Page 49 of Bad Girls Don't Marry Marines (Rock Canyon, Idaho 3)

“Familial love is different from romantic love.”

“The only difference is you are born and raised to love the people around you, whereas with romantic love, you decide who to give your heart to,” Dorothy said.

“So, you’re saying the difference is environment and learned behavior versus just letting your hormones go nuts?”

“Or I’m saying that romantic love lets you figure out where you really belong.”

It was actually fantastic reasoning as Val thought about her marriage to Cole. She had never felt comfortable with his wealthy, proper family and elitist friends. Now she enjoyed spending her weekends curled up on the couch with a Mike’s Hard Lemonade, Gus, and a good movie. With Cole, they’d had things to do and places to go constantly.

If she ever changed her mind about dating, she could picture being with a man who was laid-back and fun. Who made her laugh and liked to do the same things she did. Someone who cared about others and who smiled easily.

Sounds familiar.

The touch of Dorothy’s hand patting hers brought her out of her thoughts. “You should get back.”

“Yeah, I should,” Val said, giving her a little wave as she turned to leave, but Dorothy’s voice stopped her.

“If you’re living your life for you, it doesn’t matter what anyone else thinks. But I wouldn’t let past mistakes and fears keep me from being happy.”

Val stiffened but didn’t turn around, a flash of resentment shaking her to her core. How dare a woman she hardly knew make assumptions about her?

Are you really mad at her for assuming, or because you think she may be right?

The question did nothing to lighten her mood.

Chapter Twelve

* * *

JUSTIN HAD MOVED on with the group to the next building, which turned out to be the old jailhouse, or, as Ned had called it, the Trust Stop. They had done trust falls already, and an exercise called minefield, where they’d led their blindfolded partners around objects on the floor by giving them vocal commands. Val had missed all of it, though, and now he was stuck playing a true-or-false game with a former beauty queen turned hairdresser with a twang.

When Val finally walked in, flushed from the cold, Justin couldn’t take his eyes off her. She wasn’t smiling, though, and he almost started toward her to see if she was okay.

“Justin.”

He turned his attention back to the hairdresser from East Texas, who was pouting at him. Most of the women had been nice and normal, but there were a couple who grated on him.

And right now, the former Miss Texas was one of them.

“You aren’t paying attention, honey. I just called bullshit,” she said, her tone the type of high-pitched whine a toddler might use.

“You’re right. I’ve never been to Texas.”

“Well, let me tell you, you are missing out. We’ve got the best—”

“All right, folks. Let’s switch partners,” Ned called from the front of the room.

Texas gave him an uninvited hug, complete with a little wiggle as she pulled away. “I’ll be seeing you.”

God, I hope not. He watched Val make her way over to him, but her dark look was following the brassy redhead who had just tried to give him a thrill.

“She seems friendly,” Val said, stopping in front of him with one a

rched eyebrow.

“Too friendly. I prefer girls who want absolutely nothing to do with me,” he said.

Val laughed softly. “Weirdo.”