Page 117 of Bad For Me (Rock Canyon, Idaho 5)

Her stomach fluttered at his words.

Everett’s lips trailed across her chest again, the rough hair on his chin rubbing against her nipple, bringing it to a hard point. “When I think about a life with you, Callie, I see a house overlooking the canyon, with a clear view of the mountains. I imagine us curling up on the couch on weekends, watching stupid comedies and TV shows with two bowls of popcorn. Unless I can somehow bring you around to add just a little salt—”

“No way in hell.”

“It doesn’t matter, because when we start making out during the movie, you’re going to be able to taste my salty popcorn.”

“Gross.”

His tongue reached out and flicked her nipple, sending a tingle of goose bumps across her skin.

“Are you cold?” The heat of his breath rushed over her wet flesh.

“A little,” she whispered.

He stood up and pulled down the blankets covering the bed. “Come on.” She crawled in, and he followed, spooning her and pulling the blanket over them.

“Jesus, your legs and feet are like icicles.” Everett tangled his limbs with hers anyway, and she used his bicep as a pillow.

“That’s why I’m glad I have you to keep me warm.”

Everett leaned down to kiss her cheek, so sweetly it brought tears to her eyes.

“Thanks for not making me wait forever.”

“I didn’t want to waste another moment,” she said, brushing her fingers across his cheek. “Life can change in an

instant.”

“You’re right.” His hand slid up her body to cup her breast as he trailed kisses along her jaw. “To making every moment count.”

Sinking into the warmth of his mouth on her skin, she whispered, “Here’s to forever.”

Epilogue

One Year and Five Months Later

CALLIE HELD ON to Everett’s hand as they walked onto the CSI campus and headed toward the Expo Center, a large heated indoor arena they used for the National Championship Rodeo team and community events.

When the local AA leader had approached her about talking to at-risk teens and college students as part of an initiative by a nonprofit called Healthy Solutions, she’d been unsure. The thought of traveling from school to school had made her anxious, so he’d organized a large fund-raising event for the area high schools instead. Teenagers and young adults from the Twin Falls area had been invited to come out, bid in a silent auction, and listen to several guest speakers who had abused alcohol and drugs as a way to cope with their traumatic pasts.

Callie was the first speaker, and besides her initial apprehension, she was ready. At least, she hoped so. The last thing she wanted to do was disappoint the people closest to her. Especially the man by her side.

Everett squeezed her hand reassuringly, as if he could read her thoughts. “It’s going to be fine.”

“I know.”

It was strange that Callie had been in AA for seven years now, but tonight would be the first time she’d spoken about what had brought her there. For years she had talked about her drinking, about feeling out of control, but she’d never shared what Tristan had done. And how she had dealt with the consequences of his actions.

As they went through the stage door, Callie was afraid she was going to throw up. It was one thing to stand up in a crowd of other addicts or even go on the local television morning show, but standing in front of five hundred teenagers and young adults was making beads of sweat roll down her back.

When she’d first started therapy over a year ago, all she’d wanted was to find a healthy way to deal with her unresolved anger and guilt.

But what had started out as a journey of self-awareness had become so much more as she began researching the correlation between addiction among young people and those who had suffered a trauma. From what she’d read, all of the statistics were betting against her and the kids she was trying to help. Still, she knew she wanted to make a difference, even if she helped just one person.

She just wanted them to know that they were not alone.

When they arrived backstage, the organizer of the event spotted them and waved Callie over.

---