The Trouble With Attraction

Codi Gary

Copyright

This ebook is licensed to you for your personal enjoyment only.

This ebook may not be sold, shared, or given away.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either products of the writer’s imagination or are used fictitiously and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, organizations, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

The Trouble with Attraction

Copyright © 2016 by Codi Gary

Ebook ISBN: 9781943772766

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

No part of this work may be used, reproduced, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, without prior permission in writing from the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles or reviews.

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Chapter One

February

Gracie McAllister heard the commotion coming from the center of Buck’s Shot Bar and pushed through the crowd to see what was up. She’d come to the bar with her new friend, Ryan Ashton, wanting to show off her creation. Was it wrong to call her that? Okay, well, she wouldn’t do it to her face.

Gracie made it to the edge to find Ryan standing over a prone Wayne Coulter, staring at Gregg Stevens in horror.

Glee ripped through Gracie as she caught the look of heat Gregg sent Ryan. The man had needed a serious wake up call, especially since it was obvious to everyone but Ryan and Gregg that they were both totally gone on the other.

Gracie was pretty sure that Ryan’s feelings for Gregg were what triggered the little makeover Gracie had helped her with this afternoon. Gracie understood, sometimes men could be dense when it came to things staring them in the face.

Smirking, Gracie sidled up next to Ryan. “Are you causing bar fights now?”

She could tell she’d caught Ryan by surprise by the widening of her big, vibrant blue eyes, but then it faded into a twinkle of amusement. Ryan laughed softly, that sweet, shy sound only a girl who is used to being invisible can make.

“Apparently,” Ryan said.

Gracie slipped her arm through Ryan’s and squeezed it reassuringly. “That just means you’ve definitely achieved your goal.”

Ryan blushed, but Gracie could tell she was happy. The poor girl had been sheltered, afraid to take a chance or make some noise. Gracie hoped she’d continue on the course she’d started, because she liked this Ryan. Before, she’d always thought Ryan was a prim little priss who was always watching people and judging, but she’d learned a lot about Ryan over the last several hours. Ryan wasn’t disapproving or judging, she was envious because she wanted to be noticed.

Well, mission accomplished, girl.

Gracie’s best friend, Mike Stevens, came through the crowd behind her and she was just about to make a crack about him missing the action when a silent chill went through the crowd.

And then Eric Henderson pushed his way into the open circle, his tall, wide shouldered frame towering above them like an angry giant. His dark eyes snapped around the room, assessing the situation swiftly, and Gracie’s heart beat kicked into high gear, the way it always did when Eric came into the room.

The bastard.

Of course, it really wasn’t his fault that she’d always had a bit of a crush on him, although that had definitely shifted to disdain with a touch of lust after the events of Halloween ten years ago. She’d snuck into Buck’s with her fake ID and a killer cat costume that had hugged every part of her body. She’d been all ready to make the twenty-three-year-old Eric sweat as she’d approached him, flirting outrageously and teasing him mercilessly.

Until he’d called her a child and kicked her out.

Was it immature to still be holding a grudge? Absolutely, but Gracie had never been accused of being reasonable. People didn’t call her a “drama queen” for nothing.

Yet despite her deep seeded loathing for the man, it didn’t prevent her from admiring how damn good he looked in a gray V-necked t-shirt that formed over his pecs like someone had painted it on him, only to loosen up around what she was sure hid some killer abs.

“Who brought Wayne?” Eric shouted, his deep voice booming through the silence of the bar.

Walt Coulter, Wayne’s little weasel of a brother, stepped forward. “We came together, Eric.”

“Get him up and out of my bar. And when he wakes up, let him know that this is the last time. He causes anymore problems and he’ll have to get shit-faced somewhere else.” Eric stepped into Walt, and everyone held their breath, waiting for whatever Eric would do next on pins and needles. “This isn’t the first time I’ve had to throw him out. If your brother can’t handle his liquor, then he should stop drinking.”

Walt’s Adam’s apple bobbed as he swallowed hard, nodding his head like a big chicken. “Sure, Eric.”

Mike pushed past Gracie to help Walt get Wayne up off the ground, but the drama wasn’t over yet as Eric squared off with Gregg. “I’m assuming you had a reason to lay out Wayne?”

“He was getting grabby with Ryan,” Gregg said. His hazel eyes hooked on Ryan, and Gracie heard her little sigh. Gracie grinned, totally getting her friend’s reaction. Having a guy fight for you was freaking hot.

And then Eric’s penetrating eyes swung her way, silently accusing her of something, and her smile slipped away.

“I’m surprised you didn’t start this. It seems like anytime there’s trouble in my bar, you’re behind it.”

What the hell? That wasn’t even true, but before she could open her mouth, he’d already disappeared back towards the bar, the crowd blocking him from her view except for those shoulders and his closely shaved head.

Who did he think he was, talking to her like that? With her mouth pinched in a grim line, she said, “I really hate that guy.”

* * *

Eric Henderson was getting a little sick and tired of avoiding Gracie McAllister, that was for damn sure. Especially when she was everywhere. In his bar, at church…he had to drive five miles to Buhl to get his coffee just so he didn’t have to go into The Local Bean, the coffee shop she owned in the heart of Rock Canyon, Idaho.

It was just getting to be too much. Especially when she looked so fucking sexy he just wanted to get his fingers tangled up in her short blond hair and shove his tongue down her throat.

Fine, so it wasn’t the most romantic image, but he was at his wits’ end. The girl had been tempting him for ten years and he’d tried to put her off, especially because he knew the stories about her. She was a boy crazy flirt who switched boyfriends on a weekly basis. Eric wasn’t interested in being a casualty in her dating warpath.

He wanted Gracie like he’d never wanted another woman, but he had his pride.

Well, you’re definitely safe, asshole. If she found you bleeding on the side of the road, I doubt she’d stop and save you with the way you treat her.

Suddenly, someone pushed him in the back, sending him stumbling against the bar. He looked over his shoulder, ready to tear the bastard apart but found Gracie standing there, her hands on her hips and her pixie sweet face screwed up in anger.

“What the hell was that about?” he asked.

“That’s for being a douche nozzle.”

Eric saw that several people were watching them, interested in their conversation and the last thing he wanted was an audience when he pulled her over his knee and smacked her little hot-tempered ass.

He took her arm and hauled her struggling towards the cooler, ignoring her squawks of protest.

Pulling her in behind him, he slammed the door and put his back to it, blocking her escape.

“Now, you wanna say that again without a room full of witnesses?”

“Oh, please, you can pull that intimidation act on everybody but me. You wouldn’t hurt a woman, and you and I both know it, because if you did, your mother would kill you.”

Of course she was right, not that he really wanted to hurt her. No, the things he wanted to do to Gracie had a lot more to do with pleasure than pain.

“Fine, I won’t hurt you. But I also will not take you assaulting me in my fucking bar.”

“Okay, sissy-lala, first off, this is your dad’s bar; you pour drinks. Second, there was no assault. That was a tap, and if you tried to press charges, all the cops would laugh at you,” she said.

Eric didn’t even argue with her about the bar. Since his dad was semi-retired, he was doing a lot more than pouring books and since the family split the business four ways, he most definitely was an owner, but it wasn’t worth getting into now.

“Hey, I’ve got a dozen witnesses that will back my side.”

“Not once I offer them free coffee for life. Believe me, my coffee is like crack to this town and I am their supplier, which makes me all great and powerful like the fucking Wizard of Oz.”

Eric snorted, trying to smother a laugh. She was just so full of it.

“You have me there…oh, wait. I have beer. And chili fries.” An evil grin spread across his lips. “I win.”

“Fine, if you want to be a pussy about a little nudge, be my guest. Now get out of my way. I’m freezing in here.”

“You’ve got a dirty mouth for such a sweet looking woman,” he said.

“Too bad you’ll never know just how dirty I can get.”

The taunt slapped him across the face, dragging a ragged breath from him as heat surged through his body, pooling between his legs and making his cock stiffen as he pictured that glossy pink mouth saying all the things he’d only imagined.

“Is that a challenge, Gracie Lou?” His tone was dark, and he watched her green eyes flare wide. Was that apprehension or excitement he saw in the mossy depths?

“Don’t make me laugh.” But she wasn’t laughing, far from it. Her voice was husky and soft, and he wondered if he took her mouth now, would she fight him or kiss him back.

“What? If you feel nothing but disgust for me, then what would it hurt if I decided to devote all of my energy to making you get very-”

He stepped away from the door towards her, enjoying the way she backed up. Was it bad that he liked stalking her across the room like a wolf after a deer?

“- very dirty.”

Gracie was up against the shelf of produce now, and his put his arms up, hanging onto the metal shelves on either side of her.

“What do you think? Should I make it my mission to make you beg for me?”

His body hovered over hers, nearly touching and it was pure torture on his end. He wanted to press into her warmth to escape the cold.

The door opened behind Eric, and he turned his head. Too late, it gave Gracie the chance to escape.

She ducked under his arm and rushed to where his brother Grant stood in the doorway, his jaw wide open against his chest.

When she was a safe distance away, she faced him again, and he didn’t miss the fact that her nipples were hard and pressing against the front of her dress. Was that because of him or the cold?

“The next time you pull something like this, I’m going to take out your nut sack with my fingernails.”

She stomped past Grant, who looked from her to Eric, a stupid grin on his face. “Do I even want to ask?”

Chapter Two

A week later, Gracie smoothed down the skirt of her pink polka dot halter dress as she stood backstage at the Rock Canyon Annual Valentine’s Day Auction. When she’d volunteered her friend Ryan and herself, she never imagined she’d be this nervous. What if no one bid on her? Mike had already committed to bidding on Gemma Carlson, their other friend. Geez, she seemed to be the only one in this circle of friendship who didn’t have anyone specific that was planning on claiming her.

“Gracie McAllister!”

Gracie realized Buck Henderson was calling her onstage. Buck volunteered to host the auction every year and was a sweet man, wonderful really, and even his youngest son Grant was a good guy.

It was just Eric she had a problem with.

Gracie’s green eyes narrowed just thinking about the obnoxious bartender. God, he was a jackass! She still couldn’t get over that stunt he pulled in the cooler. Man, it made her blood boil.

That isn’t all it does though, if you’re being totally honest, huh?

  “Gracie?”

Realizing she hadn’t moved, she climbed up the stairs with an apologetic smile, pushing thoughts of Eric and his stupid face from her mind.  She looked out across the town hall as Buck took her hand and kissed it.

 She gave him a small curtsy in return, smiling widely. She’d spent four years in drama and starred in more plays than she could count. She knew how to address and play a crowd.

“This lovely blonde pixie is not just a pretty face. As the owner of The Local Bean Coffee Shop, she makes the best coffee and pastries in town, if you couldn’t tell by this—” Buck motioned to his slightly rounded belly and the crowd laughed “—but she also helps bring a smile to our faces with her bright, and cheery demeanor.”

“Let’s start the bidding at $25. DoIheartwentyfive? Twentyfivetwentyfivethirty!”

The numbers started running together as Buck motioned to each raised hand. Gracie’s stomach fluttered as men began furiously bidding for the right to take her to the Sweetheart Dance that always followed the auction. The bidding was up to two hundred and fifty dollars, and Dillan Thompson, the highest bidder, shot her a wink.

Dillan was cute. She could do worse than to spend the night dancing with Dillan. He was tall, he was cute, he-

Then she remembered. She’d danced with Dillan before in high school. He couldn’t dance for shit, but didn’t know he couldn’t dance. And when he sweated, he smelled…as if he never wore deodorant.

Please, someone else needs to bid here. Please, I’ll do anything, just please, anyone else-

“Four hundred.”

Gracie’s gaze snapped towards the voice and her heart sank as Buck’s gavel fell with a thunk seconds later.

“Sold.”

Gracie watched as Eric Henderson made his way towards the stage, a smirk stretching his full lips. When he climbed up onto the stage and stood facing her, she could tell he was laughing at her surprise and horror.

He held out his hand to her, but she didn’t take it.

“There is no way I am going anywhere with you-

Suddenly, his hard shoulder was pressing into her stomach as he picked her up. His arm clapped down over her skirt and legs to hold her in place as he started moving. Her head band fell off onto the stage and despite the blood pounding in her ears, she could have sworn she heard cheers and clapping. Turning her head to the side, she saw a sea of smiles and laughing faces, and her skin burned as she realized he had planned this. He had wanted to humiliate her.

Tears pricked her eyes and eyelashes, but she wasn’t going to let him win. Screaming and pounding on his back, she meant to inflict bruising at least, but shit if his muscles weren’t rock hard.

“Damn it, you bastard, put me down!”

He ignored her and pushed the door open, heading down the street. The cold wind hit her bare back and shoulders and she shivered. There was still snow and frost on the ground, and it had to be at least thirty degrees outside, but Eric ignored her protests, no matter what she said.

“I am freezing, you idiot! Put me down!” She tried to pull herself up off his back and a sharp smack on her backside made her cry out. “Hey!”

“Just hold still, Gracie Lou. We’re almost there.”

Just to even the score, Gracie brought her hand down hard on his ass, but all he did was grunt. She rubbed her stinging palm, cursing him.

Gracie’s head was starting to spin when he finally pulled another door open and the warm air hit her chilled skin like a thousand needles poking her at once. She looked to the side and saw what appeared to be a kitchen, and then she heard the click of a door as Eric stepped into a dark room.

He flicked on the light and closed the door behind them. When he stood her on her feet, she weaved a bit, and he actually put his hand under her elbow to steady her.

The asshole.

She jerked her arm away, and smoothed her hair. It looked like a storage room.

“Where the fuck did you take me?”

“I thought before we headed into the dance, we could clear the air. Talk.”

“First of all, I am not going to the dance with you. Second, this is called kidnapping, and I’m pretty sure you’ll see jail time, so you better get the hell out of-”

“Jesus, will you calm the fuck down? You are such a drama queen!”

It wasn’t the first time she’d been called a drama queen and it probably wouldn’t be the last. In fact, normally she would have agreed and laughed it off.

But this man picked on her, made fun of her, and humiliated her every time they met, and she was done with it.

So, he wanted to have it out, huh? She would make him regret it.

* * *

Eric could tell Gracie was spoiling for a fight and maybe he deserved her wrath, but bidding on her was the only way he could think to get her alone. After all, he had promised to make it his mission to wear down her defenses.

And he couldn’t do that in a crowd of writhing bodies.

“I told you to stay away from me,” she said.

“I chose to ignore your threat. Decided to take a chance that maybe you didn’t mean it.”

“Oh, I meant it. In fact, I am looking for a weapon of some kind.”

Eric snorted. “Fine, you wanna go? There’s the door. I was crazy to think there might be anything more to you than a flighty, self-involved tease.”

“I have never teased you!” she hollered, nearly busting his eardrums.

“Really? Because I remember a black cat costume ten years ago, and you rubbing your body all over mine, trying to score some drinks.”

“I was not rubbing my body all over you, and I wasn’t looking to score alcohol. If I’d wanted to drink, I’d have gone to a party, where I wouldn’t have had to use a fake ID or deal with a colossal jerk!”

“Then why did you sneak into Bucks that night?” he asked.

He waited for her to answer, taking in her deep, crimson blush and shifty eyes.

“Gracie Lou?”

“Okay, fine, you want to know? I may have had a little crush on you. It was no big deal, and besides, it was ten years ago. I got over it really quick anyway once I realized what a ginormous ass hat you are.”

He took a step towards her, his blood pumping head through his veins. “So, you got all dressed up and broke the law just to see me?” He grinned at her wickedly. “I’m flattered.”

“Oh, God, don’t be. Really. I learned my lesson, and now, I revile you.”

“Do you?” He took another step towards her, and ran the tips of his fingers from her bare shoulder to her wrist. Goosebumps popped up along her skin and her lips parted, a soft breath escaping.

“Would it surprise you if I told you that reviling you is the last thing on my mind?”

Her hands came up, splaying against his chest and he thought she was going to push him away, but they just lay there.

“That’s because you’re a guy. You’ll tap pretty much anything with breasts, even if you don’t like the woman beneath.”

“Not true. I would not tap Mrs. Andrews, ever.”

She made a disgusted face even as she laughed. “Ugh, thanks for those nightmares.”

Eric reached up and traced her smiling lips. “I think that is the first time you’ve ever laughed just for me.”

“I laugh at you all the time,” she said, but her words lacked their normal bite.

“Maybe, but you aren’t laughing at me now.” He dipped his head, rubbing his nose gently against hers.

“No, I’m not.”

Eric brushed her lips with his softly, pulling back briefly only to have her chase him, her hands spreading up to grip his shoulders.

It was all the encouragement he needed, and then he wasn’t thinking, he was just taking. Doing exactly what he wanted, what he’d been dreaming about for years and damn if reality wasn’t way better than fantasy. He wrapped his arms around her and lifted her up so he had a better angle, slanting his mouth over hers and thrusting his tongue inside.

He had her pinned against the wall, her arms around his shoulders, their bodies molded together.

His lips left hers and he trailed soft, feathery kisses against her neck. Teasing, he breathed against her skin. “I’m still waiting for some of that dirty talk.”

It was the wrong fucking thing to say.

She stiffened against him and her arms dropped from his shoulders, her hands pushing against his chest. “Get off me.”

“Gracie, I was kidding.” He pulled back to look down at her, but her tiny face was closed off and cold.

“Get. The fuck. Off me.” She said each word with a curt, angry bark, and he did what she asked, his hands up and above his head.

“It was a joke-

“No. It was stupid. I was stupid. Because I actually let you get inside my head, but never again.” Straightening her dress, she walked over to the door and pulled on the handle.

And twisted. And yanked some more.

“Did you lock us in here?” she screamed.

Eric shook his head and tried the knob. It was definitely locked.

“Believe me, this was not part of the plan.”

“I don’t care what your plan was. Just get me out of here. Now.”

Eric pounded on the door with one fist. Then two. “Hey! Anybody out there?”

Gracie wrapped her arms around her waist with a groan. “Oh, God. They can’t hear us because they are all dancing and listening to bad 80’s music and I am going to be locked in here with you all night.”

“Okay, relax. I’m sure there’s a tool box or something.” Eric started looking through boxes while Gracie banged and hollered on the door. “Someone will come in here at some point to find supplies or something.”

She turned with a glare. “They better for your sake. Until then, you keep your sleazy ass away from me.”

“Believe me, Gracie Lou, any desire I may have experienced is gone. It was just a fleeting moment, and now, I’m over it.”

“Good.”

“Great.”

“Fine!”

Chapter Three

Hours later, Eric sat with his back to the door of the storage room, watching Gracie sleep on sacks of flour on the ground. She had to be cold and uncomfortable, but the woman was a stubborn as a mule.

Finally, he couldn’t take it anymore and got up. He walked over to where she was lying and shrugged out of his jacket, wrapping it around her before picking her up in his arms.

“What are you doing?” she asked sleepily.

“I’m just giving you my jacket. You looked cold.”

“Not anymore.” She snuggled against his chest, and his arms tightened around her. The last thing he wanted to do was lay her back down on the rough looking rice sacks.

Instead, he went over to the corner and sat, settling her on his lap. He left his arms around her, holding her loosely as he started humming “Carry On My Wayward Son.”

“What the hell are you humming?” she muttered.

“Kansas.”

“Stop it, I’m trying to sleep.”

Eric grinned, pretty sure she had no idea what she was saying or if she even realized who she was sleeping on.

He settled back against the wall and closed his eyes, thinking about how weird the night had gone. His goal had been to get her alone and call a truce, but oddly enough he thought this was better.

Way better.

Eric blinked his eyes hours later, realizing he’d fallen asleep when the door to the storage room opened. Katie Connors stood in the doorway, staring at them dumbly.

“Oh my, have you guys been locked in here all night?”

Gracie startled at the sound of Katie’s voice and as if realizing where she was and who was holding her, she scrambled to her feet. She practically threw his jacket at his head and snapped, “Pervert.”

“I was just trying to keep you warm.”

Katie looked horrified, while Gracie appeared ready to launch herself at him and scratch his eyes out.

Sometimes, you really need to read the room and know when to shut up.

Gracie clasped her hands into fists and angrily stomped over to the door. “Katie, can you give me a ride home?”

“Sure. Eric, do you-

At Gracie’s warning look, he shook his head. “I’m fine Katie, my car is parked down the street.”

“Okay, if you’re sure.” Katie waited until he was out of the room before she closed the door, and Gracie wasted no time trying to escape.

“Gracie Lou?” he called.

She glared at him over her shoulder. “What?”

“It’s bad manners to sleep with a guy and not even buy him breakfast.”

She flashed him a feral smile. “Come by the Bean anytime and I’ll make you an egg sandwich. Extra arsenic.”

* * *

The next day, Gracie was sitting down with Gemma and Ryan for coffee, admiring Ryan’s shiny new engagement ring.

“Wow, Gregg wasted no time locking you down now that he’s got you, huh?” Gracie said.

“Well, it’s not like we haven’t been friends for years, and besides, we’re not planning on getting married for a while. Maybe July or August?” Ryan said.

 “A whole six months, wow.” Gracie watched both of her friends whip their gazes towards her and sighed. “Sorry, I’m just tired.”

“Why? Because you got locked into a room with Eric Henderson all night?” Gemma asked, innocently.

Gracie glared at her best friend. “Eat me, Gemma.”

“No, but seriously, what happened? You two…”

“God, when did you get to be so nosy?” Gracie stood up as the front door opened. “I should get back and help out. The place is starting to pick up.”

“Gemma, I think she is avoiding your questions,” Ryan said.

Gracie backed up towards the counter, facing her friends. “Not avoiding, just not quenching your thirst for gossip.”

“So gossip is okay as long as it’s not about you?” Gemma asked.

Before she could answer, Gracie bumped into something that was big, hard, and smelled really, really good. As two large hands steadied her, she bent her neck back and looked up.

Into the upside down eyes of Eric Henderson.

Twisting out of his grasp, she crossed her arms and faced him. “What are you doing here?”

“I came to get some crack with a side of arsenic.”

“Huh?” she asked.

“You compared your coffee to crack and told me you’d make me a breakfast sandwich with arsenic. I’ve come to collect on both.”

“I’m not giving you free coffee and food. Nothing happened.”

Eric covered his chest with both hands. “Oh, how you wound me.”

“If only I had a spork, I’d cut your black heart out slowly.”

“Has anyone ever told you you’re a tiny bundle of violence?” he asked.

“I’ll get your stuff.” Gracie walked behind the counter and grabbed her apron that read, “Kiss My Cupcakes.”

“Gracie, are you going to hold a grudge forever?”

Sarcasm oozed from every pore in her body as she leaned on the counter and gave him wide, innocent eyes. “I don’t know. We’ll see if after I die, I come back as a ghost. Pretty sure I’ll still hate you though.”

Grimly he paid for his food and coffee as she totaled him out. When she handed him his order, she said, “Feel free to never enter my shop again.”

Eric took it and leaned towards her, his eyes brimming with an unholy light.

