Page 15 of Good Girls Don't Kiss and Tell

“Or, you could have asked any of your friends and they would have had you over. Where’s your boyfriend? Why didn’t he join you?”

Gracie just shrugged, and he wanted to press her for more information. Had they broken up?

She’d moved to the sink to wash the dishes, and he came up alongside her. “Don’t tell me you dumped him already?”

She shot him a dark look. “No, I did not dump him. Did it ever occur to you that sometimes I like to be alone?”

“You? No, not at all. You’re a social butterfly. You thrive on attention.”

Gracie snorted. “Well, I’m going to get plenty of attention when my parents come for the holidays, so I felt like I needed one holiday to just chill.”

As soon as she mentioned her parents, her hand on the scrubber sped up. She looked as though she was about to break the dish right in half, she was pressing so hard.

“Hey, hey, okay, no need to take your aggravations out on the dinnerware.”

He took the plate from her and opened the dishwasher, slipping the plate into one of the slots.

“You don’t have to worry about me. I’m fine,” Gracie said.

He took the scrub brush from her hand and bumped her out of the way with his hip. “Yeah, I can tell the thought of your parents visiting you doesn’t affect you at all. Why don’t you pour a glass of wine and relax? I can take care of the dishes.”

“It’s not even your mess!”

“Seriously, it’s Thanksgiving. Be thankful I’m a nice guy.”

She grumbled to herself and went down the hallway to her bedroom. Eric almost asked her if she usually kept her alcohol in her bedroom, but was afraid of waking the kid.

When he’d finished sliding the last dish in the washer, he looked up in time to see Gracie carrying the sleeping toddler to her room.

He followed behind and stood in the doorway, unable to look away as she bent over the portable crib and laid the little girl down. He caught a glimpse of her face as she gently pulled a blanket up over her and he held his breath.

Softness. The bedside lamp showed the small smile and eased features as Gracie cared for someone else’s kid. He could just imagine the love she would rain down on a child of her own.

Gracie stood back up and turned, jumping when she saw him in the doorway.

“Why are youalwayslurking about?”

“Again, wasn’t lurking, just watching. And I was just thinking that when you finally settle on a guy, you’ll make a good mom.”

For some reason, her face tightened, and he had a feeling he was in for an earful as soon as she could raise her voice.

She pushed him down the hallway until he finally grunted, “Ow! What?”

“Who says I need a man? Women have children on their own all the time.”

Why in the hell was she going nuts over a compliment? “Geez, Gracie Lou, I was just saying you’d make a good mom! I didn’t mean any offense.”

“Well, I don’t need anyone else telling me how I can’t have a full, rich life without a husband to take care of me. I have been taking care of myself just fine!”

Eric threw up his hands, his temper good and riled now. “I never said any different, but since you’re determined to take everything I say the wrong way, I better be on my way.”

“I guess you should!” she said in a loud whisper.

“Fine!”

“Good!”

“And I’ll call your mother to thank her.”

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