What to Do With a Bad Boy Read online

  “Oh, right.” With J.T., if it wasn’t one girl it was another. He spent more time getting a piece of tail than she did behind her desk. How he had time for his successful career she didn’t know. “So when are you settling down and giving dad grandkids?”

  “Please. I’m in my prime.”

  “You’re old. Thirty-two.”

  “Shit. That’s young. Forty is the new twenty.”

  “You mean thirty.” She read the magazines.

  “Whatever. Point is, with a body this fine, it would be selfish not to share the love. But you. So pitiful. So ugly. You should find a man and get married, stat.”

  “Pick me,” Johnny yelled from the garage.

  “No, me,” Sam argued.

  Foley growled. “She’s mine, dickwads. Get your own girl.”

  J.T. grinned at her while the guys yelled at one another in the garage—which echoed. With her luck, her father would walk into the conversation.

  She glared at her brother. “You’re such a dick.”

  “I know.” He chuckled, then closed both doors to the office. “But you know I’m right.”

  “Please. I’m beautiful.” Maybe not beautiful, but Del had never hurt for male attention. She knew she intimidated most people with her looks and attitude, but that had never stopped men from checking out her ass when they didn’t think she was looking. “Besides, I’m not into marriage.”

  His gaze softened. “You should be. You have a lot to offer a guy.”

  “I know. I like to offer all sorts of things,” she said with a mock leer.

  He flinched. “Ouch. Please, no details or my ears will start bleeding.”

  She laughed, wishing she could take the idea of marriage seriously. She ignored the urge to rub the scar on her arm now covered by a dragon’s claw. “You don’t want to hear me get ugly, quit trying to marry me off. There’s no one I’m even remotely interested in.” Mike’s face flashed across her mind’s eye. “If anyone’s going first down that road, it’s you. I’m still Dad’s baby girl.” She batted her eyes. “I’m too young to get married.”

  “You’re twenty-eight and you work too hard. Get a life. Go hang out with your new gal pals. Get laid, get your nails painted. Be a girl, for God’s sake.”

  She barely resisted the urge to throw a wrench at his head. “If you don’t leave in the next four seconds, I will kick your—”

  The door to the hallway bounced open.

  “—mother-fucking ass.”

  Mike McCauley stood in the doorway, glowering like a demon. How everyone thought he was the nice McCauley amazed her, because she saw nothing nice or saintly about him.

  “And here’s my answer,” he growled in a deep voice that set her on edge.

  J.T. grinned at them and wiggled his brows.

  She flushed and hated that she felt discomfited. “Who the hell invited you here?”

  Mike entered and closed the door behind him. He wore faded jeans and a T-shirt under a denim shirt and Down vest. His scuffed work boots and rough hands attested to the fact that he didn’t staple papers for a living. From what she knew, he and his father owned a construction company, one her father wanted to hire to do some work on the garage.

  Over her dead body.

  At thoughts of dead bodies, she noted the anger in Mike’s gorgeous face. Just like his son, he had “lady-killer” written all over him. Short black hair, bright blue eyes, a square jaw, and full, firm lips. He made her feel small and had as much, if not more, muscle than J.T. God, his hand could probably span her entire face. Big hands, big feet, big… She jerked her gaze up from where it had been wandering, mortified that he raised a brow, having seen her study.

  Burying her embarrassment behind the attitude she’d honed from years of practice, she growled back at him, “I’m running a business. I don’t have time for McCauley theatrics. What do you want?”

  “I want to know why my son asked me to pass the fucking potatoes last night.” He crossed massive arms over his broad chest. “Something he said about bowling with you two nimrods told me you might have something to do with his mouth.”

  J.T. laughed then coughed when Mike frowned at him. “Oh, er. Well, I have to get back to work.”

  “Don’t you mean Tina?” she asked nastily.

  He winked. “Gina. Yeah. Don’t mess with my sister, Mike, or I’ll hurt you. And for some weird reason, I like you. Later, sis.” Before he left, he gave a less-than-subtle nod to Mike and grinned.

  Once he’d gone, the office felt oppressive under the silence and their dueling scowls.

  “Well?” Mike asked.