“Gracie, you can’t get rid of me that easy. You want a war?” He lowered his voice, bringing his face within inches of hers. “You got one.”

As Gracie stood there frozen, watching him leave the shop, she silently cursed herself.

Because, for just a split second, she’d thought he’d been about to kiss her.

And to her utter humiliation, she still wasn’t completely opposed to the idea.

Chapter Four

July

Gracie walked into Buck’s Shot Bar, her green eyes scanning the crowd for her friends. Tomorrow was the Rock Canyon Independence Day Extravaganza, and Buck’s was having a five-dollar pitcher night with the purchase of an order of their Independence Fries. It was a pretty genius move, if the packed house was any indication. Most people had the day off tomorrow and obviously weren’t worried about the hangover.

Finally, Gracie spotted Gemma, Mike, Ryan, and Gregg sitting at one of the tables, and headed their way.

“Hey, guys!” Gracie flopped down in one of two empty chairs next to Mike.

“Hi,” Gemma said, looking past her towards the door. “Where’s Jake?”

Gracie’s mouth thinned. She had been expecting the question, of course. Jake Paulson had been her main squeeze for going on four months, a record for her really, and for a minute, she had actually thought he was the one.

Thank God she’d come to her senses.

“We broke up.”

“But I thought Jake was nice!”

Of course Gemma had thought Jake was nice, because he was. Too nice. He was seriously the whole package, except he was so freaking nice that Gracie had found herself doing things just to try to piss him off, to no avail. He was all about calm, open communication and Gracie had spent the last month bored to tears with him, but too embarrassed to tell her friends. She already had a reputation in town for being a man eater; once word got around that she had dumped handsome, sweet Jake Paulson, the town would be abuzz.

If Miss Know It All didn’t print it in Small Town Scandals first, the Rock Canyon Press’s new gossip column. Everyone was already addicted to it, and the woman had an uncanny ability to scoop even the veteran busy bodies. It was unnerving.

“Yeah, well, it just wasn’t going to work.” She reached out to grab a glass from the center table and pour herself a beer, when she caught a knowing glance between Gemma and Mike.

“What was that look about?”

“Nothing.” Gemma reached down for her purse and started fumbling through. Then she pulled out a twenty and handed it to Mike, who was grinning like a sinner in Vegas, Gracie understood.

Sounding more outraged than she actually was, she gave them her best crestfallen frown.

“I can’t believe you two were betting on my relationship!”

“Yes, you can. You’re just mad because I’ve gotten so good at predicting when you’re about to dump a guy,” Mike said.

Gracie’s gaze narrowed on her best friends. Gemma, she’d known since the two of them were in diapers and considered her more of a sister. While Gracie had been the extrovert, Gemma has been the level-headed bookworm, but their relationship had survived nearly thirty years.

They’d met Mike in high school, and although he was adorkable, Gracie had never felt that pull to be anything more than friends. Considering what a trouble maker she’d always been, it was a little weird that her best friends would be just like having two angels sitting on her shoulders.

If only she had the same kind of longevity in her love life that she had in her friendships.

“And how do you know that he didn’t dump me?” Gracie asked.

“Because you have that super power that renders most men blind to your faults.”

Gracie leaned over and kissed Mike’s cheek. “Aw, thanks, but I have no faults.”

“Ha!”

“Be nice, Mike,” Ryan said, her blue eyes sparkling mischievously. “She’s just picky.”

“Hey, I made you! I can destroy you!” Gracie was joking of course, although she had helped Ryan discover the confident, sexy woman she had been hiding just five months ago. Now, Ryan was engaged to Gregg, and the two of them would be celebrating their happy union in three weeks.

Gracie liked to take partial credit for that too.

“But you won’t ‘cause you love me,” Ryan said.

“Poor Eric,” Gemma said, suddenly. “He looks stressed out.”

At the mere mention of her nemesis, Gracie turned in her seat. Eric Henderson appeared worse than stressed, he looked like he was about to start making heads roll. His eyes seemed to be shooting laser beams at the customer currently ordering drinks, and Gracie had to admit, he was tall, dark and handsome enough to pull off the whole Clark Kent/Superman thing.

Mmm, another fantasy to add to the bank?

Shit. She turned her back on him, cursing herself. Ever since he had kissed her in that locked storage closet, she had been dealing with residual dreams, and yes, okay, fantasies of her own making, but they were all against her will. Sometimes, she forgot how much she hated his guts.

Especially since that kiss had almost made her throw all of her principles out the window.

“Maybe I should see if he needs some help,” Gregg said.

“What do you know about working behind a bar?” Mike asked.

“Like it takes a genius to pull a tab and fill a pitcher,” Gracie muttered.

But Mike heard her, and grinned evilly. “Then why don’t you go help? You’re sober, and besides, a hot blond behind the bar is always a help.”

Gracie considered her options. If she refused to do it, she’d spend the next hour being heckled by her friends about something going on between her and the Neanderthal bartender. If she did it, she’d have to deal with Eric and all his shit.

For whatever reason, her friend’s teasing was the last thing she wanted to endure tonight. Standing up, she headed towards the bar, ignoring their “Ooooohs.”

She would have her revenge on them later.

As she came around the bar and grabbed one of the black aprons off the hook, Eric did a double take. “What the hell are you doing behind the bar?”

“Coming to your rescue.” Grabbing a pitcher, she faced Michelle Winters with a smile.

“What do you want?”

“An Appletini.”

Gracie’s cocky smile slipped a little. Beer was one thing, but fancy drinks?

Setting the pitcher on the bar, she climbed up and let out a loud whistle. They whole room, including the band, stilled.

“Listen up! If you want anything besides pitchers of beer or plates of fries, get lost. Take your hoity toity ass elsewhere for the night!”

Suddenly, large hands had a hold of her ass and were pulling her down off the bar. As the music resumed, Eric glared down at Gracie and hollered, “What the hell are you doing?”

“Simplifying things.” She could still feel his warm palms gripping her hips and the touch sent her heart pounding into overdrive. Damnit, of all the guys to send her hormones through the roof, why did it have to be him?

“Driving paying customers away, is how I see it.”

Placing her hand in the middle of his chest, she pushed hard, but he didn’t budge.

“You can yell at me later. Right now, I’m actually trying to help.”

When someone shouted his name, he released her. “Do you actually know how to fill a pitcher?”

“Considering you do it, I figure it can’t be that hard.”

Chapter Five

Eric Henderson couldn’t help finding Gracie distracting; it had been that way since she was a flirty teenager trying to get one over on him.

But watching her lean across the bar to listen to customers, her cute, perky ass sticking out in a pair of painted on jeans, left him mesmerized.

Thank God the night was winding down. The place had been packed full and when his other bartender had called in, it had been just him behind the bar while Grant had watched the door. If it hadn’t been for Gracie jumping in, he would have had a lot of pissed off people instead of just a handful.

Once he yelled, “Last call,” people began settling their tabs and trickling out the door. Eric saw Gemma carry what must have been Gracie’s purse over to her, and she shoved it under the counter.

When she started untying her apron, he said, “Hey, Gracie, can you hang on a minute?”

She paused, her eyebrow arched, but said nothing.

“Just have a seat at the bar, and let me get the rest of these people out of here.” Filling a pitcher and handing her a glass, he said, “Here. It’s on me.”

“Hey, how come she gets free beer?” One drunk bitched.

Eric sent him a thunderous look. “‘Cause she fucking earned it.”

Another asshole snickered, “I bet.”

In a blink, Eric had reached across the bar and grabbed him by the front of his shirt. Dragging him across it until they were nose to nose, he growled, “Apologize to her and get the fuck out of my bar.”

Eric could feel the dude trembling in his grasp. “Sorry.”

Erick practically threw him back and he and his friends stumbled out the door. Eric didn’t meet Gracie’s gaze as he started gathering glasses, didn’t want her to read too much into his behavior. It was no secret that he wanted her, he’d made that plain the night of the Sweetheart’s Dance, but when she’d started dating that pussy Jake Paulsen, Eric knew that whatever he’d thought was there was one sided.

It had been a major topic of conversation in Rock Canyon, Gracie and Jake. How all it took was a good man to tame such a wild child, but Eric couldn’t believe it. Gracie wasn’t wild, she was just…

Beautiful? Sexy? Sassy?

She was uninhibited, and he couldn’t understand how someone like Jake would ever make her happy. The guy was as interesting as unbuttered toast. She needed someone who would challenge her, stroke that fire inside until it engulfed her and her man, someone—

Someone like you?

Eric didn’t have that high of an opinion of himself, but he at least would let her be who she was.

No matter how annoying she could be.

Finally, Grant closed the doors and leaned against it with a heavy groan. “The next time you come up with some brilliant money making idea, I’m going to kick your ass.”

“I’d love to see you try, little brother. Why don’t you knock off? I’ll clean up and close out.”

Grant glanced around the place, at the glasses and trash everywhere and then his gaze settled on Gracie. With a sly grin, he winked at Eric. “Fine by me. Gracie, want me to walk you out?”

Eric was ready to choke him. “She’s fine. Get lost.”

Chuckling as he went out the back, Gracie watched him disappear before turning those gorgeous moss green eyes his way.

“If I didn’t know better, I’d think you wanted to get me alone.”

Eric put more glasses in the dishwasher bin. She wasn’t wrong; he did want to get her alone, but he wasn’t going to try anything. It was one thing to go after Gracie when she was available, but he didn’t poach other men’s girlfriends.

“I just wanted to thank you for stepping in tonight. I know I’m not one of your favorite people.” She snorted. “I’ve said things to annoy you, you’ve pissed me off—”

“Your gratitude is getting a little lost in the insults,” she said.

“My point is, you really saved my ass tonight. I owe you.”

Eric waited for her to say something snarky, but she just pressed her lips to the rim of her glass and took a sip. He couldn’t help staring at those glossy pink lips as her tongue slid out to lick away any traces of foam. Eric’s dick stiffened against the fly of his jeans and he shuffled his feet painfully, fighting the urge to reach down and adjust his hard on.

Finally, she finished her glass and set it away from her. “It’s fine. Honestly, I was just trying to keep Mike and Gemma from talking.”

“What do you mean?”

She poured another beer, hardly meeting his gaze. “They think there’s something going on with us and they like to give me shit.”

“What makes them think that?” The fact that whenever you’re in the room I can’t stop staring?

“I think it’s because we fight and argue. They think it’s foreplay.”

Eric pulled a beer for himself, and leaned across the counter. “I don’t screw attached women.”

Did she actually move closer on the bar? “Well that’s not much of an excuse anymore as

I’m no longer attached,” Gracie said. “Jake and I broke up.”

Eric paused, setting his beer down. “Is that an invitation?”

“No, just being honest. Lord knows words going to travel fast.” Downing her second glass, she shook her head with a grimace. “God, sometimes I hate small towns.”

Eric could do without people always being up in his business, but he loved Rock Canyon and couldn’t imagine living anywhere else. “So, you finally woke up and realized good old Jake is about as interesting as a stick?”

“More or less. He was just so…nice. You know? Never raised his voice, always polite, hated confrontation. Drove me nuts.”

“Most women I talk to want a nice, decent guy.” Which was probably why Eric was perpetually single.

“I don’t mind a nice guy. I just want him to have some back bone, you know? Not be such a—”

“Pussy?” Eric supplied helpfully.

“Pussy, exactly.” Holding out her glass, she grinned. “Hit me again barkeep.”

“Aren’t you driving? You’re pretty itty bitty to take on almost a whole pitcher.”

“Then why did you pour it if you didn’t want me to finish it?”

“Well I thought we’d share it.” He only filled up half her glass and poured the rest in his.

