Page 45 of Good at Being Bad (Rock Canyon, Idaho 8)

He hung up, and shoved the phone back in his pocket. It was probably a good thing she was putting some distance between them. He hated being the subject of gossip and there was no doubt that hanging with Ellie would lead to not just Miss Know-It-All sticking her nose into his life, but every other good-natured soul would be giving him advice. It was the way it had always been, from the time he was the skinny kid getting bullied in school.

Only as an adult, the advice cropped up when he drew attention to himself. So, if word got around that Ellie and he were more than friends, the razzing and helpful tips would start up. It had happened when he’d first really started pursuing Gemma, and when he’d lost her. All the good-natured clucking and positive quotes had been humiliating.

His phone rang and he jumped, then grabbed for his back pocket excitedly. When Drew’s face popped up on the screen, Mike swallowed his disappointment as he answered. “Hey, what’s up?”

“Guys’ night, man! The new Seth Rogan movie is out and we are seeing it! We got a group going because I think a few of the guys need a night away from their women.”

“I tho

ught you were itching to get back to work?” Mike asked.

“I’m hoping the doctor clears me next week before the alumni football game so I can play, but until he tells me I’m good to go, I’ll be taking advantage of being home.”

“What about the woman who’s going to make you change your ways?” Mike asked.

“I’m working on her, but I can’t ignore my career. I need to get back out there so they remember who I am. Getting injured sucks.”

“I bet.” Mike didn’t even bother bringing up retiring. Drew wasn’t ready to hang it up, even though he was pushing thirty-seven and there were younger guys fighting for his position.

“Anyway, I’ll come by and pick you up around seven, and we’ll go grab something to eat. Maybe a few beers.”

“Yeah, sure, sounds great.” His call waiting beeped and he saw Ellie’s number pop up. “Hey, man, I’ll talk to you later.”

Clicking over quickly, he said, “I was beginning to think you were avoiding me.”

“Me, avoid you? Never.” Her tone had a nervous edge to it. “Are you still at your shop? I have a little bit before I have to be at Buck’s and I can swing by to get my laptop.”

“Yeah, sure, I’ll be here.” He glanced at the clock on the wall. It was five after five in the afternoon, and he should have locked up already, but he could wait a few more minutes. He’d stayed open for other people.

Except she’s not just other people and you want to see her.

Mike finished packing up the rest of his stuff and slid on the leather jacket Ellie had bought him. When she walked through the door, he gave her a cool once over, even though his pulse leaped at his first look at her.

She was wearing an off-the-shoulder blouse and faded jeans, her hair in a messy topknot. She gave him a tentative smile. “Hey.”

“Hey.”

“Where’s my puppy?” she asked.

“I hired a puppy sitter. Kind of. He’s at Gemma and Travis’s, being puppy-sat by their son, Charlie.”

Ellie appeared disappointed. “Ah, I see. Well, I believe you have something of mine?”

Mike held out the laptop with the bill on top. “I went ahead and did a complete overhaul on it, including a hard drive replacement and file backup.”

“That sounds expensive,” Ellie said, looking at the bill. Her brow furrowed and she glanced up at him curiously. “Or not as bad as I thought.”

“I gave you the friends and family discount.” Mike could feel his cheeks flush as she continued to stare at him, and he added, “I figured I owed you for all the help.”

Ellie set the computer and bill on the workbench to her left before speaking. “Look, about last night. I shouldn’t have behaved that way with you. We need to keep this professional.”

“So, what do you suggest?” Mike asked.

“Well, I was thinking we could have another fresh start, only this time, I really mean it. Respect each other and just get back to the goal.”

“You mean the rules?” Mike waited until she nodded before he smiled. “We could do that.”

She seemed to melt with relief, until he added, “Or, you could come for a ride with me. You said yourself you wanted to ride on my bike.”

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