Susan Mallery - Falling for Gracie

Riley stopped on the front porch. Light from the big fixture by the front door illuminated his perfect features-dark eyes, high cheekbones and the kind of mouth that made normally reasonable women want to run out and do something really, really sinful. He still wore an earring, but a diamond stud had replaced the gold hoop she remembered so well.

“We didn’t have a meeting,” he said flatly. “I haven’t seen Zeke in three days.”

The churning got worse. Gracie pulled free of Riley’s grip and rubbed her stomach. “That can’t be good.”

“My thoughts exactly. So come inside. I want you to start from the beginning and tell me everything you know about Zeke and his affair.”

“For one thing, I don’t know if he’s even having one. Alexis could be overreacting.”

“Does she usually?” he asked as he held open the front door and motioned for her to step inside.

“I don’t think so. Maybe. I live in L.A. I don’t actually spend all that much time with her.”

She walked into the house and came to a complete stop in the foyer. The place was huge. Old, but beautiful with high ceilings, carved moldings and enough furniture, knickknacks and artwork to monopolize an entire month of Antiques Roadshow .

“Wow. This is pretty cool,” she said as she turned in a slow circle. “I think my entire house would fit in the foyer.”

“Yeah, it’s big. The library’s in here.”

Once again he grabbed her arm and dragged her along. She caught a glimpse of a formal dining room and a parlor or living room before he pulled her into the library. He released her and walked to a liquor tray set up by the window. After setting the gun on the desk, he poured what looked like Scotch into two glasses. She set down her Polaroid.

“Let me say for the record-ouch,” she said as she rubbed her arm again. “I don’t remember you manhandling women before.”

He glared at her, then handed her a drink. “I don’t trust you.”

“It was fourteen years ago, Riley. You really need to let go of the past.”

“I was happy to until you showed up again. You tortured me for two years. They wrote about it in the newspaper. The ‘Gracie Chronicles.’”

Embarrassment made her want to squirm. “Yes, well, that part wasn’t my fault. Can we talk about something more relevant? Like Zeke.”

“Why does Alexis think he’s having an affair?”

Gracie shrugged. “He’s coming home late and not saying where he’s been.”

“How long has this been going on?”

“About six weeks. At first she figured he really was working on the campaign, but the nights got later and later and when he wouldn’t talk about what was going on…” She stopped and glanced at him. “Why are you running for mayor? You don’t strike me as the political type.”

Riley ignored the question and pointed to her drink. “Do you want something different?”

Gracie sniffed the glass, then put it on the desk. “No, it’s great. It’s just stress makes my stomach unhappy.” She pulled a roll of what looked like antacids from her pocket and popped a couple in her mouth. “Terrific room.”

Riley followed her gaze as she glanced at the twelve-foot-high bookcases filled to overflowing. He didn’t bother telling her that the library was one of the few places he felt comfortable in the oversized house.

“Tell me about Zeke,” he said.

“You tell me.” She walked to the leather sofa across from the ornate fireplace and flopped down. “He’s your campaign manager. Is he having an affair?”

“Hell if I know.” Riley paced to the desk and leaned against it. “He talks about Alexis all the time. I would say he adores her.”

“But your meetings don’t run until three in the morning.”

He smiled. “I’m running for mayor, not president.”

“Yeah, that’s what I thought, too. Well, I guess I have to tell Alexis that he wasn’t here. She’s not going to like that.”

Riley didn’t much like it, either. The election was only five weeks away and he couldn’t afford a scandal. Not when he was finally making progress with the good citizens of Los Lobos.

He set down his drink and tugged at the picture still hanging from the camera. After peeling off the protective layer, he stared at the Polaroid photo.

It showed the ceiling of the library and a few shelves, but nothing else.

“You’re not very good at this,” he told Gracie.

She rolled her eyes. “I’m not trying to be. Despite what you think of me, I didn’t grow up to be a spy or a professional stalker. I bake wedding cakes for a living.”

She was annoyed and indignant, but also embarrassed. Color stained her cheeks and her bottom lip trembled slightly. She’d grown up, filled out, but the basics were still the same. Big blue eyes, long gold-blond hair and an air of determination that had scared the bejesus out of him back then.

“I’m sorry,” she said. “For this and for all that. You know. Before.”

“Are we talking about the itching powder in my boxer shorts?”

“Yeah. I guess. I just…” She leaned forward and traced a pattern on the coffee table in front of the sofa. “Looking back, I can’t believe what I did to you. It was horrible.”

“Folks around here are still talking about it.”

She sat up and looked at him. “Tell me about it. Everyone else gets to leave their past behind, but not me. Noooo. I become a legend. I have to say, it seriously sucks.”

He thought about the laxative she’d managed to sneak into his soup the afternoon before the homecoming dance. “You were creative.”

“I was a menace. I just wanted…” Color flared again. “Well, we both know what I wanted.”

“Date much now?”

She tossed her head. “Some. I’m careful not to bring them here.”

“You don’t want them hearing about the time you lured a skunk into my car, then locked it inside for a couple of hours?”

She winced. “I paid for the cleaning.”

“My car was never the same. I had to sell it. At auction.” He raised his glass to her. “You were hell-bent on breaking up me and Pam.” Based on what had happened, maybe he should have listened.

Gracie’s knowing expression had him thinking she would agree with his assessment. But instead of commenting on that she said, “So what happens next?”

“I find out what Zeke’s up to. I don’t need any trouble right now. Can you get your sister to back off until I have some concrete information?”

When Gracie hesitated, he stared at her. “You owe me,” he reminded her.

She shivered. “I know. Okay-I’ll do what I can with Alexis. But I can’t promise more than a couple of days. She’s a woman on a mission.”

“And we all know what happens when you Landon women set your mind to something.”

“Exactly.” She stood and looked at him. “I’m really sorry, Riley. I know the apology is about fourteen years too late, but I mean it from the bottom of my heart. I never meant to make your life hell.”

“I appreciate that.”

“Do you want me to leave my cell number so you can get in touch with me about Zeke or do you want to call Alexis directly?”

Riley decided on the devil he knew. “Your number is fine.”

He handed her a pad of paper. She quickly wrote on it and passed it back.

“My camera,” she said.

He gave it to her.

“How long are you in town for?” he asked.

“A few weeks. My younger sister, Vivian, is getting married. I’m here to help out with all the details and to make the wedding cake. I rented a house at the edge of town. I need a kitchen to complete my other orders.”

“I’ll be in touch.”

She nodded, then turned the camera over in her hands as if she wanted to say something else. He waited, but she only shrugged, then walked toward the hallway.