“So much for my free pitcher. Gypping me after I helped you out of the goodness of my heart. I’m going to remember this.”

“I’m sure you will,” he said.

“What’s that mean?”

“Just that you seem to have an elephant’s memory for everything, real or imaginary, I might do to you.”

Emptying the last of her beer, she scowled at him. “Are you saying that I hold a grudge?”

“Definitely.”

Gracie’s face flushed crimson. “Maybe if you weren’t such an asshole all the time, I would forget about all the other dickish things you’ve done.”

“I might have done some things, but I’m sure I’ve apologized a fair amount too.”

“Funny, but I would probably remember the great Eric Henderson admitting he was being a tool!”

Eric gripped the bar top, anger prickling across his skin like a blast of hot air. “I may be a tool, but I’ve never met a more aggravating—”

Someone was pounding on the front door, yelling his name.

“Eric, yo, you still there?”

Eric came around the bar, and threw open the door. “What?”

Carl Andrews stood on the other side, swallowing hard. “Sorry, I left my card I think.”

Eric went to get it and found Gracie grabbing her purse from behind the bar. “Where are you going? We aren’t done.”

“Oh, yes we are.” Jerking her purse strap over her shoulder, she called out sweetly, “Carl, honey, could you give me a lift home? I’m afraid I had one too many beers.”

Carl appeared to have died and gone to heaven. “Sure, Gracie, be happy to.”

“Thank you.” Shooting Eric a pointed look. “Such a gentleman.”

Eric found the card and grinding his teeth painfully, tossed it onto the bar top. “Next time, you pick this up when we open. I don’t always hang out afterwards.”

“Sorry, Eric.” Carl put his card in his wallet. “Ready?”

“Sure am.” Tucking her hand into Carl’s arm, she waved at Eric. “Thanks for the beer.”

Eric came around and stood in the doorway, watching as Carl helped her up into the truck, wondering what in the hell had happened. They had been having an almost pleasant conversation, until all the same old shit had been dragged back up. How many times would they go for each other’s throat? When she’d mentioned being single, Eric had seen a window of opportunity, had nearly acted upon it.

And she’d slammed it in his face.

No more dangling after Gracie McAllister like some whipped douche bag. He was fucking done.

Chapter Six

The Next Day

Gracie rubbed her temples as she sat in Gemma’s booth at the Rock Canyon Independence Day Extravaganza, closing her eyes behind her dark sunglasses. Gemma was reading her the newest Small Town Scandals column and not surprising, it mentioned Gracie’s recent break up.

“It’s true that after four successful months, Jake and Gracie, or ‘Jacie’ as I liked to call them, are doneso. It’s not that surprising, especially given Ms. McAllister’s track record with men, but what is astonishing is that the very night the two called it quits, Gracie stayed late at Buck’s Shot Bar with none other than Eric Henderson! As you all know, these two made quite a stir this year when they were found together in the community center supplies closet in a compromising position—”

“Oh, come on!” Gracie cried loudly, before groaning in regret. Between her late night of beer drinking and the wicked dream she’d had involving Eric Henderson, she was fighting a migraine of epic proportions. “She’s making it sound like Katie found me straddling him. We fell asleep.”

“Do you want me to keep going?”

“Fuck no, it’s making me feel worse.”

“Do you need some more Advil?” Gemma asked.

“No, I’m okay, but I could use some gum. I have to do a turn at the kissing booth in—”he checked her cell, wincing as the effort caused a sharp stabbing pain in her brain. “—ten minutes.”

“You better get over there. You know how Mrs. Andrews gets, especially when it’s you.”

Gracie had no idea what she’d ever done to the crotchety old bitch, but she was in no mood to deal with her shit. “She can go suck an egg. My head is pounding, my mouth is dry and frankly, I can’t get rid of the taste of ass. I just want to go lay down.”

Gemma handed her a bottle of water and a piece of gum. “Maybe the next time a hot bartender asks you to wait around for him and offers you all the beer you can drink, you’ll say no.”

“Please, it was a half a pitcher, and excuse me for giving the asshole the benefit of the doubt.” Although, Gracie had to admit that the last part of their conversation was a bit fuzzy and she wasn’t sure if maybe she had been the jerk. However, she wasn’t going to admit that to Gemma.

“I have no idea why you let him get to you, especially since you don’t even like him.”

“Maybe because of the same reason Mrs. Andrews gets to me.” Getting slowly off the chair and standing with a groan, Gracie said, “I’m going to go catch up to her royal awfulness. I’ll see you later at the fireworks.”

“Okay, have fun.”

Gracie grimaced. Sitting around letting the single men of Rock Canyon try to stick their tongue down her throat was not her idea of fun, but it was for charity, so Gracie had gone along with it. Besides, her coffee shop, The Local Bean, had set up a tent selling pastries, so the kissing booth also gave her a chance to send people over to spend money at her booth.

Hey, if she was going to suffer through an hour of slobbering fools, she was going to get something out of it.

As she walked along, studying the booths as she passed, she thought about what Gemma had said. The truth was, she had liked Eric a long time ago. Although he was five years older, she’d been drawn to the strong, silent older Henderson brother, even going so far to get a fake ID so she could get into Buck’s and actually talk to him. Even though she was eighteen and perfectly legal, he never seemed to notice her.

All that had gained her was his ridicule and getting tossed out of Buck’s in front of everyone. It had been humiliating, and sadly her ego had never fully recovered.

As she came around the corner towards the kissing booth, a white wooden box with red painted trim, she read the sign Kisses for $1, and she nearly made a u-turn. What could Mrs. Andrews really do to her if she skipped out?

Too late, the witch spotted her. Mrs. Andrews looked down at her watch, as if she couldn’t believe Gracie wasn’t late. “Thank you for donating your time, Gracie.”

“Hey, I’m always willing to give up my lips for the good of Rock Canyon.” Taking a drink of water, and then popping the gum in her mouth, she chewed loudly.

Mrs. Andrews looked like she’d swallowed a bug. “Please get rid of the gum before your shift begins.”

Gracie took a few more chomps and swallowed it with a smile. “Done.”

The old bat picked up the megaphone and appeared to want to clobber her with it. At least I didn’t spit it out on the ground like Julia Roberts in Pretty Woman.

“Changing of the lips, changing of the lips. Come steal a kiss from our beautiful barista, Gracie McAllister, and just for your information, boys, she’s single again.”

Geez, you didn’t have to announce it over the loudspeaker. Bitch.

Gracie stepped into the booth, and applied a thick layer of chapstick, thinking if she saw one cold sore she was going to make a run for it.

As her first customer hesitated, Gracie waved at him with a resigned sigh. “Pucker up, buttercup, I don’t have all day.”

* * *

Eric had heard the announcement while covering Chase Trepasso’s booth, and waited impatiently for his friend to return. Chase had snuck off for some alone time with Katie Connors, and who knew when the two would be done making out. The temptation to go around the corner and pay for a kiss from Gracie was overwhelming. Sure, he might have told himself he would stay away, but that hadn’t stopped him from thinking about her until he fell asleep.

Having it bad for a girl like Gracie was going to screw him up if he didn’t get a handle on it. He’d thought about screwing her until she was out of his system, but that was harder said than done. And something told him that once he got a taste of her, it would only make things worse. Especially after their one and only kiss.

No, you need to just keep your distance and distract yourself.

But when Chase came back looking pleased with himself, a smear of red lipstick at the corner of his mouth from kissing Katie, all Eric’s good intentions went out the window.

“If you’ll excuse me, I’m going to get one last kiss in with Gracie.”

Chase laughed, probably at Eric’s expense, but he didn’t care. Glancing at the time, he got in line behind six men, tempted to scare them off.

“Gentlemen, we are down to the last five minutes with the lovely Gracie. You better get those kisses in!”

Those five minutes ticked by like an hour as Eric watched Gracie close her eyes and press those sweet lips to one man after another, his fist clenched so hard they went numb.

Finally, the only thing that stood between him and Gracie was Carl Andrews.

Again.

His gaze clashed with Gracie’s over Carl’s shoulder, right before she planted a kiss on Carl that probably rocked the poor guy’s world. He saw her open her eyes, no doubt to see if he was watching.

“Alright, that’s enough of that.”

“Oh, I’m afraid Gracie’s time is up—

Eric sent Mrs. Andrews the stare of death and she snapped her mouth closed.

“I’m sure we can squeeze in one more kiss.”

Eric practically shoved Carl out of the way and laid down his dollar.

“I hope you’re going to give me my money’s worth,” Eric said.

“Gee, a whole dollar. That gets you a peck on the cheek.”

“Old Carl got quite a lot for a dollar.”

“I like Carl. You…not so much.”

“Is that a fact?” he asked.

Before she could say anything else, he bent down and cupped the back of her head with his palm, slipping his fingers into her short blond hair. As his mouth covered hers, he tasted strawberries, mint, and Gracie as he slipped his tongue past the softness of her lips. He felt her tongue tangle with his and he wrapped his other arm around her waist, nearly bringing her over the counter of the kissing booth.

Her arms curved up over his shoulders, and it wasn’t until they almost tipped the whole booth over that Eric broke away from her, breathing hard.

Gracie’s eyes opened slowly and as the dazed green depths met his, he knew.

This was definitely not one-sided.

“Alright, Eric, I think that’s enough,” Mrs. Andrews said behind him.

Gracie pushed out of his arms and had the balls to wipe her hand across her mouth, as if the kiss had been distasteful. Which they both knew was bullshit.

“We need to talk, Gracie.”

“She doesn’t seem to be interested—” Eric shot Mrs. Andrews a glare. “Fine, but honestly, you should handle your problems in public instead of laying them out for the whole town.”

“Well, we wouldn’t want to deprive you of a show, would we?” Gracie snapped.

Mrs. Andrews’s huffed at her before hollering into her microphone, “Changing of the lips. Changing of the lips. Come give your Canyon Queen, Katie Connors, a smooch! Only a dollar.”

Both Gracie and Eric ignored her. Gracie gathered up her purse and mumbled a goodbye to Katie as she escaped past him and kept walking towards Chase’s tent.

Oh, no, Gracie Lou, you are not getting rid of me that easily.

Right on her heels, he rounded the corner, only to have Chase call out to him.

“Eric, can you watch my booth again?”

Eric stilled, wishing he could tell his friend to fuck off, but Chase was one of the few guys he hung with who didn’t get on his nerves. Still…

“I’m kind of busy, man.”

“I’ll owe you one,” Chase said. Eric watched Gracie get further and further away, and finally just shrugged in defeat. There would be time enough to find Gracie. And next time, she wouldn’t escape so easily.

* * *

Gracie stomped back towards The Local Bean’s booth, cursing under her breath. How could she have kissed him back like that? After everything that had gone on between them; the fighting, the anger and insults. She had vowed to stay away from him after last night, but then he’d shown up, demanding a kiss…

And completely rocked her world.

Something had to be done. Whatever this attraction was, she needed to exorcise it. If that meant jumping Eric Henderson’s bones once and for all, then she was just going to have to go or it.

Although, that might take a bit of liquid courage first.

Chapter Seven

Several Weeks Later

The night of Ryan’s bachelorette party was wild, with the shots starting early. Operation get Chase to Buck’s Shot Bar was already in motion, as Katie had called Chase about ten minutes ago.

“Go dance on the bar,” Gracie said.

Katie blinked at her. “What?”

“If you’re up on that bar in that skirt when Chase shows up, he is going to lose his shit in the best way possible. He’ll probably carry you out of here like a caveman to make sweet, passionate love to you.”

“She’s probably not wrong,” Gemma agreed.

