Page 53 of Good Girls Don't Kiss and Tell (Rock Canyon, Idaho 7)
“Pip?” her parents said together.
“It’s what Gracie called her. The girl didn’t really talk.”
Both of Gracie’s parents were silent for several seconds until Franny finally put the items back. When she joined them at the table, she turned to her husband. “Well, at least we know she wants to have children. If she can take in an orphan, she can certainly give us grandchildren.”
For some reason, Franny’s casual dismissal of what Pip had been to Gracie rubbed him raw. “All due respect, ma’am, but the bond those two shared was unique. I’m not saying Gracie won’t be an amazing mother, but I don’t think Gracie wanting a child is why those two connected the way they did. And if it’s all the same, I’d appreciate it if you wouldn’t mention Pip to her unless she brings it up first. Like I said, she’s been having a tough time not being able to see her, and I don’t want her hurt.”
“Well, damn,” Ken said.
Eric had no idea what he meant until Gracie’s mother flushed a violent shade of red and lit into him.
“Who the hell do you think you are telling me how to talk to my daughter? You’ve been dating all of a couple of weeks, and you think you know her better than us?”
Anger flashed through Eric’s body, and he tried to tamp it down, but damn, it was hard. Even if this was Gracie’s mom, Eric didn’t take shit from anyone.
Which is probably the main reason why parents didn’t like him.
“You didn’t even know how she was spending her Thanksgiving or what she’s been going through the last few weeks. You all moved to Florida and left her here. You see her maybe twice a year? I see her damn near every day, and she has grown and changed a lot. She is amazing. Strong and independent, with a stubborn streak a mile long. Her heart is huge, though, and the way she cares, the way she puts her feelings into all her friends and the two of you is a beautiful sight. You should be proud of her for following her dream. She’s successful, and it makes her happy. You should see the cute aprons she wears to work. They make everyone laugh, and the people in town love her. That place is always hopping. It seems like if you cared more for your daughter and less about what you think she should be doing, you would see that she’s a beautiful, successful businesswoman making it in this economy. That’s amazing in itself.”
“How dare you! We know that about her!” Franny snapped. “Just because she chooses to keep things from us doesn’t give you the right to dictate—”
“Am I interrupting something?” Gracie asked from the doorway.
They all turned toward where she stood, starring at them with flushed cheeks and wide eyes. She must have come in sometime between Franny’s initial attack and his monologue. As it was, Eric’s heart was slamming in aggravation, and before he knew what he was doing, he was on his feet and stalking over to her. He wrapped his arms around her waist and kissed her, claiming her in front of her dad and her disapproving mother, and it might have been a dick move, but he didn’t care.
Not when she tasted of sugar and sweet cream and the warmth of her body was calling to him, calming him in a way only a fifth of whisky ever had.
She had a hold of his biceps when he pulled away and was looking a little dazed, which shot a bolt of white-hot desire right to his groin. Making Gracie dreamy was just about the best feeling in the world.
He realized he was breathing hard when his voice came out raspy. “Nope, you’re just in time to catch your parents up on what you’ve been up to.”
Gracie finally seemed to come out of her stupor and cleared her throat. “Like?”
“Your mother found some of Pip’s things in the bathroom.”
Gracie’s lips thinned. “Great.”
“Yep.”
“So, considering my mother was just yelling at you, Operation Win Parents Over isn’t going so well, huh?”
“I wouldn’t say that. Your dad said he’d like me as long as I make you happy.”
Gracie quirked a perfectly arched brow at him. “And you think you’re succeeding there?”
“What are you two whispering about?” her mother called.
Eric leaned over until his lips brushed her ear. “If we survive this dinner, I have something planned that’s going to make you incredibly happy.”
* * *
Gracie would have laughed out loud at the absurdity of how her plan had backfired if it wasn’t quite so frustrating. She’d thought having a boyfriend would make her mother happy, but it turned out only the right boyfriend would do.
As she gathered up the containers of food after dinner, a dinner during which Eric and her dad had carried the conversation, she debated just coming out and admitting that she and Eric were faking it.
After the kiss he laid on me when I walked in? They’d never believe it, and if they did, they’d be pissed I lied.
She tossed the food into a trash bag, and when she spotted her mother coming her way, decided that a glass of wine was very much needed.