Page 106 of Return of the Bad Girl (Rock Canyon, Idaho 4)

THE NEXT DAY, Caroline stood at the front window of Val’s house, waiting for Gabe. It was five minutes ’til noon, and although she’d tried not to be a window-clinger, she was too excited to care.

Suddenly, the back door opened, and Val came inside. Gus pushed past her to run to Caroline, which sent Googlie and Possum scurrying for cover. The dog skidded to a stop at her feet, huffing and puffing so hard she could feel his hot breath through her jeans.

Caroline glanced down at the dog, whose massive jaws were spread widely into an evil grin, just as he started to put his dirt-covered paw on her leg.

“Don’t even think about it, mutt,” Caroline growled, pointing her finger at him.

The dog actually paused and put his paw down, still grinning at her.

“I told him to do it,” Val said as she came into the kitchen. “It’s revenge for defiling my bedroom and locking me out of it.”

Caroline didn’t even bother to look ashamed. Gabe and she had been enjoying a little post-make-up-sex cuddle when her sister had come home to get changed. When she’d tried the door and found it locked, she’d pounded on the door. After a few minutes, Caroline had opened the door, dressed in a sheet and holding an overnight bag stuffed with some of Val’s clothes.

“Tell Justin I said hi,” Caroline said before closing the door again.

“You better wash those sheets!” Val had ordered, before slamming out of the house.

Caroline started humming as she tapped a finger on the counter, and Val came up alongside her, one of those meal shakes in her hand. “Seriously, why couldn’t you have gone to your own apartment to do the deed instead of locking me out of my own room?”

Just then, Caroline saw Gabe pull up on his bike, and she picked her jacket off the counter. As she shrugged into, she said, “Because revenge is a dish best served cold . . . or sweaty, in your case.”

“Aw, gross,” Val said, sticking her tongue out. “And what did I do besides give you a place to stay? I sheltered you, fed you, supplied you with plenty of nineties romantic dramas . . .”

“Made me sleep on your lumpy couch and listen to your barn-animal sex noises,” Caroline said, patting her sister’s shoulder. “Let this be something you can learn from.”

“And what lesson am I supposed to learn, Yoda?”

“That your couch sucks. Get a new one,” Caroline said, opening the door and stepping out.

Gabe, about to knock on the door, moved to let her step down next to him. Before Caroline could shut the door, Val caught it and stood there, glaring at Gabe.

“Hey, Val,” Gabe said.

Val glared at both of them, before telling him, “You’re dead to me.”

Gabe turned to Caroline, who just waved. “It’s fine.”

Val had the door almost shut when she said, “No, it’s not!”

The door closed with a click, and Caroline stepped into him, sliding her arms up and behind his neck. “I missed you,” she whispered as she tugged on him to come down. He chuckled but obliged her, his lips moving over hers in a lingering kiss that ended too soon for Caroline.

Gabe pulled away, his large hands squeezing her butt. “As much as I want to continue this, we have a lot of driving to do.”

Caroline released him with a pout. “Where are we—oh.”

Gabe unwound his arms and took her hand, bringing it to his mouth. “If you want to wait—”

“No,” Caroline said, holding his hand tight. “I want to meet her.”

The smile that lit Gabe’s face was worth the butterflies nervously fluttering inside Caroline’s belly. His eyes actually sparkled with joy, and she decided then and there, even if she had to walk though hot coals and pokers, that she’d do just about anything to see that smile again.

GABE AND CAROLINE walked into Honey’s care facility two hours later. While Gabe signed them in, he never let go of her hand, afraid she’d bolt at any moment.

“Come on; she’s up here,” Gabe said, heading for the stairs.

“What if . . . ?”

He paused and looked back at her. She was nervous as hell, he could tell, but he wanted her to be good with this. “My sister is the sweetest person and even if she’s having a bad day”—he paused to give her a soft, reassuring kiss—“she’s going to love you.”