Welcoming the Bad Boy: A Hero's Welcome Novel (15 page)

Val’s hand reached for his shoulder and squeezed, comforting him. He’d never been one to want comfort. After his angry teenage years, he’d turned to adrenaline as his comfort of choice. Rock climbing. White-water rafting. Chasing bad guys as a rookie officer.

He parked and looked at Val. Meeting her gaze, she gave just as good an adrenaline rush as any of those things. Especially in that skirt and fitted dark blue top she was dressed in.

“You can always change your mind,” she said in a singsong voice, reading him like an open book.

“I’ve got willpower of steel. I’m not changing my mind.”

Her lower lip turned just a little bit and his cock went hard. He reached behind him and pulled a picnic basket from the backseat.

She looked from him to the basket. “Wow. You really intend to re-create that scene in my…the, um, book the group at Seaside Harbor is reading.”

He nodded. “Ferry ride to Presley and a picnic in Presley Park.” His eyes narrowed. “I want you to know I haven’t gone to this much trouble for anyone since high school. And even then it was just so I could get in my date’s pants.” He lifted a brow.

“You’re not trying to get in my pants today, though,” she reminded him.

Right. He wasn’t. Despite the fact that he didn’t need a woman in his life right now, he was trying to get inside her heart. He pushed open his door and met her on the other side. They walked down the sidewalk, past the line of cars waiting to board the ferry, and entered on foot.

“I’m not sure who wrote that book. Sophie Somebody. But she really knows romance. This is smooth,” he said, reaching for Val’s hand.

Val laughed, and laid her head against his shoulder as they walked. “It is, isn’t it?”

“Secret?” he asked.

She lifted her head. “Okay.”

“I bought the rest of Sophie Somebody’s books. I plan on stealing all of her moves, like a playbook for clueless guys.”

She laughed again and he pulled the hand he was holding toward him and kissed her mouth. She tasted like strawberry lip gloss.

“Something tells me you’re not clueless.”

He continued walking, pulling her to the back of the ferry, where seagulls were already gathered, squawking excitedly. He opened the basket on his arm and pulled out some bread.

“You didn’t.”

“Oh, I did.” He tore a loaf in half and handed it to her.

“I’ve always loved feeding the birds. It reminds me so much of my childhood. Before my mom died…” She stopped talking for a moment, staring down at the bread in her hands. “Before my mother died, we’d go to the pier and feed the birds all the time. It was one of my favorite things to do. I could do it for hours. Then, afterward”—Val glanced over—“well, I didn’t do it again for a long time. My father thought good food would be better given to the homeless shelter, or to a church family in need.” She shook her head. “So silly how something like that can hurt so much.”

He tore off a piece of his loaf and tossed it to the birds, smiling as they squawked toward him. “It’s not silly. Memories are important. All of them, the good and bad. They make us who we are.” Griffin swallowed, then handed her some bread. “Go for it,” he said, enjoying how her face lit up. Enjoying every second of being with her.

Val closed her eyes for a moment, enjoying the feel of the wind in her hair as she held on to the rails of the ferry. This was exactly the scene she’d envisioned when she’d written the book that the book club was reading. The cool air on her cheeks. The smell of salt air.

“Are you about to hold out your arms like the redhead in that
Titanic
movie?”

Val opened her eyes and turned to Griffin, her belly fluttering at the sight of his dark eyes and hair. “If it means you’ll wrap your arms around me to keep me from falling.”

“Maybe falling wouldn’t be such a bad thing.”

Her breath caught. They weren’t talking about the
Titanic
anymore—but something bigger than that. Or her overactive imagination was running wild again.

He reached for her and pulled her in front of him, wrapping his arms around her. Lowering his mouth to her ear he whispered, “You’re killing me in that skirt, you know that?” His hands weighed heavily on the small of her back.

She melted into his hold. “That was my intention,” she said, glancing over her shoulder at him.

“Wicked little angel,” he growled against her ear, his breath tickling and arousing her.

“I really admire that you’re being romantic and re-creating this from a romance novel, but I think we could revise that scene and make it even better.”

He hooked an eyebrow. “Not sure Sophie Whoever would agree.”

Val met his gaze, her lips so close to his that kissing him was the only thing that made sense. “I think Sophie Evans would definitely approve.”

Griffin directed himself toward the shadiest tree in the park. He laid the red-checked blanket he’d brought on the ground in front of them. Sitting, he patted the area beside him. “I don’t bite.”

Val motioned toward her skirt. “Problem. If I sit in this I could be charged with indecent exposure.”

“I won’t tell.” He patted the blanket again, grinning as she shimmied down to the ground, doing her best not to flash the world around them. She folded her legs off to the side of her and smiled up at him.

“There. So what else exactly do you have in that basket?” she asked.

“I thought you read the book.” The scent of her drew him in. Among all the other smells in the park, he could pick her out. She smelled like sweet vanilla and strawberries—good enough to taste. “We’re creating the first-date scene, remember?”

“Pimiento cheese sandwiches and Ruffles potato chips?” she asked, her gaze wandering to the basket.

