Overheard Read Free Page A

why she was confused. He’d never intruded on her business like that. Gracie was more than able to take care of herself. It was something he admired about her.
    He shrugged and put a hand on her shoulder. “Just looked like you could use the help, that’s all.”
    “Yeah, well, thanks,” she mumbled as they started back toward the house.
    As they stopped at the steps, she looked up at him, her bottom lip stuck between her teeth, a sure sign of agitation.
    “You didn’t…you didn’t hear our conversation did you?” she asked nervously.
    Luke almost smiled. Yeah, he supposed Gracie would about die if she knew he’d overheard that and more. From what he’d gleaned from her conversation with Michelle and then her fight with Keith, it looked like she was spreading her wings a bit and venturing into new territory. Territory he was intimately familiar with.
    “Nah, I’d just come out when he made a move toward you,” he lied. “Looked like he was trying to hurt you.”
    “Well, thanks,” she said again, her shoulders slumping in relief.
    “No problem. What are friends for?”
    He threw his arm around her neck, letting his hand dangle over her shoulder, something he’d done a million times before. Only now, he was very aware of the proximity of his hand to her breasts. And those nipple rings he was dying to see.

Chapter Three
    “So you going to tell me what the hell went on out there earlier?” Wes asked as he popped open another beer.
    Luke flopped onto his couch and took a long swig of his own beer. He and Wes had left Jeremy’s earlier and had ended up at Luke’s place. Luke knew Wes was curious over his interference, not that Wes would have done things any differently if he’d been outside when Keith made his move at Gracie.
    He took another fortifying gulp before he eased the bottle from his lips. “Let’s just say it’s been an interesting and informative day.
    Wes leaned back in the arm chair and propped his feet up on Luke’s coffee table. “How so?”
    Luke shook his head. Where to start? With the easy part he guessed. “Keith was being an asshole. He was ripping on Gracie, and she told him to take a hike. He went after her and Gracie kneed him in the balls.”
    “Good for her,” Wes said, performing a mock salute with his beer bottle.
    “I broke his nose for good measure.”
    Wes looked at him and shook his head. “Shit, tell me I’m not going to have to arrest your ass when he presses charges.”
    Luke laughed. “He’s a pussy. Besides, I told him you and Jeremy were watching and would swear you didn’t see anything.”
    “Gee, thanks,” Wes said dryly. “Just what I need, to be arrested with you.”
    Luke fiddled with his beer, tapping his finger in restless staccato against the cool glass. He hesitated to tell Wes what he’d overheard. Why, he couldn’t say. They’d never exactly been discreet with each other, and he knew Wes would find it as surprising as he had. But something held him back.
    “What’s eating you?” Wes spoke up, intruding on Luke’s thoughts. “You’ve been acting weird all afternoon. You said the day had been informative. So what’s the news?”
    Luke sighed and leaned forward to set his beer on the coffee table. “It’s about Gracie.”
    Wes cocked an eyebrow. “What about her? You weren’t really surprised she dumped her pussy boyfriend, were you?”
    Luke shook his head. “I’m not talking about the wimp, and no, I’m not all together surprised she dumped him. Even less so after what I heard her talking to Michelle about.”
    “Ah hell, man, what were you doing eavesdropping on the girls? Gracie will kick your ass if she finds out.”
    Luke grinned. Yeah, she wouldn’t hesitate to lay him out. He got the oddest tingle just thinking about her getting in his face. He shook his head. It was the nipple rings, it had to be. He couldn’t get his mind off what her nipples must look like. Hell.
    He cleared his throat. “She, uh, well, she said