behind them. Definitely the grandpa. “Hello there, sir. I’m Burke.”
“Oh, ho ho,” he boomed louder than Santa at Time Square. “We meet at last, fine sir.”
Burke forced himself to nod. Perhaps he was senile.
The older man, sporting a faded pair of denim coveralls, slapped him on the back in a man hug. “I thought the day would never come.”
The day…what day? Burke darted a questioning glance at Justine, whose eyes had widened to the size of saucers. She waved her arms in an ex pattern silently behind her grandfather, which meant…what exactly? What did she want him to do?
“Gramps,” she blurted suddenly, placing a hand on his back.
The old man turned to face her. “Why didn’t you tell me he was coming into town today? I’d have made him a nice fish supper.”
Burke kept his eyes pasted on Justine, watching as a transformation took place. The shock and horror shifting as a streak of possibilities lit her face.
“He’s actually just passing through, Gramps.” She rubbed a hand over his back and motioned to Burke. “It was kind of a…last minute surprise.”
The old man’s lips hardened into a flat line. He turned an accusing glare on Burke, who forced himself to nod in agreement.
“Aw, no you don’t,” her granddad boomed. “That won’t do, young man. You say you’re in love with Justine? You say you’re going to take her hand in marriage, least you can do is stick around to meet the man who raised her.”
Whoa. Justine was engaged? To a guy her own grandpa hadn’t even met? Burke took a step back as a spurt of adrenaline pushed through him.
“Gramps, I’ve told you how busy he is,” Justine blurted.
“Well, why in the world would you agree to marry the guy? What kind of life could he give you if he can’t make time for you?”
The desperation on Justine’s face was unbearable. Burke felt the urgency twisting in his mind as well, working to find a solution to the mysterious problem.
“Actually,” Burke said, moving around the man to stand beside Justine. He wrapped an arm around her lower back and pulled her into his side. “I decided to stay a little while.”
“What?” The single word, uttered from Justine—not her granddad— shot into the crisp air like the surprised blast of a horn. The look she gave him seemed to match it. Shock, awe, and the tiniest, sliver-sized hint of a grin.
Burke liked the idea of earning that grin. He curled his fingers around the soft curve of her narrow waist, breathed in another dose of her strawberry scent, and added another layer to his story.
“Yeah, Justine. I was going to surprise you with that fact, but…”
A hearty chuckle sounded deep in her Granddad’s chest. “Now that’s more like it.” He smacked him on the back and pointed toward a waist-high swinging gate. One wide enough that an oversized tractor or plow could get through. “Let’s get acquainted over some grub, shall we?”
His adrenaline was really revving now. Pulse speeding. Heart aching. Hands and face breaking into a sweat. Just what was he getting himself into? And was he doing this for a woman who was, in fact, engaged?
“Actually,” Justine said, pulling Burke’s arm to stay him. “We already have dinner plans, Gramps.”
“Then cancel them,” the old man said. “Not like there’s any place fancy you can go around here anyway.”
“There’s the Steakhouse,” she countered.
Gramps shot him a look. “Outside of town?”
She nodded.
“You have to get a reservation.” Doubt showed in the slant of his eyes.
Burke piped up. “Yes, sir. I did that already.” He glanced at his watch. “I made it for seven o’clock, so we should probably get going.”
The man ran a slow gaze over Burke, pausing at his shin. “Huh,” he grunted. “What happened to your leg there? You bleeding?”
“Just a little,” Burke said with a shrug. “Got hit with a car door.”
“Ouch,” Justine said, tipping her head to glance at the stain as well.
Burke would be lying if he said he didn’t like the concern he heard in her tone. Saw in the slight crease between her pretty eyes.
“You’ll have to change out of those before we go.”
“Wait,” the man said. “You’re not planning to stay at my Justine’s place while you’re here…”
“No, no” he assured. “Not at all. I’m renting a cabin up there off Wilshire. Mrs. Walsh’s place.” Burke nodded, feeling confident that at least that much was true.
At last Justine’s grandpa nodded as well. “Tomorrow then. And if you’re staying the rest of the week,