  She didn’t like him towering over her desk. Over her. She rose to her feet and wondered if standing on her chair to gain a height advantage would seem too juvenile. “Well what? J.T. and I met Vanessa and Cam for a game of bowling. Colin was there. We might have let a few words slip, but it was an accident.” Through the door, a loud curse sounded. “I work in a garage. We’re not having a tea party, McCauley. Grow a set of stones and deal.”

  “Mike.”

  “What?”

  He took a step closer, and she had a hard time looking away from his eyes. Man, she’d never seen a blue so…blue. “My name is Mike.”

  “Mike.” She licked her lips, not liking the sudden dryness. To her consternation, his gaze fixed on her mouth. “So, uh, get over it.”

  “Right.” Mike took a deep breath, then let it out and stepped back. “Quit cursing around my kid.”

  “I’ll try.” For once he hadn’t ordered her to stop seeing Colin. “I don’t know when I’ll be seeing him again, so it probably doesn’t matter.”

  Mike shrugged. “Abby’s putting together a celebration party Wednesday night, for her new book deal, I think. She’ll probably invite you.”

  Actually, Abby had sent the invitation via email that morning. “Oh. You’re going?”

  “Yeah.” That handsome smile he so seldom wore appeared, showing a dimple in his left cheek. “But I know how I scare you, so I don’t figure I’ll see you Wednesday night. Don’t worry, I’ll tell Colin you were busy.”

  “Scare me? You?” She huffed. “In your dreams, Mike.” She moved around the desk to poke him in his rock-solid chest. “I’ll be there Wednesday. Try not to be more of an ass than you can help. I mean, your kid will be there. Don’t want to show Colin what you’re really made of.”

  He leaned down, so that his nose was all but touching hers. “Sweetheart, you couldn’t handle what I’m really made of.”

  Stupid Del wanted to drag his stubborn mouth closer for the kiss she could all but taste. From the look in his eyes, he wanted the same. Mike might not like her much, but the man wanted her. She could feel the chemistry between them, and it burned.

  Self-preservation reared its head, and she ducked under him and hustled to the door leading to the hall. She opened it and waited. “Don’t let it hit you in the ass, Mike.”

  He chuckled as he sauntered to join her. “You’ll watch what you say around Colin?”

  “Yep. When I see him Wednesday night, I promise to call you a buttwipe instead of an asshole. Fair?”

  He sighed. “Guess it’ll have to do. For now.” To her shock, he dragged a rough finger down her exposed neck. “Nice hair, by the way. I like the braids pulled back. Shows off your pretty neck. No tats here, sweetness?”

  She didn’t know what to say, frozen by the combustible lust and confusion drowning her system.

  He stared into her eyes again, gave a satisfied smile, then left.

  She watched his fine ass leave the building, heard a few choice remarks from the guys in the garage who also watched him leave, and yelled at them to get back to work. Then she slammed into her office and plopped her butt in her chair, staring without seeing at the mess on her desk.

  She rubbed her neck over the spot he’d touched and tried to be madder about what he’d done. What he’d called her.

  Sweetness?

  Chapter 2

  Wednesday
night approached with a suddenness that left her head spinning. Del hadn’t liked the onset of nerves, her indecisiveness over what to wear, or her second thoughts about skipping the party. Mike had practically dared her to show, and she could no more refuse to meet him halfway than she could stop breathing.

  She scowled at the front of Mike’s house as she parked and tried to stop fixating on the man.

  A glance down at her jeans and red button-down shirt convinced her she’d fit in tonight. Hell, she’d even pulled her hair back into a normal ponytail, nothing weird about it today. Then she grew annoyed that she’d even tried to be more normal. It was Abby’s party, after all, and the woman would either like her or not. Since she’d never expressed any issue with Del’s appearance before, why the heck did Del feel the need to change herself now?

  She unfastened the sleeves of her shirt and rolled them back until they rested at mid-forearm. Pleased to see her tattoos and knowing they, as well as her piercings, would likely set her apart in this suburban white-bread party, she pulled herself together, exited, and locked her car.

