Page 86 of Bad For Me (Rock Canyon, Idaho 5)

“Now don’t be silly. You’ve heard me talk dirty. I start talking about sliding my hands—”

His father cleared his throat behind him.

“What was that?” Callie asked.

“My dad. Who doesn’t know when to make himself scarce.”

“Oh my God, were you saying that stuff in front of Fred?”

“He couldn’t hear me.” Everett pointed toward the door, hoping his father would take the hint, but he just stayed put and muttered something Everett couldn’t hear.

“I’m going to die of embarrassment,” Callie moaned into the phone. “I have to go.”

After she hung up, Everett turned back to his father, scowling. “Don’t you have an elsewhere to be?”

“And miss out on the chance to torture my eldest son? Nope, I’m free as a bird.”

CALLIE HAD TAGGED along with Gemma and Gracie, who’d wanted to go to Twin Falls to pick up a few things for the baby shower. Even though it was still two weeks away, Gemma didn’t want to forget a thing, and Callie just wanted to kill some time.

She was definitely not looking forward to the Halloween ball, which was why she never volunteered to host it. She preferred to spend Halloween locked inside her house with Ratchet and her Buffy box set, but there’d been no one else to handle it.

But the worst part was not being with Everett—although his suggestion of a slumber party did thrill her to her toes. They still hadn’t had sex, not because she didn’t want to, but after her botched seduction, she’d decided to let him take the lead. And though they’d made out and gotten into some heavy petting, he’d been handling her with kid gloves since.

Which was frustrating as hell, especially when all she could think about was having her way with his sexy ass.

Gracie pulled into the Magic Valley Mall parking lot, which was the biggest shopping mall around, unless they wanted to drive to Boise, which none of them did.

“That is so awesome that you are going to DJ the ball tonight,” Gracie gushed as they climbed out of her car.

“Oh, yeah, woo.” Callie waved her finger in a whooptie-doo circle.

“Who the hell are you? How does anyone hate Halloween? Halloween is an excuse for a plain-Jane to dress up like Cinderella or a sexy pirate and to score some midnight booty.” Gracie closed one eye and made her hand like a hook. “Argh.”

Gemma laughed loudly, while Callie rolled her eyes, fighting a smile. “I’m not interested in anyone’s booty.”

“Not even Everett’s?” Gemma asked, giving Callie a sly look.

Callie flushed.

Gracie whooped as Callie held the door to the mall open for them. “Oh, she’s interested! Is Everett going with you tonight?”

“No, he’s coming over after, I think.” They walked through the food court, and Callie’s stomach rumbled. She’d forgotten to grab lunch today, but nothing really sounded good.

Except for maybe Everett, naked, with a side of piping-hot sex?

“Callie, have you learned nothing from me? Nothing good happens after eleven at night,” Gracie said. She slowed as they passed by the Buckle and picked up a pair of beautiful cowboy boots on display outside. “Please be on sale. Please be on sale.”

Gracie turned the boots over, and from the way her face fell, Callie assumed they were definitely not on sale.

“Actually, I would like to argue the point that most good things happen after eleven,” Gemma said, grinning.

Exactly. Callie was hoping that tonight was the night. Everett would come over. It would be late, and as they snuggled up in her bed, one thing would lead to another . . . and boom, they’d be knocking boots. So to speak.

Gemma took the boots from Gracie’s hands and set them back on the rack. “You cannot afford three-hundred-dollar boots.”

“How did you know they were three hundred?” Callie asked.

“Because every pair of boots she buys from there are at least that, and it’s why she’s constantly behind on her credit card.”