Good Girls Don't Kiss and Tell

by Codi Gary

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

  “No, but she’s useful.”

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

  “What do you suggest?” she asked.

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

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

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

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

  “You’re welcome.”

  Chapter Thirteen

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

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

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

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

  Unless I take Eric up on his offer.

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

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

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

  “Ha, no. Even if he did, I’d put him in his place. That man loves me.”

  Her total confidence made Gracie grimace. What would it be like to have a love like that? Something you knew was real and going to last?

  “That’s good, because I don’t think I want him pissed at me.”

  They moved across the icy ground, and Gracie was seriously reconsidering the boots she was wearing. As cute as they were, they weren’t exactly slip resistant. She felt as though she was ice skating across the parking lot.

  When they pushed through the door, Grant Henderson stood off to the side, arms crossed over his chest.

  “You got some ID, lady?”

  Gracie narrowed her eyes at Eric’s little brother. He had the same dark hair and eyes as his brother, but while Eric shaved his head, Grant kept his to his shoulders. He was a few inches shorter and leaner than his brother, who was built like a wall, but he still had the same devilish twinkle in his eye.

  “Get bent, Grant.”

  Grant grinned. “That’s not a nice way to talk to the guy who decides whether or not you get to stay.”

  “Ask your brother if I can stay, and see what he says.”

  Grant’s forehead furrowed. “Why the hell would Eric care?”

  “Ask him and see.”

  With a flip of her hair, Gracie walked farther into the bar. She could feel Caroline’s gaze on her, and she turned to meet her quizzical look.

  “What?”

  “You got something you want to tell me?”

  Gracie spotted Eric behind the bar, pouring a line of shots for a bunch of girls wearing party hats and boas, noting how delicious he looked in his green flannel shirt. Ellie Willis came around the bar with a tray in her hand and put her hand on Eric’s shoulder.

  Ellie was twenty-three, curvy like ScarJo, and tall. Her long dark hair was striped with highlights and her hazel eyes were outlined with smoky liner. She was hot. Gracie could admit it freely.

  And as she watched Eric smile and say something that made Ellie laugh, Gracie’s skin prickled with irritation.

  And he was giving me shit about other guys?

  “Who are you scowling at?” Caroline asked.

  “Your sister flirting with Eric.”

  Caroline’s gaze flicked towards her sister, clearly confused. “So? Ellie flirts with everyone, and besides, don’t you hate Eric?”

  Caroline’s words sank in, and she realized this was a golden opportunity to set their plan in motion.

  “Not anymore.” She tossed Caroline a sly grin as she came around the back of the bar. Ellie saw her coming, and her eyes widened.

  “Hey, Gracie.”

  Eric had his back to her, but when he heard her name, he turned. Gracie mustered up all her high school drama geek mojo and wrapped her arms around Eric’s waist, plastering her body against his.

  “Hi, baby,” she purred. “Miss me?”

  * * *

  Eric had spent the whole night being flirted with by a bunch of barely twenty-one-year-olds and pouring enough drinks to give him carpal tunnel. So, when Ellie had come up to him asking him to knock off early, he couldn’t help but laugh.

  “Girl, you can leave anytime you want. Doesn’t mean you’ll have a job in the morning.”

  Ellie put her hand on his shoulder and batted those long eyelashes at him. “Aw, come on, Eric. Don’t you remember what it was like to be young?”

  Eric raised an eyebrow. “You calling me old?”

  Ellie laughed. “No way. I’d call you distinguished.”

  Eric grunted. Suddenly, Ellie’s eyes widened at something over his shoulder.

  “Hey, Gracie.”

  Eric turned in time to watch Gracie walk toward him. She was wearing a pink peacoat and black high heeled boots, but he couldn’t tell what she was wearing beneath.

  And man, his imagination ran wild thinking about it.

  Her arms wrapped around his waist, and as she greeted him like they were already lovers, her glossy pink lips open in invitation, his brain turned to mush.

  Her hands slid up his back, and she must have gone up on her tiptoes because she was several inches taller.

  “Aren’t you going to kiss me?” she whispered.

  Then it dawned on Eric: this was the moment. They were setting their plan in motion.

  He bent his head and brushed her lips with his, chaste compared to what he’d delivered in front of Mike. It was still as though his mouth was skimming a lightning bolt, but instead of frying his skin, it was a pleasant burn that traveled down his body and settled in his cock.

  Eric hadn’t even realized his hands were cradling the back of her head until she pulled away, licking her lips. “Have you been drinking on the job, barkeep?”

