Page 47 of Bad Girls Don't Marry Marines (Rock Canyon, Idaho 3)

“I don’t know, I just get the feeling that Ol’ Ned is put out that we’re dominating the competition,” she said, shrugging.

“So what? We came here to win. I figure if we combine our scores, we’re both champions,” Justin whispered back.

“I thought we were here to find true love?”

His heated gaze gave her goose bumps. “Can’t we do both?”

Val’s breath caught and she couldn’t look away. The air crackled around them and was broken only by Ned’s nasal voice: “Jensen Ackles starred in this horror movie remake—”

Their hands connected on top of the buzzer, and Val stilled as Justin laced his fingers with hers. She looked up at him, but he was focused on Ned.

“Yes, team ten?”

“That would be My Bloody Valentine,” Justin said, and she squeezed his hand, grinning from ear to ear. When he squeezed it back, the warmth of his palm spread up her arm until it settled in her chest.

“Team ten, you’re the winners.”

“Woo-hoo!” Val yelled and would have jumped up again, but Justin kept hold of her hand, bringing it against his chest. Val froze as his eyes locked with hers, the heat now spreading from her chest down to her stomach and even lower.

“How did you know the answer?” she whispered breathlessly.

“I watch Supernatural and I love horror movies,” Justin said, using his other hand to brush her bangs off her face. “You?”

“Jensen Ackles.”

He raised his eyebrow. “Jensen Ackles what?”

“I actually have to explain Jensen Ackles to you? The man is pure male perfection.”

Justin laughed. “Now, why is it okay for women to objectify male movie stars, yet if a man comments on how hot Megan Fox is, we get shit for it?”

She crooked her finger like she wanted to tell him a secret and he leaned in. Lowering her voice, she said, “Because when we do it, it’s cute.”

“Is that so?”

“Congratulations, you two make a great team.” The connection between them broke when Dorothy Love suddenly stood over them, her hands planted on her hips.

“Hey, Dorothy,” Justin said.

“Justin, you seem to be doing all right.” Dorothy turned her sharp gaze on Val and asked, “Why don’t you take a walk with me?”

Valerie realized Justin still held her hand and she pulled it back. Smiling at him nervously, she said, “I’ll see you later?”

“Yeah, sure,” he said, and his tone made her shiver with anticipation. Standing up and smoothing her hands over her sweater and pants, she followed Dorothy toward the exit, grabbing her jacket off the coatrack as they passed it.

Dorothy held out her hand to Val. “Hold an old lady’s hand, dear. My coordination isn’t what it once was.” Val helped Dorothy down the stairs, and as they walked, Dorothy whispered, “I thought you should know, your father called me this morning to check up on you.”

Valerie gasped. Now that was just too much!

“Oh, I already gave him an earful about my confidentiality clause, but I have a feeling he might have eyes about.”

Eyes? “You mean he’s paying someone to spy on me?”

Dorothy tapped the side of her nose. “That’s what I’m saying. And something tells me he’s already heard an earful, if his telling me to move you away from that handsome Marine is any indication. Apparently, he learned the two of you had adjoining rooms and was none too pleased.”

Val stepped off the last stair and hissed, “I can’t believe he’d go this far. He must be losing it.”

“Or he could just be an overprotective father,” Dorothy offered.