Free Foxfire by Carol Ann Erhardt Page A

Grace filled Tiffany's bowl, then
reached for a glass from the cabinet. “Tea?”
    Brad pulled out a chair and seated himself.
“No coffee?”
    “I can brew a pot.”
    He waved a hand. “Don't bother. Tea's fine.
Where'd you get the rose?”
    “Adam.”
    Brad scrunched his brows together.
“Adam?”
    “I think so. I found it on the porch
yesterday. I think he has a crush on me.”
    Brad grunted.
    “I don't want to hurt his feelings, but I've
got to let him know I'm not interested in him in that way.”
    “Want me to talk to him?”
    “No, I can handle it. So what's new with
you?”
    “Same old, same old. Harri stopped by
today.”
    “Uh-oh. Is that why you're here?”
    “She's worried about you. You know how she
gets when she thinks she's had a sign.”
    “You don't put much stock in her psychic
powers.”
    “Nope. Doesn't matter though. She believes
enough for both of us.”
    Grace twirled the glass, studying the light
shining through the ice cubes.
    “So here I am. Want to tell me what's
bothering you? And don't say, nothing. I know you well enough to
read that look on your face.”
    What could she tell him? That she didn't want
to have a relationship with Tyler and he felt the same, yet she was
upset about it? It even puzzled her why she felt hurt over his lack
of attention today.
    Grace met his concerned gaze. “I can't hide
anything from you two. You probably know what I'm buying you for
your birthday.”
    Brad's face lit with mirth. “I don't think
Harri will give away that secret. But, don't change the subject.
What's bothering you, hon?”
    Who better to confide in than her best
friend? She exhaled a long exasperated breath. “It's Tyler, and
it's all your fault.”
    “Mine?”
    “You told him I was looking for a job.”
    “So? Now you have one. What's wrong with
that?”
    “So, maybe I think he's...attractive.”
    Brad's grin grew larger. “Why's that a
problem, darlin?”
    Grace groaned. “Brad, come on. He's my boss.
Look what happened with Connor.”
    Brad squeezed her hand. “Tyler's not Connor.
He's a fine young man with a sense of honor. You can't compare the
two.”
    “Maybe not, but he's my boss. I don't need
the complications.”
    “Is that what's bothering you or is it that
headline in the paper?”
    “You saw that, too?” She grimaced. “No.
That's not bothering me. I find it amusing, though I can't figure
out why Connor wants to keep our break-up a secret. It's not like
he's planning on telling them why. He could blame it on me and get
their sympathy. I don't know why he's so worried.”
    “Maybe he knows they'll take your side. After
all, the press loves you. I don't think they really give a damn
about Connor. He doesn't stand a chance of winning the
election.”
    She frowned. “Why not? He's the perfect
politician. He lies smoothly with a cool smile.”
    Brad made a scoffing noise. “That's probably
true, but everyone can see right through his fancy words to the
self-serving shell he really is.”
    “You don't have a very high opinion of
him.”
    “Nope. And not just because he hurt you.”
    “He didn't really hurt me, Brad. Only my
pride. I'm as much at fault as Connor.” She grinned remembering
what happened yesterday. “I did get even though.”
    “Yeah?”
    She stood and leaned against the counter.
    “Connor showed up here yesterday offering to
have a discreet affair with me.”
    “What?” Brad jumped from his chair. Red
suffused his face.
    “Don't get your blood pressure up. Tiffany
chased him off.”
    “Tiffany,” he sputtered. “That mutt wouldn't
hurt a flea.”
    “You should have seen him trying to fold
himself into that little sports car while I threatened to let my
'trained-to-kill' guard dog loose.”
    “Trained-to-kill?” He slapped his leg, and
belly laughed. Tiffany squirmed over to lean against him. He patted
her head. “Good girl.” He looked up at Grace with a huge smile.
“Honey, I'd have paid to see that.”
    Grace chuckled. “It