Page 77 of Return of the Bad Girl (Rock Canyon, Idaho 4)

“It’s okay, beautiful,” Marcus said, shoving his hands into his jean pockets. “What are you up to?”

Caroline didn’t like him calling her that but let it go for now. “Just getting some stuff together for my sister’s birthday.”

“Yeah? Ellie or Valerie?”

“Valerie.”

“That’s cool,” he said, cracking his knuckles, something he used to do to intimidate people or when he was nervous. “So, I guess you can’t go out to dinner or anything later, huh?”

Seriously? He is not asking you out!

“Um, considering your girlfriend assaulted me for bumping into you, I really don’t think a date is a good idea,” she said, grabbing a hundred-dollar gift card to iTunes too.

“Oh, Shelby and I aren’t seeing each other anymore. What she did at Buck’s was out of line, and I’m really sorry about the whole thing.”

Great. “That’s nice of you to say, Marcus, but I’m really not interested.”

He seemed surprised. “Are you seeing someone?”

“Yes, I mean, maybe,” she said, still unsure what to call her thing with Gabe. “Besides, you and I just aren’t compatible.”

“How do you know that?” he asked, stepping into her path when she tried to leave. “You’ve never given me a chance.”

Frustrated, she snapped, “Marcus, I’m just not interested, okay?”

He was angry—she could tell by the clench of his jaw—but what was she supposed to say? She’d tried to be nice, and he hadn’t taken no for an answer.

“You know what? I always thought the women of this town were just being bitches about you, but I think I was wrong,” he said, sneering at her. “You really are a teasing slut who likes attention.”

“What the fuck are you talking about? Are you high? I have never given you any encouragement. If anything, I’ve avoided you since I got back to town. But somehow, I just keep bumping into you. Please, explain to me how I’ve led you on and teased you?”

His mouth opened but no sound came out. People were gathering at the end of the aisle, but she ignored them as she continued. “Get this through your thick skull. I. Don’t. Want. You. Never have. The only reason I ever hooked up with you in high school was because I was drunk, and I wanted to get back at Shelby. Since then, I haven’t thought about you once.”

Gabe appeared behind the crowd, his face a mask of concern. Smiling at him, she gave a little wave. The crowd turned around to look at him, but he ignored them, his gaze shifting between her and Marcus.

You’ve got this.

Staring into Marcus’s beet-red face, Caroline spoke softer. “You can call me a slut if it will make you feel better about yourself, but I never teased you. That was something you created in your own mind. If I was you, I’d crawl back to Shelby on my hands a

nd knees and beg her forgiveness. I don’t even like her, but there aren’t very many women who will put up with a stupid man like you.”

Marcus rushed past her, but she didn’t even turn around. She just walked up to the edge of the crowd and said, “Excuse me.”

The group parted, and even Mr. Hall stood back silently as she made her way to Gabe. She could feel the hard stares of the people around her, but she wasn’t going to turn the other cheek. Not anymore. She wasn’t going to just sit back and take their abuse. If they wanted to talk to her about the past and move on, that was one thing. But she wasn’t the same girl, and she wasn’t going to keep asking for their forgiveness.

“You okay?” Gabe asked, taking the card from her hands. He held his arm out to her, and she snuggled into his side.

“Yep, I’m good,” she said and took the cart.

“I have to say, I’m usually the one who people want to start shit with,” Gabe said.

“Welcome to my life,” Caroline whispered. “Did you get everything?”

“I did. What do you say we get the fuck out of here and bake that cake?”

A few horrified gasps let Caroline know that even though most of their audience had wandered away, there was still an eavesdropper or two who didn’t appreciate the F-bomb. She saw that the rude clerk and Mrs. Andrews were standing in front of the nearest checkout stand.

Pushing the cart toward them, Caroline smiled. “We’re ready.”

---