Page 58 of Things Good Girls Don't Do (Rock Canyon, Idaho 1)

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KATIE CLIMBED INTO her car after the meeting and drove past the Jagged Rock to see if Chase was busy at work. Looking in the window, she saw several guys inside with him. Not wanting to interrupt, she pulled into The Local Bean parking lot to turn around. The last thing she wanted was for someone to notice her car driving up and down the road like some weird stalker.

As she pulled back out onto the street, she saw Becca leaving her shop and almost ducked down. Becca was too sharp not to know she had been making a pass to see Chase.

But she had already seen Katie and was waving. Rolling down her window and stopping along the sidewalk, she said casually, “Hey, so is my advertising helping?”

“Well, considering that I’ve made more in the last four days than I have in the last month, I’d say so,” Becca said.

Katie pulled over and parked her 4Runner as Becca came to her window. “That is so great! I am glad it’s working.”

“You on your way over to see Chase?” she asked, leaning in.

No, I already checked and he’s busy. “No, I was just on my way to Twin Falls when I remembered I forgot my Costco card,” Katie said, pretty sure that was a logical enough explanation for driving up and down the street.

“Oh, I see,” Becca said, giving her an assessing look. “Be careful with him.”

Katie tensed, waiting for Becca to start giving her a warning about how he was going to hurt her, but she didn’t. “He’s not as cool as he thinks he is. He likes you. I can tell.”

Katie’s heart twisted and fluttered. “That wasn’t what I expected. I thought you were going to tell me he’s no good.”

Becca smiled. “Like Steph?” Katie gave her a surprised look, and Becca added, “It’s amazing the things women will tell you when they’re shopping for lingerie. It’s like all the boundaries are gone and they start spilling their issues.”

Katie laughed. “Yeah, same goes when you’re doing hair. You become a therapist.”

“Oh yeah. Anyway, she told me that she acted like an ass.”

Katie gripped the steering wheel. “Putting it mildly, but yeah.”

Becca shrugged. “Just my two cents, but you guys have been friends since diapers, right?” Katie nodded and Becca said, “Give her a chance to grovel. Best friends should get a free pass every five years.”

Katie thought about the times when Steph had said something to piss her off and she’d just let it go. Just smiled and moved on. Steph had been given plenty of free passes, but she had also been there for her through every major letdown. She might have overstepped in a major way, but they had been friends for a long time. Was she ready to just give up on that?

No, she wasn’t, not yet. “All right, if she shows up groveling, I’ll hear her out.”

“Then my job is done. You going to the fireworks next weekend?”

“Yep. Figured since I helped plan them, I might as well enjoy them.”

Becca grinned. “I’d like to tag along with you, if that’s okay.”

Katie laughed. “Deal.”

KATIE WAS LYING on her bed watching a DVR recording of The Vampire Diaries she’d already seen twice, when her phone beeped. She picked it up and there was a text from Chase: Hey Firecracker, what are you wearing?

Laughing, she looked down at her sweatpants and tank top and texted: Nothing. ;-)

Slinks jumped up on the bed, and his loud, rumbling purr came with him. He crawled up to her side and flopped down, rolling over to expose his fat belly for rubs.

She couldn’t resist him and cooed, “You are such a bad boy, but you’re Mommy’s bad boy, aren’t you? Yes you are.”

Her phone beeped again, and she said, “Look, it’s your favorite person.”

The big cat just kept rubbing against her as she checked the message. Such a tease. Why do you have to mess with me?

Fingers flying over the keys, she wrote back: In bed with another guy too. He’s super sexy and likes when I stroke his belly.

Beep. You better be talking about that damn cat.

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