Blind Date Turned Proposal

By this point, Josie had come to her wit’s end, and her voice turned hoarse with her frustration tipped over. “But he’s not the only criminal on the run in the entire Wavery!”

Arnold paused in his attempt to dab her tears away, taken aback by her sudden outburst, “Wow. Easy now. You sound pretty worked up.”

As Pop’s disappearance neared twenty-four hours, Josie was on edge, visibly worn out.

Arnold playfully pinched her cheek, “When was your last shut-eye?”

“Why do you care? I’m done here.”

Josie shoved him aside and unsteadily got to her feet, ready to leave.

Arnold’s grip gently pulled her back into place.

“Where do you think you’re going being in this state? Planning to walk right into the enemy’s clutches? That’s a one-way ticket to disaster. They’ve got your Pop, and their motive’s likely more complex than just wanting cash. They might be using him as leverage against you or Dexter.”

If it was about blackmail, the perpetrators would reveal their hands sooner or later.

many ways, his words began to steady Josie, though worry still furrowed her brow. “What if

surgery, so he wasn’t fit for additional stress.

forced her head against his shoulder, “Driving yourself crazy won’t help. Get some rest

wine packed more punch than Josie expected, and she was knocked out cold in no

from moving, Josie napping on

at her

his phone, he looked at the picture with a satisfied smile.

wincing from the all-over soreness, she glanced

suspicion,” Arnold quipped, his tone relaxed as he teased Josie,

got a situation! Scar and the

grin disappeared. “By

Josie and then at

equally stunned.

but thanks to his long legs, Arnold surged ahead and

hesitated momentarily. Her concern was etched on her face. “What if he’s here for me?”

irony struck – how had this scenario become reminiscent of an operation to catch a

determined. “If he were after you, he wouldn’t