Page 26 of Good Girls Don't Kiss and Tell (Rock Canyon, Idaho 7)

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.