Page 69 of Good at Being Bad (Rock Canyon, Idaho 8)

Mike’s countenance was grim. “I don’t know. It could be. I can’t imagine he liked me dumping sports drink on him after knocking him on his ass.”

Ellie couldn’t stop the laugh that bubbled up. “I have a hard time feeling sorry for him.”

Mike’s mouth twitched. “Yeah, me, too.”

As he pulled out his phone and called the cops, Ellie went back inside to get her pants on. She couldn’t shake the feeling that she should tell Mike to stay away, that she was more trouble than she was worth, but not having Mike around hurt. Sure, it had only been a few weeks, but besides Jenny, he was the closest thing she had to a friend. Just knowing he was around made her feel safe and secure, something she hadn’t experienced since she was a child.

Maybe my feelings for Mike are more than just attraction and lust?

But caring about a man like Mike was dangerous to her already mangled heart. If she fell for him, eventually they were going to have the talk about the future and what they wanted. Could he handle the fact that she wasn’t Miss Together?

What was making her crazy is trying to figure out who was behind the vandalism. It could very well be Forrest, but it seemed extreme to Ellie that he would do this over a woman he had only been dating a few weeks. And as for the people in town that hated her, that number had been dwindling with Mike’s support.

Or so it seemed.

Ellie walked back outside and found Mike standing in the garage. Sam Weathers had his notepad out and was taking down whatever Mike was saying. Ellie caught the tail end of the conversation as she came to stand next to Mike.

“I’ll go by Forrest’s place and ask him where he was last night, but without a witness, it will be very hard to sort this mess out,” Sam said, glancing at Ellie. “I really think a camera system would help.”

“I’ll take care of it today,” Mike said.

“How?” Ellie asked.

“I have a few wireless systems in the shop. I’ll see which one will work the best and then set it up after work tonight.”

“I’ll let you know what I find out, Mike,” Sam said, touching his hat brim. “Ellie.”

Sam walked towards his cruiser, and Ellie frowned at Mike. “Well, he’s kind of useless, isn’t he?”

“He’s just afraid to rock too many boats. We’ll get the cameras set up and go from there.”

“Even if we get camera proof, is Deputy Dip Shit going to do anything?” Ellie asked.

“Yeah, Sam is a good cop, but he’d kind of an optimist. It’s hard for him to imagine people capable of this kind of thing.”

Ellie hesitated, before glancing at the c

lock on her phone. “I should make sure Jenny is okay.”

“I’m just going to take some pictures for my insurance.”

“I really hate that you have to install cameras because of me,” she grumbled.

Mike kissed her forehead, his hand cupping the back of her neck. “It’s only for a little while. Whoever they are, they’re escalating. They’ll be back.”

“How do you know that?” Her forehead was tingling where his lips had touched her skin.

“I watch a lot of Criminal Minds,” Mike said, grinning.

“Let me guess, you think Morgan is hot?”

“Oh, yeah, bring on the Chocolate Thunder,” Mike said.

Ellie burst out laughing, and didn’t even have time to close her mouth or catch her breath before Mike was kissing her. His tongue swept inside to tangle with hers, and she melted into him as his other arm went around her lower back. Her lips pulsed by the time he pulled back, being thoroughly sucked and nipped.

“I like you,” Mike said suddenly, startling her.

Ellie’s throat tightened a little, and her voice sounded breathless as she said, “I like you, too.”

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