Page 6 of The Trouble with Sexy (Rock Canyon, Idaho 0.50)

Gracie turned around, her brow furrowed in confusion. She was probably wondering why Ryan wanted to talk, since they’d hardly had a single conversation since she’d moved to Rock Canyon. “Hi Ryan,” the other girl said. “How are you?”

Ryan felt a twinge of nervousness but pushed on. “I’m good, thanks. I was wondering if I could ask you something.”

Gracie cocked her head. “Sure. Let’s walk and talk, though. It’s freaking cold out here.”

It was on the tip of Ryan’s tongue to mention that if she was wearing more clothes she’d be less cold, but she decided it would defeat the purpose of her little impromptu powwow. “I was just wondering how you . . . well, you obviously . . .”

Gracie stopped at her car and turned to her impatiently. “Spit it out, girlie.”

Ryan felt a twitch of temper. Gracie wasn’t much older than her. “I want to learn how to be sexy. Can you teach me?”

Gracie looked at her seriously, her eyes trailing up and down her outfit. Gracie’s face broke into a huge smile and she said, “Hop in; we can take a road trip.”

Ryan started to stutter an excuse and Gracie raised an eyebrow. “Look, I hardly know you. You approached me and I am more than willing to answer your questions, but you’ve got to trust me. Deal?”

Ryan stared at Gracie as if she had horns and a tail. She was supposed to just go with a woman she barely knew and do what she said, no questions asked?

Gracie shrugged. “Suit yourself.”

She started to open her car door, and Ryan cried, “Wait!”

Gracie looked over her shoulder with exasperation. “Seriously, get in.”

Ryan walked carefully to the passenger side and hopped in. “Where are we going?”

Gracie smiled at her. “Well, sexy comes with a price tag. I figure it’s only five. We have enough time to head into Twin Falls for a little shopping and other beautifying experiences.”

Ryan blushed. “I don’t know . . .”

“You have your wallet?”

Ryan blinked. “Yes.”

Gracie’s smile flashed, lighting up her green eyes. “Great, let’s go.”

Gracie pulled out of the parking lot and headed out of town toward Twin Falls. She glanced over at Ryan. “What made you ask me, anyway? I never really got the impression you liked me very much.”

Ryan’s face was beat red at Gracie’s blunt assessment. “It’s not that I don’t like you. I just . . .” Her voice lowered an octave. “Gregg’s my friend. You hurt his feelings.”

Gracie silently stared at the road for a while. “You know, I never meant to hurt Gregg. He’s a sweet guy but we just . . . weren’t compatible.”

Ryan gave a bark of bitter laughter. “Yeah, I get that a lot too.”

Gracie glanced over at her. “How’s that?”

Ryan looked down at her hands. “I’ve been told I’m . . . boring. And not sexy at all.” She swallowed hard. “That’s why I thought I could get some advice from you. All the guys in town think you’re sexy.”

Gracie looked positively feline. “And you want to hook a guy? Anyone I know?”

Ryan looked away and muttered, “No.”

Gracie made a left turn and said, “Well, girlie, I guarantee you, by the time we’re done, whoever you’re setting bait for will be good and hooked.”

RYAN LOADED THE last of the shopping bags they’d purchased into the trunk and sighed in relief.

Gracie had dragged her into the salon, and after a brief negotiation, Gracie convinced her stylist, Jessica, to squeeze Ryan in for a cut and style. While Jessica worked on Ryan’s hair, Gracie snagged Karen, whose five o’clock appointment hadn’t shown up, to give Ryan a mani/pedi before she left for the day. Gracie argued Ryan down when she’d tried for just clear polish on her nails and toes. Instead, she picked a vibrant red for Ryan’s toes and suggested French tips for her fingernails. When Jessica finished layering Ryan’s long red tresses, she took a fat curling iron to them, spiraling curls past Ryan’s shoulders. She had stared at the difference in her appearance in the mirror, turning left and right, and after paying both ladies, left a generous tip.

Gracie rushed her from the salon to the car; all the while talking about how being sexy was all about feeling good about oneself. “If you think you look hot, other people are going to notice. It’s all about attitude, my friend.”

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