Goody Two Shoes (Invertary 2)

Caroline’s eyes narrowed. “Yes, but what? Your job is more important than mine?”

“I didn’t say that.”

“You were thinking it, weren’t you?”

He couldn’t argue with that.

“Why?” Caroline looked like she wanted to smack him. “Because you earn more money that I do?”

“This isn’t about money.” He ran a hand over his head. This was not going well at all. “We can look into making Invertary our main base. But we’ll have to be gone some of the time. I have work in the US; I have family there. And I spend a huge chunk of my time touring.”

“Do you expect me to go with you? How am I supposed to keep my job when I’m bouncing in and out of the country all the time?”

“I’d hoped you’d want to go with me.” He covered her clasped hands wi

th one of his. She didn’t pull away from him, and he almost cheered in victory. “We can work this out. It’s only geography.” He took a deep breath. “But if you stay working at the community centre, you need to know that it won’t be the same as it is now. Photographers will have access to you. Reporters will turn up to talk to you. Your life will make international news.”

She rolled her eyes, and her shoulders relaxed slightly. “That’s your ego talking. You aren’t Prince William. No one cares what your wife does.”

“Someone will. Someone always does.” He ran a hand over his face. “I’m not saying this to make you do what I want. I’m just telling you how it is.”

“I’m not sure I like how it is.”

“We made a deal, baby. No backing out now.”

She glowered. “Don’t call me baby.”

Feisty. He loved it. Josh resisted the urge to kiss her then and there.

“Great.” Reverend Morrison clapped his hands. “I don’t know about you two, but I’ve had enough. I’ll see you both next week. In the meantime, I have homework for you to do.” He walked to one of the bookcases and came away with two red folders. “Fill these in and bring them next time.” He looked straight at Josh. “No homework, no wedding.”

“There are other places we can get married.” Josh seriously wanted another minister to marry them. This one was a pain in his ass.

The vicar cocked his head towards Caroline.

“I want to get married here,” she said.

Josh sighed in defeat. “Fine. Then I guess we’re going back to your place to do homework, baby.”

“We can’t.” Caroline’s smug smile was priceless. “I have a meeting to attend.”

If she thought it would be that easy to avoid him, she had another think coming. “That’s okay. I’ll come with you and we’ll do the homework after it.”

Caroline’s mouth opened and shut. No sound came out. It was Josh’s turn to smile smugly.

“Josh isn’t here,” Mitch said as he hugged Helen. “He’s going to be pleased you came early.”

“I’ll bet.” Helen knew her son. The last thing he’d want right now would be his parents. As far as she could tell, only three people ever questioned his common sense. And one of them had failed. She gave the failure her “you’re in trouble now” look. He swallowed loud enough to be heard. “What’s going on with this wedding? Why haven’t you stopped Josh?”

Mitch turned away quickly. He led them through a building site to a kitchen large enough to have swallowed her first apartment.

“Mitch?” Helen pressed. It was like they were teenagers. Always covering for each other.

“Josh will be home soon. You can ask him all about it. How was your flight?”

She put her hands on her hips. “You helped him do this, didn’t you?” He grimaced, and she knew she was right. “What the heck have you two been cooking up?”

Behind her she felt the air shift as Andrew brought the gargantuan chip on his shoulder into the room. He hadn’t said a word to her since telling her off about flirting. Not one word.