Say You'll Marry Me

“You need to respect your elders,” Millie scolded, her feathers ruffled like a disgruntled hen.

“I’m happy to when they earn it.” He turned his back on them and continued toward the mortgage broker’s office.

“Well, I never,” Edna harrumphed. “How rude.”

“He is his father’s son.”

Logan took a deep breath at Millie’s dig against his dad. The feud between their families had started before he was born, and he’d learned long ago to let their insults slide off his back. Some days it took more effort than others.

“More like he can’t wait to sign the paperwork after his fiancée’s meeting with Brian. Back in the day, one waited for the I Do’s before spending the dowry.”

What the hell does that mean?

Logan swung around, but the two old women were already waddling toward the exit. He frowned after them for a moment before striding to his intended destination with a sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach. A quick rap on the door drew Brian Thomas’ attention from the open folder on his desk. Surprise flashed across the middle aged man’s expression, and his face flushed red as he flipped the manila file closed.

“Logan, uh, hello. Did we…ah…I don’t remember us having a meeting.”

He narrowed his gaze. The guy was more nervous than a horse in a rattlesnake pit. “We didn’t.”

“Oh. Okay, good.” He set aside the file, clicked his mouse for the computer, rearranged a few papers on his right, then finally linked his hands together while scooting his chair forward and leaning his elbows on the desk. When his gaze met Logan’s, his smile was as stiff as a two-by-four. “Well, then, ah, what can I do for you?”

An echo of Edna’s words solidified the niggling suspicion in his gut into a blazing lump of certainty. Anger churned with embarrassment as he stepped inside the office. It took a white-knuckled effort not to slam the door as he closed it for privacy.

“I came to talk to you about any other possible options I might explore concerning the foreclosure, but a little biddy in the lobby told me Joy Dolinski was already here. Is that true?”

“Ah…”

All the confirmation he needed. “What did she want?”

Brian lowered his gaze. “I, ah, I really can’t say.”

Logan strode forward to brace his palms on the desk. “If it has anything to do with my farm, you better say. Now.”

The man swallowed hard, but met Logan’s gaze with resignation. “She’s paying off the debt to remove the foreclosure.”

“Sonofabitch.” How dare she! “Did you put the money through yet?”

“I’m working on the paperwork now.”

“Stop.” He shoved away from the desk and strode for the door.

“Logan—”

He gripped the handle while turning to point a finger at the broker. “Don’t you dare process a single piece of that paperwork until the date on that foreclosure, you hear me?”

“If she’s willing to pay the debt for you, we’re going to take the money.”

Mortification burned his cheeks. “I don’t want her damn money!”

Brian stood with a frown. “I don’t understand the problem. She didn’t want me to say anything, and you’re clearly upset, but the two of you are engaged, right?”

“Not for long.” Logan yanked the door open and stormed for the exit.

Chapter 9

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Joy paused in the hallway to smooth her palms down from the empire waistline, lightly skimming them over the white, free-flowing chiffon material that fell past her hips to the floor. Not that she would tell Grandma, but it was one of two wedding dresses she’d bought. The first, she’d fallen in love with and had bought on impulse well before she met Luke. Then she’d pointed out a similar dress in a magazine to him once, and ended up with the one she was wearing now. Still beautiful with its beaded strapless bodice and filmy skirt, but not her favorite.