Say You'll Marry Me

The busty brunette waved the question away. “I already told Logan there’s no charge. Just don’t mention it to Matt. Mr. Business Degree doesn’t like it when I give stuff away.”

The thought of instigating one of Carrie and Matt’s infamous verbal matches made her smile. She suspected Marv and the book club members frequented the shop as much for the entertainment as the great food. She also suspected the two shop owners loved the fighting as much for the challenge as for the making up part afterward.

“Well, again, thank you.”

“No problem.” The brunette cast a quick glance around at the other customers, then leaned in and lowered her voice. “I have to say, you two are pretty good at this. Any chance there’s more to the story than what I heard from Jenny?”

Heat burned Joy’s neck and cheeks, but before she could even think about forming a reply, Logan answered in a low undertone.

“Nope. I’m just a stand-in for her ex.” He shoved his chair back and stood. After a glance toward the Swansons, he placed a hand on Joy’s shoulders while bending to brush his lips across her cheek. “I’ll meet you and Gram outside, hon. Thanks, Carrie.”

“My pleasure.” She turned arched eyebrows toward Joy as he left. “Wow. No resentment there at all.”

Sarcastic understatement of the year.

Joy gave her a wan smile and said her goodbyes as Grandma returned. Out at the car, she waited by the driver’s side as Logan helped the older woman into her seat. When he made his way around to their side, she said, “What you just said back there…”

He lifted his gaze to hers, brown eyes shuttered and distant. “You’re the one who insisted we shouldn’t pretend with each other. I just said it like it is.”

She opened her mouth to protest, but he shouldered past to yank open the back passenger door. “We should get going. I have hay to cut when we get back.”

An irritated huff came from the front seat. “Can we go before the store closes?”

Much as she wanted to press the issue with Logan, she had to focus on her grandma. Attempts to steer her away from the pet store were met with rising belligerence, so when Logan looked askance as to whether they were going or not, Joy gave a resigned nod toward Bev’s on Main Street. At the moment, it was best to ride things out and pray there weren’t too many questions.

Inside the store, she forced a smile when she saw Mike Donovan and his cute little red-headed daughter, Maddie. With him were Bernie Mitchell, and a teen-aged boy with sandy brown hair. Must be the brother who’d recently come to live with her after his parents were killed.

She would’ve gone to say hi, and give Bernie a hug and condolences about her father and stepmother, but Gram marched right up to the counter and smiled brightly at Mrs. Donovan.

“Hello, Bev. I got your call, and I’m here to pick up Sweet Pea’s new bed.”

The blond shop owner frowned. “You picked it up yesterday, June. With your husband. Don’t you remember?”

A mutinous expression took over her grandmother face. “No, I did not. Did Joy tell you to say that?”

Joy hurried up to the counter. “Gram—”

“Of course not.” Bev’s confusion grew. “We spoke for a good ten minutes. You told me about Joy’s engagement, and how you were so excited to help plan the wedding.”

“Yes, I remember that. But my princess still needs her bed.”

Mike’s mom turned her dumbfounded gaze toward Joy. She offered Bev a pleading smile. “Maybe we could go check in the back while Gram stays here with Logan?” She glanced back behind her grandma and met Logan’s gaze. “Do you mind, honey?”

“Not at all.” He reached out to touch her grandmother’s shoulder. “I bet Sweet Pea would love a new leash. Why don’t we go look?”

“I suppose I could look,” she agreed grudgingly, letting him lead her down the other aisle.

Joy blew out a sigh as she turned back to Bev. “I’m sorry about that. She doesn’t remember picking up the bed, so can you just sell us another one, and I’ll bring it back later?”

“Is June all right?”

Movement at her side revealed Bernie had joined them at the counter as Joy answered. “She has dementia, but hasn’t wanted anyone to know. It’s getting harder to keep it a secret when things like this happen, and we can’t always keep her home.”

Bev leaned over and grasped her hand. “I’m so sorry, sweetie. Of course I can get you another bed. Anything I can do to help.”

Bernie put an arm around her. “Sorry, Joy.”

“Thanks. And same to you.” She turned to grasp her in a full hug. “I’m so sorry to hear about your dad and stepmom.”