Overheard by Maya Banks Read Free Book Online Page A

not start any shit.”
    Gracie grinned. “Thanks, Jeremy.”
    Luke put a hand on her shoulder as she got up from the couch. “I’m going out with you.”
    She hesitated for a moment then nodded. As they left the living room, Luke slid an arm around her waist and squeezed reassuringly.
    When she opened the front door, Keith, who was standing on the porch with his back to her, turned around. His lips curled in distaste and his eyes glinted with a little fear as he spotted Luke.
    “What do you want?” Gracie asked.
    “I’d hoped we could talk alone,” Keith said, looking pointedly at Luke.
    Luke pulled her closer up against him, his hand resting possessively on her hip. “Whatever you have to say to Gracie can be said in front of me. Isn’t that right, sweetheart?”
    “So you’re with him now?” Keith demanded.
    “It would appear I am,” Gracie said calmly.
    “Damn it, Gracie. You don’t even give a guy a chance,” Keith complained. “You can’t expect to spring shit on me like you did. I know I reacted badly, but what did you expect?”
    Gracie raised her eyebrows. “Expect? I don’t guess I expected anything from you at all, Keith. I’ve said all I intend to say on the matter. We’re finished, and I’d really appreciate it if you’d quit coming over to my friends’ house.”
    “So would I,” Luke drawled.
    Keith ran his hand through his hair and swore again. “All right, Gracie. If that’s what you want. Your loss.”
    He turned and stomped off the front porch toward his truck. He peeled out of the driveway and left in a cloud of dust.
    “Dumbass,” Gracie muttered.
    “What did you ever see in him?” Luke asked as they walked back into the house.
    “Don’t rub it in.”
    Luke laughed. “Okay, I’ll shut up now.”
    “Good idea.”
    “Everything okay, Gracie?” Jeremy asked as she and Luke entered the living room.
    “Yeah, he’s gone,” she said.
    “Maybe you and I should pay Keith a little visit in the official capacity,” Wes said to Jeremy. “We could tell him to leave Gracie the hell alone.”
    “Is he bothering her?” Jake asked with a scowl. “Do I need to go beat his scrawny ass?”
    “I can take care of myself just fine, Jake,” Gracie said. “But thanks. You guys are the best.”
    “Who wants a beer?” Michelle interrupted.
    Gracie looked gratefully at her, and Michelle winked back.
    “Who wants to watch the fight again?” Jeremy asked as he picked up the remote.

Chapter Eight
    Gracie leaned back in Luke’s truck seat and tried to settle her nervous stomach. They were headed out of town to a cabin on the lake Luke and Wes shared ownership in.
    She’d been out before. They’d gotten together for fishing trips and stayed weekends at the cabin, but she’d never gone with the idea of having sex with Luke.
    The week leading up to the weekend had been terrific. She and Luke had spent every day together. The sexual tension between them had grown into an enormous entity, but more than that, their relationship had developed beyond their casual friendship.
    And now they were adding sex to the equation. It seemed so important to him that she trust him. She did. She’d always trusted him, and it felt right for them to be together. Somehow she knew Luke would satisfy all her needs and desires.
    “You’re quiet,” Luke said beside her. “Having second thoughts?”
    “No, not at all.”
    She slid her eyes sideways to look at him. The heat in his gaze peeled a few layers of her skin off. No, she had many thoughts, but she wasn’t regretting her decision to see where the weekend would take them.
    He reached over and curled his hand over hers. “I’m glad. I’m really looking forward to this. To us.”
    She smiled. “Me too.”
    Thirty minutes later, they pulled up to the cabin overlooking Sam Rayburn Lake, and Luke cut the engine. He turned sideways in his seat and looked intently at her.
    “I’ve planned a lot for us this weekend. If you ever feel