Page 34 of Bad Girls Don't Marry Marines (Rock Canyon, Idaho 3)

Justin folded his arms over his chest. “What thing?”

“You know what thing. This kissing thing you do that catches me off guard. It was okay when I was sixteen, but I am not interested in dating anyone. Period. No matter how many times you kiss me or try to use that aw-shucks-I’m-just-a-nice-farm-boy charm on me, it isn’t going to change.”

“Like I said, who says I want to date you? Maybe I just like kissing you. Since when does a kiss mean I want to go steady?” The conversation was quickly making him irritable and defensive. “Sometimes a kiss just means ‘I think you’re hot and I can’t help myself’ or ‘I really want you to stop thinking about everything that can go wrong, be quiet, and just accept the fact that you . . . want . . . me . . . too.’”

Her gasp was tinged with outrage and he smiled with satisfaction. So he’d touched a nerve. Served her right, getting up on her high horse with him. Just because he was interested didn’t mean she could act like a brat.

“Fine. Well, I’m not interested in anything you have to offer. Is

that clear enough for you?” she snapped.

Forget about it; who needs her? If she really wasn’t interested, he wasn’t going to force his company on her.

“Fine. I’ll leave you alone,” he said, pushing off the wall with a salute. “Have a nice weekend, Miss Willis.”

He walked down the alley back toward the hotel with a dark cloud over his head. There was no use bothering with the conference now. The whole reason he’d come was to get to know Val better.

Except you haven’t really tried to get to know her. You’ve either been teasing her or groping her. Not exactly nice-guy behavior.

Okay, maybe that was true. He’d handled the situation badly and couldn’t blame her for putting him in his place.

That was part of her charm, though; Val had no problem saying what she meant. It was what he’d liked about her and, really, what had made him want to reconnect in the first place. She put herself out there as this tough, take-no-bullshit woman who didn’t need anyone, but after seeing the way she cared about her little sister, he knew that at least part of it was an act. When it came to someone she cared about, Val was protective, loyal, and kind. You had to be loyal to still do favors for a bastard like Edward Willis, right?

The way she’d taken care of Ellie had made him want to be one of those few people who got to get close to her, and no matter how many defensive walls she put up, he still wanted that. She was right. She didn’t deserved to be ambushed with kisses

She deserved to be respected and given the choice.

Justin turned back the way he’d come. He owed Val an apology and he was man enough to admit it.

Chapter Nine

* * *

VAL KICKED THE wall with her boot and cursed as pain shot up her leg. She hadn’t meant to attack Justin, but he acted like she was the same wild girl up for whatever, but she wasn’t that person anymore and hadn’t been for some time.

She felt bad, though, and she didn’t usually feel guilty about her behavior. She said what she meant, no regrets.

Except, if she was being honest, he had been right to be confused. It wasn’t like she’d slapped his face or pushed him away that night in her kitchen. She’d given every indication that she liked his kisses.

You do like his kisses.

Maybe, but just because she liked something, didn’t mean it was good for her.

Val headed down the alley, arguing with her inner voice. She should apologize for being rude and explain where she was coming from, but if she did that, would he think she didn’t mean what she’d said about not dating?

It’s better this way; now you’re not tempted by him and he’ll avoid you.

Damn it, why did that thought bother her so much?

She was too deep in thought to realize the alley hadn’t been salted and that she should tread carefully. Suddenly, her boot hit a slick piece of ice, and the last thing she remembered was the sensation of flying and a flash of pain as her head hit something hard.

And then the world fell away.

JUSTIN CAME AROUND the corner in time to hear Val’s startled cry and froze as he watched her feet fly out from under her. She fell back, and he heard a sickening crack as she hit the concrete.

“Val!” he yelled, racing down the alley while trying to avoid the patches of ice. Kneeling at her side, he touched her arm. “Valerie, open your eyes.”

Her only answer was a soft moan, and Justin gently checked the back of her head, his hand coming away wet and red. His first impulse was to pick her up and carry her inside.

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