Page 10 of Bad Girls Don't Marry Marines (Rock Canyon, Idaho 3)

“Next weekend is their pre-Valentine’s Day ‘Make Me a Match’ singles event, and I’ve signed you up.”

The man actually sounded proud of himself and it took Val right over the edge. “Are you out of your fucking mind?”

“You watch your language and your tone,” he commanded. “Your little stunts over the years have caused me enough grief, and you need this as much as me. Despite my team’s damage control, your reputation took a major nosedive after Cole’s allegations. It doesn’t matter that he retracted his accusations; some people here think you’re an adulteress, and I need support. This will give you a chance to be charming and to show the town and anyone else who still doubts your moral character, that though you made a mistake, you still want what every woman wants: to find that perfect someone.”

Damn it, he knew just what buttons to push to make her lose control. She had to keep reminding herself that he had no idea about the fertility issues or her reasons for avoiding men and relationships.

But really, did he think she was still the same girl he could manipulate into a corner and she’d just lay down and take it?

“Screw that. No, Dad, my answer is hell no.”

Just as he started yelling into the phone, she hung up and threw the black cordless across the room with a scream.

A matchmaking festival? Who in their right mind would go to a matchmaking festival? If she wanted to be set up on a parade of blind dates, she could stay home and join eHarmony or something. Her father, after years of scheming and trying to stay on top, had gone wacky in the head, but that didn’t mean she had to go along with it.

Chapter Three

* * *

JUSTIN HAD BEEN watching the young woman for a while when she started to sway against the bar, gripping the hard wood like she was going to pass out. If that weren’t bad enough, the Coulter brothers were hovering around her like a pair of vultures, and he wondered why someone hadn’t gotten her the hell out of there already.

“What are you staring at?”

Justin turned toward Gracie McAllister—his “date”—but didn’t lose his frown. He’d walked through the door of Buck’s, ready to crow about his Brad Paisley tickets, only to find a group of five waiting for him. Jared and Steph were sitting with Steph’s best friend, Katie Connors, and Katie’s husband, Chase Trepasso. And on the end had been Gracie.

He liked Gracie. She was a nice woman, but she was a little flighty and dramatic . . . and the last thing he wanted was drama of any kind.

Which brought his thoughts back to the young woman as he answered. “The girl at the bar. She looks familiar, but I can’t place her.”

Gracie followed his gaze and hissed out a breath. “That’s Eleanor Willis. I don’t even think she’s twenty-one yet.”

Valerie’s little sister, drunk in a bar and being chatted up by Wayne Coulter? He’d heard about the youngest sister’s antics, but despite her reputation, Justin had a feeling she wasn’t interested in getting to know either Wayne or Walt Coulter. They were the kind of men who wouldn’t blink at taking advantage of someone who’d had too much to drink.

Chivalry getting the best of him, Justin stood up and said, “Sorry, gang, I’m going to have to call it a night. Thanks for helping me feel like less of a fifth wheel, Gracie.”

“Sure, Justin, anytime.” Her tone belied her words, and he caught her eyes shift toward the back of Buck’s like she was searching for someone.

Before Steph could protest, the meddling woman, he turned and headed toward the bar.

“Where’s Eric?” Justin asked Grant Henderson, who gave him a shrug. The Henderson brothers ran most of the day-to-day operations at the bar now that their dad was semiretired, although Eric was definitely the more responsible of the two.

“Not sure, why?”

“’Cause whoever let that girl in, she’s not legal,” Justin said, pointing toward Ellie.

Grant followed his finger and frowned. “Ellie? I checked her ID. She turned twenty-one last week.”

“She can hardly stand, Grant. How much did you serve her?”

“Look, this place is slammed, but I cut her off a while ago. I can’t give you a rundown of what she drank, but I can tell you that she shouldn’t be that sloppy.” Grant told a guy down the bar, “One sec.”

“Ellie,” Grant yelled.

Ellie turned bleary eyes on him and threw out her arms. “Grant!”

“Do you have a ride home?”

Wayne leered from close by. “My brother and I can drive her home.”

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