toldme why he would fake date me.”

“Right. So, heconfessed one night that he’s going to Willington next month forhis cousin’s wedding and he’s dreading it because his ex-fiancéewill be there. His family is still upset that they called off theirengagement and will spend the entire time trying to get them backtogether.”

“Okay,” Kirasaid. “So how does this help me?”

“Think aboutit,” Grace said. “If you guys are fake dating, then you can go withhim to his cousin’s wedding. His family isn’t going to push his exon him with his new girlfriend sitting right there.”

“I guess itcould work,” Kira said slowly.

“Great! I’lltalk to Connor tomorrow and see if he’s in,” Grace said.

She reachedacross the table and squeezed Kira’s hand again. “You’ll be bangingDaniel before you know it, honey.”

“That’sromantic,” Kira said.

Grace grinnedat her. “That’s me. Romantic as fuck.”

* * *

“Grace? Whatare you still doing here? The office closed half an hour ago.”Connor stared in surprise at the curvy dental hygienist standing inthe staff room.

“Just finishingup,” she said. “Busy day, huh?”

“Yes.” Heshrugged out of his lab coat as Grace dropped onto the couch.They’d hired Grace last year right out of hygienist school and itwas one of their better decisions. She was amazing with clients,reliable, and smart. She was also very pretty with her full curves,long curly dark hair and green eyes, but he didn’t feel a lick ofsexual interest. He tried to tell himself it was because he knew itwas a bad idea to even think of dating an employee, but that was abald-faced lie. He wasn’t interested in his pretty employee becausehe had no desire to have his heart ripped out of his chest andstomped on right in front of him for a second time.

Crybaby,his inner voice mocked grumpily. It was more than willing to risk aheart stomping if it meant he got laid again on the regular. He hadslept with exactly two women since he and Lisa broke up. Both wereone-night stands when he was attending out-of-town workconferences. He hadn’t gone on a single date since the night Lisabroke off their engagement.

He sat on theother end of the couch. “Big plans for tonight?”

She shook herhead. “No. How about you?”

“Going for arun and then dinner,” he replied.

She staredthoughtfully at him and he raised his eyebrows. “What?”

“Dinneralone?”

“Yes,” hereplied. “Why?”

“So, you’re notdating anyone yet, right?”

He grinned ather. “Are you asking me to dinner, Grace?”

“God, no.” Shelooked so horrified at the idea that he burst into laughter.

“Shit, I didn’tmean for it to come out like that,” she said. “It’s just – datingmy boss is not a great idea.”

“Right. It hasnothing to do with your crush on our surly sheriff?”

“I told youthat in secret,” she said.

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