Page 81 of Good at Being Bad (Rock Canyon, Idaho 8)

“Thanks, Dad.” She took a step into the room and saw Val, Justin, and Carter on one side, and Caroline, Gabe, and…

Some guy she’d never met before.

“Eleanor, this is Bryun Kline. I mentioned him on the phone a few weeks ago,” her father said.

Ah, the senator’s son. How had she not realized this was going to be an ambush?

Bryun stood up and held his hand out to her. He was a tall man with dark hair and crystal-blue eyes. He was good-looking, clean-cut, and under any other circumstances, she might have been interested if she hadn’t been caught up in Mike and if her father hadn’t set her up without her permission.

“It’s good to meet you, Ellie. Your father has gone on and on, and I can see why.”

Someone made a gagging sound and Ellie was pretty sure it was Caroline.

“Hi, Bryun. I apologize if I seem a little surprised but I wasn’t expecting you.”

Bryun pulled out the chair next to his. “Well, I am hoping it was a happy surprise. I am excited to get to know you better.”

When Bryun wasn’t looking, Ellie shot her father a furious glance, to which he just shrugged.

This was not how she’d imagined this day.

As they started loading their plates, Ellie caught Gabe’s eye. “Hey Gabe, thanks for fixing Mike’s motorcycle.”

Her brother in laws brow furrowed. “What do you mean?”

Ellie paused with a forkful of eggs poised in front of her mouth. “Mike’s bike. He said you were fixing it.”

“No, Mike couldn’t afford it. He’s supposed to let me know if they find out who did it, but until then, it’s just sitting in my garage.”

Why had Mike lied? Was it to spare her feelings of guilt? Or was he embarrassed?

“How much will it be to fix it?” she asked.

“About ten grand.”

Ellie didn’t have that, not until October. The only way to get her hands on that much cash would be to ask her dad and he’d probably want her kidney for it.

Or her firstborn child, happily conceived from her union to Bryun.

“What is this about a motorcycle?” her father asked.

“My friend, Mike Stevens, has his motorcycle destroyed by the same person who slashed my tires.”

Her dad frowned. “Why would they do that?”

“I don’t really know.”

“I see.”

The rest of breakfast passed with banal chitchat, but when it was over, Ellie walked over to her dad and whispered, “Can I speak to you privately?”

“In my office. I will be along shortly.”

Ellie sat down, and waited impatiently. When he stepped into the room, he didn’t even wait for her to speak.

“How much do you need?”

She opened her mouth the protest, but what was the use. “I would like to borrow ten grand.”