Page 43 of Good Girls Don't Kiss and Tell (Rock Canyon, Idaho 7)

The boys finally got out of his way and his gaze dipped to her chest to read it.

“Melt in your mouth sweet, just like me.” He shook his head. “You and your dirty aprons.”

She shrugged. “They annoy the matrons and make everyone else laugh.”

“Yeah, I know.” He ran his hand over his beard, clearing his throat. “Can we go outside and talk?”

“No, I’m busy. You got something to say, say it or order something.”

Eric scowled. “Seriously?”

“What?”

His jaw clenched at her innocent stare. She knew everyone in the place was hyper focused on them.

“Fine. Gracie Lou, I am sorry for being a jealous asshat,” he whispered.

“And?” she prodded.

“And what?”

She started to walk away, and he reached across the counter to grab her wrist. When her gaze met hers, he said sincerely, “I will try to trust you in the future, all right?”

Gracie beamed at him. “Fine. Apology accepted.”

He tugged her until she was right up on the counter. “Now you?”

“Now me what?”

He gave her a warning look, and she sighed. “I will try to curb my natural inclination to be friendly.”

He grunted. “I guess that’s the best I’m gonna get.”

Then he leaned over the counter, enjoying her surprised cry as his hand cupped her bun. “Now, time to kiss and make up.”

His mouth moved over hers, and she opened to him. Even though he knew it wasn’t real, he couldn’t help noticing it felt more and more natural every time they kissed. In fact, he was thinking that if they were doing this, he might as well take advantage of kissing Gracie any time he wanted.

In public, of course. He had to abide by the rules after all.

* * *

Gracie went by Gemma’s after work to bring her a strawberry spinach salad and check in. She’d already gotten a text message from her about the Miss Know-It-All column this morning, but she hadn’t answered her about it. It was better to have the conversation in person, although, she really didn’t feel right lying to her best friend.

The minute she walked into her bedroom with the to-go container and cup of iced tea, Gemma sat up and pointed a finger at her.

“You sneaky bastard! How could you not tell me?”

Gracie sat down on the bed, giving her a pointed look. “I seem to remember you keeping a secret or two from me.”

Gemma at least lowered her finger. “If you’re referring to me and Travis in Vegas, touché. Still, considering how invested Ryan and I have been in the Eric-and-Gracie saga, you’d think we’d get the memo first.”

“Yeah, Ryan already came into the Bean and gave me a ration of shit.”

“Doesn’t mean you aren’t getting it from me too.”

Gracie set the salad on Gemma’s lap and put her drink on the bedside table. “If it will make you feel better, go ahead.”

Gemma seemed to be weighing her options, and finally opened her salad with a sigh. “No, I don’t want to torment you. I just want to know how it happened.”

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