Page 81 of Good Girls Don't Kiss and Tell

“It sounds disgusting,” she mumbled against his chest. “Why would she give you something like that?”

“I think she started giving it to us to make sure we weren’t faking it. There was no way she could get that horrendous concoction down Grant or me unless we were too ill to fight.”

She gave a weak laugh, and he wrapped his arms around her, enjoying the feel of her closeness, sick or not. After several moments, she pulled back and croaked, “I think I’ll just take some orange juice. If I’m not better in a few days, I’ll let you pour your mother’s green gunk shake down my gullet.”

“Whatever you say. Now go lie down, I’ll be in there in a bit. And I got these for you. They looked up your alley.” He handed her the movies, and her whole face brightened.

“Oh, I’ve wanted to see these.” She kissed his chest, her lips burning through his flannel shirt. “You’re the best.” As if she realized what she’d just done, her cheeks turned scarlet. “I really shouldn’t let you do this. I’ve been terrible to you, and you shouldn’t—”

“If you don’t get out of here and go lie down, I’m going to carry you back in there and tie you to the bed.”

A little spark of Gracie’s sassiness peeked through her tired eyes when she rasped, “You shouldn’t say those kinds of things when I’m too weak to enjoy them.”

Even though she looked like she’d been through the wringer and haggard as hell, her reply sent a message to his johnson to stand at attention. Man, he had it bad for this woman.

“When you’re at full strength again, I promise to follow through.” Once she was out of sight, with Fuzz hot on her heels, he finished with the groceries and then poured her some juice. He opened a pack of cold pills and had to admit that he liked taking care of Gracie.

He walked into the room and saw her curled up on her side on top of the blankets. He figured she’d fallen back asleep and started to leave the juice by the bed, but she rolled over.

“Hey, I brought you some cold meds that should make you feel a bit better.”

She sat up and took the pills, downing half the glass. “Thanks.”

“All right, I’ll let you rest. If you need anything, I’ll be in the living room. Just tell Fuzz, and he’ll come get me,” Eric joked, noting his new dog seemed quite taken with Gracie.

“Actually, do you mind just hanging in here? I hate being alone when I’m sick.”

There was no way he could say no to her when she sounded so pitiful, not that he really wanted to. “Sure. Why don’t I put in one of these chick movies before I change my mind and make a run for it.”

Gracie nodded, and he helped her get under the blankets. After he put the movie in, he crawled in the other side. When she snuggled up to his side, he pulled her against him.

“I don’t want to get you sick.”

He took the hand she’d rested on his chest, running his thumb over her palm. “I guess you’ll have to come over and take care of me, then.”

“Deal. I’ll even rent all the Die Hard movies, and we’ll marathon it up.”

“Gracie Lou, you are the perfect woman.” Eric wasn’t even surprised that he meant every word. Everything about her drove him crazy, but when it came down to imagining his future, Gracie was in it.

But he didn’t say any of this to Gracie as they lay in his bed and watched Emma Stone come onto the TV screen. The last thing he wanted to do was scare her off again.

Chapter Twenty-Seven

“Jealousy is an ugly emotion, but all too human.”- Miss Know-It-All’s Gossip Column.

Eric didn’t get sick, but Gracie stayed at his place throughFriday, when her fever finally broke. She’d been heartbroken to miss Christmas with her parents and delivering Santa gifts to Margaret for Pip, so Eric had done it for her. He’d even wrapped them in the special parchment paper and ribbons she’d bought. She’d been half-asleep when he’d told her he was leaving to deliver them, but he’d taken pictures as proof.

Eric knew she’d gotten up this morning to check on The Local Bean and see her parents, but he was hoping she was coming back to his place after. He couldn’t help checking his phone between drink orders, hoping he’d find a text from her.

It was almost last call, and still nothing. He shouldn’t be disappointed; just because he’d taken care of her this week didn’t mean that she wanted to pick up where they’d left off.

“Hey, Eric, can I get a lemon drop?”

Eric turned to Kirsten’s feline smile. “Yeah, coming up.” He mixed it quickly and when he handed it to her, she asked, “So did you and Gracie break up? I thought I read something in Small Town Scandals about the two of you—”

“No, we didn’t.”

“Huh. My mistake. I saw her car parked outside Mike Stevens’s housetonight. Figured maybe those two had finally connected after all these years. But good for you for sticking it out.” She did a little finger wave and walked back to her table.

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