Page 27 of Bad Girls Don't Marry Marines (Rock Canyon, Idaho 3)

The coldness in his voice still haunted her.

Inside, Natalie lay on a bed with her shirt open and her skirt up. When Val had turned on the light, she’d winced but hadn’t moved.

Val had called an ambulance and gone to the hospital with her. After she’d had her stomach pumped of the excess alcohol, they’d done a rape kit exam, and Val had been sure Natalie would press charges, especially when her parents had shown up. But a week later, she’d come back from class to find Natalie packing her bags.

“Where are you going?”

“Home. My parents think it’s for the best,” she’d said as she zipped her suitcase.

“But—”

She’d tried to talk her out of going, but Natalie had left, and Val had been forced to see Kyle’s smug face on campus too often for comfort. She’d assumed that Kyle’s father had paid off Natalie and her parents, and it still irked her that the jerk seemed invincible.

“Are you going to explain why you burst into my office or should I guess?”

Her dad’s sarcastic tone broke through her deep thoughts as he leaned back from his desk, his mouth twisted in amusement.

That small, mocking smile reminded her of why she was there. “You had no right to drag Ellie into your meddling.”

Edward’s expression remained calm and the smile didn’t budge. “I did no such thing. Your sister suggested she go with you to the festival and I agreed,” he said, standing slowly. “Apparently, she’s as worried about you as I am.”

Val snorted. “You aren’t worried about me. You just want me within your spectrum of control again ’cause you think I might be useful. Not fucking happening.”

Edward’s smile melted and he came around the desk until he stood toe-to-toe with her. He wasn’t a big man by any means, but when his temper was on the edge of exploding, he could be intimidating.

The only thing worse than his wrath was when his eyes took on the unholy glint that said he’d outmaneuvered someone. And now, like a switch had been flipped, he relaxed, and that look paralyzed her with apprehension.

“I’ve tried reasoning with you, but since you find doing your father this one simple favor so difficult, let me be clear: if you don’t do this for me, I will cut Eleanor off.”

It was on the tip of her tongue to tell him to go ahead, but she couldn’t. Her sister was going to get through this rough patch and figure out what she wanted to do with her life, and that money would give her the leg up she would need. After what Caroline had gone through when she left . . . well, it might have made her stronger and more determined to succeed in the l

ong run, but Val knew the choices she’d made along the way still haunted her.

Despite the ice in his tone, Val scoffed, “You wouldn’t.”

“After the stunts she’s pulled the last few months alone, you bet I would. I had already debated doing so, but since this would kill two birds with one stone, I’d say the ball’s in your court.”

“I can’t believe you would be that cold.”

“Cold? Hell, I’m trying to teach the girl discipline. She acts like she can do what she likes, and damn me for waiting so long to correct her assumption. I lost control of Caroline, and God knows you’ve made your share of mistakes—”

“Like marrying the man you practically shoved down my throat—”

“Cole could have given you everything if you had just—”

“Don’t you dare say it—”

“Enough!” he boomed, and her mouth snapped closed, although she couldn’t stop her body from shaking. The man could push her buttons like no one else.

“I will keep Eleanor’s trust intact as long as you do this. Am I really asking so much? It’s one weekend, Valerie. Can’t the dogs’ and cats’ baths wait a few days?”

One weekend my ass. Taking a calming breath, Val said, “I’ll go if you promise this is the last time. No more good press, no more manipulation.”

“As long as you behave yourself,” Edward said, tapping her cheek. “And come back with some good romantic prospects, will you? If you can actually find a worthy candidate, all the better for my future . . . and yours, of course.”

She jerked her cheek back and glared. “No, Dad. I’ll go to this thing and I’ll mingle and play the dutiful daughter, but that’s it. This is the last favor.”

Her father stroked his chin, as if weighing her seriousness, before holding out his hand. “Agreed.”

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