Say You'll Marry Me (Welcome to Redemption #10)

by Stacey Joy Netzel

  When he eased his fingers beneath the hem of her sweater, she grabbed his hands and stepped back with a soft groan. “I should probably get back to the house.”

  “Do I still get dinner?”

  “Sure. I’ll cover it for your drive home.”

  He laughed, but that’s exactly what she did with the plate of spaghetti and meatballs before pushing him out the door. At the last moment, she fisted her hand in his shirt and pulled him in for one last kiss.

  “Thanks for…talking…earlier.”

  He grinned against her lips, his doubt all but erased. “Thanks for making me.”

  Chapter 13

  ‡

  Late Friday afternoon, Logan parked his truck halfway between the library and the pharmacy. Before he used the computer at the library, he needed something to take care of the headache jack hammering in his head. It wasn’t because of the extreme heat of the unusually long Indian Summer, though that certainly didn’t help.

  After striking out of options with the bank, he’d swallowed his pride and consulted with Tara’s husband, Westin Carter, Redemption’s resident financial wizard. Unfortunately, there was no magic left in his wand for the poor, and it was thanks to the lack of hope the guy offered that Logan was reduced to grabbing a bottled water and bottle of pain reliever so he could down three gel caps before he even hit the pharmacy registers.

  Not that Wes hadn’t been nice, and respectful, and surprisingly non-judgmental when all the bleak facts were laid on the table. He truly had tried to find some way to help, but one had to have money to make money—especially if they needed to make a boatload in as fast as one week.

  His lower than next-to-nil chances of keeping the farm weren’t the only thing bothering him. After the roller coaster of Wednesday night with Joy ended on a high note of expectation, he hadn’t caught more than a glimpse of her around the ranch the past two days. He’d been busy raking the fields in preparation of baling the final crop of hay on Saturday before a cold front brought rain again. She’d been busy with her grandmother.

  They’d barely had time to exchange smiles across the yard, let alone steal a single kiss. Withdrawal had allowed that little niggle of doubt too much wiggle room.

  Was she really so busy, or was she avoiding him? She hadn’t called at all. Neither had he, but that was because he didn’t want to wake up the household when he got in from his own chores so late each night. At his place, she didn’t have to worry about disturbing anyone, which made him wonder if she’d second guessed their decision to give whatever was between them a shot.

  Had she regretted it right away, and that was why she wanted to keep it a secret? Getting right down to brass tacks, was he just not good enough for her?

  The thought prompted a flicker of guilt. The woman he’d gotten to know over the past week and a half wasn’t that kind of a snob.

  Then why can’t I shake this feeling?

  Logan glanced up on his way to the register, and his tension headache practically exploded when he spotted Edna Persky standing near the check out. She perused the rack of candy bars, but when she shot a glance his way, he got the distinct impression of a predator eying her prey. Sometimes, he’d swear the woman skulked around town just waiting for a chance to get her digs in.

  He took a detour into the next aisle, and when his brain registered the products he’d passed on his right, he stopped, backtracked, and grabbed a value-size box of condoms.

  Let’s see what the old girl has to say to these.

  After another moment of consideration, his lips twitched, and he carefully selected two more kinds of protection. It was a two birds, one stone, scenario.

  Damn, this is gonna be good.

  Three bags of chips, and some sale priced toilet paper overloaded his arms just right, and he headed to the front. Mrs. Persky cut in front of him as if she was going to checkout first, only she turned to him without setting anything on the short conveyor belt.

  “Hello, Logan. How’s everything at the farm?”

  Her friendly tone didn’t fool him one bit anymore. Step into my parlor said the spider to the fly.

  “It’s great, Edna. Thank you for asking.”

  “Well, of course. I imagine your situation has vastly improved now that you have Joy to help pay your bills. Though, I did notice the sale notice is still up for next Friday.”

  “We’re working on things.”

  “Ah, yes. That pesky paperwork takes time. Must be nice, though, marrying into money.”

