Page 15 of Return of the Bad Girl (Rock Canyon, Idaho 4)

The screaming had intensified in the other room; Ellie apparently finally was awake enough to yell back at Val. Suddenly, even a homicidal roommate didn’t seem like the worst thing in the world.

“Okay, let’s just say I was interested in a temporary living arrangement,” she said, rubbing her temples and forehead with her fingers. “We would have to establish some ground rules.”

“It’s simple,” he said, leaning back against the counter. “You stay out of my business; I’ll stay out of yours. We split the rent and

utilities fifty-fifty—”

“What about Internet or a house phone?”

“I’ve got my cell phone, so I don’t need a house phone, but I’ll split the Internet with you. And cable.”

“I don’t need cable. I stream off the Internet,” Caroline said. With how often she moved, it was easier than getting new service every six months.

“Whatever floats your boat, princess,” he said, and her hackles rose.

“And stop calling me princess,” she said.

Before he could answer, Caroline saw a flash of dark hair out of the corner of her eye and turned in time to see her sister Ellie slam the front door. Seconds later, Val appeared, opened the door, and yelled after her, “If you ever get into my closet again, I’ll rip your hair out!”

She shut the door with a loud bang and turned toward them. Her angry expression melted into surprise before her face flushed a deep red. Was she embarrassed that someone else had witnessed one of their family fights?

Or maybe it was that it had been witnessed while she was in her underwear and a tank top.

Caroline shook her head. “Valerie, this is Gabe. Gabe, this is my sister.”

“Pleasure,” Gabe said. Caroline saw his mouth twitch, as if he were fighting a grin.

“Nice to meet you. Excuse me,” Val said, running from the room.

Caroline sucked down her protein shake and tossed the bottle in the garbage. “So about this living arrangement . . . I’m in.”

“HERE YOU GO,” Gemma Bowers said with a relieved smile, handing Gabe the keys. “I’m really glad you were able to work something out. I am sorry this happened, and I’m so embarrassed—”

“Think nothing of it, Mrs. Bowers,” Gabe said, all charm. He thought he heard a gagging noise coming from Caroline, who was standing by the door. Gabe grinned. He wasn’t surprised she’d said yes to his proposal, not really. Over the years, he had learned a thing or two about strong, independent women, and the foremost lesson was that it was hard for them to back down from a challenge.

And sure enough, this tiny brunette with attitude was no different.

Plus, the last thing he’d wanted was to cause a problem between Travis Bowers and his wife. Especially because Travis had gone out on a limb for him after he’d come clean about his time in prison. He’d shared enough of the details to prove he wasn’t a rapist or a murderer, but he hadn’t bared his soul. Luckily, Travis had said it would stay between them. He’d been surprisingly cool about everything.

“Everyone deserves a second chance.”

For Gabe, it was a little hard to believe that a perfect stranger was willing to give him a clean slate, especially since so many of his friends from his past had written him off.

It wasn’t all their fault. He’d been angry, filled with self-loathing, and jealous as hell of their futures, especially Chase’s. Chase had been getting out of town to go to Berkeley on a scholarship. That had been eating Gabe alive for months before he’d caught Chase and Honey together.

Jealousy was an ugly thing.

“Can I get the second set? I want to start unloading,” Caroline said, right next to his shoulder now. Gemma handed over the keys, which Little Miss Attitude snatched up in a hurry. Damn, she was a brat. He watched her storm out the door, her jeans hugging her ass like they were made just for her.

Gabe had to admit, if he was up for a detour on his road to redemption, the sharp-tongued woman would be the perfect pit stop. Today, she looked fresh-faced and sweet, except for that angry gleam in her eyes that said she definitely wasn’t ready to make nice with Gemma.

Or him, for that matter.

Even if she had been ready and willing for a little action, he wasn’t looking for anything more than someone to satisfy his needs, and he wasn’t about to become fuck buddies with a woman he’d be sharing a bathroom with. That scenario was just too domestic for his tastes.

Even if she did have an amazing body.

He followed her out the door and caught a sweet, flowery scent that told his body that finding a friend-with-benefits might need to happen sooner than later. Living with a woman like her, twenty-four/seven, was not going to end well. He had too much work ahead of him—on his new life, his shop, and repairing his friendship with Chase—to be tempted into trouble.

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