CHAPTER 14
Jack couldn’t believe how close he’d come to losing Josephine. The memory of regaining consciousness to find her on the edge of that cliff with Ernie and Nels about to throw her over shook him to his core.
It gave him no satisfaction that he’d been right about her being a target. What had started with her aunt winning a bridal shop in a poker game and leaving it to her niece might have gone unnoticed if not for a small-town elderly woman who thought it made a great story.
The woman had no idea the story would go viral and get her murdered.
Nels’ fingerprints had been found on a metal desk that hadn’t burned.
He must have gone there thinking the woman knew Josephine and where he could find her.
Instead, he’d had to silence the reporter and try to cover up the murder with a fire.
After that, Nels headed for Wild Rose Point. He’d made sure he got a job working for a local contractor who was doing some remodeling at Seaside Vows. Then he waited for his father to get out of prison and join him.
Jack couldn’t shake off the feeling that if he hadn’t followed his instincts and Josephine, he might have lost her for good. As it was, he almost had. He’d come out to the Oregon Coast worried about her, but more than anything, he’d hoped to win her back—at any cost.
They’d both almost lost their lives. As it was, they’d spent hours at the cop shop giving statements.
Both Ernie and his son had died from their falls.
But both also had been shot. Jack had wanted to kill them, but had only wounded them, praying it would stop them from pushing Josephine off the cliff.
It had been a gamble, something he knew only too well.
But as he knocked at the back door of Seaside Vows, he was about to take an even bigger gamble.
He’d called and asked if he could come over.
She’d sounded more like her old self than he’d felt after last night.
But that was Josephine Bodine. She’d always been resilient, along with being the strongest, smartest, most beautiful woman he’d ever known.
He knocked again and heard footfalls on the stairs. A few moments later, the door swung open and Josphine stood framed in the opening.
Jack blinked and for a few seconds, he couldn’t speak. “Josephine? What is this?”
She smiled. “Why, Jack Rawlins, hasn’t a woman ever called you on a bluff before?”
“Nice dress,” he said, taking in the incredible woman in the wedding dress standing before him.
He’d never seen such a beautiful sight. “Does this mean what I hope it does? Because I was ready to flip that lucky coin of yours. Heads, you say you’ll marry me.
Tails, I lose and walk away, never to bother you again. ”
“That’s quite the offer, Jack, but I don’t need to flip a coin,” she said. “Do you?”
He couldn’t help grinning as he shook his head. “All I’ve ever wanted is you, Josephine Bodine.”
“Even if I tell you I have a buyer for the bridal shop and I’m thinking of going back to Montana and giving up gambling?”
“Seriously? What are you thinking about doing instead?”
Her brown eyes filled with mist. “Having your babies.”
“I do like the sound of that,” he said. “How soon were you thinking?”
“You busy right now, cowboy?”
“As a matter of fact, I have all the time in the world for you.” He swung her up into his arms and practically ran up the stairs to her bed in the apartment.
Later, much later, he asked, “You still going to marry me?”
Josephine leaned over and kissed him. “Just as soon as we can find a Justice of the Peace.”
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *