Page 18 of Bad For Me (Rock Canyon, Idaho 5)

EVERETT DIDN’T SAY another word as he drove, taking a different route so he could pull up behind her Jeep. He’d obviously struck a nerve with her, and despite every gentlemanly fiber of his body telling him to apologize, he couldn’t.

Because he knew he was right about Callie. Even if she wouldn’t admit it.

Hell, he’d been there. When his wife left him, he’d been hurting from the loss of Robbie and then his friendship with Robbie’s wife, Cara. He’d spent so much time alone that he started to think it was better that way. Even when he’d come home, he’d kept his brother and father at a distance, insisting he was fine. Therapy had helped him realize he needed to reconnect with the world so he could move on.

It was obvious from the way Callie behaved that she’d had a rough past. But instead of reaching out, she seemed to prefer being on her own.

The rain was barely drizzling when they arrived, and Everett opened the door to get out.

“I’m sorry I snapped at you.” Her husky voice sounded strained, like the words had cost her.

Never one to hold a grudge, he smiled. “You were right. I was assuming, which makes me an ass.”

Everett heard her soft laugh and closed the door behind him with a smile. He went to work on the tire, ignoring the sound of his truck door opening and closing and her sweet voice as she talked to her dog. The Jeep dipped and when she came around the front alone, he figured she’d put Ratchet inside already.

“I’ve almost got it.”

“Thank you. This was really nice of you, especially when I haven’t given you a reason to be.”

Everett looked up at her, wiping the rain off his face so he could meet her gaze. “You seem to assume that just because people are kind to you, they want something. Sometimes people help because it’s the right thing to do.”

Her gaze shifted away, and he went back to tightening the nuts on the wheel. He’d said his piece, but knew he wasn’t going to convince Callie with words that his intentions were honorable.

He had to prove it to her.

When he finished, he released the jack and gathered up all the tools, sliding them back in the spare tire kit. “I’ll put this and the new tire in the back, and you’ll be good to go. I’ll haul this one off to the dump for you.”

She knelt down next to him and took the kit from him, their fingers brushing. Despite the chill of their skin, heat sizzled between them, sending a shot of awareness down his throat. Her blonde curls were wet and falling out of her messy top knot, and drops of rain were clinging to her cheeks. Before he could stop himself, he traced the pad of his thumb across one, c

atching the cool droplet on his skin. Her amber eyes widened, and he dropped his hand, cursing his impulse.

“Sorry. You had something on your cheek.”

Callie cleared her throat and stood up. “It’s okay.”

He climbed to his feet and couldn’t help wondering if she’d felt something too. Was that why she kept pulling away?

But if she didn’t want him, why was he pushing?

Because she doesn’t treat you like a defective puppy she’d have to fix.

Grabbing her spare tire from the back of his truck, he slid it into the back of her Jeep. She stood back as he closed the door, and he could tell she was nervous—her hands kept twisting.

“Well, you’re all set. You should get home and change out of those wet clothes. If you get sick, I’ll have to listen to one of those ridiculous weekend deejays, and they play nothing but crap.”

Everett started to head back to his truck, but she caught his hand. “Hey.”

Just the touch of her hand sent his heart from a trot to a gallop. He loved the way her soft skin wrapped around his.

Facing her, he waited, afraid to move a muscle and scare her off.

But she moved so fast, he wasn’t prepared when her lips brushed the scarred side of his face. He stiffened as the warmth seeped through his cheek, his stomach twisting up as a thousand thoughts and insecurities made him wince. Had the roughness repelled her? Why hadn’t she picked the untouched side?

“Thank you. For being kind.”

Callie dropped his hand and ran to her car, as if afraid he would come after her. As she started it and pulled forward, he was finally able to move again, backing up a ways to watch her disappear down the road.

Everett’s hand came up to rest against his cheek, and he realized that he’d lied to Callie when he said he didn’t want anything from her.