Page 39 of Bad Girls Don't Marry Marines (Rock Canyon, Idaho 3)

In spite of her pounding head and sore back, everything else in her body wanted to move closer to the warmth of his body. To run her hands up under his shirt, across his abs, and around back to squeeze that firm, round . . .

Good God, close the fucking door before you do something crazy.

“Well, thank you for today and . . . well, everything,” she said, stepping away from temptation. “Good night.”

“And just when things were starting to get interesting,” he groaned, but his expression was relaxed and teasing. “You’re a cruel woman.”

Against her better judgment, she said, “Not always.” Then, seeing the evidence of his arousal, she teased, “Sometimes I can be sweet.”

Before he could comment, she closed the door again. But per his request, she left it unlocked. Just in case.

Chapter Ten

* * *

VAL WOKE TO pounding on the adjoining door and groaned. Justin had been religious in his duties, waking her up every hour until finally at five she’d pleaded with him to just let her die.

She looked at the clock. 8:30 A.M. Standing up and stretching, she opened the door a crack, not wanting him to see her sleep-tangled hair.

“Morning,” she croaked, seeing part of his smile and one eye.

“Morning. I got you coffee,” he said, holding up a white travel cup.

“Thank you,” she said, pressing against the door as she stuck in her hand.

“What are you doing?” His laughter floated through the crack.

She huffed, “I don’t want you to see me.”

The warm coffee cup was placed in her outstretched hand, followed by an amused grumble: “Women.”

Pulling the cup back through, she shut the door and leaned against it, wincing when her head pressed against the wood. “Ow.”

“Too hot?” he asked from the other side.

Val took a sip and sighed at the warm mix of milk, espresso, and sweetness. “I love you.”

“What?”

“No, and I was talking to my coffee. Thank you.”

“You’re welcome. We have an hour until the get-to-know-you breakfast. I was thinking I’d drive us.”

The thought of even walking to the shower seemed like a chore. “Good plan.”

“Does your head feel better?” Justin asked, and she got the distinct impression he was thinking about her teasing last night.

She smiled, despite her inner voice scolding her about leading him on. Taking another sip of her coffee, she called, “I’ll let you know after my shower.”

As she started walking toward the bathroom, she could have sworn she heard a groan.

Washing her hair gingerly in the shower, Val cursed out loud several times when she grazed the wound. They hadn’t needed to shave her hair to put in stitches, thank God, but it hurt like hell. She got out ten minutes later and decided to leave her hair down; less painful that way.

After getting dressed and putting on a little makeup, she felt almost human.

Justin knocked on the door just as she was finishing her mascara. “Coming.”

She picked up her collared, black wool coat, which was just as warm as her puffy one but didn’t have blood on it. She’d tried to get most of it off the white waterproof fabric, but the grease stains from the alley were another story.

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