Page 5 of Good Girls Don't Kiss and Tell

Gracie watched her best friend take one of the quilts, intricate shapes of purple, blue, and green, and run her hand lovingly over the pattern. When Gemma met Mrs. Andrews’s gaze, something passed between them Gracie didn’t understand.

“These are amazing, Mrs. Andrews. Thank you so much.”

Fat tears rolled down Gemma’s cheeks, and Mrs. Andrews wiped at her own eyes beneath her glasses frames. “You just make sure you use them to keep those babies warm.”

“I will. I promise.”

And then, to the utter shock of Gracie and everyone in the room, Gemma got up slowly and waddled over to give Mrs. Andrews a hug.

Now I’ve seen everything.

Mrs. Andrews stood up and returned the hug. The whole room seemed to be holding their breath, shocked silent to see theDragon of Rock Canyonbehaving like a human being.

The, Mrs. Andrews pulled away with a huff. “Now, none of that. You need to stay off your feet, and you still have a mountain of presents to get through.”

Gemma laughed. “I’m not sure I have feet anymore, just cankles.”

The women in the room tittered, even Gracie. When the last present was finally opened, Gracie got up to grab a bottle of water from the ice chest in the kitchen and set the pad and pen down on the counter. When she turned, Eric was standing right in front of her, so close she could smell his woodsy cologne.

“You know, it is really creepy to lurk behind people.”

“Just coming in to grab a drink.” He leaned over to snatch a beer and popped the top without looking away from her. “So, where’s the boyfriend?”

How did he know Darrin was supposed to come? Oh, Mike and his big mouth.

“Darrin had something come up, so we’re going to meet up later.”

Eric’s grin widened. “Got cold feet about meeting your friends, huh?”

Gracie was pretty sure that was exactly what had happened, but there was no way she’d admit it to Eric. “No, he’s very busy with lawyerly stuff.”

“Right.” Eric reached up and wrapped a blonde strand of her hair around his finger, making her heart skip several beats. “I gotta say, Gracie Lou, I do like your hair long.”

“I didn’t grow it for you.” Damn it, why did her voice have to sound so breathless?

“I know. I still like it, though.” He tugged on the length playfully. “You could say thank you when someone pays you a compliment.”

Regaining some of her sense, she said, “You didn’t. You told me you liked it, which isn’t really a compliment, it’s a fact. A compliment would be if you told me my hair was pretty.”

She didn’t get to hear his response before Gemma and Travis’s twelve-year-old son, Charlie, popped up at her side and wrapped his arms around her waist.

“Aunt Gracie, can I have a piece of cake now?”

Big blue eyes with dark lashes stared into hers pitifully, and she knew exactly what he was doing. The kid had learned how to work her at an early age. Besides, she loved kids, especially this one.

She ruffled his brown curls, noticing that she had to reach up instead of down to do so. Pretty soon, he was going to be taller than her.

“No, but I can sneak you the first piece when we cut it.”

“Fine,” Charlie grumbled, and started to walk away.

Eric snatched him by the back of the collar so fast, Gracie gasped. He wrapped his arm around Charlie’s neck and gave him a noogie. “What the heck, man? No hi for me?”

Charlie struggled, laughing. “Sorry, Eric, I didn’t recognize you with the rat on your face.”

Gracie covered her mouth, trying to stifle her giggles.

“Why you little shit, I’ll teach you some manners! Travis! I’m going to beat your son!”

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