Page 23 of The Trouble With Attraction (Rock Canyon, Idaho 6)

He’d only been seeing Eliza Polk for a little over a month, and although she was a great gal, she had a bit of a jealous streak. He couldn’t imagine her knowing he was inside Gracie’s house, no matter how innocent it might be would sit well with her.

“Look, Gracie, I’m glad you’re okay and that I’ve stopped seeing double, but I should probably get back to work.”

Gracie’s cheeks turned a pretty pink. “Yeah, of course. I practically kidnapped you instead of just taking you inside Bucks and washing your eyes in there.” She pulled her keys out of her purse. “I’ll give you a ride back.”

“Nah, it’s fine, I’ll call Chase to come get me.”

“That’s silly. I stole you away, and it would be faster if I just dropped you off—”

“I’m dating someone, and I don’t really want her seeing you drop me off when I’m supposed to be working now.”

There, he’d said it out loud.

“Oh, I see. Anyone I know?” she asked.

“Eliza Polk.”

The color in Gracie’s face drained away. “Shit. You need to get out of my house.”

Eric started laughing, even though he’d been thinking the same thing five minutes ago. “Are you scared of Eliza?”

“Are you kidding me? She’s freaking crazy, and I do not want the crazy to swing my way!”

“Relax, I’ll call Chase, and she’ll never know—”

His phone started ringing in his back pocket and when he pulled it out, Eliza’s name and number flashed across his screen.

“Is that her? If that is her, do not answer it!” Gracie said, he voice squeaking.

“Will you relax? I’m just going to be honest with her and everything will be fine.”

“It will not be fine!” She hissed as he slid his thumb over the green answer button.

“Hey, babe.”

“Where are you?”

Eric bristled at her demanding tone, but took it in stride. “I’m at Gracie McAllister’s place. She had a run in with Wayne Coulter and when I tried to help, she maced me by accident. Been trying to get my eyes cleared up, but I’m headed back now.”

“Why did you have to go to her place? Why didn’t you just go inside Buck’s and wash your eyes out?”

“No good reason except Wayne was on the ground and I think she just wanted to get away from him.”

“Or maybe she wanted to get you alone,” Eliza said darkly.

Gracie must have heard that because she started denying it loudly. “No, no that is not it! I was just trying to help!”

“Oh, I’m sure she gave you all kinds of help.” The sound of breaking glass exploded over the phone, and Eric realized it was coming from outside. “You think you can cheat on me and make up some bullshit excuse.”

Gracie rushed to the window and shrieked. “She is breaking the windows on my car!”

Eric headed for her door, his eyes burning as the cold air hit them and hung up the phone. Eliza held a wooden bat in her hands, her dark hair wild as she swung her inked arms and cracked Gracie’s windshield.

“Damn it, Eliza, nothing is going on! Put the fucking bat down.”

“You think I don’t know you two have a history? You think I’m an idiot?” She brought the bat down on Gracie’s side mirror, leaving it dangling by wires. “I was afraid that she would get her hooks into you again, the short little blond slut!”

“Who are you calling a slut!” Gracie came out of the house with that little can of mace in her hand and stomped toward Eliza. Eric tried to grab her but for a tiny little woman she sure was slippery.

---