  “You would not believe how good it is,” he agreed after he unclenched his teeth. While shifting his stance, he accidentally fumbled one of the condom boxes. He peered around the bags of chips in his arms. “Darn it. Would you mind picking that up for me?”

  “Of course…not.”

  She straightened with the box of Studded Bare Skin in her hand. Perfect. Somehow he managed to keep a straight face at the sourpuss’ scandalized expression. Her entire face glowed crimson when she shoved the condoms toward him as if afraid they’d tear off her clothes or something.

  “Just set it on the belt,” he requested as another box tumbled to the ground. “Shoot, can you grab that one, too? In fact…can I just jump ahead of you here? I don’t want to drop anything else, and I’m in a hurry to get home.”

  He set the Ribbed Ultra with the first box before unloading the rest of his items, only slightly sorry for the high school boy running the register. Tomato-faced Edna thrust the second box from the floor at Logan. He placed the 40 count Pleasure Pack at the end of his order.

  “Thanks. I probably shouldn’t get so many,” he admitted while reaching for a pack of gum, “but I wasn’t sure what Joy likes best. I figure it’s best to cover all my bases.”

  Edna made a choking sound. The checker might have, too.

  Logan pulled a debit card from his wallet as he asked, “Any chance you know what kind she enjoys?”

  “Excuse me?”

  “I asked if you know what kind she likes,” he repeated, slow and loud, as if she was hard of hearing. “I thought maybe you’ve noticed at one of the book club meetings with June when there are snacks out. Does Joy prefer the ones with ridges, or sour cream and onion?”

  The old woman cast her bug-eyes toward the three bags of chips he’d set on the belt with the condoms and toilet paper. “Um…I…have no idea.”

  “That’s fine. I’ll get them all, and we’ll try each kind.”

  He paid for his things and gathered a shopping bag in each hand. Then he turned back to Edna with a smile. It froze for a second when he spotted Grant Walker’s ear to ear grin behind the old woman. Aw, hell…but, it wasn’t like he could take any of it back now, so might as well finish with a flourish.

  “Thanks again for letting me jump ahead. Have a good night.” When she made the mistake of meeting his gaze, he tossed in a wink. “I know I will.”

  He strode to his truck to deposit his bags in the passenger seat and caught Edna’s departure from the corner of his eye. She’d exited so soon after him, he suspected she hadn’t even bought anything. This time, he waited, and as she backed from her parking spot, he waved goodbye.

  “Oh my God, that was the funniest damn thing I’ve seen in a long time.”

  Logan shut the truck door and turned to face Grant with a wry grin. “I probably shouldn’t have done it, but that woman baits me every time, and I just couldn’t help myself.”

  “I heard what she said, and I don’t blame you one bit. Maybe next time she’ll think twice about being such a snob.”

  “I doubt it. She’s been like that to my family all my life.”

  Funny thing was, Walker had grown up with money and been just like the Perskys back in high school. Since moving back to Redemption last spring, he’d done a complete one-eighty, and from what Logan had heard, was getting back on his feet after a financial downturn of his own.

  “What’s her problem?” Grant asked.

  “Long time feud between her husband and my grandf
ather. Bob Persky wanted to buy my family’s land way back when, but my grandfather, and then my father, refused to sell. Little by little, a lot of it went to the Dolinskis, which pissed them off even more. Of course, Edna doesn’t know the real deal between me and Joy yet, so she doesn’t know they’ll still get their chance at the sheriff’s sale.”

  Walker gave a solemn nod, because of course he knew the story of the fake engagement from his real fiancée, Jenny. “You’ve exhausted your options with the bank?”

  “Yeah.”

  “Maybe you could talk to Wes Carter. I hear—”

  Logan held up a hand. “Been there, done that. No dice.”

  “Sorry, man.”

  He shrugged and flipped his keys in his hand as he glanced down the sidewalk. “Not much I can do about it now. Not much I could do about it ever.” Except there was something he needed to look into yet. “I gotta get going, but can we keep that little scene back there between us? I don’t want Joy getting the wrong idea.”

