Page 21 of A Soft Kiss in Summer
“I’ve told him that already.”
“Then tell him again.”
“I did.”She glanced to her right when someone stepped into her line of sight.It was Rose.Her sister was the only person besides Mabel who knew the proposal was fake and she hoped to keep it that way.When Josiah looked over at her as well, Rose crossed the distance between them.
“Edwin’s over there telling everyone who will listen that you agreed to marry him and that you two getting married is just a lie to get out of it.”
Josiah crossed his arms over his chest.“Well, he’s not completely stupid, at least.”
Violet glanced at Edwin over her shoulder.“I don’t understand why he’s pushing this so hard.”
“Me either.”
“Well, there has to be a reason he’s so determined for something to happen.”Rose chewed her bottom lip a moment before saying, “Didn’t he mention something about his father when he showed up last week?”
“Yes, but I don’t remember what exactly he said.”
“Maybe he’s why Edwin is so desperate and won’t let it go.”
Violet chewed her thumb nail while thinking.“He said something about his father being sick and leaving him his store.Maybe he won’t do it unless he’s married?And since he thinks I said I would, he’s trying to force me to do it now.”
“It’s possible but, why not just marry someone else?”
She snorted.“He’s probably been turned down by every woman in Elkin, and that’s why he’s here pestering me about it.”
Rose made a small noise, her lips pursed.“Well, what if you actually did it?”
Her eyes widened.“Excuse me?Are you out of your mind?All the money in the world wouldn’t get me to marry that goat!”
Rose grinned and glanced at Josiah.“No, I meant marry Josiah.Not Edwin.”
She stilled, as did Josiah.Violet wasn’t even sure he was breathing when she looked up at him.
She’d dreamed of marrying him since the day she set eyes on him and even though she’d let go of the dream, Rose suggesting it now made her girlish heart flutter.
“Look,” Rose said, “it's obvious Edwin’s not going to go away without a resolution, so give him one.”
“By telling him we’ll get married?Today?”
“Yes.”
She blinked at Rose before looking back at Josiah.
“Think about it,” Rose said.“We both know Edwin is a spoiled brat who kicks and screams until he gets what they want and by him bringing that preacher with him, he’s backing you into a corner.If he suspects the story about you two being engaged is the lie that it is, then he’ll call you out in front of everyone and make you out to be the bad guy by not marrying him like he said you agreed to do.This way, he doesn’t win.”
“But…” Her brow scrunched.
“She’s right.I say let’s do it.”
Josiah’s quiet statement made her heart start pounding so hard inside her chest her breath caught.Josiah wanted to marry her?
“It's not a real marriage until it's consummated.”He shifted on his feet again, glancing over her shoulder to where they’d left Edwin.“The moment he’s gone, we’ll say we changed our mind, go our separate ways, and that will be the end of it.”
Her elation died in an instant, her chest aching as if he’d punched her.He didn’t want to marry her.He just wanted to be done with this entire ordeal.
She hoped he couldn’t see the disappointment on her face and cleared her throat to get rid of the sudden lump forming there.A look over her shoulder showed her everyone was still watching them.Waiting.She smiled and waved.
Meeting Josiah’s questioning eyes, she inhaled a deep breath.“I don’t suppose we have much choice.”
