Page 29 of Good Girls Don't Kiss and Tell (Rock Canyon, Idaho 7)

Eric looked out the window when he heard the unmistakable sound of tires on gravel. Gracie parked her CRV in his drive, and he opened the front door. She was already out of the car, and behind the back driver’s side door.

“Can I help you carry something?” he asked.

She pulled her head out of the backseat to address him. Her hair was twisted away from her forehead and fell in big curls over her jacket collar. When she lifted little Pip out, Eric noticed that Gracie had done her hair in braids twisted against the child’s head.

“There’s a diaper bag and a box of toys on the front seat, if you want to grab it.”

Eric walked past them to get to her car, and the toddler watched him suspiciously with those big blue eyes, her little mouth sucking away on her thumb.

“Hey, squirt, did you have fun at church?” he asked.

Pip laid her head down on Gracie’s shoulder, ignoring him and his attempt to be friendly. Gracie carried her up the steps and disappeared into his place.

Eric didn’t let the kid’s rejection phase him. He hadn’t had a lot of experience with kids and he gathered this one had been through the ringer. He grabbed the stuff off the seat and carried it into the house after them.

Gracie was standing in Eric’s living room, gazing around in surprise. He set her bag and box on the kitchen table, unable to squash the pride in his home.

“Wow. I can’t believe I’ve never been to your place before. This is nice.”

“Thanks. Took me twelve years to get it the way I wanted, but I’m happy with it.”

“You did all this?” He nodded. “Wow, I might need you to come over and help me with a few things at my new place.”

“New place? Where did you move?” he asked.

“Well, I’m in the process of buying a house on Cherry Tree Lane. The house belongs to Kirsten Winter’s grandparents who moved to Arizona and are willing to carry the loan. It’s a nice place. I just hope I can have it ready before my parents get here on the twelfth.”

“Two weeks?” Eric snorted with laughter. “Good luck with that.”

“If I can’t, it’ll be fine. I’m paid up through the first. If worse comes to worst, my parents can stay in my current place and I’ll set up a blow-up mattress and Pip’s Pack ‘n Play at the new one.”

Eric stroked his chin thoughtfully. “You know, if we’re going to play girlfriend and boyfriend, it wouldn’t be too big of a stretch for you to stay here.”

Gracie’s jaw about hit the floor. “Do what now?”

“What? It seems a bit unchivalrous of me to let my girlfriend and her charge sleep in an empty house that isn’t ready yet when I have several comfortable bedrooms here.”

Gracie put Pip down and handed her some of the toys from the box, including some Fisher Price Little People and a school bus to put them in. “I haven’t decided whether or not we’re going to be a fake couple, and most guys don’t let their girlfriends move in when they’ve only been dating a little while.”

“But we’ve known each other for years, so it’s not really the same thing.”

Gracie crossed her arms over her chest, eyeing him suspiciously. “Fair enough, but I still don’t know why you’re doing this. What exactly do you get out of it?”

This was it. Now he was wondering if he should have worn a cup. “Before I tell you, there are a few conditions.”

She arched one brow at him. “Like?”

“First of all, what I’m about to tell you doesn’t leave this room.”

“If you’re about to tell me you’re Batman, I’m going to smack you.”

Eric grinned. “I’m not Batman, but I do have a secret identity.”

“What the hell does that even mean?” she said.

“Uh-uh, I’m not telling you jack until you swear.”

“Are you really a mutant cooked up in a government lab? Because that would make a lot of sense.” When he gave her a dark look, she threw up her hands. “Okay, okay, I swear.”