by Codi Gary
“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?”
