Welcoming the Bad Boy: A Hero's Welcome Novel

by Annie Rains

  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 tripp
ed 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.

  Chapter 15

  Griffin watched Val leave, unsure of what had just happened. He was sure, however, that it was his fault. His first mistake had been coming here unannounced. His second had been assuming that Val had wanted to see him as much as he wanted to see her. He dropped by his townhouse to get Trooper and drove to the nursing home, halfway hoping to run into Val again so that he could apologize for all his assumptions. No such luck. It was just him and his mother, who also didn’t appear happy to see him. She was, however, happy to see his canine companion.

  “Hey, there,” Helen said in a small voice that made Griffin’s chest ache. “You’re a good boy.”

  Griffin placed a dog treat by her hand for her to pick up and offer Trooper.

  “Make him work for it. Tell him to sit,” he told her.

  His mother’s gaze lifted. “Okay.” She looked at Trooper. “Sit,” she said quietly.

  “You have to order him to sit. Like a Marine.”

  Her brow lowered. “Are you a Marine?” she asked.

  Griffin swallowed. The ache was deep and ran through his whole body. “Yeah.”

  “Oh.” She studied him for a long moment. “My son was a Marine, too. I think.”

  “Yeah?” He glanced down at his feet, barring up all the emotion inside him. “I bet you hated that, huh?”

  Her brow hung heavily over her confused eyes. “I never liked guns. My husband had guns. Have you met him?”

  Griffin shook his head. “No. I haven’t.” Not in a long time, at least.

  She gave the smallest of nods and redirected her attention at Trooper. “Sit,” she said more firmly, taking his advice.

  Trooper dutifully sat and snatched the dog treat she offered him in reward.

  “Hey. Good job. You’re a natural at that.” Griffin smiled. Maybe there was still hope for them. If she remembered she had a son, maybe she’d one day remember him, too. Maybe she’d forgive him.

  He led Trooper through a few more tricks and then continued walking down the hallway to see the other residents. Trooper enjoyed it, and so did he. When he was done at Seaside Harbor, he went to check on Jaws at the kennel and they took a short walk together with Trooper. It was four o’clock by the time he took Trooper back home. He showered and decided he’d given Val enough time to blow off steam. He pulled on a T-shirt and a pair of jeans and drove his motorcycle to her house.

  He’d considered calling her, but sometimes the element of surprise worked in a guy’s favor. Her car was home when he pulled in, cursing himself. There was no element of surprise when you drove a big bike. He took his time walking to her door. She opened it before he rang the bell.

  “What are you doing here?” she asked, arms folded, chin up.

  Okay, so maybe she hadn’t cooled off completely yet.

  “I’m here to apologize.”

  “What exactly are you apologizing for?”

  He anchored his hands in his pockets to keep from running them over her, pulling her in, and melting that stony posture of hers. “Anything you want me to apologize for,” he said in a low voice, leaning in closer to her.

  She smiled, but her jaw was still bunched. “You’re apologizing for pretending like you know what’s best for me. You don’t even really know me.”

  He reached out and touched her now. “I know enough to know I like you.” And he liked more than just what he saw with his eyes.

  She lifted her chin higher, looking at him. “Fine, you’re forgiven. But only if you do me a favor.”

  He grinned and wrapped his arms around her waist now. “I’ll do favors for you all night long, if that’s what you need.”

  She tsked. “That’s what I wanted last night. Tonight I just want someone to come with me to look at baby clothes.”

  His spine stiffened. “Something I don’t know?”

  “Relax. It’s just an errand for the church. I have to make a baby gift basket for some new parents in our congregation.”

  He stepped backward just a little.

  “I thought you wanted to make things up to me.”

  “I don’t even know what I’m making up to you,” he argued.

  “Uh-huh. That’s what I thought.” Val feigned annoyance, but he could tell she was teasing him. That was good. He was glad whatever was bothering her earlier seemed to have faded into the background.

  “Fine,” he said, feeling his man card shrivel and disintegrate in the wind that was blowing Val’s hair softly around her pretty face. “I’ll go baby shopping with you.”

  —

  On Monday morning Val awoke with the keys of her laptop computer pressing into the side of her cheek. She pulled back, worried that she’d drooled on the keyboard. She hadn’t, even though she most definitely had been dreaming about one dark, mysterious, surprisingly sweet Marine who’d gone shopping with her last night. She caught herself sighing dreamily.

  “Stop that,” she said out loud, talking to herself like a crazy person. Sweet Cheeks came darting toward her, aware that she was awake now. Val pointed. “Sit,” she said in a stern voice like Griffin had taught her. Sweet Cheeks obeyed. “Good girl.” Val’s voice sweetened again and she pet the little dog’s head. “You’re a good dog. I’m going to miss you so much when you go home with Alma.” She was surprised at the sudden emotion riding through her at the thought of handing Sweet Cheeks back.

&nbs
p; She tapped a button and her laptop came to life. She’d written almost an entire chapter after Griffin had gone home last night. He was her magic sauce. She wondered, when the summer was over, how she was going to ever let him go. Her gaze wandered to the blow-up man staring at her creepily from the corner of the room. He was about as inspiring as one of those guys at the church that her father would prefer she go out with. Okay, Blow-Up Man was slightly more inspiring, and he had more of a personality than most of the single guys there that she’d been subjected to. Not that churchgoing men couldn’t be attractive. Griffin had been very attractive when she’d found him sitting in the back pew yesterday.

  Val sighed again, then turned to look at the calendar. It was the last week of July. Her book was due two weeks from today. It would mean late nights until then, but she could pull this off. And then she’d let Griffin go, the same way she was letting Sweet Cheeks go on Wednesday. She’d make it quick, like ripping off a Band-Aid.

  It’d be easy.

  Sweet Cheeks whined like she was reading Val’s mind.

  “I know,” she said. “I love you, too.” But just because she adored the little dog didn’t mean she should open up her life to it. Some things were just meant to be fun while they lasted. They weren’t meant to last forever, though.

  Slipping her feet into a pair of flip-flops, she took Sweet Cheeks for a walk. When she returned, her phone was blinking with a message from Nikki. It was no doubt a check-in call to see if Val had made any headway on her newest book.

  “Call me,” Nikki’s voice said as Val listened to her voicemail.

  Val redialed and waited for her agent’s cheer-filled voice to answer. “Hi, Nikki. You summoned?”

  “Progress report, please,” Nikki said, cutting to the chase.

  “In the homestretch.” Val laughed nervously, pacing, with Sweet Cheeks at her heel.

  “Deadline is in two weeks, Val. And we really can’t ask for another push-back on the schedule.”