Page 81 of Good Girls Don't Kiss and Tell (Rock Canyon, Idaho 7)

Gracie glared at her through bleary eyes and tried to form coherent sentences past the fog in her brain. “I appreciate your concern, Mrs. Andrews. And I’m not touching food or drink, just money.”

“Which is almost worse,” the older woman snapped.

Gracie put the money in the tip jar. “Come again.”

Mrs. Andrews got out of line, and Gracie greeted Caroline, Valerie, and Ellis Willis.

“Gracie, you look terrible,” Val said.

“Thanks, I feel terrible.”

“Girl, you need to go home,” Caroline added.

“I will, as soon as Jennifer gets here. Until then, I’m here, and I’m taking your order.”

The women exchanged glances, and yes, she knew she was being a cranky bitch, but she just wanted to go home and sleep, but everyone she’d called had either let it go to voice mail or made up an excuse for why they couldn’t come in.

Once she finished with the Willis sisters, she leaned over and put her head on the counter. The cool ceramic counter felt good against her burning forehead, and she sighed in relief.

The bell dinged over the door, signaling another customer had come inside, and she groaned without lifting her head. “Can I help you?”

“What’s the matter with you?”

Gracie gritted her teeth. No, she did not want to see Eric right now, not in her current oozing state.

“Go away.”

“Wow, fantastic customer service.”

“Don’t want your money or your nosy ass in here asking questions.”

“Sweetheart, is that any way to speak to your boyfriend?”

Gracie jerked her head up from the counter, catching herself when the room spun. “Stop that!”

Before she could react, Eric came around the counter, stalking her with a determined gleam in his eye.

“What in the hell are you—hey!”

Eric lifted her up into his arms and strode out the door before she could blink. Either that or her fever was starting to make her delusional, and everything around her was moving faster.

“Will you put me down? I have a business to run.”

“Not today. Today, you’re going home and you’re going to sleep, watch a little TV…anything but going around town spreading your disease.”

She grabbed him by one of his ears and yanked. “You are not the boss of me!”

Eric sat her on the hood of his car while he unlocked the door, and she realized she couldn’t stop shivering. God, why was she so cold?

Eric’s hands were suddenly on her forehead, and he cursed. “You’re burning up, you little idiot. You’ve probably got the flu, and now you’ve infected half the town!”

“I go…got my flu shot,” she said through chattering teeth.

“Well, whatever you have, you need to be home.”

The strength suddenly drained out of Gracie, and she let Eric put her in the car. Before he’d even started the engine, she was dozing.

“I don’t feel good,” she mumbled.