Page 67 of Good at Being Bad (Rock Canyon, Idaho 8)

Ellie pulled out her phone and pressed Jenny’s name.

“Hey, where did you two go?”

“We’re in the parking lot. Is Dalton with you?”

“Yeah, he’s staying over. What about you? Are we having another guest tonight?”

“No, I’m going to his place.”

Jenny squealed. “You are telling me everything tomorrow.”

“You’re as nosy as your mother!” Ellie teased.

“I can’t believe you said that!”

“I’m kidding. I love you. Make sure the front door is locked before you go to bed.”

“You got it. Have fun.”

“Bye.”

“Good night.”

Once she’d slipped the phone in her pocket, Mike took her hand and led her around to the passenger side, opening the door for her. “You ready?”

Ellie’s stomach somersaulted with a mixture of excitement and nervousness. “I am.”

By the time they got back to Mike’s place, it was almost eleven. They swung by Gracie’s to grab Smalls, but Eric answered the door to inform him that Gracie wasn’t talking to him.

Any other night, Mike would have walked in and confronted her, but Ellie had been waiting in the car for him. The last thing he wanted to do was keep her waiting.

It occurred to him now as he flipped on his living room light that Ellie was planning on staying the night with him. Did that mean just to sleep because she was scare of the person who’d slashed her tires, or did she want more comfort than that?

Mike’s heart started hammering as he imagined sleeping with Ellie, reaching out and touching her. Pulling her into his body and rolling her beneath until he was inside, bringing them both to heaven. “Should I sleep on the couch? I can let you have my bed.”

“Don’t be ridiculous. We can share a bed. Two people can do that without screwing, you know.”

So, he was a little disappointed. He was a guy. “I get it. I’m glad you trust me to respect your boundaries.”

“If you tried anything, I would just tell Smalls to eat balls.”

Mike eyeballed his puppy, who cocked his head at him. “Yeah, that’s terrifying.”

“I know, right? Can I use your bathroom?”

“Yeah, you know where it is. Do you want to watch some TV?”

“Actually, I’m tired. Do you mind if I crash?”

“Not at all.”

“Thanks. For letting me stay.”

When she disappeared into the guest bathroom, he went back to his room and picked up his clothes from earlier. He tossed them in the hamper and then used his master bathroom to get ready for bed.

By the time he got done with the bedroom and came back, Ellie was under the covers, with Smalls sleeping right next to her in the middle of the bed.

“Dog, you’re a spoiled brat.”

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