Page 31 of Bad Girls Don't Marry Marines (Rock Canyon, Idaho 3)

“Come on, did my sister put you up to this?”

“By ‘put me up to this,’ do you mean make it a point to tell me you’d be here?”

“Yes, that’s what I mean.”

“Then maybe.”

She rolled her eyes and turned away just as the desk clerk came back, looking between Justin and her with a curious smile on her face.

“Valerie Willis, checking in.”

The woman’s grin widened as she looked down at her computer. “Ah, yes, Ms. Willis. Driver’s license, and if you can fill out this paper.”

By the tone in her voice, Val assumed word of her angry phone call had made the rounds.

“So, why is your dad making you come down here and participate in a giant singles mixer?” Justin asked, stealing her attention away from the white slip of paper.

“He calls it good press. Guess he figures I need help finding a man,” she said, wishing she hadn’t answered him quite so candidly. “I don’t, though. Need help, I mean.”

Why are you stammering? Bending over the counter, she started filling in the blanks, hoping he couldn’t see the obvious blush warming her cheeks.

“If it makes you feel any better, I never thought you needed any help in that department,” he said, his voice dropping to a low whisper.

Val could feel the desk clerk’s eyes on her and whispered, “Stop it.”

“What? It’s a compliment.”

“You’re just messing around to get a rise out of me.”

“How is me being honest messing with you?”

“Because . . .” How did she not have a comeback to put him in his place? She always knew what to say. It was one of her strengths, but he had the ability to turn her into a stumbling, stuttering simpleton. “Because I said so.”

His chuckle was a deep rumble and her insides squeezed in on themselves causing a tingling between her thighs. Quickly, she handed the paper back to the desk clerk and turned to face Justin with what she hoped was a cold, hard stare.

“I don’t like to be made fun of.”

He seemed genuinely surprised as the desk clerk said, “All right, Miss Willis, here is your room key and your itinerary bag. I hope you enjoy your stay in True Love and that you have a blast at the festival.”

Val took the bag and key from the woman, resisting the urge to make a face. “Thank you.”

Spinning away from Justin, she walked back out to her truck, only to hear him exit behind her.

“Hey!” His hand circled her arm gently and he turned her toward him, but she lost her balance on the slick ground. Falling against him, her face buried in the puff of his jacket, she wondered if the fates were trying to pull some weird serendipity crap on her.

She tried to right herself, but he’d wrapped an arm around her waist and was using the other gloved hand to lift her chin, raising her gaze to meet his.

“I wasn’t making fun of you. I was being serious. You’re a beautiful woman. You just say the word and a dozen guys would line up to have you.”

Whether it was his tone or the expression on his face she didn’t know, but her mouth suddenly seemed too dry. Words failed her, but then, who needed words when a pair of warm lips were suddenly covering hers?

As Justin kissed her, his tongue pushing past her lips, she could only hold on tight as her body turned to molten lava and blood thundered in her ears.

Impatient honking and a loud voice yelling, “Hey, lovebirds, get a room,” broke through the drumbeat her heart was pounding out, and she whispered, “We shouldn’t do this.”

His lips touched hers lightly once more, and he whispered back, “You mean here or—”

The guy in the truck honked again, and Val pulled away. “I mean, I’m not here for . . . for that.”

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