“Odd combination in my opinion but—” He lifted the lid to the basket.

She looked at him, her eyes wide. There was a small smile curling her strawberry lips. “This was my mother’s favorite meal.” There were tears welling in her eyes.

“That’s pretty coincidental, isn’t it?” He lowered his voice, wondering at her sudden emotion. “The book had a scene with a picnic and the couple ate your mother’s favorite meal.”

She blinked. “Strange, huh? Do you, uh, like pimiento cheese?” she asked.

He ran a hand up her thigh. “I’ll tell you another secret. I like to take my chips and put them inside my sandwich.”

“Me, too!” she said excitedly.

“Something we have in common.” His hand crept higher toward the hem of her skirt.

“No sex,” she reminded him.

“No sex,” he agreed, climbing higher still. “But touching you isn’t sex.”

She closed her eyes as he stroked her softly. This rule he’d created for the night just might kill him. Then, teasing her, he pulled his hand away and reached for the paper plates. “Let’s eat.”

Val squirmed at the absence of his touch, adjusting her skirt to prevent passersby from seeing what was underneath. That was for his eyes only, but not tonight.

“This is perfect,” she said, opening her sandwich and starting to layer in the Ruffles potato chips.

“I take sandwiches very seriously. I’ve never met a girl that liked her sandwiches the same way I do. You surprise me.”

Which also scared the shit out of him. And anything that scared him also pissed him off just a little.

“Something wrong?” Val asked.

Looking at her, he shook his head. “Nope. Everything is perfect.”

After the picnic, they took a long walk through the Paradise Point Park and reboarded the ferry to go back to Seaside as the sun began to set along the western sky.

Val folded her arms along the railing of the ferryboat and stared off into the bleeding colors of sun into the horizon.

“Penny for your thoughts.” Griffin bumped his shoulder against her slightly.

She glanced over. “Dates are going to dinner and a movie. Bickering a little over which movie to watch and awkwardly discussing what to do, if anything, afterward.”

Griffin wasn’t sure where she was going with this. He was a little out of the dating game; maybe he’d made a misstep. “Okay. Noted for next time.”

Val turned away from the sunset, angling her body toward his. “You’ve just ruined every date I’ll ever go on with any other guy.”

She was paying him a compliment, but all he could hear was that she’d be going out with other guys. A trickle of jealousy ran through him. They weren’t exclusive. He didn’t even want exclusive, or hadn’t thought he did. He wrapped his arms around her waist, enclosing her. “Good,” he said. “Who needs them anyway?”

Val laughed. “You’ve given me a date I’ll never forget. Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.”

The boat rocked and she clung to him softly.

“Don’t fall,” he whispered against her cheek, but he was talking to himself.

Val’s skirt was considerably longer the next morning as she stepped into church two minutes before the hour.

Her father’s gaze lifted just slightly, not meeting hers directly. His mouth was set in a subtle frown. She’d barely been awake a full hour and she’d already disappointed him—the story of her life. She walked quickly toward the front pew where her father insisted she always sit and sat down, crossing her legs. The choir began to sing as if they’d been waiting for her arrival.

She loved church. Always had. The music was the sound of her childhood. The stained glass windows were the inspiration behind her childhood imagination, where she’d disappear inside herself for her father’s hour-long sermons. It wasn’t until after her mother died that church had become a place where she felt unworthy: of speaking, of having her own ideas, of being loved.

Her gaze moved to the empty spot on the pew beside her. Church had become the loneliest place on earth after her mother died. It wasn’t supposed to feel this way. Her heart wasn’t supposed to be so heavy with regret every time she saw her father.

The music stopped and her father’s purposeful footsteps approached the pulpit. He smiled out at the congregation, avoiding looking at her. Then for the next hour she sat quietly, listened, and regretted her transgressions. All but one. She didn’t regret any of her transgressions with Griffin so far this summer. He made her feel anything but regret. For the first time in forever she felt like she could be herself with someone. It felt freeing, but she knew it would also be short-lived.

Her gaze moved sideward to the couple on the pew across from hers. Brent Williams and Penny Saurman had gotten engaged last month. She’d gone out with Brent once or twice last year, much to her father’s pleasure. Brent was a self-loving, whiny little man. And their date had been to dinner and a movie, just like she’d told Griffin last night, not memorable in any way. She’d never forget last night, however. Griffin had played the unexpected part of gentleman the entire evening, walking her to her front door at the night’s end, kissing her, and then leaving despite knowing she would’ve taken him inside. He’d had a different goal for the night, apparently.

“Let’s bow our heads and pray,” her father said.

Val tipped her head and closed her eyes.

“Amen.”

Everyone lifted their heads and began to stand. Chatter chorused through the large open room.

“Hey, Val.” Beth Phillips stepped up with her five-year-old daughter, Sabrina. Val had babysat Sabrina on several occasions as a service to the church. And the little girl had also taken care of Sweet Cheeks for her last night to get a taste of being a dog owner. Val had picked the pup up this morning and dropped her off at home before church.

“Hey, you two!” Val hugged Beth’s neck and chatted with her for several minutes. “Have you heard from Julie and Lawson?”

