by Codi Gary
“Nope, just doing my job! We’ll talk soon.”
Eric slipped the phone back into his pocket and the energy built up from his feet, making his legs and arms shake.
“Yes! Fuck, yeah! Whoo!”
He was still doing a victory dance when his little brother, Grant, pulled open the storeroom door.
“What the hell are you doing in here?”
Eric was too happy to hide it and picked his brother up in a bone-crushing hug. “I’m celebrating, little brother. I got a feeling today is going to be fucking amazing.”
* * *
Later that night, Gracie sat across from Trent Ford, one of her ex-boyfriends, and after twenty minutes, she’d remembered why she’d broken up with Trent.
He was a narcissistic asshat.
Gracie had hired Gemma’s babysitter, Jenny Andrews, Mrs. Andrews’s youngest daughter, to come over and sit with Jocelyn. She’d had Jenny get there before she put her down, so if she did wake up, the little girl wouldn’t be scared.
Gracie still had a hard time thinking of Pip as Jocelyn, but she’d have to get used to it. Maybe she’d call her Josie.
If I have her that long.
And she’d done all that so she could meet Trent at Jensen’s Diner for a coffee and a slice of pie.
It definitely wasn’t worth the ten bucks an hour she was paying Jenny.
“And that’s how I turned a profit on a piece-of-crap Chevy nobody wanted,” Trent said, finishing whatever money-making story he’d been droning on about.
Gracie smiled politely, studying Trent’s short blond hair and sea-foam-green eyes. She didn’t remember his eyes being that color. Was he wearing colored contacts?
Ugh, no. Nope, she was done. Why had she thought recycling her old boyfriends would be a good idea?
Grabbing her purse on the bench next to her, she rummaged for her wallet. “Well, Trent, it’s been fun catching up, but it’s getting late.”
He screwed up his face in confusion and tilted his head like a damn Chihuahua. “Getting late? We’ve hardly sat down. Besides, I thought we’d head over to Buck’s, get a little dirty dancing going on. I remember how good you used to move.”
Double yuck with a scoop of slimeball on top.
“I just think it’s better if we call it a night,” she said, pulling some bills out to set on the table.
Trent reached across the surface and circled her wrist, startling her. “Better for who? Not for me. I turned down going out with my boys ’cause I thought this was a sure thing.”
Gracie’s gaze narrowed. “A sure thing?”
“You want to play innocent, fine, but it ain’t like you don’t flit about this town like a butterfly looking for pollen.”
Did he seriously just say that to me?
Yanking her hand back and breaking his hold, she bared her teeth at him in a savage smile. “It’s the twenty-first century, Trent. Nowadays, women don’t have to stay home churning butter until some kind man marries them and takes their special flower.”
“All I’m saying is, when you call a guy you used to screw and ask if he wants to grab a late-night cup of joe, there are certain assumptions.”
God, she wanted to throw her coffee in his smug, stupid face, but she didn’t need an assault charge. “Well, you know what they say about assumptions. So, why don’t you take yours and shove them right up your ass, because despite what you may have thought a cup of coffee meant, I don’t sleep with every man I go out with.”
He sneered at her. “That’s not what I’ve heard.”
Oh hell no. Screw the coffee/ I’m going to break his nose with my fist.
“Listen, pal, I get that you’re pissed, but you don’t have to get nasty. I was trying to be nice and let you down easy, but if you want me to get honest, I’m leaving because you are still a self-absorbed douche bag and I wouldn’t do you if it would stop the apocalypse.”
His face turned bright red. “Oh, honesty? Well, since we’re being so honest, when we dated I overlooked your horrid taste in movies, your obnoxious tendency to sing like a braying donkey and your smart ass mouth because you were a fantastic lay—”
“I think it’s about time you shove off, asshole,” a growling voice said.
Gracie glanced up and was surprised she hadn’t noticed Eric come in. Right now, he stood next to Trent’s side, his large arms crossed over his red flannel chest.
Damn, she’d never been so glad to see Eric in her life.
Trent’s color drained from his face, and the muscle in his jaw tightened. “Fine.”
Trent got up from the table, and when he didn’t pay for his pie or his coffee, Gracie just laughed. Paying five bucks was better than spending the night in Rock Canyon lock up for kicking the shit out of Trent.
