Page 70 of Bad For Me (Rock Canyon, Idaho 5)

When he’d first come home, he’d been so angry about everything that he’d lashed out at a few people who had blatantly stared at his scars. He’d finally been able to replace the anger that came from their obvious rudeness with humor, which he’d found could be just as effective at making people look away.

Last night, when he’d taken off his shirt, he’d been expecting Callie to pity him, despite her previous kind words about his scars. In the past, he’d tried not to draw attention to his burned skin when he was seeing a woman, just shut off the light and get to business, but with Callie, he wanted more than fumbling in the dark and a quick release.

So he’d shown her everything and she’d made him feel normal, like she didn’t even see the scars, only it had been better than that; she’d seen them, and they didn’t faze her.

“Here you go, Everett,” Gracie called.

She held out a drink carrier and baggy to him, and when Everett reached out to take it, Gracie added quietly, “Tell Callie I said hi.”

Everett gave Gracie a warning look, but her grin never wavered. “I will.”

Everett pushed out of the crowded coffee shop and went to his truck, wondering why Callie and he were drawing so much interest. Was it because they were both private people?

He drove back to Callie’s house, thinking how little he knew about her. Everything he did know was superficial, except for her mom being dead and her history with alcohol, but even that she’d even been vague about. She knew about his past, about his best friend and his scars; he didn’t even know her parents’ names.

Give her time. You’ve only known her two weeks.

He knew that, but for him, it felt like longer. Like he’d been waiting for her forever. It reminded him of the things his mother used to say about love and soul mates. She’d been a firm believer in fate, that one day, when the person who was meant for you in every way was near, it would hit you like a lightning bolt. Everett had always been happy thinking he’d eventually find someone to love and share a life with, but after meeting Callie, he understood exactly what his mother meant; Callie was meant for him.

He just needed to be patient, to let her learn to trust him. He knew she was starting to. And once she let go, she’d realize that he was meant for her too.

Everett pulled into Callie’s driveway and gathered up their breakfast. When he came through the door, Ratchet was waiting for him, his large tail thumping against the ground.

“Sorry, buddy, this isn’t for you.”

Everett ignored the dog’s snort and headed down the hall to find Callie still in bed, spread out on her back, the covers twisted around her legs. Her hair half-hid her face, except for her mouth, which hung open.

Everett set the bag and

drink carrier on the nightstand next to her black Sweet Tarts bag and lay down next to her. He gazed down at her face, before sweeping over the slope of her neck and chest. One of the buttons of her pajama top had come open, spreading the neck open.

And that’s when he saw it: a white puckered scar, about half an inch long.

Could it be from surgery? Had Callie been hurt in an accident?

Or had she been there when her mother was attacked?

As if sensing his eyes on her, Callie twisted toward him, her eyes opening slowly. “Are you watching me sleep, creeper?”

Everett laughed. “Actually, I ran out to get caffeine and breakfast. I was just about to wake you up.”

“What’d you bring me?” she mumbled, squinting at him.

“Pumpkin latte and cheese Danish.” He pulled the drink out of the carrier and held it out to her.

Callie’s eyes popped open. “How did you know I liked cheese Danishes?”

“Gracie told me.” Everett took the page from newspaper containing Miss Know It All’s column from his sweatshirt pocket. “We made the paper, and she guessed that I was buying you breakfast.”

Callie groaned and took the paper from him, ignoring the drink as she sat up and rubbed her eyes. “I’m surprised Gemma and Gracie haven’t called me on three-way yet to find out what’s going on.”

“I think they’re giving us some privacy,” he said.

“Yeah, right. Gracie is going to badger me until I give them every detail. She’s like a very tenacious Chihuahua.”

“I thought you two were friends.”

“We are, but she can be a lot to take in sometimes.”

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