Gracie held up her shot and tossed it back. As the air hissed out between her teeth, she set the glass down on the table. “Damn straight.”

Katie hesitated, and then finally downed her shot. “What the hell.”

The table cheered as she made her way to the front of Bucks and climbed up onto the bar. They whistled and squealed, drawing the attention of several men who gathered under Katie to watch.

The trap was set.

When Chase walked in, his eyes blazed. Gracie would have swooned if a man had come at her looking like that. He said something to Eric, who pointed at them, and Chase gave them a dangerous scowl.

“Uh oh, I think we’re in trouble,” Ryan said.

“No one gives a shit,” said Stephanie Brown.

Although they couldn’t really hear the exchange over the music and the crowd, when Chase finally kissed Katie, Gracie experienced a twinge of jealousy. It wasn’t as though men were making sweeping declarations for her, or carrying her out of bars for hot naked awesome time.

Like Chase was currently doing with Katie.

As the two disappeared, Gracie picked up another shot. “Mission accomplished. Now, let’s get drunk.”

There were lots of whoos surrounding her, but for some reason, Gracie found herself stone cold sober despite the four shots she’d already had. All the excitement and elation had drained out of her watching Katie and Chase reconcile.

She wanted to find that. She wanted a boyfriend, not just a date or a hook up. Yet she just couldn’t seem to find the right fit. It was beyond frustrating and she was over searching high and low for Mr. Right.

Gracie’s gaze flicked to Eric, who was too busy serving drinks to notice her stare. Maybe she could get the bartender out of her system and fill a void at the same time. Take a break from the constant dating and have a little enemies with benefits thing.

Then, maybe, her luck would start to change.

* * *

Eric had been keeping an eye on Gracie most of the night and it was official. She was smashed. Things had slowed down by midnight, and most of the rest of the bachelorette party had already gotten rides home, except Gracie. She was too busy dancing to notice she’d captivated the rest of the patron’s attention.

Eric made his way over to her, and when she noticed him, she laughed. “Come to dance?”

“No, Gracie, I think I should give you a ride home.”

“Oh, yeah? You’re gonna take care of me, Erickson?”

Her voice was like a velvet purr and even though he knew she had zero interest in him, his dick thought she was teasing him.

“Yeah, okay, come on dancing queen.” He wrapped his arm around her waist, and as he led her out the door, he nodded to Grant. “You got the close?”

“Yeah, we’re good,” his brother said.

Gracie’s feet were practically dragging the ground. “Can’t you walk?”

“Doesn’t look like it. You might have to carry me.”

Eric almost rolled his eyes, but lifted her up with a grunt.

“What was that noise?” she asked.

“What?”

“You acted like I was so heavy.”

“It’s not like you’re a feather, Gracie Lou.”

“I’m not worth some back-breaking grunt either.”

Eric chuckled, and looked down into her disgruntled face. “Aw, did I hurt your feelings, princess?”

Her green eyes narrowed in the parking lot light. “I really don’t like you.”

Eric shrugged. He’d already gotten that memo, over and over again. When they reached his ‘67 black Chevy Impala, Eric set her on her feet to get the door. “You not liking me isn’t going to break my heart, baby.”

She climbed in without saying anything else, which he figured meant she was too drunk to find an insult in the fog.

He shut the door and strode around the front of the car to the drive side. The two of them had hardly spoken since their kiss on the fourth, and yet here they were, still needling and torturing each other.

He didn’t say much on the drive to her place. But when he finally pulled into her drive, she surprised the hell out of him.

“Will you help me inside?”

He glanced over at her, that little halter she was wearing showing off too damn much skin.

“I think you can probably get in on your own.”

She pushed out her bottom lip as a single strand of blonde hair fell over her right eye. “Please?”

Heaven help him, what was it about this girl? She could completely disarm him and make every rational thought fly out of his head with just a look.

He was weak.

Grumbling as he stomped over to the other side, he opened her door without a word and waited for her to get out.

“Not going to carry me inside?” she asked.

“You’re good to walk.”

And boy did she, rolling those hips in front of him like slow motion torture. He was pretty sure she was exaggerating it for his benefit but why?

She opened her door and just as he was going to step back and leave, she fell against him. “Oh, I just got so dizzy.”

Beyond suspicious now, he knew she was working him, but for what purpose?

He lifted her up and carried her inside, through the darkened living room. “Where am I taking you?”

“First door on the right.”

He opened the door and flipped on the light, staring around the pink and black room in horror.

“Christ, Gracie, how old are you? It looks like a teenaged girl threw up in here.”

“Shut up, there is nothing wrong with pink.”

Glancing around at the pink knobs on the white dresser, the pink canopy on the bed and the pink rug on the floor, Eric shook his head. “There is with this much pink.”

He dropped her on the bed, and picked up a pink fuzzy pillow from her white rocking chair. “This looks like you killed something, skinned it and stuffed it.”

“It’s called a pillow, genius.” And to his complete shock, she reached for the bottom of that little halter top and pulled it over her head, revealing her pert, naked breasts.

Fuck, she hadn’t been wearing a bra all night.

As his cock hardened, pressing against the front of his pants like a battering ram, she pointed at him.

“Now drop it, and take off your pants.”

Chapter Eight

Gracie’s heart slammed against her chest as she sat there topless on her canopy bed, waiting for Eric to say something. His big hands seemed to be choking the life out of her fuzzy pillow, his eyes trained on her breasts.

“Come on, Eric, I don’t have all night.”

Suddenly, his dark eyebrows snapped down over his dark eyes. “What the hell is this?”

“Wha…what?”

“What are you doing, Gracie? You’re not that drunk.”

Heat burned over her neck and cheeks. “Haven’t you ever seen a woman throw herself at you?”

“Yeah, but that’s not what’s happening here. So let’s have it.”

“What do you mean that’s not what’s happening here? I just stripped off my clothes and asked you to do the same. What does that sound like to you?”

“Seems like you’re still playing games with me.”

Gracie’s skin pricked with anger and humiliation. This whole situation had played out differently in her mind. As she grabbed her top and jerked it back on, she snapped, “Get out.”

Eric dropped the pillow and grabbed her arm, pulling her off the bed and against his body. His hand tangled in her hair and when he gave it a gentle tug, it brought her gaze up to meet his.

“Stop ordering me around like one of your boys. You can’t control me.”

His mouth dropped over hers and flames licked down her throat and low into her belly. Those big hands came around and grabbed her ass, bringing her feet of the ground as he rubbed her against his hard on. She hung onto his shoulders and opened her legs, wrapping them around his waist with a groan.

This is what she’d been aiming for. A way to slake this craving she had for him, to stop wondering if he was amazing in bed, if angry sex would be better than every other kind.

He walked her back to the bed and fell over with her, lowering her slowly. His tongue twisted with hers as his hand came up and covered her breast. She groaned into his mouth as he kneaded her flesh, the cotton of her shirt rubbing her nipple into a hard, tingling peak.

Eric pulled up and she whimpered, silently begging him not to stop. Instead, he pulled his black t-shirt over his head and threw it across her floor.

Yes, God, please, more of that.

His chest and shoulders were sculpted muscle with a tribal tat that spread over his right pec onto his arm. Dark hair sprang from his chest, thinning into a tiny trail that disappeared below his belt.

He roughly pulled her top back off and before she could catch her breath, his head had dipped and his mouth was sucking hard on her nipple, bringing her back off the bed with a cry. Lights exploded behind her closed eyes as he teased and touched her chest.

When his fingers went to the snap of her jeans, she was more than happy to lift her hips and help him slide the tight denim down her legs. She wanted to get this show on the road and his dick deep inside her.

His mouth left her breasts and trailed down her stomach, sucking here, biting there. He finally buried his mouth between her legs, his mouth pressing through her cotton panties, making her wet. She wanted him to push aside that last little barrier and feel his mouth on her sensitive skin, but he was taking forever.

“God, Eric, will you just—oh, fuck!”

He’d ripped her panties off in one clasp of his fist, the sharp snap of breaking fabric against her flesh before his mouth covered her slit and his tongue was pressing between, licking and flicking against the sensitive nerves of her clit. She wasn’t sure what to do with her hands as he drove her wild; clutch the comforter, tangle in her hair, slide and squeeze over her breasts. She was panting in delirious pleasure as he continued going down on her.

The man’s tongue is amazing!

As it moved like a whirlwind against her little bud, her legs started trembling and the muscles between her legs spasmed. Crying out loudly, she came hard, roaring. Her heels hit the mattress as she climbed higher and higher, his tongue never stopping, his mouth relentless in its mission to give her the best orgasm she’d ever had.

When she finally came down, her body a limp noodle of afterglow, she hummed.

Until she realized Eric’s warmth was gone and he was standing alongside the bed, putting his shirt back on.

“Where are you going?”

He pulled it into place, his dark gaze cutting through her like an iron, branding her memory.

“I told you. You can’t control me, Gracie Lou. I’m not your consolation prize to make yourself feel better or to bide your time until the right guy comes around.”

“I offered you sex with no strings attached. I didn’t call you a prize or say anything about there being a repeat event. This is a one-time only deal to get it out of our system.”

He kneeled one leg on the bed beside her, leaning over her as he cupped the back of her head.

“I don’t want you out of my system and I’m not going to be one of your Joes that you date, fuck, and forget. I’m going to make you crave me, to think about me and this until you want me so bad you’re begging me for it.”

The gentle kiss he placed on her forehead belied his harsh words. He was already out of her room before she collected herself to shout, “I’ll beg you when hell freezes over! You just lost your one shot, asshole!”

Chapter Nine

Gracie was still stewing about Eric’s arrogant assumption that he was God’s gift to women the next weekend. Gemma was out of town at a book conference in Vegas and the last thing she wanted to do was head to Buck’s alone.

The bell above The Local Bean’s front door jingled and in walked Officer Quinn Morgan.

Gracie perked up a bit. Quinn was new to Rock Canyon, a big city cop in a small pond, and she liked the way he looked in that dark blue uniform. His blue eyes were pale, and his black hair in a short, military style, drawing attention to his resemblance to Matt Bomer.

“Well, hey there, Quinn. Something I can get for you?” She leaned a bit on the counter, glad she’d worn her push up bra under her simple v-neck t-shirt.

Quinn flashed that beaming white smile of his. “Large coffee with room, please.”

“Light, medium, or dark?”

“Medium.”

“Hmmm, can’t handle the hard stuff, huh?” she teased, grabbing a large cup.

“Not this late in the day.”

She set his coffee on the counter, and gave him her signature through the lashes look. “And when does your day officially end, Officer Morgan?”

“Six. Why, you got something on your mind?”

“I was thinking if you aren’t busy we could do a little dinner and dancing.”

Quinn handed her a ten dollar bill with a smile. “Sounds good, but I’m not much of a dancer.”

Gracie gave him his change with a wink. “Oh, don’t worry, I’ll show you all the steps I like.”

* * *

That night, Eric was filling up a pitcher of beer for Annabelle Dentin, and thinking seriously about asking her out. Annabelle was curvy, sexy, and liked classic cars as much as he did. She also didn’t make him lose his shit at the slightest provocation. He liked that in a woman.

The place had been filling up steadily, getting ready for the live band to take the stage. Buck’s had offered live music since it had first opened and a lot of musicians had gotten their start on those wooden planks.

Eric glanced toward the door and back to the beer he was pouring…only to do a double take. Gracie had just walked through the door with some pretty boy, wearing a slinky buckskin dress that left most of her back and shoulders bare. The guy was guiding her through the crowd with his hand on her skin, and the blood started drumming in Eric’s ears.

Damn her. Couldn’t she take her dates somewhere else? He was getting damn tired of her flaunting dudes in his face.

