Page 97 of Bad Girls Don't Marry Marines (Rock Canyon, Idaho 3)

“Congratulations?”

Smirking, he opened the box, expecting a slinky teddy or maybe even some massage oil, but his jaw dropped when he saw what was nestled beneath the tissue paper:

A simple white baby onesie with a green-stitched tractor on the front.

Below, in green, it said FUTURE FARMER.

VAL HEARD JUSTIN yelling her name and grinned, stopping at the edge of the field to wait as he jumped off the tractor and ran toward her.

She didn’t really believe in Eastern medicine and all that, but when Stephanie Brown had mentioned going to a naturalist, Val had tagged along and told the woman about her fertility issues. After seeing her for nearly a month, Val began to feel queasy in the mornings, and after two months, she’d finally gotten up the nerve to take a test. The pink plus sign had stopped her heart cold. Still not believing it, she’d gone to the doctor, who’d confirmed it, although she’d warned her there was a chance of miscarriage up to twelve weeks.

She had passed the twelve-week mark six days earlier and had an appointment to hear the baby’s heartbeat next week. And she couldn’t imagine not having Justin there with her. She wanted to share everything with him.

Justin didn’t even stop his momentum as he grabbed her around the waist, lifting her off the ground and spinning her. She hadn’t really believed it was possible, that it could happen, but she’d known he’d be just as excited as she was.

Settling her back on her feet, he asked, “How long?”

“Three months.”

His smile lit up his amber eyes like sunshine. “Is that why you decided to marry me?”

“No. I want to marry you because you are my one. You are my better half, my soul mate, and I want to experience everything life has to offer with you. I just waited because I wanted to make it extra special,” she said, leaning into him and kissing his chest.

“I thought you didn’t believe in true love and soul mates.”

“Let’s say you helped change my mind.”

Justin caught her mouth with his, lingering over her lips as the first drop of rain hit her cheek. Pulling back slightly, he whispered, “Let’s go home.”

And as he swung her up into his arms, Gus huffing along beside them, Val knew she was already there.

Want more Rock Canyon romance?

Keep reading for an excerpt from Codi Gary’s

THINGS GOOD GIRLS DON’T DO

Now available from Avon Impulse

An Excerpt from

THINGS GOOD GIRLS DON’T DO

For Katie Conners, being a good girl just isn’t worth it anymore. One evening, after a bad day and one too many mojitos, Katie starts making a list of things a girl like her would never do . . .

When local tattoo artist Chase Trepasso finds Katie’s list in a bar, he’s determined to help Little Miss Uptight check off a few items. Especially the ones on the naughtier side . . .

KATIE FINISHED HER last appointment and headed to the grocery store to do some shopping. She drove past the Local Bean and Chloe’s Book Nook, and looked to the left at Chase’s place, Jagged Rock Tattoo Parlor. She was still fuming about him coming into her salon and playing with her, even if he had apologized. Telling her he could help her out with anything on her list. Of all the conceited, high-handed, jerky things to say. He obviously hadn’t been too sorry, since he made that outrageous proposition. And after she had just started to think he wasn’t that bad of a guy.

Who did he think he was, Iron Man? That he could just ooze charm and she would fawn all over him because he was handsome, successful, and single?

Like she would ever really do anything on that list, and for him to suggest it made her feel cheap. Like he had no respect for her, or maybe it was just women in general. Was he one of those guys who thought all women were easy prey, just waiting for some big, handsome guy to move in with a few suggestive ideas and they would just drop their panties and say, “Come on, big boy . . .”?

Without really thinking about what she was doing, she pulled around the corner and parked. She slammed her door and marched into the parlor just as he was coming out of the back with a sterile tray. His pleased, lazy smile only added fuel to the fire.

“Hey,” she said, “I don’t appreciate you coming into my salon and baiting me with things you really know nothing about.”

Setting his tray down slowly, he said, “Actually, I know quite a bit about tattoos, and let’s see . . .” He pulled something from his pocket and unfolded it slowly. Recognizing the bar napkin, Katie lunged forward and tried to grab at it, but he held it out of reach, reading, “Sex shops, stealing—although I don’t recommend that—drinking, skinny-dipping, flirting, and oh yeah . . . one-night stands.” He brought his arm down and she snatched the list from him. Before she could move away, he reached out and grabbed her wrist, running his thumb over her skin slowly.

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