Page 38 of Good at Being Bad (Rock Canyon, Idaho 8)

Ellie’s skin was too thick to take offense to an insult from a worm like Wayne Coulter. With a snarky smile, Ellie said, “Oh, Wayne, about 99.9 percent of the population is better than you.”

Wayne’s hand gripped her arm hard. “What did you say? You better apologize or I’m going to smack that smart mouth of yours and teach you the manners your mother forgot.”

“Don’t you talk about my mother, you redneck bastard,” Ellie yelled, trying to jerk her arm out of his painful grip.

An arm went around Wayne’s throat, and Ellie looked up to meet Mike’s hard eyes. Wayne released her arm, and Mike jerked him off his feet and slammed him to the ground.

Ellie saw Dalton lift Jenny out of the way just as Graham grabbed Mike and pulled him off a dazed Wayne.

“Go home and cool off, Mike,” Graham said.

Dalton had Jenny up on the barstool next to him, and she didn’t look happy about the big man’s protection.

Mike stood up, his gaze never leaving Ellie’s. “Let’s go. Come on, Jenny.”

“I’ve got her,” Dalton said.

Jenny gave him an arch look. “Oh, you do, do you?”

“Jenny, I’d really like to drive you home, if that’s alright with you. There are some things I need to tell you.”

Whatever Jenny saw in his expression, she said, “You guys go ahead.”

“Fine. Ellie,” Mike said, his tone hard and commanding.

Ellie followed Mike to the door, her stomach turning a bit as they stepped outside and she was hit with a cloud of smoke wafting from a group of people huddled together bullshitting.

“Ugh.”

Mike came back and put his arm around her, leading her toward his SUV.

“I hate that guy,” Ellie said when they got to his car. She leaned against the cold metal, and laying her hot cheek to it felt amazing.

“Wayne Coulter?” Mike asked. At her nod, he laughed. “I’m sure you aren’t the only one to think Wayne is a piece of shit, but you were antagonizing him, Ellie. You could have been hurt.”

“There you go, being sexist again. Why can’t a girl take care of herself?”

“I’m sure you could if you were sober.”

“I had one shot!”

“Then why are you provoking Wayne and starting shit in your place of work?”

“Whoa there, judgey asshat, I started nothing. That prick told me I should get on my knees for him, and I told him where to go. Then, he threatened to smack me. So, if there is something wrong with me defending myself, then there is something wrong with society. I have the right to have a fun night with my friend without some dick harassing me.”

Mike actually looked shame faced. “I agree, whole heartedly, but there are guys out there who don’t care. If you come at them and make them look stupid, they will hurt you.”

“It wouldn’t be the first time.”

Mike grimaced. “I’m sorry, Ellie. I just want you to be careful when you’re on your own.”

“I am a single woman. I am on my own 99 percent of the time, and if you think I’m going to let a guy bully and degrade me because of what he might do, then you are delusional.”

“Okay, fine, but you also jump to a lot of conclusions and tend to emasculate in extreme ways.”

“Really? Cause that doesn’t seem to affect my dating life. I have guys asking me out all the time. I just have to crook my finger and guys come running.”

Mike took her elbow but instead of helping her inside, he continued to watch her, his mouth flat. “Why didn’t you call one of them to come get you, Ellie?”