“Juan, I’m going to go take their order.”

Juan glanced at him in surprise, probably because Eric never left the bar to take an order. Eric set Annabelle’s pitcher on the counter and took her five absently as he went around the edge of the bar. Putting on his best neutral face, he stopped next to their table with a pad and pen.

“Good evening, folks. What can I get you to drink?”

Gracie shot him a suspicious look, but her date just smiled. “Hey man, I’ll take a Bud. What do you want?”

“I’ll have a Lemon Drop,” she said.

“You sure you don’t want to stick to beer tonight, Gracie Lou? You know how you get when you’ve had a few.”

“Thanks, Eric, but I’m an adult and can decide what I want to drink.”

“Just saying, this guy seems like a good one, and you don’t want to scare him off by coming on too strong.”

“Fuck you,” Gracie said.

Pretty boy’s eyebrows shot up his forehead. “Do you want to go somewhere else?”

“Now, now, I didn’t mean any offense. I’ll go get those drinks for you.”

Eric walked away, whistling under his breath. If Gracie thought showing off her latest conquest was going to get him down, she had another think coming.

* * *

Gracie’s hackles rose as the son of a bitch walked away with a swagger in his step.

“Is he an ex of yours or something?” Quinn asked.

“God, not even. I loathe the bastard.”

“Well, then, maybe we should take off and go somewhere else. No point in having such a great date ruined, right?”

The date had been fun. She had only been looking for a distraction with Quinn, but he was actually charming, and a decent conversationalist. She’d almost debated on skipping Bucks and going somewhere closer to Twin, but The Long Necks were playing tonight and she actually liked that band.

“No, it’s fine, Eric just likes to get on my nerves. We’re good. You were telling me about why you moved here?”

As Quinn started talking again, Gracie could feel her attention shifting…to Eric behind the bar, pulling on the tap, his bare forearm flexing with the motion. She really needed to get over her fascination with him, especially since he thought he had the upper hand with her. Which he so did not. She was the puppeteer pulling his strings. Putting him exactly where she wanted him.

“What about you? Is Rock Canyon where you want to be for the rest of your life?” Quinn asked.

Gracie blinked at him, and stumbled over her reply. “Well, I…yes, I guess so. I’ve never thought about living anywhere else.”

“Here you go. You drinks. Now Gracie, I figured you didn’t want to scare the guy off so I made yours on the weak side—”

“Oh, you know what,” she said, standing until she was almost chest to chest with him. “Bite me, Eric. Your whole passive aggressive shit is immature and obvious.”

“And how’s that, princess? Is that like bringing your date in here after I told you that I couldn’t be manipulated.”

“I’m not trying to manipulate or control you. I barely thought about you when we decided to come to Bucks. I just knew that a band I liked was playing. That’s it. My world does not revolve around Eric Henderson and his giant, flaming ego!”

“Yeah, I’m sure it doesn’t. Otherwise, it might be a bit desperate, right? Coming in here just to get my attention.”

Unable to come up with anything more clever to say, she just screamed, “You are such an asshole!”

Stomping past him toward the front door, she brushed at her tears of humiliation, hating that he could get her to behave like such an idiot. She’d almost made it to the car before she felt a jacket fall over her shoulders and realized she’d forgotten all about Quinn in her rage.

“I’ll take you home,” he said, quietly.

She wanted to apologize, to tell him that she didn’t normally behave like a toddler having a tantrum, but what was the point? She’d blown it.

Even if she had been interested.

Chapter Ten

Sexual Tension Mounts Between a Certain Brooding Bartender and Our Favorite Barista…Again.

Just when you thought it was safe to venture out to Buck’s Shot Bar for a little fun and libation, these two are at it again. Rumors have been circulating for months about whether Eric Henderson and Gracie Lou McAllister have something going on under the radar, and after Saturday night, folks, I think we know the answer. When Miss McAllister showed up with the town’s very H-O-T new law enforcement agent, Officer Morgan, Eric looked like he’d swallowed a gallon of curdled milk and was about to blow. It only took about ten minutes before he’d pressed all of Miss McAllister’s buttons and these two were standing toe to toe. I have to say, the sexual tension was so thick, I could have grabbed a spoon and made a meal out of it. Gracie ended up leaving in a huff…

Gracie growled as she flipped the page in her scrap book, studying the little columns she’d been collecting the past several months, ever since she became a permanent fixture in Miss Know It All’s Small Town Scandals.

It’s a Royal Wedding in Rock Canyon!

The article MKIA had written the day after Gemma and Travis’s wedding, in which she’d told them “she’d be watching them.” Well, they’d managed to stay far away from each other; Eric had brought Annabelle Denton as his date and she’d actually managed to convince Quinn to be her plus one. Just as friends, of course. She’d proved she was way too much drama for him, but she wasn’t that eaten up about it.

Five months had passed since Gemma’s wedding and they had actually managed to avoid each other. Well, as much as two people in a small town could. It was like they’d established a silent truce and the gossip had slowly started to die around them.

And still, her romantic life was just as chaotic without the speculation from MKIA about whether or not her and Eric had something on the down low.

In fact, she’d filled in the time between work and dating studying MKIA’s column. Her goal was to bring the nosy bitch down. Gemma and Ryan made fun of her, called her obsessed, but she would do it. She would be the one to unmask the gossip girl.

And then she would be lucky if Gracie didn’t beat her ass.

* * *

Gracie hated being set up, especially when it was obvious the guy was completely uninterested.

Justin Silverton had been polite, attentive and funny, but she could tell he was just dying to get the hell out of there. When Stephanie had suggested Gracie join her, her husband Jared, Chase and Katie Trepasso, and Justin for dinner and drinks at Buck’s, she’d actually been a little excited. Justin was cute and available, but now, she wished she’d just stayed home and curled up with a good rom com.

Instead she was waiting on him to stop looking across the bar.

“What are you staring at?” she asked.

“The girl at the bar. She looks familiar, but I can’t place her.”

Gracie tried to spot which girl he was talking about and recognized Eleanor Willis, acting tanked by the bar.

Was she even legal? She tried to find Eric, but he must have had the night off tonight.

“That’s Eleanor Willis. I don’t even think she’s twenty-one yet.”

Justin stood up. “Sorry, gang, I’m going to have to call it a night. Thanks for making me feel like less of a fifth wheel, Gracie.”

Forcing an awkward smile, she tried to sound upbeat. “Sure, Justin, anytime.”

He walked away from the table and she tipped back her drink, fully aware of the four sets of eyes watching her with mixtures of dismay.

“Well, this was fun guys, but I think I’m going to take off. Maybe grab some ice cream on the way home.”

“Come on, Gracie, I’m sorry,” Katie said.

“Nothing to be sorry about. You guys have fun.”

They didn’t really stop her, not like she expected them to. When a guy ditches you to go play hero to a very young, attractive damsel in distress, there isn’t much to say. Except she used to be that girl.

Now I’m over thirty and my dating pool is seriously dwindling.

Gracie headed for the back door, hoping to avoid leaving at the same time as Justin and making things even more awkward. When she pushed the back door open, she was hit in the face by the cold air, and closed her eyes for a second against the sting.

“What are you doing out here, Gracie?”

She opened her eyes to find Eric, holding a crate of something in his hands, a gray beanie pulled over his head. He was bundled up in his puffy black coat and a dark whiskered shadow covered his cheeks, chin, and upper lip.

“I’m avoiding further humiliation by using the back entrance,” she said.

Eric’s grin flashed in the dim, back light. “Oh yeah? What happened this time?”

“Nothing, just an awkward group date, in which my designated partner left early. So, I figure I’m due to hit the Red Box at Hall’s and grab some cookie dough and ice cream.”

“Well, have fun with that. I better get this cream inside.”

Look at that. They’d gone from bitter enemies to cordial. “Well, have a good night, Eric.”

“You too.”

Gracie watched him disappear inside and went around the back of Buck’s, heading towards her car in the second row.

“Oh, Gracie Louuuuu!”

Gracie cringed at the howling way Wayne Coulter called her name. Without turning around, she dug her keys out of her purse. “Not really in the mood, Wayne.”

His hand appeared on the top of her car and she could feel him pressing against her back, his hot, rancid breath on the back of her neck. “Come on, sugar, let’s have a party, just you and me.”

Throwing her elbow back into his stomach, she smiled with satisfaction as he cursed breathlessly. “Thanks, but I’d rather take a bath in my own vomit.”

She tried to open her door but he slammed it shut with one hand and whirled her around to face him roughly. “You snotty little bitch.” Gracie noticed the glassy look in his eyes and the spittle gathered at the corner of his mouth. Wow, Wayne had really tied one on tonight, and it looked like his brother Walt was nowhere to be found. The younger Coulter could usually keep his big brother in check. “You always act like you’re too good for me. Like I ain’t worth the shit on your boots.”

“I don’t step in shit, Wayne, which is why I stay away from you.”

He shoved her back against her car and the force of it stole her breath. Wayne was a mean-spirited idiot, but he’d never put his hands on her before. Her hand started searching in her purse for her pepper spray.

“Get out of my face. Seriously, if you don’t—”

“What, you think someone’s gonna come to your rescue?” Wayne leaned closer and she almost gagged. Geez, did he ever brush his teeth? “Come on Gracie Lou, one sweet little kiss and I’ll let you go.”

“I’d sooner kiss a slobbery pig than you, you redneck, inbred asshole!”

Wayne lifted his hand as she got her mace out, as if he was going to slap her. Just as she pressed down, he was gone, swung around to face a shaking Eric.

Who ended up with a beam of pepper spray to his throat, since he had a half foot on Wayne.

Eric, with one fist wrapped up in Wayne’s shirt, covered his eyes with his other hand. “Shit, Gracie, did you just mace me?”

“I’m sorry, I was aiming for Wayne!”

“Well, now I can’t see!”

Wayne was struggling to break Eric’s hold and Gracie took the opportunity to kick him square in the jewels. When he went limp, crying and grabbing his junk, Gracie said, “You can let him go now.”

Eric did, wiping at his face. “Fuck, this hurts.”

Gracie went around to open her passenger door, stepping over a whimpering Wayne. “Here, get in and I’ll take you to my place.”

She grabbed his hand and led him carefully to the open door. After closing the door, she ran around the back to get to her driver’s side. Hovering over the open door, she flipped Wayne the bird before climbing inside.

* * *

“Ow! Ow!” Eric roared as Gracie splashed water in his face.

“Oh, stop being a baby. We have to rinse it all out.”

“Why can’t it be warm water? It feels like you’re flinging icicles at my face!”

Gracie adjusted the temperature and this time, the water was warmer. “Better?”

“Yeah.”

When his eyes finally stopped burning, Eric stood up and dried his face with the towel Gracie handed him.

“I would like to say that I appreciate your attempt to rescue me. Even if I did have things handled,” she said.

“It didn’t look that way from my angle. Next time, I’ll ask and save myself the blinding pain.”

Eric sat down at her kitchen table, surprised when she squeezed one of his hands with. “Seriously, thanks. It’s nice to know chivalry’s not dead.”

The warmth of her hand on his shouldn’t have affected him at all, especially not to send freaking tingles up the whole length of his arm, but then again, he hadn’t touched her in months. Why would he have thought his reaction to her had changed, just because he had a girlfriend?

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.

“You! What, did you just want to see if you could get him again?” Eliza was coming at her with the bat, and Eric knew shit was going to go down before Gracie raised her arm and sprayed that stream of toxic sludge at Eliza’s face. Eliza screamed and dropped the bat, clawing at her face.

“That’s for my car, you crazy bitch!”

