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.

though worry still furrowed her brow. “What if they hurt.

surgery, so he

against his shoulder, “Driving yourself crazy won’t help. Get some rest first, and then we’ll talk

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

his breath and refrained from moving, Josie napping on his shoulder, seeming more precious than

a look at her serene sleeping face, an unfamiliar helplessness washing over

his phone, he looked at the picture

up, wincing from the all-over soreness, she glanced up at Arnold

knight in shining armor, and all I get is suspicion,” Arnold quipped, his tone relaxed as he

“We’ve got a situation! Scar and the others have been cornered

disappeared. “By

at Josie and then at Arnold, …

was equally

was the first to bolt from the room, but thanks to his long legs, Arnold surged ahead and grasped her arm, urging, “You need to lay

was etched on her face. “What if he’s

this scenario become reminiscent of an operation to

serious, his voice determined. “If he