Return of the Bad Girl (8 page)

“If she does,
what
?” Gabe had shouted.

“She probably won’t be the same girl.”

Gabe had gone berserk, throwing whatever he could reach until nurses had come in and sedated him. He’d cursed Chase, blaming him, and Chase had left.

Only none of it had been Chase’s fault. It was his.

Maybe moving here had been a mistake. It seemed like any time he was around Chase, memories flooded up and crashed over him.

Trying to change the subject, Gabe asked, “So, Katie, why did you freak out when you heard I was rooming with Caroline?”

Katie blushed. “It’s nothing, really—”

“You might as well give up,” Chase said. “My wife doesn’t like to gossip.”

“It’s not gossiping; it’s sharing intel,” Gabe said, relieved when Chase grinned. If he could just break down this wall between them, he could start mending the rift. And then, maybe, they could be real friends again.

Katie opened her mouth, probably to shoot him down, but then Chase said, “Don’t you think he should know what kind of character he’s living with?”

Her cheeks flushed, and she slid off of Chase’s lap into her own chair. “Caroline and I went to school together and would have graduated the same year, but she took off and left town. Nobody really knows why, except that she had a falling out with her father just before.”

Gabe didn’t get why that alone would make Katie look like she was going to shit her pants.

“There’s got to be more to it than that.”

Sighing, she continued. “She just had kind of a wild reputation in high school.”

“Oooooh, a reputation,” Chase teased, and Katie smacked at him.

“What kind of reputation?” Gabe asked.

“With parties and”—Katie paused, looking very uncomfortable—“guys.”

Gabe sat back in his chair with a smile. “So?”

“Nothing. I just remember rumors flying a lot where she was concerned and was surprised when you said you were living together,” Katie said, adding, “I just kind of got the impression you were trying to fly under the radar.”

Ah, so Chase has told her about your past.

Why wouldn’t Chase tell his wife who was coming to dinner? She deserved to know, and the fact that she’d been warm and welcoming made him like her even more. Chase was right about his wife. She was special.

“I am trying to keep a low profile, but I also miscalculated my expenses, and she was there, willing to pay half the rent. I just couldn’t pass it up.”

“I understand,” Katie said.

“So, was she as notorious as her little sister is now?” Chase asked, popping a chip into his mouth.

“Valerie?” Gabe said.

“You met Valerie?” Katie asked.

“Yeah, she came by the apartment earlier.”

“No, not Valerie. Ellie, the youngest. She’s . . . what?” Chase paused, turning to his wife. “Twenty-one?”

“Yes.”

“So, what’s this girl done? Screw the football team?” Gabe joked.

“Probably, but her latest stunt—”

“It’s not nice to gossip, Chase Trepasso,” Katie teased, her blue eyes sparkling.

“I’m just sharing intel.”

Gabe waited for Chase to continue and finally prodded, “Come on, man. Don’t leave me hanging.”

“She was screwing the Thompson brothers, and when one caught her with the other, they started fighting. They plowed through a wall and almost took down the whole barn. I heard from one of my clients that Mr. Thompson was going to sue Ellie’s dad for damages.”

“I didn’t hear that. Who told you?” Katie asked.

Chase pretended he was buttoning his lips. “I cannot reveal my sources.”

While Katie tried to get the truth from Chase, Gabe couldn’t stop his mind from mulling over what kind of dirty deeds his uptight roomie might have committed in high school. Had she been wild like her sister? He’d known from their first meeting that she wasn’t a straight-laced goody-goody, but she was so uptight, he had a hard time imagining her cutting loose and wreaking havoc.

Whatever it is, it’s in the past. Don’t dig at hers, and she won’t dig at yours.

“What did you think about her, Gabe?” Katie’s question broke into his thoughts.

“Sorry, what?”

“What was your impression of Caroline?”

That she would look great on her back, lying across your bed.

“Just that she’s stubborn, angry, and probably going to be a giant pain in the ass.”

They both laughed, and Katie patted his hand. “Don’t let her get to you. Remember, it’s only a temporary arrangement.”

Gabe appreciated the encouragement, but it was hard not to react to Caroline, especially when she got all bossy. Man, was she hot with her eyes flashing and that long dark hair falling around her shoulders. She was definitely the type of woman men chased after.

