Page 72 of The Cowgirl's Chosen Love
“May Long Weekend is a good time for a special event,” Zach offered. “By that time of year, people are looking for something to do, yet it’s far enough away from the holiday season so you might be able to get them to open their pocketbooks.”
“There you go. Third week of May and the long weekend.” Lisa nodded firmly. “Work for you?”
His lips twitched before unfurling into a beautiful smile. “Love to help you. By the way, you owe me a hundred bucks.”
She blinked. Damn, he was right. She was going to be here past her original estimate of spring. “It’s a double or nothing kind of day. Want to let it ride?”
“If you’re here by the end of summer, I get two hundred dollars?” Josiah thought for a moment then nodded. “Deal.”
He stuck out his hand, and they shook briefly before he ignored the fact there were two others in the area and a dog at their feet. Josiah tugged her against his body and stole a kiss hot and demanding enough to leave her breathless before he offered a wink then moved to load food onto plates.
The day was just beginning, but it seemed at least one of her questions had been answered. How long was she staying in Heart Falls?
At least until the end of May.
Josiah droppedLisa off at Silver Stone and headed straight into his day. He left Ollie at the veterinary clinic where she obediently settled on the dog bed beside his receptionist’s feet, but sadly lowered her head to her paws as if she were being betrayed.
“Poor doggie.” Sharon bent down to rub Ollie’s head. “You’re stuck without your favourite people.”
Ollie whimpered, milking sympathy with everything in her, weepy eyes fixed on Josiah.
“Sorry, pup, but I have places to go today, and you can’t come,” Josiah explained as he hid his amusement. Lisa’s day at Silver Stone was going to be unusual enough without tossing a love-sick dog into the mix.
The last thing he heard as he left the office was a long, heartbroken sigh.
Josiah wasn’t surprised when Finn and Zach both answered his request to join him at Buns and Roses midmorning.
Zach stood in the doorway between the coffee shop and the flower/knickknack store. He leaned a shoulder against the doorjamb as he chatted with Rose Fields, owner of said flower emporium.
The dark-haired beauty was nodding vigorously, gesturing back into her shop. The two of them disappeared from sight around the corner.
Josiah dropped into the seat opposite Finn. Curiosity and a wild streak of protectiveness struck out of nowhere. “What’s Zach up to?”
“He’s still playing with that local craft-brew idea. Getting some of the local businesses onboard might help when he wants to apply for permits.” Finn pushed a plate of doughnuts toward Josiah. “Help yourself.”
Automatically, Josiah waved off the offer. “More importantly, what are you up to? I thought you were thinking on it when it came to fundraising for the rescue.”
“I did think on it. I thought it would be good to get some local people involved.”
Josiah glared at him briefly. “You pretty much steamrolled Lisa into agreeing to run a fundraiser.”
“Withyou. Remember that part—” Finn cracked a rare smile. “You’re welcome, by the way.”
Yeah, Josiah had noticed that part. “Thanks. I guess. She’s not sure if she’s planning to stick around, so I was hoping to spend quality time sweet-talking her and making Heart Falls seem like a destination. Not using that time in meetings and shop talk.”
“Then delegate. You don’t have to do everything. Any successful event needs a good, strong figurehead at the top, though. Having the local veterinarian offer support goes a long way toward the community pitching in.” Only then did Finn wrinkle his nose in a modest apology. “Didn’t know her timeline was so tight. Sorry about that.”
“That’s fine. Just means when I ask for a favour at some point in the next six weeks, I hope you’ll open up your schedule.”
“I wouldn’t miss it.” Finn picked up one of the doughnuts and took an appreciative bite, glancing around the Buns and Roses shop. “This place is nice.”
“They don’t need any backing,” Josiah drawled.
“Everyone can use backing to get to the next level,” Finn corrected.
“Not everyone wants to get to the next level.”
The other man winked. “I like your style, Josiah Ryder. Don’t worry, I’m not planning on stirring up Heart Falls too much. I just have a tendency to see things that could be done. I’m working on the part where I remember to decideifthey should be done.”
