Obsession Falls(103)

Josiah shrugged and Sandra shook her head. Ledger didn’t know anyone either.

“I’ll find someone eventually,” Rocco said. “Let me know when you’re ready for another round.”

He went back to the bar and I didn’t miss the way Sandra eyed him as he walked away.

“Are you ever going to go for it with him?” I asked.

She rolled her eyes.

“I’m serious. Can’t you just ask him out? You know you want to.”

“I’ve thought about it. But I’m too old-fashioned. I need a man to make the first move. And he’s obviously not going to.”

Josiah’s brow furrowed and he looked between Sandra and Rocco a few times. “Hey, Rocco.”

Rocco looked over. “Yeah?”

“You want to go out with Sandra?”

It was hard to tell in the dim light, but I could have sworn Rocco actually blushed a little.

“Well, yeah.”

“Then would you hurry up and ask her out? This is getting stupid.”

Grinning, he shook his head. “All right. Sandra, you free on Sunday?”

“I am, as a matter of fact.”

“Good. I’ll call you.”

“Okay,” she said. “I’m looking forward to it.”

Rocco went back to work. Sandra reached over and smacked Josiah’s arm.

“Ow,” he said. “What was that for?”

“Thank you,” she said.

“I do not understand people,” he said.

Ledger nodded. “Tell me about it.”

I snuggled up next to Josiah. “That was sweet. A little blunt, but your heart was in the right place.”

The front door opened and Marigold came in. She was dressed in a floral sun dress and took off a pair of sunglasses as she walked to our table.

I stood so I could hug her. “Hey.”

She squeezed back. Marigold gave the best hugs. “Hi, lovely. I saw Josiah’s truck outside, so I thought I’d pop in and see if you were here. But you guys are obviously having a thing. I don’t want to intrude.”

“No, join us,” I said. “We can squeeze in another chair.”

Josiah pulled up a chair and Ledger scooted over to make room. I’d seen Marigold once since the Hayden incident. She’d come over the next morning with breakfast, which had been so sweet of her.

“Does this mean the paper is coming back?” she asked. “Everyone’s been talking about how it didn’t come out on Sunday.”

“We’re back and better than ever,” Sandra said.

“I’m so glad to hear that.”

“What’s the story with your car?” I asked. “Can it be fixed?”

She sighed. “No. Luke took a look at it for me and he said there’s no way. He did offer to help me find a new one, so that’s good at least.”

I nudged Josiah. “That’s nice of him.”

Josiah glanced at me and his brow furrowed. He didn’t get it.

But I had a feeling Marigold had a crush on Luke.

Or was it Zachary?

That night she’d come to the Timberbeast when they’d been sitting at our table, something had been going on. I was sure of it. She’d been flustered and blushy and although that wasn’t totally out of character for her, I was certain one of them had caused it.

I just didn’t know which one.

It had to have been Luke. Didn’t it? Zachary wasn’t her type. Then again, Luke wasn’t exactly a suit-wearing gentleman, but he did have better manners. Zachary was probably a good guy under all his cocky bravado. But it was hard to picture him with someone as sweet as Marigold.

Then again, Josiah and I were total opposites, and we complemented each other perfectly.

I also might have been imagining the whole thing. I wanted to ask her, but I’d wait for a better time. I wasn’t going to put her on the spot in front of other people.

Besides, I had other things to occupy my mind. Like Josiah’s almost-proposal out at the falls.

We’d decided to talk about it when the craziness was over. But we hadn’t.

I didn’t doubt for one second that he loved me. He’d risked his life to save mine. But things still felt unfinished between us. And I wasn’t sure if I should bring it up or wait for him to do so. Maybe he was planning an actual proposal, with a ring and everything, and if I asked him about it, I’d ruin the surprise.

Then again, what if he was rethinking the whole thing? He’d blurted out that he wanted to marry me under traumatic and emotionally charged circumstances. Had he spoken too soon? Now that the dust had settled, maybe he needed more time before making that kind of commitment.

Out of nowhere, he leaned over and gave me a quick kiss on my temple. I smiled back at him. I knew he loved me, and I didn’t want to rush him. But of all the things I wanted in this life, becoming his wife was what I wanted most of all.

I just hoped he wanted it as much as I did.





CHAPTER 43





Josiah





I had a problem.

Fortunately, my problem was no longer a psychopath stalking my girl. That had been solved, and I had the aches and pains to prove it. Not that I cared about my injuries. I’d have gone over that cliff with him if had been necessary.