But not me.

Chapter Seven

“The Spice Girls once sang, ‘Friendship never ends.’ Apparently, they’d never fallen for the same guy. Or seen the movie
Heathers
.”

—Miss Know It All

C
AROLINE WAS CURLED
up on her new couch the next day, running her hand over the soft leathery fabric. She’d spent one last night at her sister’s house, only to be woken at two in the morning by Ellie and a few of her friends’ raucous laughter. It had gone on so late that Caroline hadn’t fallen back asleep until six o’clock and almost missed her alarm to let the movers in. When she’d arrived at the apartment, Gabe was gone, but the truck had arrived right on time.

Looking around the blank walls, she thought about checking out the thrift stores and maybe even an art studio. It would be nice to bring in some artwork to match the colors in the coffee table and the rest of the furniture. She’d already picked up sheets for her new bed and some other things at Target, and after unpacking her meager belongings into her new dresser drawers, she was eager to get out and do something.

What she should be doing was promoting the consulting business she was trying to get off the ground. She’d already been getting plenty of interest online—especially from several bars in Chicago and New York—but she also wanted to work locally, which meant hitting up the local bars and pitching her abilities.

After a brief shower, she threw on a tunic sweater and a pair of comfy jeans with her tennis shoes. It was April in Idaho, and the weather was unpredictable; by the looks of the dark clouds rolling in, she assumed rain was coming their way. She grabbed her business-card holder, figuring she’d stop off at Hank’s Bar—since it was right on the Main Street—before she shopped for décor.

She stopped by Chloe’s Book Nook first, pasting a pleasant smile on her face. She definitely wasn’t over the mistake Gemma and her husband had made, but she was in such a good mood, she was willing to overlook it. The bell over the door dinged as she entered, and Gemma stopped talking to another woman to glance her way, blinking behind a pair of black-framed glasses.

“Hey, Caroline. How are you?”

“Fine. Just stopping in to see what you’ve got,” Caroline said, smiling at the other woman. “Hey, I’m Caroline Willis.”

The woman brushed dishwater blonde hair out of her face, the wild ringlets a hair dresser’s nightmare. She took Caroline’s hand and said softly, “I’m Callie Jacobsen. I host the morning show down at the local radio station. Kat Country.”

Suddenly, the woman was a hell of a lot more interesting, and Caroline beamed. “Awesome. I am starting a consulting company targeting bars, honky-tonks, and nightclubs. Maybe I could come in and talk a little bit about my experience and what I do. Do you mind if I give you my card?” Before Callie could open her mouth to say anything, Caroline added, “And I could probably swing a sit-down interview with Jax Dillon.”

“Jax Dillon? He’s—”

Caroline had the DJ’s attention now. “Yeah, Jax is predicted to become bigger than Tim McGraw and not just for his hard-partying ways and crowd-pleasing hits. I met Jax six years ago. He played in the bar I was renovating before he got picked up by Big Machine. Jax is a great guy, down-to-earth. We became friends, both of us from small towns, and he is the nicest guy you’ll ever meet,” Caroline said with a secret smile. “We keep in touch.”

The two women exchanged a look, Callie probably assuming Caroline had slept with Jax, but the truth was, despite the smooth-talkin’ Texan’s attempts to charm his way into her pants, she’d said no. As much as she’d liked Jax, she just hadn’t felt that zing she usually did when the chemistry was rocking.

Like what I feel with the bad boy sharing my living space?

She wanted to slap the stupid voice in her head for even suggesting that. Thinking a man is hot and feeling a zing were two different things.

“If you can swing it, you’ve got yourself a deal, but I would have given you air time regardless.”

Callie’s words sank in, and Caroline blushed, something she rarely did. The words were spoken so softly, they were almost a reprimand, as if Callie was trying to say that Caroline didn’t need to bribe anyone or use her feminine wiles to get what she wanted.

But she was wrong. Everyone wanted something.

“I appreciate that,” Caroline said, handing over the card she’d fished out of her purse.

Gemma piped up. “Oh, you should head over to Buck’s tonight. Travis is doing a show, and it’ll be packed. You can network and give Eric Henderson your pitch.”

Caroline smiled. Eric worked for her family when he was a teenager, doing yard work and such. She didn’t think she’d have any problem convincing him that he needed her services.

