Page 64 of Good Girls Don't Kiss and Tell (Rock Canyon, Idaho 7)

“I was just thinking Miss Know-It-All would have had a field day with this.”

Eric heard the edge of bitterness in her voice and reached for her hand. “I meant what I said, Gracie Lou. No one needs to know our business but us.”

“Which is probably why we shouldn’t trespass and skinny dip, huh?”

Her lighter tone made him relax. He knew that the column would be a sore spot with her for a while, but was hoping with time, she could move past it and realize it wasn’t about hurting her. It was his voice, his release, and he wouldn’t have changed where it had brought him.

Sitting next to Gracie Lou McAllister in his car, reaching across to close the distance between them and kissing her in the moonlight.

Chapter Twenty-One

“Blessings and miracles occur all the time. Some just take longer than others.” - Miss Know-It-All’s Gossip Column.

On Friday, Gracie got off work and climbed into her car, barely able to keep her eyes open. When they’d gotten back to Eric’s house after their adventure, she should have been prepared for being dumped over his shoulder and carried back into his bedroom like he was a Viking warrior and she was his bounty. However, he’d more than made up for it with a long, hot shower, twenty-two minutes of toe-curling foreplay that he’d actually timed, and the best seven minutes of her life afterward. She didn’t even regret the lack of sleep, it had bee

n that good.

She set her third cup of coffee in her cup holder as her cell started ringing. She figured it was her mom wondering when she was going to get there, but when she checked out the screen, it was a number she didn’t recognize. She slid her thumb over the green phone icon and held it to her ear.

“Hello, this is Gracie.”

“Hello?” a high, raspy voice said.

“Hi, who is this?”

“This is Margaret Lincoln. Are you Miss McAllister?”

“Yes, ma’am.”

“You had my great-granddaughter, Jocelyn, with you?”

Gracie’s heart hammered against her breast bone, and she pressed the phone harder to the side of her head, as if that would help her hear better. “Yes, yeah, I did. How is she?”

“Oh, she’s doing okay. Quiet little thing. Hardly says a word.”

“Yes, I know.”

“Her case worker mentioned you would like to see her?”

Gracie caught her breath, allowing it to whoosh out slowly. “I would, very much.”

“Well, I’d like to meet you first, if that’s all right. Have a little sit-down.”

Gracie’s stomach flipped with excitement. “I would be happy to do that. When is it convenient for you?”

“I was thinking Tuesday. I need to go into town for something, and my eldest daughter, Jocelyn’s grandmother, will be watching her.”

Gracie was disappointed she wouldn’t get to see Pip, but she understood Margaret’s instinct to protect her. And boy, did she want to learn more about the family dynamic.

“Of course, would two be all right? We could meet at the Starbucks in Twin, near the mall?”

“That would be fine.”

“Great, I’ll see you then. Thank you for calling, Margaret.”

“Of course, honey.” Margaret’s voice had warmed considerably during their conversation. “See you Tuesday.”

“Bye.” Gracie ended the call with a tap, and her chest warmed with excitement. If Pip’s great-grandma wanted to talk to her, did it mean she might get some kind of visitation?

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