Page 44 of Good at Being Bad (Rock Canyon, Idaho 8)

Dalton turned around and kissed Jenny’s forehead. “About eight hours.” He touched Jenny’s lips with his so sweetly, that Ellie had to look away. When he finally broke the kiss, he said, “I’m going to go get dressed. Can you watch breakfast?”

“Yeah, sure.” Jenny’s face was split with a sappy grin and the minute that Ellie heard the door close behind Dalton, she squealed.

“I can’t believe it! How did it happen? Tell me everything!”

“Well, he drove me home, and he was lecturing me about not starting shit with drunk assholes like the Coulters. I got mad and told him to stop treating me like a baby. He responded with something idiotic and when I got out of the car, and stomped up to the door, he caught me and then we were kissing…all the way into the bedroom.”

Ellie couldn’t believe her shy, sweet roomie had been so bold. “So, what happens now?”

“I don’t know. We haven’t talked about it yet.”

Ellie took another gulp of her coffee. “Then I will take this into my room, and get dressed, and make myself scarce while the two of you figure things out.”

“Hey, where were you, though? When I asked if you were here all night, you avoided the question.”

“Did I?” Ellie watched Jenny over the rim of her coffee cup.

Jenny’s mouth flew open. “Oh, my God, did you hook up with Mike?”

“No, of course not! We just watched The Lord of the Rings movies until we both fell asleep, and then he took me to my car.”

“Let me get this straight. You watched The Lord of the Rings movies…willingly?” Jenny flipped over the eggs in the pan and shook her head. “I have been trying to get you to watch them with me for years!”

Dalton came back into the kitchen and Ellie said, “That’s my cue. See you two later.”

She moved as fast as she could without spilling her coffee, and closed the door on Jenny shouting her name.

“Mom, I’ll be there. When have I ever missed Dad’s birthday?” Mike asked into the phone as he secured the back onto Ellie’s computer. Mike hadn’t heard from Ellie yet today, although he had seen her car parked in the Local Bean’s parking lot as he had driven by this morning.

After almost kissing her, he’d dropped her at her car outside of Buck’s and she’d barely mumbled thanks before escaping him. Maybe he’d come off a little intense, but she was making him crazy, especially because wanting her wasn’t part of his plan.

“Well, you never know,” his mother, Karen Stevens, said, sounding way too innocent. “Maybe you had a girlfriend you failed to mention, and you had plans with her.”

“Nope, no girlfriend, so I guess you’re just stuck with me.”

“Nonsense. I love it when you come over. I feel like we never see you, and with you living so close…”

It was a familiar guilt trip, and one that he had grown immune to. He loved his mother, but she’d been overprotective and controlling since he was born and no matter how hard she tried, he’d never been a mama’s boy. She hated that she had no say in his friends or who he dated, but was never shy about sharing her opinion or advice. It was why he kept his life to himself unless there was something to tell.

“Yeah, I know, I am a terrible son.”

“Don’t you get smart with me! That is not what I said!” Her sigh was loud and weary in his ear. “I just worry about you. I’m your mother, it’s my job.”

“Yeah, so you’ve told me but I’m thirty-four. At some point, you gotta realize I’m going to figure it out on my own.”

“I saw Gemma the other day,” his mother said casually. “She looks great. I wonder if she’s really happy.”

Mike closed his eyes and took a deep breath. His mother adored Gemma and had wanted them together so badly. When Gemma and Travis had reunited, his mother was actually more upset than he was. Since it happened, his mother never missed an opportunity to let him know if she sensed any tension between Travis and Gemma. Even though he’d told her a hundred times he was happy for them, she still wouldn’t let up.

“Okay, you know what, Mom? I have to go. I need to call a couple clients to pick up their computers. Tell Dad hi for me and I’ll see you Saturday.”

Before she could say anything more, he hung up. He’d hear about it later, but sometimes he just needed to escape. She wanted him settled, he got that, but he wasn’t going to settle down with any woman that she thought would be good for him. He was the only one who knew what was right for him.

He slid his thumb across his phone screen, and stared at Ellie’s number. Was she good for him? No, she wasn’t what he was looking for, but she was exciting. And he felt amazing when he was around her—alive and a little bit out of control. Why did he like that the most?

Mike enjoyed it when his life ran smoothly, but the last six months or so he’d been restless. He’d wanted a change, something to liven up the mundane.

Swiping his thumb across the screen, he called Ellie, but it went straight to voicemail. Disappointed that she didn’t answer, he left her a message when the phone beeped. “Hey, Ellie, it’s Mike. I just wanted to let you know your computer is finished, so give me a call or just come by the shop to pick it up.”

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