Finally, meeting Eric’s gaze again, she smiled. “I appreciate the backup. You probably saved his pretty face. And I have no idea what he’s talking about…” She took a bite of her pie, and grinned. “I sound like a freaking angel.”
His mouth twitched as though he was suppressing a laugh. “I think you’re exaggerating a bit, Gracie Lou.”
“If you agree with him, then why did you defend me?” she asked.
“Oh, I wasn’t defending your singing voice. I was objecting to his tone. Only I’m allowed to yell at you.”
Gracie crossed her arms over her chest. “Actually, you aren’t.”
He actually chucked her under the chin as if she were a child. “Sure I am, baby. You know you like it when we fight.” He leaned over, his beard tickling her ear. “It’s really good foreplay.”
Chapter Nine
“Keep your friends close and your enemies closer is something I hear a lot…but if you truly can’t stand someone, then why the hell would you want them in your life?” - Miss Know-It-All’s Gossip Column.
Saturday night was the official tree lighting ceremony for Rock Canyon. Everyone gathered in the park at the center of town, where all the trees were strung with lights. It was gorgeous once it was lit, especially with the sprinkling of snow on the branches.
Gracie pushed Pip in the stroller she’d snagged along with the baby monitor. When Gracie had told Jocelyn her name, she asked if she preferred Josie, and she’d shaken her head. After about a minute of head shaking at all the variations Gracie suggested, the little girl finally opened her mouth and whispered, “Pip.”
Gracie had cried, squeezed her tight, and knew she was done for; she already loved the pint-sized little squirt.
“Hey, Gracie!” Mike Stevens, one of her best friends, came up behind her and wrapped an arm around her neck. “Happy Tree Lighting.”
Mike had been her friend since Gemma and she were sophomores in high school. Back then he’d been a goofy guy with long hair. Now, he was hard-bodied, handsome, and a bit of a disaster romantically. It was a pretty common joke among the citizens and Miss-Know-It-All that Mike couldn’t keep a woman.
The two of them had that in common.
“Tree Lighting is not actually a holiday, Mike.”
“Yeah, yeah. How’s the little bit doing?”
Gracie slowed down so he could look down at the toddler, who was busy enjoying blueberries in her little snack cup. Her face and hands were stained purple, and when she caught Mike looking at her, she shrunk away.
“She’s still adjusting.”
Mike backed off. “They still haven’t heard back from her grandma yet?”
Gracie didn’t really want to talk about it. Her heart ached every time she thought about having to give Pip up. “No, they did. She wants her. They’re just doing a home inspection.”
“Well, that’s good, right? At least she has family who wants her.”
I want her.
Gracie stumbled a bit at the thought. Not that she was surprised, because for some reason, she’d felt an intense connection with Pip since the moment she saw her.
It was the wish that she could fight for her.
“By the way, I hear you’re shopping for a boyfriend,” Mike
said.
She made a face at him. “And where did this information crop up from?”
“Gemma. She said you were trying to find someone so your mom won’t be all over you about being strong and single.”
Damn Gemma and her big fat mouth.
“If you must know, I’m only looking for a fake one. You offering?” she asked.
Mike looked appalled, and she hit him in the shoulder.
“Hey, no offense,” Mike said, laughing. “It’s just I think of you more like an annoying little sister than a potential girlfriend.”
“That’s the whole point, doof! I just want my parents to think we’re dating.”
“Yeah, but Gracie, I’m not that good an actor.”
Gracie’s jaw dropped. “I can’t believe this. That you, in my hour of need, can’t even pretend you are head over heels in love with me!”
Mike took her by the shoulder, and before she knew what he was about, planted a kiss on her. It was warm, searching, and…
Really incestuous.
Gracie pulled back, nodding. “Okay, okay, you were right. That was a mistake.”
“Big mistake.”
“Again, you don’t have to say it like you’re all disgusted.”
He actually wiped his hand over his mouth, the jerk. “I kind of am. What did you have for dinner? Hot dogs in spaghetti?”
“You’re a freaking jerk!” she laughed.
Mike put his arm back around her. “Sorry, pal, but it looks like it’s back to the drawing board.”
* * *
Eric followed behind his parents down Main Street on the way to the tree lighting ceremony. He had no idea why he’d said yes to going with them; the whole shindig was for families with young kids. From the lights to the free hot chocolate and donuts, and then of course there was Robert E. Roullett sitting in the little shack they called Santa’s Workshop during the holidays, playing the big guy in the red suit for all the kiddos.
