Page 28 of Good Girls Don't Kiss and Tell (Rock Canyon, Idaho 7)

When Connie held out her arms to Pip, Gracie was a little shocked that the toddler took her up on the offer. Once Connie had her, Pip’s eyes grew wide, and Gracie smiled reassuringly as Pip looked down at her from Connie’s six-foot-one height.

“Buck, give Gracie a break and push the stroller, will you? Gracie, you don’t mind keeping an eye on Eric?”

Gracie glanced at Eric, who was still looking a little dazed. “No, I don’t mind, but if he goes down, I’m not even going to try to catch him.”

“Understood. Just holler timber!” Connie grinned at him over her shoulder.

“Thanks, Mom,” he grumbled.

As Eric’s parents pulled a little ahead of them, Gracie watched Pip for any signs of distress, but she seemed fascinated by the older woman.

Eric cleared his throat. “So, I heard you and your boyfriend broke up.”

Gracie rolled her eyes. “You mean you saw it in ‘Small Town Suckage’?”

Was it her imagination or did Eric just tense up?

“No, I stopped by Travis and Gemma’s and she mentioned it. Plus, I figured you wouldn’t be out with that dickhole Trent Ford unless you were single.”

Gra

cie blushed, remembering Eric’s words and the effect they’d had on her libido. She’d raced out of Jensen’s as fast as she could, and, unfortunately, had to sneak off for a late-night “stress relief” shower. When you go almost six months without sex, you tend to be pretty easy to rile up.

“And you know, I saw you kissing Mike a few minutes ago.”

Oh, balls.

“It isn’t what you think,” she said.

“It’s not?”

“No. I was just asking him to pretend to be my boyfriend.”

Eric’s head whipped her way. “You what?”

“I said, I asked Mike to be my fake boyfriend because I really don’t want to deal with two weeks of my mother lamenting about my single status. I figured I’d just get someone to pretend for me, and when they’re gone, we’d break up.”

After several seconds ticked by, Eric drawled, “So, you asked Mike to be your fake boyfriend, he kissed you, and then…”

Gracie sighed heavily. “Basically, we both agreed that there was no way we could pull it off.”

“All you need is a fake boyfriend huh?” Eric took her arm in a surprisingly firm grip, slowing her down.

“Yeah…why?”

Eric looked toward his parents and then shot her what could only be described as an evil grin.

“Because I think there’s a way we can help each other out.”

Chapter Ten

“Secrets are hard to keep…unless you’re me!” - Miss Know-It-All’s Gossip Column.

Eric paced the length of his living room the next morning, waiting for Gracie to arrive. He’d told her they couldn’t talk with so many people around, but the truth was, he didn’t want her to lose her temper and blab his secret to the whole town. And there was a good chance that once he came clean about what he needed from her, she might physically hurt him.

And he wasn’t sure he could really blame her. He hadn’t always been kind in his column when it came to her. Mostly because she frustrated the hell out of him, but I doubt she’d want ot hear his excuses.

It was just after noon. She’d said she’d come straight over from church, and he’d been okay putting off their conversation a few more hours so he could prepare.