Sweet Harmony (Harmony Falls #1) - Elizabeth Kelly Page 0,2
a good guy,” Grace said.
“Yes, he is,” Kira replied. “You think I don’t know that? I’ve spent plenty of time with him and Gideon. But he’s not my type and besides, Gideon would freak out if I was dating his best friend. You know how he is.”
“He’s not your guardian. He can’t make decisions for you.”
“No, but he is the damn sheriff. Preacher might be his best friend but that doesn’t mean Gideon won’t arrest him if he thinks he’s being inappropriate with me.”
Grace rolled her eyes. “Okay, fine. Preacher’s off the table.”
“Give me back my phone,” Kira said as Grace stared thoughtfully into space. “There isn’t anyone else who’ll fake date me. I appreciate your help, Gracie, really I do, but -”
“I’ve got it!” Grace suddenly declared. “I have the perfect man for you.”
Kira gave her a suspicious look. “Who?”
“Connor.”
“Your boss? Dr. MacMillan?”
“Yes.”
“No.”
“Why not?”
“He’s a dentist.”
“So?”
“What do you mean, so?” Kira said. “Dating a dentist isn’t,” she fumbled for the word, “cool.”
“Oh, for God’s sake. You’re twenty-five years old and a real estate agent, Kira, not a damn rock star. This isn’t high school anymore and no one cares if you’re ‘cool’. Dating a dentist is perfectly acceptable.”
“He’s from Willington.”
“He hasn’t lived there in a while.”
“He’s still an out-of-towner,” Kira said. “What would people say if they knew I was sleeping with an out-of-towner?”
“You’re not actually going to sleep with him,” Grace said.
“Yeah, but people don’t know that. My dad would roll over in his grave if he knew I was dating an out-of-towner. Especially a Willington whiner.”
“He’s a really good guy. Just because he’s from Willington doesn’t make him a whiner,” Grace said. “This town’s stupid rivalry with Willington has always driven me batty.”
“Why would he fake date me?”
Grace leaned forward and lowered her voice. “Okay, so you can’t say a word because Connor told me this in confidence one night when he’d had a little too much to drink, but -”
“A little too much to drink? How close are you to your boss?”
“We’re friends,” Grace said a bit impatiently. “We’ve gone for drinks a few times. He’d never admit this, but I think he’s a bit lonely. I keep wanting to invite him out with the gang but I’m not sure how it would go over. The good town folk of Harmony Falls aren’t always friendly to outsiders.”
“You’re telling me,” Kira said. “Honestly, I’m surprised his office is still open.”
“Well, it helps that his business partner is a Harmony Falls lifer. But, he’s also a very good dentist,” Grace said. “You know that – he’s your dentist for God’s sake. So, what do you say? Do you want to fake date him? He’s handsome.”
“Is he?” Kira said. “He’s always wearing a hospital mask when I see him. I couldn’t pick him out of a line up. Besides, you still haven’t told me why he would fake date me.”
“Right. So, he confessed one night that he’s going to Willington next month for his cousin’s wedding and he’s dreading it because his ex-fiancée will be there. His family is still upset that they called off their engagement and will spend the entire time trying to get them back together.”
“Okay,” Kira said. “So how does this help me?”
“Think about it,” Grace said. “If you guys are fake dating, then you can go with him to his cousin’s wedding. His family isn’t going to push his ex on him with his new girlfriend sitting right there.”
“I guess it could work,” Kira said slowly.
“Great! I’ll talk to Connor tomorrow and see if he’s in,” Grace said.
She reached across the table and squeezed Kira’s hand again. “You’ll be banging Daniel before you know it, honey.”
“That’s romantic,” Kira said.
Grace grinned at her. “That’s me. Romantic as fuck.”
* * *
“Grace? What are you still doing here? The office closed half an hour ago.” Connor stared in surprise at the curvy dental hygienist standing in the staff room.
“Just finishing up,” she said. “Busy day, huh?”
“Yes.” He shrugged out of his lab coat as Grace dropped onto the couch. They’d hired Grace last year right out of hygienist school and it was one of their better decisions. She was amazing with clients, reliable, and smart. She was also very pretty with her full curves, long curly dark hair and green eyes, but he didn’t feel a lick of sexual interest. He tried to tell himself it was because he knew it was a bad idea to even think of dating an employee, but that was a bald-faced