The sound of sirens coming up the road and the flash of blue and red lights against the trees told Eric that they were about to have a shit ton of company.

There was no way this was staying out of Small Town Scandals.

Chapter Eleven

Several weeks later, Gracie stood in Jose’s Garage with her keys, staring at her fixed Honda and a paid-in-full bill.

“I don’t understand. Who paid my bill?” she asked.

“I’m not supposed to tell you that. I’m just supposed to give you the keys and send you on your way.”

“Except you know me and I’m like a dog with a bone. No way I’m letting you squirm away without finding out who my benefactor was.”

Gracie had actually been waiting on a check from Eliza, since part of her plea deal had been to pay for the damages on her car, but she’d figured the witch would hold out on that as long as possible. No matter how many times she said nothing happened between Eric and her, Eliza still didn’t believe her.

Suddenly, a sneaky suspicion snaked into her mind. “It was Eric, wasn’t it?”

“I told you, I’m under penalty of death not to tell you. Just take it and go.”

Gracie gave up trying to twist it out of Jose and instead headed over to The Local Bean to get a roast beef sandwich and a large iced coffee. It was the least she could do after Eric fixed her car.

She pulled in front of Buck’s and banged on the door with one hand, balancing the food and drink in the other. When Grant answered the door, Gracie gave him a nod. “Hey, is your brother here?”

“Yeah, he’s in the back. That for me?” Grant asked.

“No, it’s for him. Go get your own.”

“Damn, you’re mean. What did big brother do to get himself lunch?”

Gracie pushed past Grant and inside the quiet of Buck’s. “Why don’t you ask him?”

“Ask me what?”

Eric came from the storage room, looking sweaty despite the cold February chill outside.

Grant closed the door behind her with a thunk. “What you did to get a free sandwich and coffee.”

“I told him he had to ask you,” Gracie said.

Eric’s gaze swept over her offering, a slow smile stretching his full lips and sending a quiver straight through her body.

“I have no idea why I’m getting lunch.”

“You get lunch because you had my car fixed, even when it wasn’t your problem.”

“I think if I hadn’t dated the crazy chick, then your car wouldn’t have been totaled.”

Gracie laughed softly. “Fine, it was kind of your fault. You need better taste in women.”

Eric took the drink and sandwich from her, their hands brushing lightly. “My taste in women would be better if the woman I wanted gave me the time of day.”

Gracie’s heart flipped over, and as the air crackled between them, Grant took that moment to speak. “And on that note, I’m going to go on home and get showered.”

When they were completely alone in the bar, Gracie tried to break the spell. “Well, I just wanted to drop this by as a thank you, but I need to get back to work.”

Eric set the sandwich and drink on the bar, and took a step toward her. “Is that how we’re going to play this? You pretending you don’t know exactly what I mean?”

Gracie was tempted to run for the exit, but she wasn’t a coward. “Don’t Eric. We just started to get along. Don’t ruin it.”

He placed one of his hands on her arm, and even through the heavy down of her jacket she could feel the heat. “If you’d just admit you want me instead of fighting so hard against me, we wouldn’t have such a rough time together.”

“There have been plenty of chances over the last year where we could have started something, but every time something’s gotten in the way. Don’t you think it’s about time we realized that it’s just not meant to be and try being friends?”

Eric’s other hand came up to cup her jaw and she shivered against the rough skin of his palm on her face. “Friends, Gracie Lou? That’s really all you want us to be?”

“We haven’t been there yet. We’ve been enemies and nearly lovers and acquaintances. We’ve never tried just being friends.”

Eric tipped her chin up and the intensity in his dark gaze stole her breath. “Maybe because being friends with you feels like a lie.”

It would be so easy to let him kiss her. To forget everything she’d just said and give in to every want, every desire that vibrated through her body.

Except then they’d be right back to where they’d been last Valentine’s Day and Gracie was tired of the fighting. Of hating his guts.

“Right now, it’s all I’ve got to offer.”

Chapter Twelve

October

Eric had been a good guy for nearly eight months. Things had been friendly between Gracie and him, with no kissing attempts from him and no sidelong looks from her. They’d dated other people, and attended barbeques and parties with Gemma and Travis, and nothing.

But tonight, she had to go and wear that.

Music blasted loudly through the speakers as Everett Silverton and Eric made their way through the crowd. Eric had come with Everett to the Halloween Ball and the minute they reached the DJ booth, Eric had recognized Gracie in her little black cat costume, even with the black mask covering half her face. Her blond hair curled down past her shoulders now, and her glossy lips were curled up into a smile for Callie Jacobsen, who was inside the DJ booth.

Eric’s dick stiffened under his tore up jeans and it was suddenly sweltering beneath his Jason Hockey Mask.

He tipped it up and grinned at her. “What’s up, kitty-cat?”

Gracie’s cute little nose wrinkled, but he caught the twitching of her pink lips. She wanted to laugh.

“Hey Buffy, can I borrow your stake?” Gracie asked Callie. “I need to stab something undead.”

Eric could feel them falling back into their old pattern, but it felt good. He couldn’t help himself; that costume reminded him of the sexy eighteen-year-old girl he’d tried like hell to resist. It was as though he was getting a do-over of that night, and he didn’t plan to blow it.

“Gracie Lou, you know stabbing me is the last thing you want to do.”

Gracie huffed loudly, and gave Callie a wave, completely ignoring him. “I’ll see you later.”

Before she could get too far, Eric yelled, “Why do you fight the inevitable? You know you want to have adorable kittens with me, pussy cat!”

Several people who had heard him turned to see what was going on. Gracie turned to him with a grin.

And her middle finger up in the air, directed right at him.

Eric laughed as she walked away, her long black tail twitching with the sway of her hips.

He turned to Everett, still smiling. “That woman is secretly in love with me.”

“Must be some secret,” Everett said, shooting Callie a sidelong glance, and Eric knew what was coming. Eric had known that Everett only wanted to come to see Callie, and that he had no interest in hitting on girls in costumes with Eric.

“I’ll see you later, Eric. Okay?”

Eric sniffled a little and held his hand over his heart just to be an ass. “Yeah sure, ditch your wingman. That hurts, man.”

Everett’s gaze narrowed dangerously and he practically growled, “You don’t know what hurt is…yet.”

Eric backed away slowly. “Yeah, yeah. I get it. It’s cool; I’ve got my own game to run, anyway.”

“Pretty sure the game isn’t interested,” Everett said.

Eric rubbed his hands together. “The fat lady hasn’t sung yet, my friend.”

He ducked back into the crowd, following the way Gracie had gone. He found her next to the bar, sipping on some pink fruity drink with two floating eyeballs in it.

“That looks disgusting.”

She took a long sip, her lips curled around the straw and let out an “ahhh.”

“It’s delicious. Wanna try?”

She held the drink out to him and he took a sip, his gaze never leaving her.

And grimaced.

“Too damn sweet. I prefer my alcohol bitter or burning.”

Gracie laughed that high, tinkling sound that reminded him of bells. “So, you wanna have kittens with me huh? What happened to just being friends?”

“Hey, you were the one who wore the sexy cat costume. I’m not responsible for my actions when you show up looking like that.”

She finished the rest of her drink and stepped a little closer, her black gloved hand running over his chest. His heart slammed against the pace she’d touched.

“Did you just call me sexy?”

Eric’s hand came up to rest on her hip. “You know what I think of you, Gracie.”

* * *

Gracie’s stomach dropped as she stared up into Eric’s dark eyes. She had no idea what was happening. She’d planned on going as a sexy wolf tonight, but that old cat costume had caught her eye and for some reason, she’d thrown that on instead. She hadn’t even known Eric was going to be here, as it wasn’t really his scene.

But once he’s lifted that mask, and raked his gaze over her, she’d been thrown back. Her palms had started sweating through her gloves and her skin had practically tingled.

Now, his hand burned through the thin fabric of her cat suit, branding her hip with his touch.

“I do?” she said, just loud enough to be heard over the music.

“Yeah. You know that I think you’re beautiful, and sexy, and sweet.”

“Oh…”

“You’re also annoying and bossy and—“

“Let’s just stop at sweet, shall we?” she said.

Eric’s finger’s dug in as he brought her closer. “Honestly, Gracie, I’ve always thought—

“Excuse me, I’m sorry to interrupt, but are you Gracie McAllister?”

Both of them swung towards the intruder, a smartly dressed man in a dark suit and tie, his brown hair cut short. His features were almost pretty they were so slim and perfect.

“Um, yeah, I’m Gracie.”

The man held his hand out to her, and she could feel Eric tense next to her. “Hey, I’m Darrin Quinn. We were supposed to—

“Oh!” Shit. Gracie had completely forgotten about him, since he’d been late. She’d figured he’d changed his mind and stood her up. They’d been chatting on TheLastFirstKiss.com for a month, and she’d suggested they meet up tonight so if she wasn’t interested in him, she could easily lose him.

“I am so sorry. I just came over to get a drink and bumped into my friend, Eric. Eric Henderson, this is Darrin Quinn. He works for the DA’s office in Twin and he’s my…my date for tonight.”

She stumbled over the last two words. When she’d set up the date with Darrin, she’d been lonely and was hoping for a sure thing tonight, so she wouldn’t spend the whole night dancing by herself. But Eric had made her forget about him with his look, his banter, his admission…

What had he been about to say?

Eric released her and held his hand out to Darrin. “Good to meet you.”

“Yeah, you too.” Darrin’s gaze traveled over her and his smile made him even more beautiful. His pictures definitely hadn’t done him justice. “I am sorry I was running late, but I had trouble finding a costume. I like yours though.”

“Thanks. Who are you supposed to be?” Gracie asked Darrin. She was so uncomfortable, especially since she wished like hell she could tell Darrin to take off, but she’d asked him out. He’d driven all this way for her.

And he was a handsome lawyer with his shit together. No baggage. No past. A fresh start.

“Yeah, I couldn’t find anything so I just went with a lawyer.”

Well that was a little disappointing. Sure, her invitation had been last minute, but she loved Halloween. Eric’s costume was simple, but he still looked awesome.

“Well, I better take off and find myself a dance partner,” Eric said.

Gracie stared at him, torn between wanting to follow him and find out what he was going to say and being nice. Nice won out.

“I’ll talk to you later?”

“Sure, Gracie Lou. Later.”

* * *

Eric hit the bar on the other side of the room first, tossing back a whisky before crumpling up the plastic cup in his hand, shattering it. It stabbed him in the palm and he grimaced.

“Oh, did you hurt yourself?”

Eric glanced up to find Kirsten Winters standing in front of him, dressed as a mermaid with full on purple shell bikini top and shells woven into her blonde hair.

“Nah, it’s just a scratch. How are you, Kirsten?”

“Bored. I came with Michelle, but she’s already ditched me.”

“Yeah, my wingman bailed too.” Eric looked across the room, trying to spot Gracie and her date, but the crowd was too dense.

As if his mind had willed them to part, a three-foot opening revealed Gracie dancing with Darrin, smiling at something he said. Eric was positive the guy wasn’t that funny, but if Gracie had a check list, the dude probably filled a few of the conditions, if not all of them. Lawyer. Good-looking, even he could admit that. Probably had his own house and a 401 k.

Eric ran his family bar, had a double wide on a couple of acres, and a classic car he loved enough to pour his money into.

God, he’d been an idiot, thinking that he could ever be good enough for Gracie McAllister.

“You wanna get out of here?” Kirsten asked.

Eric turned back to her, and knew what she was asking.

“Yeah, let’s go.”

* * *

Gracie’s gaze strayed to Eric again, but he had his hand on Kirsten Winter’s bare back, guiding her towards the door.