  “A couple of girls bought me a shot.”

  When she spanked his ass, he actually jumped. “Bad boy. I’m the only one who can get you drunk.”

  The urge to grab her rear in retaliation was strong, but he was suddenly aware of the quiet of the room, except for the band on stage. He turned to find the entire bar staring at them, some with wide-open mouths and others with looks of pure delight.

  Deciding to hell with it, he was there to give the town a show, he grabbed her ass, satisfied when she squirmed against him.

  “As soon as I’m
off, baby, you can have me anyway you want me.”

  Gracie’s cheeks turned red, and she laughed. “You really are bad.” She pulled away from him. “I’ll let you get back to work.”

  He pointed at her and growled, “Don’t go too far.”

  “I wouldn’t dream of it.”

  His gaze followed her as she rounded the bar and walked back over to a stunned Caroline.

  Eric nearly fell over when Ellie elbowed him in the side. “Dude! You’re dating Gracie McAllister? Since when?”

  He shrugged, and waved the next patron up. He figured he should wait until they got their stories straight before he said anything specific.

  “What can I get you?”

  * * *

  “No way! No fucking way!” Caroline said loudly, despite Gracie’s insistent shushes. The two of them were sitting at a booth, drinking margaritas and sharing a plate of chili cheese fries, but Caroline was still going on about Gracie and Eric after ten minutes.

  “Why is it so hard to believe? Everyone else in this town had been expecting us to hook up. So why not you?” Gracie had shrugged out of her peacoat and pushed up the sleeves of her low-cut black sweater, afraid of getting cheese and beans on it.

  “Because I actually believed you when you said you disliked, despised, loathed—”

  “Okay, okay, I get it.” Gracie finished her drink and added, “I guess it was just a case of the lady protesting too much.”

  Caroline eyed her, as if she was scanning her for any sign of bullshit. Finally, she shook her head and reached for one of the smothered fries. “Well, if you’re happy, that’s all that matters.”

  Gracie actually laughed. “That was relatively painless. Gemma and Ryan are probably going to grill me on the barbeque when they find out.”

  “You haven’t told them? How long have you been together?”

  “Officially? Since Tuesday.” Not technically a lie.

  “Oh, so not very long. But you two have known each other for a long time, so there’s a ton of history there.”

  Gracie shoved a few fries in her mouth. The last thing she wanted to talk about was their past, which was filled with anger and resentment. She needed to show they’d moved beyond that and were now crazy, passionate—

  Suddenly, Mike slid into the seat next to her, pushing her over with his hip.

  “I hear you came out about your hot new romance,” he said.

  Gracie chewed slowly. “Mmmm-hmm.”

  “Wait, you knew about this?” Caroline asked.

  Mike stole one of their fries. “Sure, I knew. I discovered them post-hookup.”

  “You mean you barged into my house and then proceeded to give me the third degree? Yes, that’s how I remember it too.”

  Mike slung his arm around Gracie and squeezed her to his side. “I was just asking questions for your benefit. Gotta look out for my third-favorite girl.”

  Gracie elbowed him in the ribs. “Whoa, what is this-third favorite horse shit? I am everyone’s favorite.”

  “Eh, I don’t know…”

  Eric appeared out of nowhere next to their table, his gaze flicking over Mike and finally settling on Gracie. Her skin prickled as she picked up on his irritation and wondered what in the hell she’d done.

  “I’m going on break. Thought you might like to join me,” he said.

  Mike removed his arm from her shoulder, and she raised an eyebrow. “Sure, baby. Will you guys excuse us?”

  Mike slid out of the booth, and when Eric didn’t move to give them room, Gracie resisted the urge to push him. Instead, she took his hand and led him down the hall and into the storage room, away from prying ears.

  Once the door closed behind him, she swung around with her hands on her hips.

  “What the hell, man? Why are you acting like you’re threatened by Mike?”

  “I’m not threatened by Mike. But we had a deal. No other guys while we’re in this.”

  Gracie’s mouth flopped open in disbelief. “What? He’s not another guy! He’s Mike. One of my best friends, who has been with me through all the shit life has thrown my way.”

  “He’s also got a key to your place, shows up without calling, and has no problem putting his hands all over you whenever he wants,” Eric growled. “Now, if the positions were reversed, tell me how comfortable you’d be with an attractive woman I was just friends with hanging all over me?”

  Gracie blinked several times as his words sank in. Hadn’t she stepped in when Ellie was flirting with him, practically marking her territory?

