Page 41 of Good Girls Don't Kiss and Tell (Rock Canyon, Idaho 7)

“Okay, okay, I get it.” Gracie finished her drink and added, “I guess it was just a case of the lady protesting too much.”

Caroline eyed her, as if she was scanning her for any sign of bullshit. Finally, she shook her head and reached for one of the smothered fries. “Well, if you’re happy, that’s all that matters.”

Gracie actually laughed. “That was relatively painless. Gemma and Ryan are probably going to grill me on the barbeque when they find out.”

“You haven’t told them? How long have you been together?”

“Officially? Since Tuesday.” Not technically a lie.

“Oh, so not very long. But you two have known each other for a long time, so there’s a ton of history there.”

Gracie shoved a few fries in her mouth. The last thing she wanted to talk about was their past, which was filled with anger and resentment. She needed to show they’d moved beyond that and were now crazy, passionate—

Suddenly, Mike slid into the seat next to her, pushing her over with his hip.

“I hear you came out about your hot new romance,” he said.

Gracie chewed slowly. “Mmmm-hmm.”

“Wait, you knew about this?” Caroline asked.

Mike stole one of their fries. “Sure, I knew. I discovered them post-hookup.”

“You mean you barged into my house and then proceeded to give me the third degree? Yes, that’s how I remember it too.”

Mike slung his arm around Gracie and squeezed her to his side. “I was just asking questions for your benefit. Gotta look out for my third-favorite girl.”

Gracie elbowed him in the ribs. “Whoa, what is this-third favorite horse shit? I am everyone’s favorite.”

“Eh, I don’t know…”

Eric appeared out of nowhere next to their table, his gaze flicking over Mike and finally settling on Gracie. Her skin prickled as she picked up on his irritation and wondered what in the hell she’d done.

“I’m going on break. Thought you might like to join me,” he said.

Mike removed his arm from her shoulder, and she raised an eyebrow. “Sure, baby. Will you guys excuse us?”

Mike slid out of the booth, and when Eric didn’t move to give them room, Gracie resisted the urge to push him. Instead, she took his hand and led him down the hall and into the storage room, away from prying ears.

Once the door closed behind him, she swung around with her hands on her hips.

“What the hell, man? Why are you acting like you’re threatened by Mike?”

“I’m not threatened by Mike. But we had a deal. No other guys while we’re in this.”

Gracie’s mouth flopped open in disbelief. “What? He’s not another guy! He’s Mike. One of my best friends, who has been with me through all the shit life has thrown my way.”

“He’s also got a key to your place, shows up without calling, and has no problem putting his hands all over you whenever he wants,” Eric growled. “Now, if the positions were reversed, tell me how comfortable you’d be with an attractive woman I was just friends with hanging all over me?”

Gracie blinked several times as his words sank in. Hadn’t she stepped in when Ellie was flirting with him, practically marking her territory?

She sighed heavily. “Okay, I can kind of see your point, but I also have never been into the possessive, jealous macho-man crap, so cut it out.”

Eric stepped into her, boxing her in against the door with his arms on either side of her head. “I don’t buy that for a minute, Gracie Lou. I think the reason why you flirt so much is you like the attention. The only difference between me and the other pussies you’ve dated is that I’m not afraid to tell you that the only hands I want on you are mine.”

Had someone turned the heat up in there? Because the air was suddenly stifling. “But we’re just fake dating.”

“Doesn’t matter. To the whole town, you’re mine.” Eric leaned over, the warmth of his breath on her ear making her shiver. “And that means putting up with my possessive, jealous macho crap.”