Page 13 of Bad Girls Don't Marry Marines (Rock Canyon, Idaho 3)

Too bad her downtown didn’t know that.

Val gritted her teeth as she poured the hot chocolate, fighting the naughty thoughts.

Justin dropped his arms and stepped farther into the kitchen until he was just an arm’s length away. Turning to face him, she handed him a mug. “Well, here’s to chivalry. Thank God it’s not dead.”

He took a drink of his hot chocolate before setting his mug on the counter. “I have a confession to make.”

“Oh, yeah? What’s that?” she asked, taking a sip of the sweet, warm liquid, watching him over the rim of her cup.

“I was concerned about the unknown girl who seemed too drunk to function, but the minute I found out she was your sister, I felt responsible for her and offered to take her home.”

“Why?” Val asked, shaken by his admission. Every nerve in her body surged as Justin’s hand grazed the one she had resting on the counter.

“Because if something happened to her, it would hurt you. And if I wasn’t too obvious yesterday,” he said, tickling the back of her hand with his touch, “I like you and would like to get to know you again.”

Those words made her eyes sting involuntarily, and she tried to fight the urge to throw herself at him. It was weak and girly, but when a nice guy said something like that, it made him really hard to resist.

Even when you know it’s the worst idea you’ve probably ever had.

“I’m still not dating.” Her voice was soft and unconvincing.

“Who said I’m asking?”

She knew what was about to happen, and instead of putting out her hand to stop him, she held perfectly still as Justin dipped his head down and kissed her, his lips grazing hers softly.

Before she could even process the warm tingles spreading from her lips downward, the sound of retching reached her ears. She pulled back when Ellie called her name, her voice choked with a sob.

Letting out the breath she’d been holding, she almost ignored her sister’s whining call. She didn’t want to stop. If her sister wanted to be an adult, she could deal with the consequences.

But as Ellie kept crying for her, her heart broke for her baby sister.

Justin stepped away and gave her a rueful smile. “You better go take care of her.”

Disappointment and relief warred inside her as she cleared her throat and said, “I’ll walk you out.”

“I’ll let myself out.”

“Okay,” Val said and nervously searched for something else to say. “Thanks again for bringing her home and . . . well, everything.”

“It wasn’t a problem,” Justin said, his gaze on her lips.

Her stomach fluttered as Ellie called for her again, and she said, “Well, good night. I’ll see you around.”

She started to walk around him, but his voice stopped her in the doorway. “I look forward to not dating you

again.”

Turning in surprise, she caught his teasing grin and burst into surprised laughter. “You don’t give up, do you?”

His smile faded and his look became serious. “Not when it’s something I really want.”

Val didn’t know how to respond. The last time she’d had a man pursue her had been Cole, but he’d never made her heart slam in her chest from just a light touch. In fact, the last man who had really flipped her lid had been . . . well, Justin.

“I really don’t think . . .”

Justin put his cup in the sink, and as he walked past her to the front door, he leaned down and kissed her cheek, his breath warming her skin. “I’ll see you next time.”

Fighting not to shiver as he opened the front door and pulled it closed behind him, she lifted her hand to touch where his lips had grazed hers. A small spark of giddiness spread through her as she contemplated next time.

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