Mike didn’t look convinced. “Really? Then should I say congratulations?”

“Or you could step out and give us a minute to say good-bye properly.”

As if to press his point home, Eric sat down next to her, and cupped Gracie’s chin. He turned her face toward his and covered her mouth with his lips. Heat spread through his body, and his already stiff cock ached. He tried to tell his body this wasn’t real; this was about solidifying their ruse.

But when Gracie’s tongue pushed into his mouth and brushed his, he forgot about Mike and why he was kissing her in the first place. His hand moved around to the back of her neck, and he increased the pressure.

Vaguely, he heard Mike clear his throat and mumble something about waiting in the living room, but Eric didn’t give a shit where he went, as long as he left them alone.

When the door clicked shut, though, Gracie was the one to pull away, breathing hard.

“I think we more than convinced Mike,” she said.

She couldn’t have turned him off faster.

His hand dropped from the back of her head, and he looked away to concentrate on getting his boots on. Of course, she had just been participating for Mike’s benefit. It was what they were supposed to be doing.

So, why was he pissed?

“Yep. With ten days before your parents get here, we should have the whole town buzzing.”

“With a little help from Miss Know-It-All?” she asked.

He looked at her over his shoulder. “Oh, so you like her now?”

“No, but she’s useful.”

He finished tying his boots and stood up. “We have to give her something to report.”

“What do you suggest?” she asked.

He shrugged into his jacket on his way to the door. “I guess we’ll know it when the opportunity arises.”

He walked out of the bedroom door and headed into the living room, where Mike was waiting. He slowed his pace and stepped into Mike with a grin. The guy was a friend, but since staying over at Gracie’s wasn’t going to be a common occurrence, he couldn’t have him blowing the fact that they didn’t have a lot of sleepovers.

“Just letting you know, it’s probably a good idea to knock next time. Had you been ten minutes earlier, you would have caught a show.”

Mike made a face. “Shit, man, I didn’t need the imagery.”

“You’re welcome.”

Chapter Thirteen

“I am in complete and utter shock. Jaw-on-the-floor, unbelievable, what-the-heck-is-going-on kind of shock!” - Miss Know-It-All’s Gossip Column

Saturday night, Gracie, Callie, and Caroline went out for a much-needed girl’s night. Caroline had wanted a night out because she was still irked at Gabe for apparently leaving their apartment a mess after a guy’s night, and Gracie thought Callie was still pining for Everett.

As for Gracie, she was a little depressed. Kirsten’s grandparents had received another offer on their house, and had gone with the other couple. And no matter how many times she washed her sheets, she couldn’t seem to get rid of the smell of Pip from her house. Which had led to some chocolatey binge sessions and crying in the bathtub.

And her parents would be there in six days. It was Couch City for her for two weeks.

Unless I take Eric up on his offer.

In the four days since the morning Mike had caught them in her room, they hadn’t talked about the next move, and there had been no peep about them dating in Miss Know-It-All’s column. Obviously, he was still waiting on whatever big moment he’d talked about, and she hadn’t delivered it. Either way, temporarily moving in with him wasn’t a good way to kick off their relationship. Whether or not they’d known each other for most of their lives, it would be completely out of character for her to live with anyone, considering she never had before. And definitely not after a few weeks.

Gracie pulled the car into Buck’s Shot Bar after dinner and a movie in Twin Falls. Callie had asked Gracie to drop her at home, so it was just Caroline and Gracie.

“Gabe’s not going to flip out on me for taking you drinking, right?” Gracie asked as they climbed out.