Page 21 of The Trouble With Attraction (Rock Canyon, Idaho 6)

In fact, she’d filled in the time between work and dating studying MKIA’s column. Her goal was to bring the nosy bitch down. Gemma and Ryan made fun of her, called her obsessed, but she would do it. She would be the one to unmask the gossip girl.

And then she would be lucky if Gracie didn’t beat her ass.

* * *

Gracie hated being set up, especially when it was obvious the guy was completely uninterested.

Justin Silverton had been polite, attentive and funny, but she could tell he was just dying to get the hell out of there. When Stephanie had suggested Gracie join her, her husband Jared, Chase and Katie Trepasso, and Justin for dinner and drinks at Buck’s, she’d actually been a little excited. Justin was cute and available, but now, she wished she’d just stayed home and curled up with a good rom com.

Instead she was waiting on him to stop looking across the bar.

“What are you staring at?” she asked.

“The girl at the bar. She looks familiar, but I can’t place her.”

Gracie tried to spot which girl he was talking about and recognized Eleanor Willis, acting tanked by the bar.

Was she even legal? She tried to find Eric, but he must have had the night off tonight.

“That’s Eleanor Willis. I don’t even think she’s twenty-one yet.”

Justin stood up. “Sorry, gang, I’m going to have to call it a night. Thanks for making me feel like less of a fifth wheel, Gracie.”

Forcing an awkward smile, she tried to sound upbeat. “Sure, Justin, anytime.”

He walked away from the table and she tipped back her drink, fully aware of the four sets of eyes watching her with mixtures of dismay.

“Well, this was fun guys, but I think I’m going to take off. Maybe grab some ice cream on the way home.”

“Come on, Gracie, I’m sorry,” Katie said.

“Nothing to be sorry about. You guys have fun.”

They didn’t really stop her, not like she expected them to. When a guy ditches you to go play hero to a very young, attractive damsel in distress, there isn’t much to say. Except she used to be that girl.

Now I’m over thirty and my dating pool is seriously dwindling.

Gracie headed for the back door, hoping to avoid leaving at the same time as Justin and making things even more awkward. When she pushed the back door open, she was hit in the face by the cold air, and closed her eyes for a second against the sting.

“What are you doing out here, Gracie?”

She opened her eyes to find Eric, holding a crate of something in his hands, a gray beanie pulled over his head. He was bundled up in his puffy black coat and a dark whiskered shadow covered his cheeks, chin, and upper lip.

“I’m avoiding further humiliation by using the back entrance,” she said.

Eric’s grin flashed in the dim, back light. “Oh yeah? What happened this time?”

“Nothing, just an awkward group date, in which my designated partner left early. So, I figure I’m due to hit the Red Box at Hall’s and grab some cookie dough and ice cream.”

“Well, have fun with that. I better get this cream inside.”

Look at that. They’d gone from bitter enemies to cordial. “Well, have a good night, Eric.”

“You too.”

Gracie watched him disappear inside and went around the back of Buck’s, heading towards her car in the second row.

“Oh, Gracie Louuuuu!”

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