Page 12 of Good at Being Bad (Rock Canyon, Idaho 8)

“You wanna have another go round?” Walt asked.

Ellie realized the song was over and smiled politely. “You know what, Walt, maybe another time. I am just feeling really tired.”

Walt’s smile slipped and she saw a brief flicker of disappointment, but it didn’t last long. With exaggerated bluster, Walt released her. “That’s fine. Plenty of other women here.”

Ellie laughed a little as Walt walked away. Why were men so damn sensitive? Just because a woman wanted to take a break, they acted all macho and nonchalant, but it always came off as though they were trying too hard.

She made her way toward the bar and spotted Mike and his friend Drew. Mike was chatting up a pretty blonde, his gaze glued to her face as if she were the only woman in the world.

Ellie knew that his buddy had just been wanting to mess with Mike when he’d come over to talk to her.

“Eleanor Willis? Do you remember me? I painted your house one summer.”

Of course, she’d remembered Drew. She’d followed him around while he painted, chatting his ear off until her mother had told her to let him be. She hadn’t seen him since he’d gone off to college.

Now she recalled more of what he’d told her on the dance floor.

“I just wanted to come over and say hi. Mike said you were a pain in the ass, but I swore that couldn’t be true. You were the sweetest kid I ever met, and I bet you haven’t changed.”

Under normal circumstances, she would have laughed at his cheesy line and moved on, but Mike talking shit had pissed her off. There he went, running his mouth again and ruining her night. And then he walked over there like nothing happened and actually tried to apologize? After everything?

Oh, no, buddy, he started this and it was about time she put him in his place.

And yet, where most men usually fawned all over her, his indifference was unsettling. Especially because every time he got within three feet of her, the air charged and sizzled.

But he didn’t flirt or smile or try to win her over. Nope, he would rather fawn all over the blonde at the bar who looked a little distracted.

It irritated Ellie.

If blondie made an excuse to get away from him, Ellie would laugh with glee. In fact, it was better if the other woman wasn’t interested in Mike. He needed a couple slices of crow and humble pie. The guy was wound too tight and thought he was Mr. Perfect.

Blondie seemed to be laughing over something Mike said though, and the spacy look was out of her eyes. He had her full attention now, and Ellie didn’t even realize she’d started to head over toward them until she felt a hand on her arm.

“Surprise! Wanna get out of here?” Dale Ranney asked, towering over her.

When he’d first approached her at Hall’s Market a few weeks ago, he hadn’t made up an excuse or fed her a cheesy line. He’d just walked over and asked her to grab a drink. No reasons, no small talk. Just straight to the point. She’d given him her number and they’d been texting off and on, but had yet to go out. She’d asked him to hang out tonight, but he’d said he was busy.

His touch didn’t send heat blasting up her arm, but he was charming and entertaining. Sure, he could come off as a cocky dick, but a lot of hot guys were like that. His golden-brown hair, aquamarine eyes, and the dimples in his cheeks made him downright adorable. Spending time with him wouldn’t be a total waste, and if nothing more evolved from it, that was fine.

It was a little rude to drop in on her without a text though. She checked her phone to be sure he hadn’t tried to get a hold of her, but there was nothing.

“I thought you had plans?”

“They ended early.” He flashed her a boyish grin, as if to melt her irritation with his cuteness. “What do you say?”

Part of her almost said no so she could just go home and sleep, but it was Saturday night. Why waste it sitting on the couch watching whatever was on?

“Sure, I just need to get my coat from behind the bar. I’ll meet you by the door in a minute.”

“Okay,” Dale said.

Dale seemed disgruntled that she was making him wait, but too damn bad. She wasn’t his backup plan, and if he didn’t suck it up, she had no problem walking away. No man was worth the aggravation.

She went over to the bar, wedged in right next Mike, and asked Graham for her coat. She felt him tense against her shoulder and she grinned.

Until she started listening to what he was saying.

“I think you’re gorgeous. Some women feel like they have to show off everything to get a man’s attention, but I don’t agree.” He took the blonde’s hand and actually brought it to his lips. “A little mystery is much sexier.”

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