Page 74 of Good Girls Don't Kiss and Tell (Rock Canyon, Idaho 7)

He shrugged. “A couple of weeks. I wasn’t trying to lead you on that night, and I don’t mean to hurt your feelings now, but—”

She interrupted him, her tone nonchalant and casual. “I get it, Eric, no need to explain. It was just a one-time thing. Who’s the lucky girl, though?”

“Gracie McAllister.”

Kirsten’s frown intensified. “I thought that was just a rumor. I always figured her and Mike Stevens would end up together.”

Eric felt that jealous worm creep toward the surface. “No, she’s dating me.”

“Oh, well, good for you. I hope it works out for you both. You know how that girl likes to get around.”

The dig wasn’t lost on him, but he let it go. “Appreciate the well wishes, Kirsten, and catching up, but I need to get back to it. That will be six for the drink.”

She handed him a five and several ones. She leaned over the bar, pushing up her breasts and fluttering her lashes. “I’ll see you around, Eric. You can always give me a call if things don’t work out with Gracie.”

Eric backed away from the predatory gleam in her eye and felt a bit like a cornered antelope when a hunter had it in their sights. “Thanks for the offer, but we’re pretty solid.”

As Kirsten walked away, shaking her ass for his benefit, he wondered what in the hell was up with the women around him. It was as though they could sense he was attached, even fake attached, and it made them crazy.

It almost made him regret the column he sent in. But he suspected that Gracie’s reaction would be worth the discomfort.

Chapter Twenty-Four

“Self-preservation should always be standard in matters of the heart.” - Miss-Know-It-All’s Gossip Column.

Gracie wiped down the counter for what seemed like the fiftieth time, wishing she wasn’t so distracted this morning. She wanted to blame her lack of sleep on the late-night talk with her mother about Pip or the fact that Netflix had added Leap Year to it’s catalog. It was one of her favorite movies and she’d been up well past three in the morning watching it.

But in fact, her foggy brain was due to her lack of communication with Eric. She’d actually sent him a text this morning, asking him how he was, but she hadn’t heard a peep from him yet. Of course, he could be sleeping…

Or he’s avoiding me because I’m an asshole.

Her thoughts were interrupted by Buck and Connie opening up the glass double doors and stepping inside.

Gracie smiled warmly at them. “Hey, Buck. Hey, Connie. Where you off to today?”

Buck gave her a grin that stretched his whole face and exposed his gapped teeth. “Gracie Lou, I’m taking my sweet Connie up to Stanley for a little romantic trip. We need two of those really good caramel mochas you talked us into last time.”

“You got it.” Gracie finished their transaction quickly. “All right, I’ll have those drinks right up for you.”

Buck moved over to look at a couple of travel mugs, and Connie lingered, watching Gracie with a stern expression that made her uneasy.

“Something on your mind, Connie?” Gracie asked.

The older woman hesitated before finally speaking bluntly. “You know I like you a lot, Gracie.”

Gracie had a feeling there was a large “but” just waiting to attach itself to that sentence. Connie Henderson had total “but” face. “Thank you, Connie. You know I’ve always liked you too.”

Connie leaned across the counter and lowered her voice. “I know it’s not my place, God knows my sons are both grown men, but Eric mentioned he hasn’t seen you recently.”

Gracie swallowed, cursing Eric for talking to his mother about her avoidance. “Really?”

Connie’s mouth dipped down into a frown. “Which I find strange, since the two of you seemed really good the last time I saw you together.”

“I’ve just been really busy here and with my parents in town. I shot him a text this morning and planned to call him when I got off.”

Connie’s frown didn’t fade. “I always thought you were a girl who spoke her mind and didn’t play with others. I’d be disappointed if I was wrong.”

Gracie’s face flushed with humiliation. There was one thing she’d always hated to hear from people, and that was their disappointment in her.

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