Page 72 of Good at Being Bad (Rock Canyon, Idaho 8)

I liked sleeping with you last night.

Mike grinned and tapped out a response. I like the fact that my pillow smells like you.

Maybe you can come over tomorrow and scent my pillow?

Mike’s heart thundered in his chest. Are you asking me to come over and stay the night?

Yes.

What time?”

Come over at five. I’ll make you dinner.

I’ll be there.

Ellie regretted telling Mike no, but it was hard to rationalize putting him and his property in danger while someone wanted to hurt her.

She sat on the couch, dipping Oreos in milk, as Jenny came through the door with a slam.

Only when she turned around, it wasn’t just Jenny, but Caroline and Val as well.

“I wasn’t sure what would cheer you up, so I brought Bridget Jones, How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days, and Magic Mike,” Caroline said.

“Please say Magic Mike!” Jenny said.

“That movie has a terrible plot,” Ellie said. B

oth women’s eyes widened and as they looked at each other, they burst out laughing.

“You do not watch Magic Mike for its plot. You watch it for the half-naked sexy men,” Caroline said.

“I haven’t seen Bridget Jones in a while and Colin Firth only gets hotter,” Ellie said.

“Hell, yeah, he does.” Jenny grabbed a bag of chips and a Coke from Ellie’s snack pile, she held them in from of her and deepened her voice. “To the living room!”

Ellie and Caroline laughed. Ellie was hoping that the movie would distract her so she wouldn’t think about Mike.

Until Colin turned around in that ridiculous reindeer sweater and all Ellie could think about was that his eyes reminded her of Mike’s.

Chapter Twenty-Two

Travis eyed Mike with concern as he took another shot of Patron.

“Maybe you should slow down, buddy,” It was almost ten, and Drew, Travis, Gabe, and Mike had been at Buck’s long enough for Mike to be past buzzed and getting into full-on fucked up.

“Believe me, I need this.”

“Dude, I never would have asked you to come out with us if I thought it was going to be a pity party,” Drew said.

Mike clenched his fists in frustration, wishing that they would just let him drink and stop worrying about him. “It’s not. I am chasing my troubles away.”

Only Gabe had kept his mouth shut, but then again, Gabe wasn’t someone who got involved in other people’s business. Mike liked him, even if the first time they met Mike had been taking out Gabe’s now wife, Caroline. It seemed so long ago now, especially since Ellie wouldn’t get out of his head.

Mike wasn’t mad that she’d decided to stay in tonight. It was probably better anyway, considering how pissed off he was at life.

“Hey, Stevens, how are you enjoying my seconds?”

Forrest’s snide shout broke into his thoughts like an axe through a door. Mike stiffened and turned on the barstool to face the turd, who was flanked by Walt and Wayne Coulter, sneers on their stupid faces.