So Sensitive (Hard to Get 1)

The first few hours back to work had seen Gracie playing catch-up. If she’d known what awaited her, Gracie never would’ve taken Monday and Tuesday off. When she final y had a few minutes to think straight, Gracie picked up her cel phone and sent a text message to Wade, letting him know she was looking forward to their lunch date. Oh, God, she missed him something terrible. Gracie wondered if he were feeling the same way or if having her out of his hair was a relief. The text he sent back had her heart racing.

I’M HUNGRY, ANGEL. FOR U. MISS YOU BUNCHES.

She sent one back asking how they were doing with Lusk.

AT HIS HOUSE NOW . . . HE’S DEFINITELY THE GUY. TELL YOU MORE AT LUNCH.

Gracie had to read the message three times before she would believe it. It was real y happening. After two months of dealing with the jerk, they were final y starting to close in on him. Soon it would be over, and she’d be able to concentrate on her relationship with Wade. And why did that thought send her into a panic? Simple, Gracie thought, because this is the first time you’ve been in love.

On a whim, Gracie flipped her cel open again and dialed Cherry.

She answered on the second ring. “Hel o?”

Gracie took a deep breath and let it out slowly. “Cherry, it’s Gracie.”

She laughed. “I know, sweetie; I saw the cal er ID. What’s up? Everything okay?”

Gracie picked up a pen and started doodling. “Everything’s great. In fact, we may final y have a lead on my stalker.”

“That’s wonderful news!”

“Yeah, but that’s not why I’m cal ing. I need to talk. Do you have a minute?”

“I’m in between clients right now. What’s wrong?”

“It’s Wade. I-I think I’m in love with him.” Why did it seem so ludicrous out loud?

“Ah, I see. Have you told him?”

“God, no!” Gracie’s face heated, and suddenly she couldn’t catch her breath. Crap, just thinking about tel ing Wade she was in love with him was giving her an anxiety attack! “He’l think I’ve lost my mind, Cherry. I mean, we’ve only spent a few days together.”

“First of al , Wade won’t think you’ve lost your mind, so get that thought out of your head. Second, stop trying to look at this logical y. Logic and love don’t always go hand in hand. I know they didn’t for Dante and me. He walked into my life and swept me right off my feet.”

“When you know, you just know. Is that it?”

“Yeah.”

“But what if he doesn’t feel that way about me?” She paused, then added, “I mean, I’m sure he doesn’t. Men don’t fal in love that quickly, right?”

“I don’t know about that. It sure didn’t take Dante long to figure out I was the one for him. Actual y, I was the hesitant one.”

She hadn’t known that about Cherry and Dante’s relationship. It was hard to imagine any woman wavering with a man like Dante. He was so kind, so giving. And then there was the sexy, hard, dark-haired Italian part. “You were?”

“It’s tough when you’ve been hurt before, Gracie,” Cherry said, her voice softer now. “It’s hard to let someone else in. There’s always that fear of getting burned al over again.”

Cherry had been married, and it hadn’t ended wel , but that didn’t explain Gracie’s reluctance to lay her feelings on the line with Wade. “I’ve never been in love. That’s not what this is about.”

“No, but you’ve been burned, sweetie. Your mother leaving you. Your dad’s drinking. It’s hard because you’re afraid to let yourself trust. It’d be difficult for anyone with your circumstances. But Wade’s a good man. Give him a chance.”

Knowing Cherry was right had Gracie slumping against the desk in defeat. She’d kept people at arm’s length her entire life, too afraid to care. After al , she hadn’t been enough for her own mother, and her father cared more about alcohol than his own daughter. That Wade could want her, that he could possibly love her . . . It seemed too good to be true. “Why is this so hard? I wish I could let the past go and just grab Wade and tel him everything.”

“It’s hard because the past has a lot to do with who you are now. Just don’t let it rob you of something as wonderful as love. Don’t let them take that from you, Gracie.”

She started to tel Cherry she was right, but her phone made a pinging sound, indicating there was a cal waiting on the other line. “Cherry, I need to go, but thanks for letting me unload on you.”

“That’s what friends are for.”

Friends. Gracie smiled at the word. “I’l see you tonight.”