  Especially if she was second guessing everything between them.

  “I’m not the one you need to worry about. That was way too good for the kid at the register not to share. That little scene was probably the highlight of his month.”

  He glanced back toward the pharmacy with a grimace. Of course the story was going to get out no matter what, and all Joy would likely hear was he’d stocked up on condoms. A whole hell of a lot of condoms.

  Smart move, genius.

  Well, short of telling her himself, there was nothing he could do about it now. Employing the two birds, one stone scenario again, it’d been worth it to shut Edna up for once, and he was sure to find out where he and Joy stood.

  In response to Grant’s point, he played on the fake relationship thing. “Coming from him, it’s just part of the gossip mill around Redemption. Jenny telling Joy, after hearing it from you? That’s a whole different story.”

  Grant chuckled. “I see your point. I won’t mention a thing.”

  “Thanks.” He turned for the library as he said, “Catch ya later.”

  “Hold up a sec.”

  Logan swung back to face the shorter guy again.

  Walker cast a look around as he shifted his weight from one foot to the other. “I just wanted to say, what you’re doing to help Joy with her grandma, that’s pretty cool. I know I was a dick back in school, so maybe this doesn’t mean shit coming from me, but I respect the hell out of you for being there for her in a tough time. All of us who know the real story do.”

  He shrugged, uncomfortable with the unexpected praise.

  “I hope you figure out something with your farm,” Grant offered as he backed away in the direction of the apartment building he owned and had started managing last spring. “It’d be nice if you stuck around town.”

  An hour later, Logan mulled over Walker’s words as he sat in the library. Procrastination had led to some research on dementia and an interesting documentary to mention to Joy. Now, he stared at the computer screen as the return of his headache mocked his foolish notions. Staying in Redemption would be nice, but as it turned out, the last chance he’d begun to allow a glimmer of hope for wasn’t a chance at all. Everything he’d just read online confirmed his initial dismal thoughts about selling his songs for profit.

  One didn’t simply send a couple emails, get some interest, sell a song, and cash a check. Writers were a dime a dozen in Nashville, and many of them didn’t make a living on their music. Good wasn’t anywhere near good enough. Living outside the musical hub, with no experience or training, and not working the craft and networking connections every day, meant his chances of success were as probable as him winning the lottery without buying a ticket.

  Seeing as how he was as likely to sell a song as win a multi-million dollar jackpot, he skipped the emails and stopped at the gas station for a Megabucks quick-pick on the way home.

  Chapter 14

  ‡

  “Hey, you. Your reputation sure is making a wicked comeback.”

  Joy smiled at Tara’s statement, holding the phone between her ear and shoulder as she rinsed her breakfast plate and juice glass at the sink Saturday morning. “I wasn’t aware it needed to.”

  “It didn’t for those of us who matter, but you know how people talked after the whole thing with Luke cheating?”

  “Don’t remind me.”

  “Well, they’ve got something even better to talk about now.”

  She shut off the water and grabbed the phone while leaning a hip against the counter. Her gaze scanned the deserted ranch yard for a tall, lean body to go with the rusty truck parked by the barn. It was technically his day off, but the hay needed to get baled.

  “What’s everyone talking about now?” she asked Tara.

  “Logan.”

  Knowing how he hated being judged by people in town, Joy frowned on his behalf. “Because the sheriff’s sale is now less than a week away?”

  “No, because of your supposed engagement, and the fact that he totally stocked up at the pharmacy yesterday.”

  The grin in her friend’s voice threw her off. “Stocked up on what?”

  “According to Nadine’s cousin’s son, Dylan, Logan bought three big boxes of condoms and had Edna Persky help him carry them to the register while he asked her what kind she thought you’d enjoy.”

  “What?”

  “Yep. And when she didn’t know, he said he’d buy them all and you guys would try each kind. I must say, for a fake engagement, you sure are getting a lot of action.”

