Bait on, Daniel stood again, raised his rod and cast with an easy flair that reminded Josh so much of Pops. “But you’ve joined them in so many other ways.” The older man slid a sideways look with enough question that Josh knew exactly what he was angling for…and it wasn’t a fish.
“You have a great family,” Josh said simply.
“I certainly do.”
“And I don’t.”
The other man didn’t answer that, reeling in a bit to get his line right. “Is that what’s stopping you?” he finally asked.
As much as Josh wanted to deny the truth, he’d never bother with anything but complete candor with this man. “I always tell Darcy you marry a family, not a person. And I’m afraid that goes both ways.”
Daniel tipped his head and gave him a questioning look.
“Your family is nearly—no, it is perfect,” Josh said. “So I’m clearly the winner. But I bring my own baggage, sir. I have stepsiblings who’ve made some very, very bad decisions.” Not that anyone got arrested for their misdeeds, but Malcolm Bucking had demoted Gideon to a line manager’s job in the company, and Josh had agreed to help Bucking Properties as a consultant in its new house-flipping division, which was probably worse punishment.
Josh had no desire to leave Bitter Bark, where he’d almost finished the reno on one building, had purchased another, and basked in the glow of the newfound success of Friends With Dogs, Darcy’s grooming salon. But he’d been traveling to and from Cornelius, giving advice and mending fences.
Brea had been ostracized by the society that mattered to her and was currently on an extended vacation in Europe that could last into the next millennium for all Josh cared. His mother did end up with the jewelry Gran wanted her to have, including a beautiful antique engagement ring that Josh found a few weeks later in the courtyard. When he’d taken it to his mother on his next trip there, she’d suggested he keep the ring as a thank-you for all he’d done. Apparently, it had belonged to Gran’s sister, who had impeccable—and expensive—taste. He often carried that around with him, in case he suddenly wanted to give it to someone.
But something stopped him.
“So, it’s your family that’s stopping you?” Daniel asked, startling Josh with how he’d read his mind. “Because you think it’s not fair to join Darcy to a family you don’t really love and respect?”
He laughed softly. “Man, you’re good.”
“I’m old. And I know young men, four in particular, a lot like you.” He came a few steps closer, adjusting the rod. “Son, I understand your whole ‘you marry a family not a person’ principle.”
“I hope so, because it’s the only thing keeping your kids from lining up a blind date every night for you,” Josh teased. “I tell them all the time to be careful what you wish for.”
He laughed, but his expression grew serious. “There’s a flip side to that concept, you know.”
“A flip side?”
“You are more than the people you grew up with in a house, or names on a family tree, or who happens to sit around a table at the holidays. Yes, that group might be loving and supportive. But if they aren’t, that doesn’t make you less of a person. In fact, it’s an opportunity.”
He smiled. “I see where Darcy gets her optimism.”
“I’m a realist,” he said. “Annie was an optimist. But, son, you have the chance to change the branches of that tree and grow in a different direction. And not only that, I’d venture to say your family, with all its issues, could benefit from Darcy Kilcannon.”
“They already have.”
He shrugged as if he didn’t even have to speak to make his point.
Josh looked at him. “I want to be worthy of her in every way.”
He put a hand on Josh’s shoulder. “I believe you are.”
The compliment, the advice, the man fishing in the sun…it all blended together to give Josh a feeling of certainty and contentment that he hadn’t felt since Pops died.
“Then I guess there’s only one last thing to do,” Josh said.
Daniel lifted his brows in expectation.
He cleared his throat, pinned his gaze on Daniel, and took a breath. “Sir, I love your daughter. I swear I’m going to make her safe and happy and secure.” He waited a beat, as much to enjoy the look on his future father-in-law’s face as to gather steam for what he wanted to ask. “May I have your blessing to ask Darcy to marry me?”
The blue eyes looking at him filled instantly, and the corners creased with a smile. “I never thought I’d want to say those words, but yes, you have my blessing to ask Darcy to marry you.” He blinked back some tears.
As the two men hugged, Stella came strolling over, rubbing her head on Josh’s jeans as if any affection had to go to her. He bent over and gave her some love. “You hear that, kid? Now if she says yes, we’ll—”
“Whoa!” Daniel turned as a fish tugged on his line, hard and insistent, making Stella jump up and bark. “Wasn’t expecting that.” Laughing, he reeled in a little sunfish that whipped wildly on the line.
“He’s a baby,” Josh said, helping by taking the fish with one hand and easing the hook out of its mouth with a skill he could tell Daniel appreciated. “Back you go, young man. Your time hasn’t come yet.” He tossed the sunfish, and it disappeared into the lake, sending ripples over the water.
“But yours has,” Daniel said, beaming at Josh. “We’ll clean this up later, but if we don’t get up there and have your cake soon, my mother will come down here to howl at me.”
He put a hand on Josh’s shoulder and led him toward the house, with Stella and Rusty hot on their heels. As they walked, Josh took one more look over his shoulder at the tackle box, fishing gear, and the lake. And he could have sworn he heard Pops let out the contented sigh of a fisherman.
* * *
Darcy snuggled up next to Josh when he came in with her father, anxious to sneak him away to give him two presents she was so excited about.
“I have something for you,” she said. “Can you come with me?”
“I was told there’d be cake.” He bent down to kiss her. “And candles and such.”
“They’re setting it up, but I have something to give you.” She tugged him toward the porch, where she’d left the wrapped box.
Out there, they could hear the family laughing and joking as they gathered around the table, but Darcy couldn’t wait another minute.
