Page 28 of Bad For Me (Rock Canyon, Idaho 5)

“Fine, I’ll just call you Callie, the ass conqueror,” Caroline said as she parked in front of Jensen’s.

“I’m sorry for being snotty. I just . . . it’s hard for me to open up about stuff,” Callie said.

Caroline turned the car off and twisted in the seat to face her. “And I get that, believe me. The past is a murky pile of shit, but I figured after being friends for a while, I’d eventually know something personal about you. Like whether or not you were into dudes or had a boyfriend.”

“Believe me, I like dudes. I’m just not . . . dating anyone,” Callie said quickly, but something struck her about how Caroline had said it. “Did someone ask if I was seeing anyone?”

“Well, actually, Jenny Andrews, who is living with Ellie, mentioned that her friend was interning for you and that he talks about you all the time,” Caroline said before opening the car door.

“Dalton?” Callie laughed.

“Yeah, I think that was his name. Anyway, she thought he might have a crush on you, and I thought you might want to know. In case he’s cute.”

“Are you kidding me? He’s a kid! Barely legal!”

“That didn’t stop Mrs. Robinson.” Caroline winked in the dome light.

“Gross, dude; you are a perve.”

“There’s my friend, Callie. I missed her.”

Caroline climbed out of the car, and Callie followed suit.

“Look, I prefer men. I like them older, taller, and I like a nice set of broad shoulders.”

And if he has light brown eyes and an easy smile, all the better.

“Oh, yum. Who would have thought we’d have the same type?” Caroline opened the door to the restaurant and held it for Callie.

Callie walked through, talking over her shoulder to Caroline. “Wrong. You like bad boys with motorcycles. I prefer nice guys who—”

Callie walked smack into someone. “Oh, I’m so sorry, I wasn’t paying”—Callie looked up into Everett’s light brown eyes and swallowed hard—“attention.”

How had this happened? What were the odds?

“We have to stop meeting like this.”

“HEY, EVERETT.”

Everett looked beyond Callie to find Caroline holding the door open. He took a step back, pulling Callie along with him and almost plowed into his dad.

“Sorry, Dad.”

“It’s all right, son.”

But Everett wasn’t even looking at Fred, although he was suddenly glad he’d decided to go to dinner with him. With Justin and Valerie doing a bunch of wedding and baby stuff, he and his dad were left to their own devices most nights. He’d been ready to make a frozen pizza and read, but his dad had convinced him that Jensen’s sounded better than anything in his fridge.

Who would have thought it would lead to bumping into Callie and having her just about fall into his arms?

“Hey, Caroline,” Everett said before his gaze strayed back to Callie. Caroline had been to the farm many times because of Val, so he didn’t need to introduce her, but he was excited for his dad to meet Callie. It was stupid and corny, but he wanted his dad to like her too.

“Callie, this is my father, Fred. Dad, this is Callie Jacobsen. She is the deejay Val and Justin hired.”

Callie looked a bit like a deer in the headlights for a moment, but then she surprised the hell out of him by smiling brightly at his dad. Her lips wobbled a little, but she reached out her hand to Fred. “Hi, Fred. How are you?”

Fred pulled Callie in for a hug, further shocking Everett. “I’m good, Callie girl. Just had a big dinner and discussed the Harvest Festival next week. Everett isn’t much for crowds but has agreed to help set up, since it’s such a big job.”

“That’s wonderful. Caroline was just telling me about it in the car. I’ll still see you Monday, though?”