“Well…yes, but…” The lines on her mother’s forehead became more pronounced as her hands fiddled in her lap. “I thought you meant from us. Not from the town. Oh god, I’m so very sorry.”

Suzanne had no idea whether Grady having a girlfriend would be a big thing in Credence or not, although the incredulousness on the faces surrounding her seemed to indicate that it would. But she did know it would be if she made a huge song and dance about it in Jack’s. What she needed to do was put a lid on this and move the fuck on.

She had to act like people finding out was no biggie. That it was just fine. “Don’t worry about it,” Suzanne said with a laugh she didn’t feel and a wave of her hand. “It’s not a state secret,” she dismissed. “We were just being a little selfish, wanting some us time.”

And that hole just kept getting bigger. Christ…that’s where he’d bury her, in the goddamn huge hole she was digging.

Suzanne could almost see the questions lurking within disbelieving gazes and flitting across crumpled foreheads, and the thought of digging herself in any deeper sat like a big old rotting fish in her intestines. Move the fuck on, Suzanne—move on!

“Ray,” she said, jumping in, not sure what she was going to say, just knowing she needed to divert attention ASAP. “Which Washington exhibition did you attend? Mom’s done several over the years, but there was that controversial one a decade ago that people still talk about.”

Thankfully Ray took the bait, and all eyes were back on Simone. Well…Della was still eyeing her speculatively, but most of the heat had shifted. Which was just as well, because Suzanne already felt hot enough.

Shit…what a mess. The universe was really kicking her ass over this small white lie that was growing bigger by the day. And now she was going to have to tell Grady that their secret—based on a lie—was out. That was going to be so much fun. Not. He’d been pretty damn specific about their fake relationship staying on the ranch.

But…maybe she wouldn’t have to tell him? Maybe she’d get lucky and find Credence wasn’t the stereotypical small town full of gossipy busybodies? That was possible, right? And really, how would Grady even hear such gossip out at the ranch? It wasn’t like he was the friendly type who encouraged visitors, who had a poker night with his buddies every Friday or invited the neighbors over for a cookout.

Hell, she hadn’t even seen him with a cell phone, although she assumed he had one because who didn’t own a cell phone, and surely it’d be necessary out in the middle of nowhere? For emergencies and the like.