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

Ian let out a hefty burp, and Gracie crooned, “That was great, baby.” She continued to rub his back as she focused on Mike again. “Look, I am just saying that sometimes you need to adjust the presentation in order to attract the right girl. You’re a nice guy, but…”

He didn’t bother listening to whatever came next. He’d heard it all before.

Mike, you are such a nice guy, but…

B

ut. It always came down to the but.

He really didn’t understand it. He was no longer the rail-thin techy nerd he’d been in high school. Strength training had added fifty pounds of muscle since then. He had interests beyond the computer repair business he’d build for himself. Women didn’t hide their attraction to him.

So what was it about the long run that always left him alone? His longest relationship, Ashley Greene for ten months, had even told him when she dumped him that he was just too nice. What the fuck did that even mean—that because he wasn’t a self-centered douche bag, he didn’t deserve someone?

The door to the shop opened and Drew Carlson, his friend Gemma’s older brother, ducked inside, looking every bit the pro-football cornerback. Drew was six-foot-four and two hundred twenty-five pounds of raging fury on the field, he was fast and hard to take down. Off the field, he was a good guy. Drew and Mike had gotten to know each other well over the years, especially since Mike had spent so much time at the Carlsons’ home in high school.

After graduation, when Drew would come home to visit Gemma, Mike and Drew hung out more and more, but since he’d been drafted, and his mom lived in Boise, Drew’s presence had been scarcer, so they hadn’t really talked much until Gemma and Travis’s wedding.

Mike noticed the subtle limp in Drew’s gait. Drew had been tackled hard by two linemen on the Raiders back in January after he’d intercepted a pass. His ankle had turned with five hundred pounds bearing down on him, snapping the bone and nearly every ligament. It had killed the Idaho Grizzlies’ chance at the Superbowl, and they had lost the play-off game by one field goal.

The doctors had tried to advise him to retire, but Drew wasn’t ready to give up.

“What’s up, Stevens?” Drew came around the desk and held out his hand to Mike.

Mike stood up, and set Pip on his chair. He took the hand Drew offered him and gave it a squeeze. “It’s been too long, man.”

“Yeah, I know, but at least this bum leg is good for something. A friend of mine drove me out here to visit Gemma and stick around for the alumni game in a few weeks. Hopefully I can prove I’m not done playing.”

“Ehem.” Gracie coughed loudly.

Drew’s gaze traveled over Gracie in obvious appreciation. “Gracie, you’re as pretty as ever.” Drew smiled at Pip, who was scrunching down into Mike’s chair. “Hey, Pippy. Don’t you remember me?”

Pip jumped off the chair and ran to hide behind her mom.

Gracie laughed. “Ah, Drew, still slaying the ladies, I see.”

“Apparently, I’m losing my touch.” Drew turned back to Mike, and asked, “I was coming by to see if you wanted to go out for some beers later?”

Mike really wasn’t in the mood to go out and bullshit, no matter how good it was to see Drew. He didn’t like to use the word hermit, but really, that was an apt description. Then again, if he was going to meet someone new, he wasn’t going to do that sitting at home binge-watching Gold Rush.

There was Ellie’s computer to fix, and the sooner he got it done, the closer he would be to getting his business back in the black.

“Look, man, I’d love to, but I got a lot of work—”

“Oh, please take him,” Gracie interrupted. “He’s become pathetic.”

Mike scowled at her. “Thanks, pal. Hey, don’t you have to get back home or something?”

“Nope, I’m good. Seriously, Drew, he has been such a homebody lately. I think it’s because his love life bites.”

Mike’s fingers curled as he resisted the urge to shake her. As if he wanted his dry spell advertised to a guy who had women running to him with barely a crook of his finger.

Gracie stood up and went over to put her now-sleeping son into his car seat. “On second thought, I get the feeling Mike might impale me with one of his tools if I don’t beat it, but it was good to see you, Drew.”

“You, too.”

Gracie held her hand out to Pip. “Come on, love. Let’s go get ice cream.”

Pip gave Mike a half a hug and raced to her mother.

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