by Codi Gary
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 squa
wks 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.”