Still grateful for the tip, Caroline warmed a little more toward Gemma. “Thanks.”

“Also, Hank’s is a few doors down and pretty quiet this time of day. You should stop off there too,” Callie suggested.

“I’ll do that. Thanks for the help, ladies. I’m also looking for a cute place to get some inexpensive paintings and knick-knacks.”

Gemma’s face lit up. “Oh, I love Canyon Classics down the street. They have some great stuff, but if it’s not what you’re looking for, you could take the ten-minute trip to Buhl. There are several little shops I love there.”

Caroline wasn’t sure if she wanted to drive anywhere, but she thanked them just the same. As she walked out the door, she almost plowed right into a couple.

“I’m so sorry, I didn’t see—” She stopped talking once she recognized the icy blue eyes glaring at her with blatant dislike.

Ah, shit. This is gonna be bad.

Shelby’s face was twisted up into a scowl so dark, Caroline was tempted to warn her that it might freeze that way.

“Didn’t anyone tell you that bitches aren’t allowed off leash?” Shelby said, gripping the arm of her companion tightly. Caroline wondered if Shelby was imagining her neck as she squeezed. Probably.

Caroline followed the arm up to a pair of wide shoulders, and the irony almost made her laugh. Marcus Boatman, the whole stupid, meat-headed reason for their falling-out, was staring down at her with an expression Caroline didn’t like at all. It was a mix of astonishment and lust.

Do not engage. Do Not Engage. DO NOT ENGAGE.

“First I’m a skank, and now I’m a bitch?” Caroline said. “Really, Shelby, if you’re going to toss around insults, you should at least stick to ones you can’t be lumped into.”

“What the hell do you mean?”

“Let’s see. Since you’ve sunk into immature name-calling . . . what’s that old saying? I’m rubber, you’re glue, whatever you say bounces off me and sticks to you?”

Shelby’s lips thinned as Marcus stepped in. “Come on, Shelby, can’t you just let it go?”

“Let it go?” Shelby squealed, dropping his arm like he was diseased. “The only reason she ever slept with you was because I wanted you, and she wanted to hurt me. How can you just let that go?”

Marcus turned away from Shelby, his face beet-red as he asked, “So, how long have you been in town?”

“Three weeks,” she said. “I’ve been lying low.”

“That shouldn’t be much of a challenge, considering how low you can get,” Shelby said with a sneer. Shelby’s innuendo was not lost on Caroline, and despite her personal vow to rise above and make amends, she just couldn’t do it.

“Still pouting, Shell? Didn’t anyone tell you that sulking is one of the least attractive qualities in a woman?” Caroline said.

Shelby stepped forward, as if she was going to hit her. Considering that the last time Shelby had started a fight with her, Caroline had kicked her ass, she had to give her former bestie props for being scrappy.

Or stupid.

“I didn’t come back to cause trouble or fight,” Caroline said calmly, though she knew her stance belied her soothing words. If the bitch threw a single fist, she was going to drop her to the pavement. Hard.

Yes, what Caroline had done to Shelby had sucked, and she regretted the petty mistake, but the fact that Shelby hadn’t gotten over it by now spoke volumes about her own issues.

Poor Shelby. Still chasing after the perfect guy and the perfect life.

The two of them had met in pre-K and, while they had both gotten good grades and stayed out of trouble over the years, Caroline had been the extrovert, and by the time she’d started her freshman year, she’d begun turning heads. Shelby had been pretty but shy, tagging along behind Caroline to parties and such but always hanging back.

It wasn’t Shelby’s fault that she had been sheltered. She’d grown up as an only child, with perfect parents who had spoiled her and promised her she would have everything her heart desired if she just worked hard. She had been raised to be a little self-centered, but Caroline had loved her anyway.

Until Kyle had taken everything from her—including her virginity—and she had needed her best friend. Deeply depressed, she had called Shelby to confide in her.

The minute she picked up, Shelby went on and on about something amazing Marcus had done, how hot he was, and if he would only notice her. For almost an hour, Caroline couldn’t get a word in, until finally she’d exploded, “I was raped!”

Shelby went dead quiet on the other end of the phone for a moment. “What?”

Taking a deep breath, Caroline repeated, “I was raped. By Kyle Jenner.”