Page 46 of Good at Being Bad (Rock Canyon, Idaho 8)

Ellie looked tempted. “It’s probably not a good idea.”

“I brought my extra helmet, and we won’t go far. I’ll have you back to your car with plenty of time to get to work.”

Ellie’s lips twitched as if she was fighting a laugh. “Weren’t you the one who told me I didn’t know what kind of driver you are?”

“And you didn’t seem to care.” Mike walked past her and started closing the blinds. When all he had left was the front door, he looked back at her with his hand on the knob.

“What do you say? Wanna go for a ride with me?”

Chapter Fourteen

Every fiber in her body screamed this was a bad idea. But with Mike standing there in his leather jacket, buzzed head, and the scruff she’d left him with filling out into a short beard, he was temptation defined.

All day she’d been telling herself to keep her distance, telling herself she just needed space to figure out what was going through her head. On one hand, she had been more than willing to throw caution to the wind and poke the bear, so to speak, just to see if Mike would really make good on his threat to give her what she needed.

But then, reality and common sense had reared their ugly heads. She wasn’t Mike’s end game. He wanted someone who would make the perfect little homemaker and wife. She was the girl guys fooled around with until they wanted to get serious. And that was okay, really. That was exactly what she was looking for.

A small part of her wondered what it would be like to believe Mike was the right kind of guy. One who had made a mistake and a bad first impression, but there was more to him. Maybe he really was the good guy with no evil scheme to screw her over or anyone else.

Right now, he didn’t look like the nice, clean-cut guy she’d first met. He looked like a hot piece of trouble she wanted to get into.

And just like that, she was walking past him out the door. “Just a short ride.”

“No problem,” Mike said. She waited as he locked up the door, knowing deep down this probably wasn’t a good idea, but unable to stop it.

Okay, so maybe she just didn’t want to. It was just a ride, right?

As he followed him to the motorcycle, she couldn’t help thinking of how good he looked as he swung his leg over the bike, straddling it. He reached behind and grabbed the helmets, handing her one. She took out her bun and put the helmet on.

Mike had already secured his and had the visor flipped up as he watched her.

“Hop on.”

Ellie did what he said, climbing on behind him and wrapping her arms around his waist. It wasn’t her first time on the back of a bike, but just being pressed flush against Mike’s back was titillating. With the thick leather of his jacket between them, there was no way he could feel the hardened nubs of her nipples, but her hands were settled over his stomach under it. His sculpted, rock-hard stomach.

“You ready?” Mike asked over his shoulder.

“Yeah!” Ellie held on as he revved up and took off, heading east down Main Street. The cool wind stung Ellie’s bare skin and she looked out across the peach and purple sky as they sped up. It was beautiful, and as Mike turned left and headed out of town, she didn’t protest or ask where they were going. She just wanted to enjoy the ride.

Ellie’s hands dug into his muscles, and when they flexed, she smiled. Had it been voluntary? And what had possessed him to invite her on this sunset ride?

Or was this another attempt to make up for his bad behavior?

Ellie couldn’t explain it, but she didn’t want every moment or gesture with Mike defined by their mistakes and apologies.

He took another back road and a homemade sign that read Willowmead Bed and Breakfast popped up a few miles down the road. Mike slowed down and finally stopped. He shut off the bike and removed his helmet, turning to face her in the seat.

“How was that?”

“I never had any doubts you would drive safely, but I told you I had to be back soon. What are we doing here?” Ellie swung off the back and took off her helmet, taming her messy hair with the hair band again.

“I thought you might like to check out the sunset from a special vantage point.” Mike took off his helmet and hooked it to the back. As he stood, he pointed behind her. “Through that trail is a spectacular little grove I want to show you. No ulterior motive, no scheming. Just you, me, and the birds.”

Without waiting for her to argue or say okay, he started toward the trail.

“Hey, hang on! You can’t just ditch me like that.”

“I’m not. You got two good legs and I’m walking slowly. You can keep up.”

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