Page 55 of Good Girls Don't Kiss and Tell

Have I lost my mind? I was the one that told him no hanky-panky, and now I want to change the rules again?

She shook her head as she pulled in next to Eric in his garage. As much as she was enjoying messing with people and pretending she and Eric were actually a couple, they weren’t. And once they got back from his book party in New York, their deal would be over and everything would go back to the way it was. There was no point in complicating their already messy truce with sex.

Right?

* * *

Eric led Gracie into his house and flipped on the light. The last time she’d come by, he hadn’t given her the grand tour, but now he figured it was only fair if she was going to crash there.

“You’ve already seen the kitchen, dining room, and living room. Down this way—” he flipped on the light in the room to his right, “—is the spare bedroom. You can stay here.”

If this had been two months ago, he would have made a crack about her sleeping with him instead, but it just didn’t feel right. Not with the way things were between them now. He’d always admired Gracie for her spirit and her body, but tonight he’d been protective. And besides the pretty hot kiss he’d laid on her, he’d been respectful. It was a unique experience, one he didn’t want to cheapen with a teenaged come-on.

The room was simple—white walls with a couple of black-and-white classic car photos he’d bought at a few thrift stores, and a black-and-white checkered comforter he’d picked up in Twin Falls. There was a white dresser against the wall and two matching nightstands on either side of the queen bed.

“This is really nice,” Gracie said.

“Yeah, well, I don’t get company sleeping over much. Mostly Grant, but he sleeps in the other one, and I have to bleach the sheets after.”

Gracie laughed, and the sound traveled straight to his groin. It was part of the reason he’d put her down a way instead of right next to him. He didn’t think he could sleep at all, knowing how close she was and not touching her.

“The bathroom is that door there.” Eric pointed to a door on the left. “It’s Jack-and-Jill style, so you go straight through and you’ll be in the other room.”

“That’s a nice setup for kids,” Gracie mused. He jerked toward her and caught the blush that had overcome her cheeks. “Not that I’m thinking about you having kids, I was just saying…”

“Yeah, okay.” He cleared his throat and walked out of the room, heading toward his room. “Down here is the master bed and bath. On the other end of the house is the washer and dryer, so we can throw your clothes in there.”

“Awesome.”

He opened the door to his room. Should he be embarrassed by the mess? The bed was unmade, and there were a couple of empty beer bottles on the nightstand. A pair of boxers that had missed the hamper were on the floor, and for some reason, he found himself rushing forward to grab them.

“Sorry, I wasn’t expecting company.”

“Oh, wow. Check out your bathroom,” she said, seeming unaffected by his dirty drawers.

She stood in front of his tile shower, her mouth gaping. Eric smiled and leaned against the wall next to it, and popped the door open with one hand. “You like?”

He’d done the whole thing mostly on his own. It was big enough for four people, with two showerheads and glossy blue tiles across the floor and walls.

“It’s gorgeous. You did this?”

He nodded.

“You write books. Make a mean drink. Fix houses. Anything you don’t do?”

“Relationships.”

Well, why in the fuck had he said that?

She closed the door without responding and went around the corner.

“Holy effing shit balls! Screw the guest bathroom, this baby is mine!”

Eric grinned, glad that his stupidity hadn’t ruined her mood. He leaned around in time to watch her climbing into his giant Jacuzzi bathtub. He’d had it custom-made to accommodate him and…guests.

“If you’re done plotting to steal my bathtub, how about we head out?”

She leaned her head back, closing her eyes. “Why would I ever want to leave this spot?”

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