Page 102 of Good Girls Don't Kiss and Tell (Rock Canyon, Idaho 7)

“I’m an idiot. A dipshit. A moron…” She took another breath. “Dumbass, stupid, crazy…”

He didn’t want to hear her call herself names, he wanted her to tell him that he hadn’t been crazy to write that column. “Gracie, get to the point!”

“I needed to tell you that you are the only man who has ever known me and liked me anyway, and that I think you’re the most amazing…”

“For God’s sake, are you just going to keep rambling at me?”

Her eyes narrowed. “…pain-in-the-ass guy I’ve ever known.”

His mouth twitched a little. “I don’t think that’s what you were going to say.”

“If you’d stop interrupting, I’d probably be able to get it out.”

He waved his hand in front of him and said, “Go ahead.”

“I want you like I’ve never wanted anyone, and I can’t breathe without you, I can’t sleep without you. I want to spend all my minutes, days, hours…”

He took her shoulders in his hands, and this time, he did gently shake her. “Okay, I know I said I wouldn’t interrupt, but I’m a guy. I don’t need romantic speeches or dramatic gestures. I want it straight forward and to the point.”

She swallowed hard. “You want straight forward? All right, I’m sorry, and I want to start over. For real this time. You and me. Because I love…”

His mouth covered hers before she could finish, and he held her tightly to him, kissing her desperately, putting every lonely night, every smile he missed, every misery he’d felt over the last week without her into the kiss. He felt her melt against him and slip her arms around his waist, meeting his lips and tongue. The sound of cheers broke through the blood pounding in his ears, and he pulled back. The bar patrons, his family, and the band were whooping and shouting.

He shot them a glare. “Can’t a man get a little privacy around here?”

“Not in this town, Miss Know-It-All!” someone shouted.

Laughter erupted, and Eric smiled good-naturedly. “Wanna take this somewhere private?”

She squeezed his waist. “Sure.”

He led her back to the storeroom and shut the door behind him.

“You didn’t let me finish,” she said.

“So finish. Who’s stopping you now?” he teased her, and when she opened her mouth, he cut her off again. She laughed against his lips, and he took advantage of the opening. Gracie tasted like chocolate and strawberries, and she was his. All his.

He felt a sharp pain in his side and yelped, pulling his head back. “Ow! What did you pinch me for?”

“Because I love you!” She sounded exasperated, even though she was smiling.

He reached up and cradled her cheek in his palm. “I love you too, Gracie Lou.” He kissed her again, hungrily. “God, I wish I could take you home and make up.”

“I can’t. I need to get home before Pip wakes up and finds me gone.”

He frowned down at her. “So, she’s yours, then?”

“I’m her guardian for now, and soon I’ll petition to adopt her. Why, does that upset you?”

“No, I just wish we hadn’t been fighting so you would have told me sooner.”

Gracie sighed and snuggled into his chest. “Are you sure this is what you want? You don’t have to say it if—”

He kissed the top of her head and slid his arms around her back. “I want this. All of it.”

They kissed again, and Eric whispered, “When do you need to be back?”

“Soon. Why?”