“They’re having a great time at their yoga retreat this summer. They should be back in Seaside soon,” Beth said.

Sabrina bounced softly on her toes. “And Uncle Lawson is bringing me back a surprise.”

Val laughed. Kids were so easily won. If only everyone were the same, the world would be a better place. “That’s great.”

“You’re off for the summer, too, right?” Beth asked. “You should come by the stables and take a ride with us.”

“Really?” Val grinned. “I would love that.” She tried to never pass up an opportunity that could serve as research for one of her books. That wouldn’t be the only reason she’d want to ride with Beth, though. She liked Beth, and now that Kat and Julie had found love, she might need more single friends to hang out with.

“Mommy, I’m hungry!” Sabrina pulled on the fabric of Beth’s dress.

Beth shook her head. “It was good seeing you, Val. I mean it. Call me and let’s go riding soon.”

“Okay.” Val was smiling as she turned to grab her purse off the pew and head out. Then she found her father standing in front of her.

“Good to see you could make it,” he said.

She’d missed Wednesday night’s service. And Sunday school this morning, where a group of twenty- and thirty-somethings had gotten together to review directed material. Val decided to take his statement at face value, even though she knew it was anything but. “Wouldn’t miss it, Dad.” She smiled brightly, willing him to do the same, to meet her gaze, to call her princess like he used to.

“The Carter family just welcomed a new baby into their family,” he said instead.

“Oh, how wonderful.” Val pulled her purse up on her shoulder.

“The church would like to do something for them. Maybe a gift basket with diapers and a few bibs, rattles, a toy or two.”

She nodded. “That sounds like a good idea.”

“This should cover it.” Her father handed her the cash.

“You want
me
to make this basket?” Her mouth fell open. She was on deadline. She was making good progress, but she’d never finish writing her book if she didn’t put her butt in the chair and do the work. She didn’t have time to go shopping.

Her father looked wary. “You’re still on vacation, right? So you’re free to go shopping.”

She hesitated. It wasn’t like she could tell him the truth, that she wrote romance every chance she got. And she was actually good at it. People actually read her books. “Yep, I’m free.” She sighed, taking the money.

“Good.” Finally a small smile stamped his lips. “You can drop it by here when it’s made. There’s a group going to visit Mrs. Carter in the hospital this afternoon before the afternoon service.”

“Okay.”

“The afternoon service starts at seven,” he reminded her, as if it hadn’t been at the same time since she was a child. Lately, she’d opted out of returning on Sunday nights.

“I know,” she said.

“So it’s not a faulty memory keeping you at home? Just laziness.” He nodded. Then he walked away. No “thank you,” or “I love you.” Just a judgment.

Val headed down the aisle as quickly as she could. She wasn’t in the mood to talk to anyone else right now. She just wanted to go home and stuff her face with ice cream. She tried to remember what flavor she’d purchased on her last grocery run.

“Hey.” The deep voice coming from the last pew stopped her cold. Her heart tripped over itself as she met his dark eyes. He looked so out of place in church that for a moment she thought she must be hallucinating.

“Griffin. What are you doing here?”

“The same thing you are,” he said, standing and stepping out beside her.

“So you’re having your spirit crushed little by little, too?” She laughed softly, but she wasn’t joking.

“I thought church was supposed to do the opposite of that,” he said.

She glanced down at his tattooed arms. If her father saw her talking to Griffin here he’d be ready to go in for round two. She started walking again, with Griffin following beside her. “Sorry. The church itself is wonderful. It’s my father I have a problem with.”

He nodded, walking with her to her car. His motorcycle was parked in the spot next to hers. “In my experience, just get over whatever came between you two. It’s not worth it.”

Val glanced over at him. “Easier said than done.”

“Not really. He’s your father.”

Val unlocked her door, shaking her head. “You know, you really don’t know anything about the situation. You have no idea what came between my father and me. You’re just assuming it’s my fault, because I’m Val and he’s the prestigious preacher around here. That’s what everyone does.”

She was overreacting. Or, actually, she was reacting and he’d done nothing wrong.

Griffin’s brow lowered. “I didn’t say anything was your fault.”

She sucked in a deep breath and blew it out. “Well, you might as well have. It’s not the same as what happened between you and your mother. Nothing happened between my father and me to make him hate me. It just is.” Her lips trembled. She hated how things were between her and her father. And she hated that she hated it so much.

“Nothing just is, Val.” He tried to run his hands down the courses of her arms, but she pulled away.

“You know what? I’m not in the mood for another person who disapproves of my actions, Griffin. Not right now.” She opened her car door and plopped inside the driver’s seat, attempting to shut the door as she did. She and Griffin were just a fling. He didn’t need to know her backstory. So why did he care? Why had he come to church in the first place? She’d never seen him here before.

He stopped the door with his hand. “I’m just trying to help, Val. The same way you’ve been helping me.”

“Want to help? Leave me alone.” She pulled the door again and this time it shut, the sound reverberating through her. She pressed the locks and hoped Griffin stepped back, because she was reversing this car and getting the hell out of this parking lot.