Page 54 of Bad Girls Don't Marry Marines (Rock Canyon, Idaho 3)

Justin swung toward where Layla was looking and saw Val coming into the room. Her once-long locks were cut into a short page boy, drawing attention to her delicate features and the bare, creamy shoulder peeking out from the sheer shirt she was wearing. She had on a black tank top too, but he saw a definite twinkling in her belly button that said she was showing a lot of skin above her low-rise jeans.

“She is so beautiful,” Layla whispered, and Justin agreed, as Val weaved through the room, smiling at men who stopped her along the way.

When her gaze caught his, she gave him a little wink before turning away, and

he wished he could get inside her head and figure out what the hell she was thinking.

Chapter Thirteen

* * *

VAL COULD FEEL Justin’s gaze on her from two tables over, and a definite thrill raced down her spine.

“Well, hello, Valerie.”

As giddy as she’d been, her skin was suddenly crawling at the all-too-familiar voice. Looking up into the icy blue eyes of Kyle Jenner, she said, “Fuck no.”

He actually looked amused, the douche bag. “No, what?”

“Whatever you’re doing within five feet of me, you need to move. Now.”

“But that’s my seat,” Kyle said, pointing to the chair next to her.

Val looked over at the place card and grimaced. Sure enough, there was his name on the slip of paper.

Standing up, she grabbed her own place card. “Well then, I’ll find another seat.”

“But our fathers’ went through so much trouble to get us together.”

Val froze. Just the thought that her dad would go behind her back to try to set her up with the vile bastard before her made her downright murderous.

“My father knows I despise you.”

“Maybe he was hoping I could charm you out of your irrational dislike.”

That was just too much, and she laughed without any humor. “Irrational? I think I have a perfectly rational reason to despise you.”

This was the last straw. It was one thing for her father to employ Kyle, but this blatant disregard for her needs was too much. No matter what he thought he would accomplish with this stunt, she wasn’t going to suffer Kyle’s presence a minute longer.

Place card in hand, she searched the room for Dorothy, but she was nowhere in sight.

“Really, Valerie, you’re being unreasonable,” Kyle snapped.

“On the contrary, unreasonable would be stabbing you with my fork. Right in your crotch,” she said, glancing pointedly. “Under the circumstances, I think I’m being damn charming.”

Finally, she got the attention of Ned, who gave her a disgruntled, what-now? look.

“Yes, Valerie?” Ned asked, looking between her and Kyle.

“Hey, Ned, I need to move tables.”

“I’m sorry, but every table is full,” Ned said.

“So, switch me with someone,” Val said, trying to hold onto her patience.

“Everyone was matched by their compatibility, and I’m sure, if you just gave it a chance—”

Val didn’t even let him finish and walked toward Justin’s table. Picking out a woman sitting near him with clearly expensive taste, she said, “Excuse me, but would you mind switching spots with me? I’m sitting over there.” Val pointed to Kyle and lowered her voice. “He’s a lawyer and a politician’s son.”