Page 6 of Good at Being Bad (Rock Canyon, Idaho 8)

“She is! She’s stealing my French fries.”

Gracie grabbed a fry as she passed. “She gets it from her mama. What did you do to Ellie? Knock her over the head and stuff her in a closet for later disposal?”

Mike sighed. “She left, and for the record, it’s not my fault that she holds a grudge.”

“I don’t blame her. I’d hold a grudge, too.”

“I know. You forget, I’m the one who listens to your husband complain about how stubborn you were for the twelve years you gave him”—he covered Pip’s ears—“shit.”

“Well, hello handsome! You’re awake!” Gracie bent over and came up with her son, who looked a little drowsy, and addressed Mike, “But now we’re happily married with two kids. So, you never know.”

Mike paused with a fry halfway to his lips. “Are you suggesting I’m going to marry Eleanor Willis? She’s a kid.”

“Twenty-four is not a kid.”

“It is when I’m thirty-four!”

Gracie huffed at him as she hauled the chair around the desk next to him. While he’d been shocked still, Pip had stolen the fry right out of his hand.

Little imp.

He picked up his burger and took a big, juicy bite. God, he could live on Jenson’s bacon burgers—morning, noon, and night.

Gracie covered Ian with her breast-feeding shield and kicked off her heels. As she placed her feet on his leg, he gave her a baleful look. “I am eating.”

She wiggled her toes in response. “So? They don’t stink, and besides, when you’re done stuffing your face with the burger I bought, I figured you could rub a girl’s aching tootsies.”

“I’m not touching your creepy E.T. toes. That’s what your husband is for.”

Gracie kicked him with a laugh. “You are such a jerk sometimes.”

“Mommy,” Pip said in a warning tone. “That’s not nice.”

“Sorry, love.” Gracie stuck her tongue out at Mike when Pip was distracted by his food. “Why do I put up with you?”

Mike swallowed another bite before answering. “Because you feel sorry for me because no woman will have me?”

“Please, I do not. You are a total catch, when you aren’t in a mood. What happened to the nice guy I used to know who was always joking around and smiling?”

Mike was reluctant to tell her the truth because in true Gracie form, she’d want to fix everything. If he told her that business was down and he might have to give up this space, she’d offer to cover his rent. He didn’t want her money or pity, so he kept silent.

“I guess having women break my heart over and over has finally caught up with me.”

“I didn’t break your heart, did I, Uncle Mike?” Pip asked.

Mike kissed her brown curls. “Nope, you’ll always be my girl.”

Gracie leaned over and squeezed his shoulder. “You just haven’t met the right one yet. You always go for these damsels in distress and expect them to fall for you because you saved them or whatever. You need to stop chasing and become the prey.”

“The prey? Seriously?”

“Hear me out. Women like a man who isn’t too available. A challenge, and if he’s a little bad, all the better.”

Mike made a face. “So all these years that women have been saying they want a nice guy was just a load of crap?”

“We do want a nice guy, but we also like a little excitement. A little danger.”

Mike chucked Pip under the chin. “Don’t listen to any of this, okay? Uncle Mike won’t be able to handle it if you come home one day on the back of some delinquent’s motorcycle.”