Her stomach roiled, knowing exactly where they were going. Kirsten was nice enough, but she liked men and sex. She didn’t apologize for it, which Gracie could respect.

Except the thought of her having sex with Eric sent Gracie into a tailspin.

Damn it, I like Eric.

During their moment earlier, she’d felt it. Everything coming together and for the first time, they weren’t fighting. There had been no misunderstandings. No hurt feelings.

Until Darrin had shown up.

God, she was stupid. If she could just stand to be alone for five seconds, she might have been the one walking out the door with Eric.

Instead she was here with Darrin, and he was everything she’d been looking for. Well, for the most part.

So why was she so jealous of Kirsten?

“I am having a really good time,” Darrin said, spinning her out and back in.

A nasty voice in her head went off on her. Will you snap out of it? If you’d really wanted Eric, you could have had him, but you told him you just wanted to try being friends. Suck it up, buttercup. You chose to stay with Darrin instead of asking Eric what he was going to say. There had to be a reason for that, right.

With a deep breath, Gracie pasted a smile on her lips she hoped reached her eyes. “Me too.”

Acknowledgements

To NYLA agency, especially my agent, Sarah, Natanya, who go this book online for me, and Cindy for copy editing this for me. This book is a thank you to my readers, who continued to send me emails and messages, asking when the next Rock Canyon was coming. Thank you for loving this town and these characters as much as I do.

Sneak Peek of Good Girls Don’t Kiss and Tell

© 2017 Codi Gary

Chapter One

“I’m sorry, but am I the only one who thinks co-ed anything is stupid? Ladies, why would we want to ruin things like Bachelorette parties and baby showers by including men? My advice…keep it separate and enjoy the male strippers.”- Miss Know It All’s Gossip Column.

Gracie McAllister put the last little frosting owl on the cake and leaned back to examine her work. This was the second cake she’d made for her best friend, Gemma Bower’s baby shower because the first one had turned out funky.

This one was pure perfection, though. She just had to make sure it stayed that way.

Carefully, she slid the cake lid over it, and snapped it into place. Now she had to carry it out to her car, drive it out to Gemma and Travis’s place, and pray that nothing befell her on the way.

She’d just set the cake into the back of her Honda CRV when her cell blasted She Got It From Her Mama. Just the sound of her mother’s ringtone caused a cold sweat to break out on her forehead despite the chill in the November air.

She’d just talked to her mother yesterday. Most weeks they spoke three times at most, and they’d reached that quota. Ever since her parents had retired to Florida, her mother had three reasons to call. To ask why Gracie hadn’t called her, to ask her how to do something that involved an electronic device, or the worst phone call of all…was she seeing anyone?

Luckily, Gracie had been seeing Darrin Quinn for a little over two weeks. He was handsome, settled, and nice. A lawyer who worked for the DA’s office. Her mother would be thrilled.

Which was why Gracie hadn’t told her a thing. She didn’t want to jinx it.

Of course, the fact that he’d bailed on her an hour ago for the baby shower wasn’t awesome, but she could understand. It was a little early in their relationship for a co-ed baby shower.

She slid her thumb over the screen and answered cheerfully. “Mom. How are you?”

“Gracie? Why do you sound like that?”

“Like what?”

“All high pitched and out of breath.”

Insulting her already? Shocker. “Because I was carrying Gemma’s baby shower cake and it was heavy. And because I’m excited to hear from you.”

“Hmm, okay…did you remember the gift I sent Gemma?”

Ah, the check up on her phone call. She’d forgotten that one. “Yes, it is sitting right next to mine in the house. I was just heading in to grab it.”

“Well, I won’t keep you. I just wanted to make sure you give Gemma my best.”

“I will.”

“Oh, and your father and I have decided to come back to Rock Canyon for the holidays, so you won’t need to get a plane ticket this year.”

Gracie stopped walking up the steps to her house. Her tiny, tiny house and her heart did the river dance in her chest. “You are? When are you coming?”

“The twelfth. We really miss our friends and the town, and figured we’d come back for a nice, long visit. Do you think you can pick us up from the airport in Boise? It was less expensive than flying into Twin Falls.”

But an hour and a half drive two ways for me is okay?

“Sure, mom, of course I can get you guys. Where are you going to stay?”

“Well, we just assumed we’d stay with you, sweetheart.”

Gracie wanted to slam her head into something. The whole reason she flew down to freaking Florida for the holidays was to spend it with her parents, who had a three-bedroom house on the beach. Yet, now, they wanted to come up here and stay in her one bedroom house, while she’d get stuck sleeping on the couch for two weeks?

“Of course, if that’s a problem, I suppose we could find a hotel or something,” her mother said.

Passive aggressiveness rears it’s ugly head.

“Mom, it’s not a problem. I’ll just have to figure out the logistics. You know that I only have the one bedroom, and there’s no hide a bed in the couch.”

“Sounds like something Santa should bring you for Christmas.” Her mother laughed at her own joke, but Gracie was picturing the ugly ass couch her mother would choose for her.

“No, mom, that’s okay. Really. I’ll have everything set up before you get here.”

“Wonderful, I’ll let your father know. Love you.”

“Love you, too.”

Gracie clicked off the call and slid the phone into her pocket before picking up the two presents with a grunt.

Two weeks. Her parents were going to come to town and stay with her. Sleep in her room, bitch about her small kitchen. The house she rented was perfect for her under most circumstances, but not now. Not for this.

What in the hell was she going to do?

* * *

Eric Henderson had no idea how he’d ended up at a co-ed baby shower on a Saturday afternoon, but there he was, carrying two trays of his mother’s frog eyes, while she bustled ahead of him. Grant and his dad had managed to bow out but since Eric’s friend was the father-to-be, he was shit out of luck.

“Oh, Gemma, you look beautiful!” his mother cried.

Gemma Bowers, his friend Travis’s wife, waddled over to his mother and gave her a hug. She was wearing a simple purple cotton dress that showed off her enormous stomach. She was six months pregnant with twins, and Eric thought she looked like she was ready to pop now.

“Thank you, Mrs. Henderson. I am so glad you could come.” Gemma smiled past his mother at him. “Hey Eric. Travis is in the garage.”

Eric took the escape she offered and carried the food into the kitchen, setting them on the counter before he went out the back. He headed down the walkway and found Travis, Mike Stevens, Gabe Moriarty, Gregg Phillips, and Chase Trepasso standing in the open garage, drinking beer.

“So this is where all the men are hiding?” Eric called.

Travis grinned at him, his blue eyes twinkling. “Hell yes. I don’t know what I was thinking agreeing to a co-ed baby shower. Men were not meant to stand around wearing paper diapers with fake poo in them.”

Eric noticed the little white diapers pinned to all the men’s shirts and exploded with laughter. “Why in the fuck are you wearing those?”

Every single one of them grimaced and muttered a chorus of women’s names and Eric understood. He was the only single guy there, besides Mike, but considering he was friends with Gemma too, it made sense he’d pin the thing on.

Eric took a beer from the cooler in the back of Travis’s truck and popped the top. “Thank God I don’t have a girlfriend to answer to.”

“I think the hot sex we get to have makes up for it,” Gabe said.

 Chase shot him a disgruntled look. “Speak for yourself. My wife’s body pillow is getting more action than me.”

All of the men chuckled, since Chase’s wife, Katie, was due the month before Gemma in January.

“And I get all the sex I want. With different women.”

A silver CRV pulled up the drive and past them, the driver waving at them. Eric recognized Gracie through the glass, and took a long pull from his beer. It was no secret that Gracie and he had been having a weird back and forth thing for almost two years now, but after he’d almost confessed how he really felt about her at the Halloween Ball two weeks ago and she’d walked away with some dork she’d met online, he was done.

For good this time.

“Guess Gracie’s new boyfriend bailed,” Mike said.

Eric raised an eyebrow. “Who? That lawyer?”

“How do you know about the lawyer?” Mike asked.

“I met him at the Halloween Ball.”

Mike ran a hand through his brown hair, ruffling the short strands. “Yeah, I guess she invited him and he said he would come. Must have gotten cold feet.”

“Or he’s bringing his own car in case he needs to escape,” Travis said.

Gabe tossed his beer can into the trash. “Now, who would want to escape all of this fun?”

Eric was contemplating a speedy exit himself when he heard his mother yelling his name.

The guys started heckling him about his mommy calling him and Eric flipped them the bird as he walked up the driveway to the house. He came up behind Gracie while she was head first in the back of her CRV, wearing lacy white dress, tights, and cowboy boots. Her blond hair traveled past her shoulders now, covering up the collar of her jean jacket and he had to admit that he liked it better than the shorter do she usually sported.

“Need some help?” he asked.

She jumped a mile in the air with a scream, and dropped the brightly wrapped package in her hands.

“Geez, do you have to sneak up on people? Do you understand that if I was holding Gemma and Travis’s cake, you would have been the reason it was smashed to bits?”

Eric held up his hands in surrender. “I was just offering to carry stuff in for you. No need to bite my head off.”

Gracie’s cheeks turned a deeper shade of cheek, and he hated that he noticed how it brought out the green of her eyes.

“I’m sorry. It’s been a rough day. I didn’t mean to take it out on you.”

Eric was surprised by her apology. Most of the time she would snap back at him, something snarky that would set his teeth on edge.

“It’s fine, we all have them. Do you want some help or what?”

“Sure, can you grab the presents while I get the cake?”

He reached past her to pick up the packages and their shoulders bumped. He was close enough to smell the fruity scent of her hair, and notice the shine in the blonde strands, almost as though she sprayed it with glitter.

“Are you having fun?” she asked abruptly.

Eric couldn’t stop his laugh. “At a baby shower? Sure, I’m having a blast.”

“Oh come on, it hasn’t even started, so it can’t be that bad.”

“All of my friends are wearing diapers that may or may not have fake poo in them on their shirts.”

Gracie juggled the plastic cake container into her arms, shaking her head. “It’s a game. Two of the diapers have a brown circle in them and if you have one of them, you get a prize. How is winning ever a bad thing?”

Eric closed her hatch for her. “This kind of thing is just not meant for me. You ladies would have more time sitting around giggling, and oohing and awing over baby clothes without us.”

“Oh, my God, how sexist are you? We don’t all do that.”

They walked into the house to find Gemma showing the ladies who were already there some of the things she’d bought for the baby. When she held up a matching set of white shoes, the whole room erupted with cooing sounds.

Eric turned to face her with a grin. “You were saying?”

* * *

Add GOOD GIRLS DON’T KISS AND TELL to your Goodreads shelf at https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/32862595-good-girls-don-t-kiss-and-tell

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Rock Canyon, Idaho Series

The Trouble With Sexy

Things Good Girls Don't Do

Good Girls Don't Date Rock Stars

Bad Girls Don't Marry Marines

Return of the Bad Girl

Bad For Me

The Loco, Texas Series

Crazy For You

Make Me Crazy

I Want Crazy

The Men in Uniform Series

I Need a Hero

One Lucky Hero

Hero of Mine

Holding Out for a Hero

Coming Soon: Hot Winter Nights Series by Codi Gary and James Patterson

A Bear Mountain Rescue Story

About the Author

An obsessive bookworm, Codi Gary likes to write sexy small-town contemporary romances with humor, grand gestures, and blush-worthy moments. When she's not writing, she can be found reading her favorite authors, squealing over her must-watch shows, and playing with her children. She lives in Idaho with her family. Codi is represented by Sarah E. Younger from the Nancy Yost Literary Agency. Codi loves hearing from readers, and to keep up with her news and releases, sign up for her newsletter at http://www.codigarysbooks.com/newsletter.html.