He kept telling himself it had nothing to do with whether or not Gracie would be there and everything to do with the chance to tell his parents about his book deal. He’d been wavering back and forth for days. He’d sent Neal an email back yesterday telling him to go ahead, and his new editor had emailed him almost immediately to introduce herself.
But he hesitated about telling his family. If he explained what his book was about, then he’d have to reveal he was Miss Know-It-All, and he could just imagine how well that would go over with his dad or his little brother.
In fact, once the people of Rock Canyon found out, he was either going to get laughed out of town or he’d have an angry mob at his doorstep. It was a stone-cold fact that everyone had been the topic of “Small Town Scandals” at one time or another.
Shit, he really hadn’t thought this through.
On the plus side, he’d changed the name of the town and the people in it for the story, and it was technically a work of fiction. He’d just based enough of it on the true happenings of Rock Canyon that anyone from here who read it might be able to piece the puzzle together.
He glanced across the street and noticed Gracie and Mike walking almost parallel to them. The two of them were best friends, so it was no surprised to see them together. He was a little surprised to see Gracie pushing a stroller though. He’d thought her keeping Pip was only temporary.
He was about to call out to them when Mike leaned over.
And kissed Gracie in a very un-friend-like way.
Eric stopped in his tracks, completely floored and unable to comprehend what he was seeing. Gracie and Mike. Mike and Gracie.
With his stomach churning, he ground his teeth, fighting the jealousy that was burning up his esophagus.
They pulled apart, and he wished he could hear what they were saying. Gracie hit Mike playfully and appeared to be teasing him.
Before he knew it, Eric had stepped off the curb and was crossing to road, headed over to them.
Only he’d forgotten to wear his snow boots, and when his sneakers hit the patch of ice between the crunchy snow, his feet flew out from under him. As he landed flat on his back with the wind knocked out of him, he heard the honk of a horn.
When he turned to find headlights barreling right for him, he tried to move but couldn’t.
Please, I don’t want to die with the vision of Gracie and Mike sucking face as my last moment on earth.
* * *
The chorus of shouts and the blare of a horn made Gracie jump a foot in the air. She looked over Mike’s shoulder, and her mouth went dry at the sight of Eric sprawled in the middle of the road, his mother and father hovering over him.
“Oh my God!” Gracie cried.
Mike turned around and rushed out to help. Gracie lowered the stroller off the curb and followed behind, reaching them as Buck and Mike managed to pull Eric to his feet.
Connie stood on the curb, barking orders. Her long dark hair was pulled through her cap in a ponytail that trailed over her red wool scarf and white down coat.
“Check to see if he’s concussed! We might need to take him to the hospital.”
“I’m fine, Mom,” Eric snapped.
“You sure, son? You took quite a spill,” Buck said.
Gracie lifted the stroller up onto the sidewalk, and when she pulled up alongside the group, she found herself mentally checking Eric over for visible bloody wounds. He was rubbing the back of his head through his knit cap and giving her a one-eyed squint.
Finally, he looked away from her and focused on his family. “I’m all good. Just didn’t see the ice is all.”
“Lived in Idaho his whole life and doesn’t know to wear snow boots or at least spikes?” Mike slapped Eric on his shoulder. “What’s happened to you?”
Eric shrugged him off with a scowl so dark, Mike took a step back and Gracie frowned. “I was in a hurry.”
“Yeah, sure, pal.” Mike looked as confused as Gracie felt and nodded at her. “I’m supposed to meet Travis and Charlie down there. You coming, Gracie?”
“Yeah, I’ll catch up. I think I’ll walk with the Hendersons, if that’s all right with you?”
Mike shrugged. “Sure. See you all down there.”
As Mike walked away, Connie smiled brightly at Gracie. “I’m so glad you came. I’ve been waiting to meet this little sweetheart.” Connie bent over and held out her hand. “I’m Connie. Can you tell me your name?”
Pip looked at Connie’s hand but said nothing.
“I’m the one who sent you all the fun toys. Do you like them?”
This seemed to win Pip over, and she pulled her thumb out of her mouth, smiling and nodding enthusiastically.
Buck came up alongside his wife but stayed quiet, as though he sensed Pip’s apprehension of men.
“Do you want to come see Nana Connie?”
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.
