Page 93 of Bad Girls Don't Marry Marines (Rock Canyon, Idaho 3)

Justin frowned, not liking the less-than-encouraging reply.

“Eleanor!” a woman’s voice yelled from down the hall.

Justin and Ellie turned, and Justin watched Ellie’s eye widen. “Caroline!”

Justin smiled as the two sisters hugged. While they were distracted, he went off in search of Val. She’d want to see her sister.

He saw her standing out in the courtyard, looking miserable, and pushed open the door.

“Your sister’s here.”

Val rubbed at her cheeks, and he saw the wet tracks her tears had caused. “Caroline? That was fast. I wonder where she was.”

He walked outside and pulled her against him. She clung to his body, and he felt her trembles and shakes, the wetness of her tears soaking his long-sleeved T-shirt as she sobbed against his chest.

WHEN SHE FINALLY stopped shaking, she pulled away, and her wet, bloodshot eyes looked up at him with an apology. “I’m sorry I lost it all over you.”

It’s okay,” he said, wrapping his arm around her shoulders and pulling her against his side. “Why don’t we go say hi to your sister?”

She nodded as he led her back inside. When she saw Caroline, she pulled away from him and yelled, “Car!”

Caroline Willis turned away from Ellie and held her arms out to Val. Justin watched the three sisters laugh, cry, and hug, their dark heads pressed together as they talked.

“Where were you? When did you get into town?” Val asked.

“Last night, but I wasn’t ready to face the old man yet, so I stayed at the Holiday Inn,” Caroline said, smiling sadly. “How is he?”

“Out of surgery,” Ellie said.

“A stubborn jackass,” Val added.

Caroline laughed. “Oh joy. So, should I try to visit him?”

Both of them hesitated. “Maybe give it a few days.”

“Figured. Hey, Justin, it’s good to see you.”

Val gasped and turned around. “I’m so sorry.”

He shook his head and came up alongside her, kissing her temple. “It’s okay. Why don’t I give you three some time to catch up and I’ll come back with some snacks?”

“Thank you,” Val said, kissing him briefly.

He pulled away and gave Caroline a smile. “Caroline. Good to see you. Any requests?”

“Chocolate,” Ellie said.

“All right, just text me if you need something,” Justin said, walking away.

The three of them watched him, and Caroline made an appreciative sound. “Little sister, you did good. That man has a fantastic—”

“—ass,” Ellie finished. “That’s what I said.”

Val appreciated her sisters’ attempts to lighten the mood, but her eyes kept straying to the ICU doors.

“Hey,” Caroline said, bumping her. “He’s going to be okay, and when he’s got a little color in his cheeks, he’ll come around.”

“How do you know?”