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That’s the plan, but I fell for a woman who’s hiding from, well, you.
“I came over to welcome the one stranger in the crowd,” Chief Fairmore continued. “And learned she was your date for the evening.”
Josh nodded and tried to make sense of the web of lies Caroline had spun for the bride’s curious father. As a rule, Josh stuck to the truth. It was the one lesson his late father had drilled into him over and over. No matter what kind of trouble he landed in as a kid, he had to fess up.
Caroline squeezed his hand. “I told him how we met at the bar when I started working there.”
“Josie mentioned they’d hired a dishwasher,” the police chief said, his curiosity still honed in on Caroline. “What brought you to Forever? The university?”
Caroline’s nails dug into his hand. He knew she was about his age, but could easily pass for younger—maybe twenty-three, twenty-four, around the same age as the glowing bride.
“No, I was just passing through,” she said, her voice wavering slightly. “Then I met Josh—”
“I asked her to give Forever a chance. Why head to Portland when you can live and work here? I mean this town is amazing, right?” Josh said, jumping into her lie and adding to the story. He had a feeling she’d been vague. No mention of her previous connection to Noah or the military. But people in Forever were born curious, especially the man paid to keep the peace and follow the law.
Caroline nodded and forced a smile. “He was very convincing.”
“We’re glad to have you,” Chief Fairmore said. “And I know my daughter is happy to have your help at the bar. She tells me business is booming over there. Judging from the number of underage college kids trying to slip past the bouncers, I know she’s telling the truth.”
“She is. Now, if you’ll excuse us, Chief, I owe my girl a drink.” Josh drew her close and snaked his arm around her slim waist. He wanted to get her away from the father of the bride before she started talking about how much she loved washing the piles of pint glasses at the bar.
Plus there’s a chance she left her panties at home but strapped her gun to her thigh.
“Good to see you.” The police chief held out his right hand and Josh gave it a firm shake. “Give my best to your family.”
“Will do, sir,” he said as he led Caroline away.
The side of her body pressed against him as they moved. Tension pulsed through her, leading to hurried steps, and he wondered what would happen if he released her.
She would run.
“Thirsty?” he murmured, keeping a tight hold on her.
She ignored the question. He caught her gaze darting to the exit. “If I leave now—without you—he’ll be suspicious.”
“Stay with me,” he said.
But not just to fool the chief of police.
Yeah, he better keep that to himself until they could talk without a tent full of onlookers.
“I’ll get you that drink,” he added.
“I’m fine.” She slowed her frantic pace as they approached the makeshift bar. Then she drew to a halt ten paces from the bar where Dominic stood chatting with the woman of the hour in the flowing white gown. Caroline tilted her chin up until her gaze met his. Her kiss-me pink lips formed a thin line. “But I owe you—”
He shook his head. “No, you don’t, Caroline.”
He wanted Caroline—in his life, in his bed, and in his dream home. He wanted to turn her lies into the real deal, but not because she owed him.
Sure, he’d lied for her. And he’d do it again in a heartbeat. He would never leave her open to unwanted questions. All because she’d summoned the freaking courage to put on a dress and slip out of her routine for one night. She’d taken so many hits, each one knocking her further and further off track, messing with her mind and heaping fears onto a woman who’d already suffered too much.
He wanted to be there if the train derailed. She was strong. So damn strong. But life didn’t play fair. He knew that better than anyone.
He’d endured his share of hits. But he’d always gotten back up and waited for the next one, determined to take another shot at finding the special formula that led to the kind of happiness that stood strong through life’s ups and downs. His brothers and sister had found it. He knew it was out there.
“You don’t owe me anything,” he said firmly.
“Thank you,” she murmured, the words barely above a whisper.
