Page 16 of The Trouble With Attraction (Rock Canyon, Idaho 6)

“Uh oh, I think we’re in trouble,” Ryan said.

“No one gives a shit,” said Stephanie Brown.

Although they couldn’t really hear the exchange over the music and the crowd, when Chase finally kissed Katie, Gracie experienced a twinge of jealousy. It wasn’t as though men were making sweeping declarations for her, or carrying her out of bars for hot naked awesome time.

Like Chase was currently doing with Katie.

As the two disappeared, Gracie picked up another shot. “Mission accomplished. Now, let’s get drunk.”

There were lots of whoos surrounding her, but for some reason, Gracie found herself stone cold sober despite the four shots she’d already had. All the excitement and elation had drained out of her watching Katie and Chase reconcile.

She wanted to find that. She wanted a boyfriend, not just a date or a hook up. Yet she just couldn’t seem to find the right fit. It was beyond frustrating and she was over searching high and low for Mr. Right.

Gracie’s gaze flicked to Eric, who was too busy serving drinks to notice her stare. Maybe she could get the bartender out of her system and fill a void at the same time. Take a break from the constant dating and have a little enemies with benefits thing.

Then, maybe, her luck would start to change.

* * *

Eric had been keeping an eye on Gracie most of the night and it was official. She was smashed. Things had slowed down by midnight, and most of the rest of the bachelorette party had already gotten rides home, except Gracie. She was too busy dancing to notice she’d captivated the rest of the patron’s attention.

Eric made his way over to her, and when she noticed him, she laughed. “Come to dance?”

“No, Gracie, I think I should give you a ride home.”

“Oh, yeah? You’re gonna take care of me, Erickson?”

Her voice was like a velvet purr and even though he knew she had zero interest in him, his dick thought she was teasing him.

“Yeah, okay, come on dancing queen.” He wrapped his arm around her waist, and as he led her out the door, he nodded to Grant. “You got the close?”

“Yeah, we’re good,” his brother said.

Gracie’s feet were practically dragging the ground. “Can’t you walk?”

“Doesn’t look like it. You might have to carry me.”

Eric almost rolled his eyes, but lifted her up with a grunt.

“What was that noise?” she asked.

“What?”

“You acted like I was so heavy.”

“It’s not like you’re a feather, Gracie Lou.”

“I’m not worth some back-breaking grunt either.”

Eric chuckled, and looked down into her disgruntled face. “Aw, did I hurt your feelings, princess?”

Her green eyes narrowed in the parking lot light. “I really don’t like you.”

Eric shrugged. He’d already gotten that memo, over and over again. When they reached his ‘67 black Chevy Impala, Eric set her on her feet to get the door. “You not liking me isn’t going to break my heart, baby.”

She climbed in without saying anything else, which he figured meant she was too drunk to find an insult in the fog.

He shut the door and strode around the front of the car to the drive side. The two of them had hardly spoken since their kiss on the fourth, and yet here they were, still needling and torturing each other.

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