  Right next door to Mike’s place, the home Abby shared with her roommates, Maddie and Vanessa, might as well have had a white picket fence around it. Colored a slate blue with white trim, complete with Craftsman-style columns and a homey wooden porch to protect against the weather, the two-story house looked like something out of a magazine. So did the evening sky, turning a darker indigo, complete with wispy white clouds. Thankfully the weather remained clear though crisp. A typical spring Seattle day, minus the rain.

  She forced herself to walk calmly up the sidewalk to the front door, like she belonged to the festive group she could hear inside. No cigarette butts on the sidewalk, no trash or weird smells in this neighborhood. Hell, there were flowers in bloom in a pot next to the welcome mat. Hello, Mayberry. Yet underneath her scorn, she made a note to pick up some pansies tomorrow. They’d dress up her place nicely.

  Before she could knock, the door opened.

  “Del!” Colin grabbed her hand and yanked her inside.

  Still cute as a button, he grinned at her, exposing a missing front tooth. He wore a pair of jeans and a handsome blue sweater, and she wondered if Mike had had to fight the kid to make him wear nice clothes.

  Chatter, laughter, and the low hum of rock music filled the warm home crowded with people.

  Del had been by before, when Abby had strong-armed her into attending a book club. To support her new friend—a novelty at that—Del had attended. And had fun.

  They had another meeting scheduled next week, and Del planned to be there.

  A glance around showed most of the usual suspects. The dark-haired McCauleys—Flynn, Cameron, and Mike—lingered in the living room near the fireplace. She ignored the flutter in her belly when her gaze caught Mike’s, and she looked away, noting Abby’s fair-haired boyfriend by her side. Brody Singer. Or, as Colin called him, Ubie. Though Brody wasn’t exactly a McCauley in name, the clan had pseudo-adopted him a long time ago, and everyone considered him part of the family.

  Abby laughed at something Brody said while Maddie and Vanessa floated around a bunch of people Del didn’t know. Abby, short, stacked, and dark-haired, clung to Brody’s arm while she nodded at something some guy said. Maddie fluttered around Flynn, the excitable redhead witty and mouthy, all at the same time. Flynn, her fiancé, was a trip. A funny, handsome guy who managed to be likeable, approachable, and truly enamored of his fiancée.

  Vanessa, the cool blond who said whatever the hell she wanted without a filter, moved next to Cameron and reached to hold his hand. Del smiled, because Vanessa didn’t seem like the lovey-dovey type, and the action brought a huge grin to Cam’s face. Of all the McCauleys, she liked him best. He didn’t try to overwhelm with charm, and his low-key attitude made him that much easier to like.

  Unlike his oldest brother, now scowling at her and Colin, who’d refused to relinquish her hand.

  “Oh, Del. Welcome,” Beth McCauley said as she approached. Del blinked and fought the flush rising to her cheeks. Somehow, around Mike’s mom, she felt small, worthless. As if the woman’s class smothered all that Del had accomplished in life.

  “Hey, Beth.” She refused to call the woman Mrs. McCauley. Especially since her own father had once taken Beth out on a date.

  The big guy right behind her had to be the husband. James, she remembered her dad calling him. She could see where Mike had inherited his brawn. James looked like he still benched anvils, and the guy had to be in his fifties, or nearer her dad’s age.

  “So this is Del,” James boomed. Then he grinned, and she saw that McCauley charm clear as day. “The woman Colin plans to marry.”

  Colin whipped his hand from Del’s and glared. “Grandpa.”

  Del patted him on the shoulder. “He’s just teasing, dude. We all know how much you hate girls.”

  “Oh.” Colin’s anger deflated. “Sure. Do you want a soda?”

  “I’m good. Thought I’d say hey to Abby though.”

  “Okay.” Colin dragged her away from his grandparents before she could say good-bye to Beth or James and brought her directly in front of Abby.

  “Del.” Abby beamed then threw her arms around her, as Del had feared she would. Talk about a hugger. “I’m so glad you came.” Abby had no problem showing affection. Behind her, Brody smirked.

  “Uh, yeah.” She peeled herself away. “You invited me.”

  “True, but I thought you might be too busy. Plus there’s the book club next week.” Abby frowned. “Coming tonight does not get you out of attending next week, you know.”

  “Damn.”

  “Damn,” Colin repeated with cheer.

