Page 18 of Bad Girls Don't Marry Marines (Rock Canyon, Idaho 3)

Ellie opened her mouth as if to argue some more, then snapped it closed. “You’re right. You’re a pain in the ass, but I’ll be more careful.”

“Thank you,” Val said, pulling her around to give her a big hug. “I just need you, okay? Without you, I’d have to deal with Dad all by myself.”

“Is that who you were yelling at?”

Yelling? Oh . . . “Well, Caroline called first, and guess what?” Val said, doing a little dance with Ellie, who groaned. “She’s moving back in a few months.”

“Awesome; so I’ll have three of you on my case?”

Val shook her head and pulled away from Ellie. “Actually, Caroline was on your side.”

“Really? Hmmm . . .” Ellie took a drink of her black coffee and said, “But I did just hear you hang up on Dad, right?”

“Yeah, he called after.”

“What did he say this time?”

Val sighed. “The usual. Tried to pull his high-handed bullshit.”

“Did he tell you about the matchmaking singles thingy?” Ellie asked as she sat down at the kitchen table.

Val’s jaw dropped in surprise. “He told you about that?”

“Actually, I told him about it. I was totally joking, but you know how Dad is: once he gets that crazy look in his eye, run.”

Val went to join her at the table and set her mug down with a thunk. “Wait, you told Dad I should go to a singles weekend?”

“No, he was talking about how you needed to come out of your hole and I mentioned that there was this whole town dedicated to matching people up with their perfect person.”

Val pinched the bridge of her nose. “Why?”

“Because if you ask me, you could use a weekend of stress-free dating,” Ellie said.

“That’s stupid. A weekend of blind dating sounds like hell to me.”

“I think it sounds fun. Plus, there’s a whole science to it. I could be a matchmaker.”

Val snorted with laughter. “Yeah, just like psychics are real and there’s really that one perfect person you’re meant to find.”

“Why not? I think it’s romantic to believe that there is one person out there who fits you better than anyone else in the whole world.”

“Maybe so, but (a) the chances of finding that person in a Podunk town with a gimmick are slim, and (b) high expectations set you up for a world of heartache and disappointment.”

Ellie made a face at her. “You need a little romance or, at the very least, a good fling. Maybe you should hear Dad out. I know he’s a jerk, but I really think it would be good for you to get your sexy on,” Ellie said, gesturing from Val’s toes to the top of her head. “Besides, you’re too young and way too hot to spend your Friday nights knitting with the world’s ugliest dog.”

Val looked down at Gus, flopped on his belly with his legs straight out behind him, snoring. “He’s good company. And I don’t knit.”

“Yet. You won’t even have to think about it; you’ll just sit back, relax, and let someone else find men to shower you with attention.”

“Thanks, but I can meet social rejects, psychopaths, and assholes all on my own.” Val got up to go take a shower, but Ellie grabbed her wrist, stopping her escape.

“I know Cole messed you up, but you didn’t really love him. He was Dad’s choice. Maybe you should view this as an opportunity to figure out what it is you’re looking for.”

Val couldn’t fight her surprised smile. Sometimes Ellie could be downright insightful.

Leaning over to kiss her sister’s hair, she whispered, “Thanks. I’ll think about it.”

As she padded back to her room to get ready for the day, her sister’s words replayed in her mind.

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