  She sighed heavily. “Okay, I can kind of see your point, but I also have never been into the possessive, jealous macho-man crap, so cut it out.”

  Eric stepped into her, boxing her in against the door with his arms on either side of her head. “I don’t buy that for a minute, Gracie Lou. I think the reason why you flirt so much is you like the attention. The only difference between me and the other pussies you’ve dated is that I’m not afraid to tell you that the only hands I want on you are mine.”

  Had someone turned the heat up in there? Because the air was suddenly stifling. “But we’re just fake dating.”

  “Doesn’t matter. To the whole town, you’re mine.” Eric leaned over, the warmth of his breath on her ear making her shiver. “And that means putting up with my possessive, jealous macho crap.”

  No, no, not how this is going to work.

  She brought her hands up and slid them over his chest, watching his nostrils flare and his eyes darken.

  And then, he cried out as she grabbed his nipples through his shirt and twisted.

  “What the fuck?” His hands covered his abused chest, rubbing it and pouting in a way that was almost comical.

  “Let’s get something straight, because even though this—” she waved her hands between them to emphasize, “—is not actually happening, I’m letting you know that the reason the other pussies I dated never tried to tell me what to do is because they knew I wouldn’t tolerate it, and above all, as flirty as I might seem to you, I would never betray someone I was exclusive with.”

  She took the handle in her hand, tossing over her shoulder, “And the next time you want to test me, you should probably wear a cup.”

  Chapter Fourteen

  “Men and women can totally be friends…in theory.” - Miss Know-It-All’s Gossip Column.

  Eric got up early on Monday and drove to Chloe’s Book Nook, figuring Gracie was still helping out in there. It had taken him a day to cool down, and after some careful consideration, he saw her point about trusting her. Despite her boy-crazy reputation, Gracie was loyal to a fault. And even though this wasn’t real, he knew she wouldn’t break her word.

  He still wasn’t happy about the comfortable physicality her friendship with Mike seemed used to, but that was a temporary annoyance. There was no reason getting bent out of shape over something that wasn’t going to affect him two months from now.

  When he walked through the door, Travis was sitting behind the counter, watching his iPad. The big orange cat Gemma let wander around the shop gave him a rumbling meow, and Travis glanced up from the screen and grinned.

  “Hey, man, how have you been?”

  “Pretty good. How’s Gemma?” Eric asked, feeling a little guilty for not swinging by to check on them.

  “She’s good. She doesn’t like sitting still, but I’ve got Charlie keeping an eye on her. Let him have a new video game if he agreed to be her slave this week.”

  “Poor kid. So, Gracie’s back next door?”

  Travis raised an eyebrow. “Yeah. Figured she’d watched the store long enough, and to be honest, I needed a little break from being home. Why are you asking?”

  “I just need to talk to her, is all.” Eric cleared his throat, trying to be cool. “So, when do you go back out on tour?”

  Travis was one of the top-selling country music stars in the world, but he’d slowed things down since he’d married Gemma.

  “Not until the summer.” Tra
vis set his iPad down and stood up, looking him in the eye. “Wait a second. Are you telling me that column this morning wasn’t all bullshit? You’re actually dating Gracie McAllister?”

  Eric had to admit his pride was a little stung by everyone’s disbelief, including his little brother Grant, who just kept saying “bullshit!”

  “Jesus, is it really that crazy?” Eric asked.

  “Mostly, yeah. You two can hardly be in the same room without wanting to kill each other.”

  And after last night, that is obviously still true.

  “Well, things sort of changed, especially after Gemma went to the hospital. We bonded.”

  Travis nodded and suddenly looked very serious. “Okay. Just be careful with her. If you break her heart, Gemma’s going to pissed, and despite your sometimes-surly demeanor, we’ve been friends a long time. I’d hate to kick your ass to appease my wife.”

  “Of the two of us, Gracie is the one who leave hearts cracked and bleeding in her wake,” Eric said.

  “Still, be cool.”

  “Sure,” Eric said. “I’ll see you later.”

  Eric left the shop and headed next door. When he walked inside, he spotted Gracie right away, handing a cup of coffee to a couple of high school boys, giving them that million-watt smile of hers. Her blonde hair was swept back in a bun, with a small brim hat perched on her head. Her apron skirt was ruffled donut fabric on the bottom, and plain black on top with hot pink wording.

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

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

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

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

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

  Eric scowled. “Seriously?”

  “What?”

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

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