Page 55 of Bad For Me (Rock Canyon, Idaho 5)

“You need to stay off it,” he said.

“Thank you, Sergeant Obvious. I guess that would explain the funny hitch in my giddy-up.”

“I can help you out to your car. You’re just being stubborn.”

Yeah, she was, but for good reason. She didn’t like relying on anyone. And if she were to allow any man to put his hands on her and help her, it would have been the sexy, sleeping one she’d left this morning.

Callie had sent Everett a text around five, afraid if she sent it too early it would wake him. It had taken her three drafts before she’d finally sent Thank you so much for taking care of me. And all he’d sent back was, You’re welcome.

It was so curt that the “maybe you shouldn’t have snuck out without a word” conversation she’d had with herself now seemed to have some serious merit. He was obviously upset with her, but it had seemed cheesy as hell to send You were just so adorable sleeping, I couldn’t wake you.

Dalton’s hands grabbed her as she stumbled a bit, and she gave him an ugly look. “I made it to work today all by my lonesome, and I will make it home the same way.” She shook his hand off as she made it to the studio door. Dave and Sam both stood off to the side, hands in the air like she was packing heat.

Dalton wasn’t as bright.

“It won’t hurt you to just lean on someone else for once.” She ignored him as she led Ratchet to the front of the station. Honestly, Callie was already tired from hopping around on one foot all morning. She stopped in front of the door, breathing hard, and waved her hand. “Fine. Can you hold the door open for me?”

That adorable boyish smile appeared. “I’d be happy to.”

Caroline’s comment about Dalton’s possibly having a crush on Callie popped into her mind, and Callie looked away from his barely legal cuteness. She did not need him getting the wrong idea.

Especially when she had some pretty major feelings going for Everett.

So what should she do? Should she call him and apologize? Show up on his step with a tube of cookie dough and offer to make him cookies?

No, that was something she’d have done as a teenager, not a grown-ass woman.

Outside, she walked the ten feet to her car and saw Everett’s old beat-up truck parked next to her Jeep. He was sitting in the driver’s seat, watching her. Callie stopped moving, but Dalton plowed into her back, catching her when she started to tip forward.

“Whoa, sorry. Why did you stop?”

Everett’s door opened, and he stepped out.

“Oh,” Dalton said.

Callie wasn’t looking at Dalton, though. She was too busy watching Everett lumber toward them, his mouth twitching like he was fighting a smile.

Wait—if he was mad at her, why would he be trying not to smile?

“So she wouldn’t let you help her either?”

“Nope,” Dalton said, chuckling. “She’s stubborn as a mule and twice as—”

“Hey, I am standing here, and try to remember, I’m your boss.”

“I was gonna say twice as cute,” Dalton said.

“Right.”

Everett was standing in front of her now, looking down at her with those light brown eyes that made her knees weak. Of course, that made her tip a little, and Everett reached out to cup her elbow, warming her skin through her sweater.

“I’ll take care of her; don’t worry. I know how to handle her.”

“Handle me?” She’d meant to come off sounding threatening, but her indignation sounded a little squeaky. Though that might have been because he’d stepped a little closer, and the strength of his body was giving her flashbacks to their hot-and-heavy make-out session last night.

“Yep, just like a wild filly,” he deadpanned.

Ratchet had the nerve to nuzzle Everett’s outstretched hand and then lean into him. Traitor.