Overheard by Maya Banks Page A

way. He had blondish brown hair, and in the summer, it was liberally streaked with lighter shades. His sense of humor was what Gracie loved the most about him, that and he didn’t tend to get his underwear in a bunch at the least provocation. A more laid-back guy you wouldn’t find.
    Luke, yeah, he was good looking. Blue eyes, light brown hair, and abs you could bounce a nickel off. But he was also a pain in the ass. A mouth-wateringly gorgeous pain in the ass, but an irritant nonetheless. His and Gracie’s relationship was a study in competition. Neither could stand to lose, and neither would ever back down from a dare.
    Every year the outhunt and outfish contest usually boiled down to Luke and Gracie. Last year, Gracie had crowed when she’d bagged the biggest buck any of the group had ever killed. Luke had sworn to one-up her the following season.
    But still, she wouldn’t trade him for anything. The group worked well together. They were extremely loyal, and more importantly, they were always there for one another. Which was why she didn’t want the guys to know she’d broken up with Keith. They’d make a huge deal out of it, and she simply wanted to forget the whole thing.
    A shadow fell over her chair, and she looked up to see Wes standing over her with a beer in hand. He pressed the cold bottle to her arm, and she yelped and flinched.
    He laughed. “Thought you might want a beer, Gracie.”
    “Gee, thanks.”
    He handed the beer to her then winked and ambled off again.
    “Lug nut,” she grumbled.
    Michelle laughed. “You know you love him. He’s cute when he’s not being a pain in the ass.”
    Gracie nodded. “Yep, the two days of the year he’s not a royal pain, he is downright cute.”
    “I heard that!” Wes called from the grill.
    “You were supposed to,” Gracie returned sweetly.
    “I’m about ready to dish it up,” Jeremy said. “Michelle, if you want to set the table, I’ll have it up in about fifteen minutes.”
    “I’ll help,” Gracie said as she heaved herself out of her chair.
    Luke turned his head and watched Gracie follow Michelle into the house. Her auburn curls jiggled down her back as she walked. He’d always loved her hair. It fit her carefree personality perfectly. Only she didn’t seem so carefree today. He wondered what was bothering her. It wasn’t like her to be quiet and withdrawn. And he didn’t buy that line about a busy week at work. Gracie could do her job in her sleep.
    “Do me a favor and take this in to Michelle,” Jeremy said, ramming a tray into his gut.
    Luke looked down to see a platter of sausage.
    “Tell her the rest will be ten minutes.”
    Luke grunted. “Sure.”
    Luke walked toward the sliding door of the patio and eased inside. He strode through the living room and toward the kitchen. When he reached the doorway, Gracie’s voice stopped him.
    “I called him this morning and broke up with him.”
    Luke backed away and stood to the side. She’d broken up with Keith? Somehow that didn’t surprise him. The guy was a complete pussy. No way he could keep pace with someone of Gracie’s caliber.
    He strained to hear the rest of the conversation.
    “You called him the morning after you had sex and dumped him?” Michelle asked in disbelief.
    “Yeah,” Gracie replied.
    Whoa. Harsh. Luke couldn’t wait to hear why.
    “Good God, girl. That must have been crushing to his ego,” Michelle continued.
    Luke nodded his agreement.
    He heard Gracie sigh. “I don’t care, Michelle. I’m tired of hooking up with guys who suck in bed. And I don’t mean my tits either.”
    Michelle dissolved into laugher and Luke’s eyebrows shot up.
    “Was he that bad?” Michelle asked.
    “He wasn’t good,” Gracie muttered. She sighed again. “Damn it, Chelle. I want something…”
    Luke nearly hurt himself trying to press his ear closer to the doorway. What did Gracie want? This had to be good.
    “I want someone who lights my fires. Who makes me think of