Free The Borrowed Boyfriend by Ginny Baird

that the first couple to arrive got first dibs on a room. Since Allison always arrived alone, she’d never felt right taking the biggest room for herself, even when she knew she’d be forced to share it. In these houses, the master was often the only bedroom on the first floor and the one made for romance, with its own en suite bath. The other rooms upstairs generally shared a hall bath.
    Deb and Patrick nodded in understanding. “We thought it was time.”
    “Enjoy,” Patrick said, his face sunny. “Say, would either of you like a beer?”
    “I’d love one,” Grady said.
    “Allison?” Patrick asked.
    “That’s a definite yes!”
    Patrick pulled two bottles from the refrigerator and uncapped them as Deb returned to her work. “Why don’t you carry these back to your room for you and Grady while you unpack?”
    “Don’t you need any help around here?”
    “Yeah,” Grady inserted, “I’d be glad—”
    “Uh-uh,” Deb said firmly. “Tonight’s on us. Tomorrow, you may not be so lucky.”
    “Tomorrow’s our night!” Brevard protested. “Beer-braised short ribs on the grill!”
    “With homemade au gratin potatoes,” Queenie added temptingly.
    “Very gourmet!” Grady said, hefting the luggage off the floor. “Allison and I will have a hard time keeping up.”
    “That’s okay,” Queenie said smoothly. “We’re willing to cut you new lovebirds some slack.”
    “Just no fast food,” Brevard requested.
    “Or anything processed,” Deb agreed. She glanced apologetically at Grady. “It’s kind of our rule.”
    “Sounds like you all run a tight ship.” Grady called. “But a very healthy one.”
    Allison led the way down the hall and paused between two identical-looking doors.
    “The one on the left!” Deb shouted. “The other is the laundry and the half bath.”
    Allison nodded and repositioned the beer bottles in her grasp so she could open the door.  
    “Have fun in there!” Queenie called.
    To everyone’s surprise, Brevard added. “And check out the claw-foot tub!”

    Allison shut the door at her back and burst into giggles. “Oh...my…goodness!”
    “Your friends are really sweet,” Grady said, placing their luggage beside the queen-size sleigh bed with an oversized down comforter and a stack of big plush pillows. “They welcomed me without question.” Grady appeared a little in awe of this.
    Allison angled toward him and whispered, “That’s because they have no reason to doubt you.”
    “Queenie gave me a scare.”
    “In the beginning, you mean? She’s just a big tease. You’ll understand her better once you get to know her.”
    Allison set their beers on two coasters on a bedside table and glanced around the well-appointed room. It had its own wood-burning fireplace, centered between two windows to the right that afforded partial ocean views. A sturdy reading chair and a brass lamp were positioned beside it. A fire had been laid in the hearth, and was ready to go at the strike of a match. At the back of the house, abutting the cove, a solid oak dresser with a swivel mirror stood opposite the bed between two ocean-facing windows.  
    Grady followed Allison’s gaze around the room. “Whoa. Nice.”
    This wing took up the width of the house, with the laundry room and half bath situated behind the master and facing the drive. The en suite bathroom and large walk-in closet backed up to the kitchen, forming a buffer between the bedroom and the great room, and making this area as private as you could get in a house of this kind. If that wasn’t enough, there was also an exterior door leading directly onto the wraparound porch, which was likewise accessible through the kitchen.  
    Beyond the darkened windows, the ocean rolled in waves as skittering gray clouds partially cloaked the moon. Allison couldn’t resist a peek outside and Grady was two steps ahead of her. He pushed open the porch door and they both went outdoors. The slap of brisk air against Allison’s face