Page 87 of Good at Being Bad (Rock Canyon, Idaho 8)

As Ellie tried to calm the tremors in her hands, she wondered why the hell she was so nervous. She had been paraded around by her father her whole life. She could handle one family.

Squaring her shoulders, she breathed easier when Mike walked out of the kitchen and reached for her hand. As warmth traveled from her palm and all the way up her arm to settle around her heart, she responded to the voice in her head.

Because he’s standing beside me.

How had Mike become her rock, her calming influence after a few short weeks? It was as though all her doubts and the scars of the past melted away the minute he walked into the room.

God, she was turning into a romantic, sappy bastard.

Chapter Twenty-Six

Mike stood in the kitchen of his parent’s house scrubbing dishes. He watched out the window as Ellie sat with his aunts and uncles, smiling and laughing with them.

It felt good that she could get along with his family. Even his mother had warmed up after both desserts had disappeared.

“Your Ellie seems to be charming everyone,” his dad said behind him.

“She’s great, isn’t she?”

“She’s a sweet girl.” The way his dad said it let Mike know there was a but coming. “You two seem to be in two totally different places in life.”

“What do you mean?” Mike asked.

“Well, you have a business, a home, and you know what you want. Sounds to me as though she hasn’t figured out anything for herself yet.”

“And?”

“I just don’t want you to waste your time waiting on someone who might be looking at a different future than what you imagine for yourself.”

“Did mom put you up to this?” Mike asked.

“Your mother has her faults, but she doesn’t make me do anything. I am worried about you putting your li

fe on hold to make it work with this girl and being disappointed.”

Mike grabbed a towel to dry his hands, irritated. “Like you said, I’m a grown man. I know my own mind and I want Ellie. She’s what I see when I think of the future.”

“Maybe so, son. But does she see you?”

Mike thought about what his dad said the whole was back to Ellie’s place. When he pulled into her driveway and parked, Mike didn’t say anything.

“I liked your family. I get that your mom didn’t want me to bring anything, but I think we hit it off.”

“Yeah, they all loved you,” he said.

Ellie leaned across the seat and kissed him. “Do you want to come in and enjoy some alone time? Jenny is crashing at Dalton’s tonight, so we have the whole place to ourselves.”

Mike pushed away the doubts and heavy thoughts and smiled. “Sure, sounds good.”

Ellie could tell Mie was distracted and it made her insecure about his family. Had someone told him they didn’t like her? She didn’t feel comfortable asking him specifics but…

She stopped in the middle of the walkway and turned to face him in the porch light.

“What’s going on?”

“What do you mean?’

“You’re acting funny, lie you’re upset with me.”