  “Shi—oot. Colin, I’m already in trouble with your dad,” Del confessed. “Don’t repeat that.”

  He nodded.

  Brody added, “Remember what we’ve talked about, kid. Never get caught.”

  “Nice.” Del shook her head.

  Abby sighed.

  Colin grinned. “Right. Oh, there’s Brian. Bye, Del.” The boy took off like a shot, heading for a little redheaded boy playing with action figures by the kitchen table.

  The house had one long, wide hall that made a clear path from the entryway through to the back kitchen door and was now filled with guests. In the living room to her left, more people milled about…near Mike, who continued to watch her. Did he think she’d steal the silver if he looked away?

  She smiled at him through her teeth and took comfort in his dark frown.

  “Don’t mind Colin,” Abby was saying. “Brian’s his best friend. I invited him to keep Colin company.”

  She looked away from Mike and accepted the beer Brody handed her. “Nice crowd.”

  “Yeah. The McCauleys, of course. Robin and Kim.” Abby’s friends, a lesbian couple Del really liked, because they didn’t take crap from anyone and had more than held their own with her during the last book club. “A few ladies from my romance writers group, their husbands, and a few friends of Brody’s. Friends of mine too.”

  “Distant friends,” Brody corrected.

  Abby ignored him. “They’re going to be helping me with research on my next book.” Abby winked at Del. “Interested?”

  “In his friends?”

  Brody sighed. “Leave her alone. Although I’m glad you’re trying to ease my mind, Del is perfectly capable of hooking up by herself.”

  Del took a drag of her beer. “Thanks, Brody. Good to know you think I’m capable of snagging my own man.”

  “Exactly.” Brody’s smile grew wider. “And speaking of men…”

  “So.” Mike’s deep voice reverberated from behind her. “You came.”

  “Aren’t you observant.” Her pulse raced as he moved next to her to join the conversation. “I came to congratulate Abby.” She frowned at the woman. “For what, exactly? This is a party about a new contract?”

  Abby nodded, her eyes dark with pleasure. “The bidding war for my series ended. I’m no longer
stinking poor! Now I’m straight-up middle-class!”

  Brody grinned. “Yep. My girl can now afford to buy me a ring when she proposes. Hoo-ee.”

  “Idiot.” Abby smacked him as he swooped down for a kiss.

  They made a cute couple. Hell, so did Flynn and Maddie. Even Cam and Vanessa looked right together.

  “So, Mike, where’s your plus-one?” she asked, knowing it would set him off. She hadn’t forgotten Abby and the girls gossiping about Mike the last time they’d gotten together. Something about his mother constantly trying to set him up.

  As predicted, Mike’s mouth flattened. “He’s over there with Brian.”

  She followed his glance to Colin. “Uh-huh. Not that woman with your mom, the one who keeps eyeballing you?”

  He followed her glance to his mother and the woman with her and moaned. “Oh hell. Not again. Abby, I thought I told you not to invite any single women.”

  What am I? Chopped liver? Brody caught her eye and raised a pale brow, apparently thinking the same.

  Abby tried unsuccessfully to hide a smile. “Hey, don’t blame me. I threw a party, but Beth wanted to bring a few people. The more the merrier, I say.”

  “Dude.” Brody shook his head at Mike. “Maybe if you’d pretend to like people, Bitsy would ease up. You need a social life.”

  “Bitsy?” Del asked, fascinated by the turn in discussion. Mike didn’t date?

  “Oh, he calls Beth Bitsy and James Pop. Always has,” Abby explained.

  “Right.” Whatever. Why didn’t Mike date?

  “I like people. Well, the ones who aren’t desperate and clingy,” Mike muttered.

  “What’s wrong, Mike? Problem finding a woman who doesn’t mind your macho attitude?” Del took a few munchies from the tray Maddie offered as she breezed by with a smile. The evening was turning out to be more entertaining than she’d thought.

  “No, the problem is fending off my mother’s idea of what constitutes my ideal woman,” Mike said, his voice like the rumble of a purring engine. “Christ, I’m thirty-four. I can find my own dates.”

  “Apparently not,” Brody disagreed. “Oh look. They’re coming this way.”