  Joy sputtered in disbelief. “I’m not getting any action.”

  Not that she didn’t want any. Ever since that steamy scene in the shavings, she fell asleep each night craving his kisses. Problem was, no more than they agreed to quit pretending, the man had up and made himself nearly invisible the past three days. Yes, they’d both been busy, but even a phone call at some point would’ve been nice. Certainly, it would’ve been better than finding out through the town grapevine that he’d bought a large enough supply of protection to get him through a zombie apocalypse.

  “Sounds like you should get ready,” Tara teased. “Make sure your legs are shaved.”

  She’d already shaved yesterday, just in case. Heat flooded her face, even as her stomach dipped with excitement. Get a grip.

  “Stop it.” She argued against the notion as much to convince Tara as keep her own expectations realistic. This was exactly why no one needed to know they were giving things a go for real. If things didn’t work out, she didn’t need that kind of humiliation again. “If this story is even true, and Edna was there, he was probably messing with her. She can be mean to him because of the old land feud between their families.”

  “That sounds about right,” her friend agreed. “Dylan thought she’d pass out when Logan asked what you’d like. He said it was frickin’ hilarious to see the look on her face.”

  Joy laughed. “I bet it was.” The old witch had probably deserved it, too. She’d never been a fan of Edna or her sister, Millie, and they’d been especially rude with their snide insinuations at the bank while supposedly admiring her ring.

  “All right, I’m done teasing,” Tara said. “And since you called me, what’s up?”

  “I’m really sorry, but I have to cancel our ride. We got a call today to get Grandma in for a doctor’s appointment last minute, so Grandpa is driving her down to Milwaukee right now.”

  “On a Saturday?”

  “It’s with a specialist from another state, and he’s fitting in as many patients as he can. With Grandpa gone, that leaves Logan out doing hay by himself, and rain is coming late this afternoon, so we have to get it off the fields. You and Jenny are still welcome to come out and ride, but I really should help him.”

  “Do you need our help?”

  “Thanks, but we’ll get it baled no problem, and whatever we can’t get put up before the rain can be parked inside until we can get to it. No big deal. I’ll see you guys next week. Promise.�
��

  Joy hung up and slipped the phone in her pocket before fixing a couple BLT sandwiches to pack in a cooler with some ice and lemonade. She grabbed a blanket for sitting on the hay wagon while they ate and a pair of work gloves, then headed outside.

  Hand on the door of her convertible, she turned to eye Logan’s truck by the barn. The old rust bucket would do better on the rough terrain than her low car, and he probably kept his keys in the ignition.

  She peered through the passenger side window and opened the door with a triumphant grin. As she set the cooler and blanket on the seat, she noticed two bags with the pharmacy logo on the floor. One held a couple bags of chips, and the other…she paused, then couldn’t help opening it up to find a bottle of acetaminophen, and three boxes of condoms. Big, value size boxes.

  Great. The story was true. She lifted her eyebrows at the variety, and their erotic names. A tiny smile curved her lips. Edna must’ve been ready to have a stroke. After a moment of perusing the selections in the Pleasure Pack, Joy shoved the bag behind the chips and slammed the door to make her way around to the driver’s side.

  It took a few minutes to hook up an empty wagon, and then she drove on the lane through the trees, past the pond, and along the edge of two cut fields before reaching Logan. He drove the tractor as the baler shot the small square bales into the three sided wagon that was almost full.

  He lifted a hand in acknowledgement when she drove up with the empty, but kept baling until the wagon was topped off. Then the tractor lurched to a stop, and she idled the truck alongside as he rolled down the cab window.

  “Hey.” His guarded gaze met hers, darted toward the passenger side of his truck, then returned. “What are you doing here?”

  Joy bit back a grin. “With Grandpa gone, I figured I’d take his place. You okay with that?”

  The easy suggestion seemed to relax his shoulders. “Sure. I won’t turn down this kind of help again.”