“Did you have fun with my dad?” she asked as she brought him around to the side of the porch where they could see the entire south vista of Waterford, the whole property on fire with late autumn crimson and gold.
“We fished,” he said. “And talked.”
“So that was fun.”
He smiled at her and pulled her in for a kiss. “For me, yes. What have you been doing?”
“Wrapping.” She pointed to the box. “Go ahead.”
“Darcy. You gave me about six gifts this morning, one of which isn’t polite to talk about in company.”
She bit her lip and laughed, sliding her arms around him and looking up. “More where that came from, HL. This is actually from your mother.”
“My…” He let out a little laugh. “I forget you spend time with her when we’re in Cornelius.”
“She wanted you to have…well, open it.”
He dropped onto the edge of a rattan sofa, and she got next to him.
“Okay, a present from my mom. Can’t say I’ve had…never mind.” He corrected himself. “She does give presents frequently but I’ve never liked them very much.”
“You’re going to like this since it’s yours already.”
He frowned as if that wasn’t clear, but her heart kicked up a beat, as she knew how much this was going to mean to him. “How can she give me a present that’s already mine?” he asked.
“You did for me when you reconstructed Stella’s cradle.”
He smiled at her, and she got a shiver of joy remembering the moment he unveiled his “secret proje
ct.”
“Quit looking at me and open the present,” she insisted.
“I can’t quit looking at you,” he admitted. “I love you.”
“Same, but…” She pointed at the box, itching for his reaction.
He lifted the lid and spread the tissue, staring in, slowly sucking in a breath. “Oh my God.”
“Did you know that Buckingsham has an attic?” she asked.
He looked up then, a mix of wonder and disbelief in his eyes.
“I think a house that has an attic isn’t a sham at all, don’t you?” Her eyes filled with tears just seeing the emotions roll over his handsome face. Shock. Sadness. And joy.
“She kept them?” He could barely say the words. “I thought…I thought they were lost forever.”
Darcy shook her head. “Every one. Your entire collection. And that’s not all. Keep looking.”
He scooped up a handful of marbles, the glass tapping together in his big, callused hands. “This is a cobalt vortex.” He plucked out one blue marble and held it between his fingers. “It’s the color of the sky in the summer and your eyes when you’re incredibly happy. Like right now.”
“Keep looking,” she urged.
He felt around, and then he froze, and she knew he’d reached the model car in the bottom.
“A 1967 GTO,” she said.
He closed his eyes and slowly pulled out the meticulously detailed model car, holding it as reverently as he sometimes touched her. “Pops made this.”
“She saved it for you, Josh. She knew it was important.”
He tried to swallow, but looked like he was having a rough time. “Darcy. I love you so much. Thank you. For everything.”
She reached up and put her hands on his face. “I love you, too. And so does your mother, who has been waiting for years to give these to you.”
“Let’s go, you two!” Pru clapped twice, stepping out to the patio. “We’re going to need every one of the firefighters who are here to put out the flames if you don’t head to the table and blow out the candles.”
Darcy and Josh separated slowly. “General Pru has spoken,” she told him. “Let’s go make a wish.” She sure knew what hers would be if she were blowing out those candles today.
They cruised into the dining room, arm in arm. Darcy took a moment to look around at the house packed with family who made this and every Sunday dinner a celebration of more than the day of rest, but a way of life. She so belonged in this room, with these people, with this man next to her. Yes, she loved her business, her apartment, and her life. But her heart would always be right here…and with him.
“Here we go, laddie.” Gramma Finnie came out with a tray ablaze with candles. “If ye don’t like this chocolate, I made your favorite bread pudding, of course.” She grinned up at Josh as she passed. “Best you ever had, right?”
“Ever,” he assured her. “Do I have to blow all those out?” he asked on a laugh, getting a hoot and holler in response.
“You can always enlist help,” Shane said. “Darcy’s full of hot air.”
“You’re hilarious, bro,” she said.
“I can do it, Josh.” Christian sidled up next to him. “I’m real good, but you have to make the wish.”
“You got it, buddy.” Josh put his hand on the little boy’s shoulder and guided him to the cake.
“And they have to sing,” Christian told him. “It’s not a birthday unless everyone sings.”
“I’ve been to enough birthday parties here that I know that.”
The singing started, loud, off-key, and precious to Darcy’s ears. She didn’t take her eyes off Josh, the man she’d had no idea she needed but couldn’t live without. As the last note was belted out, Christian inhaled noisily and blew his heart out. But suddenly Josh stepped back and crouched down and…got on one knee.
All of the cheers and clapping and noise slowly faded into the background as Darcy’s thumping pulse nearly deafened her.
Everyone grew silent and still, and nearly twenty people Darcy adored and one she loved with every cell in her body looked at her.
“Darcy,” Josh whispered, holding a small black box. “You are wild, funny, unpredictable, beautiful, hopeful, and have more heart and soul than any person I’ve ever known. I don’t want to change any of that. I want to soak it up for the rest of my life. I love you. I love everything about you. I love your laugh. I love your passion. I love your dog. And I love your whole family.”
No one, not even Shane, whispered a joke at this sacred, special moment.
“Darcy Colleen Kilcannon, will you marry me?”
She put her hands over her mouth, not bothering to blink back the tears. “Yes, Joshua Caleb Ranier, I will.” She gave him her hand and felt the ring slip onto her finger, and then he rose to wrap her in his arms, twirling her around with a kiss that brought the house down.
“Nice work, Dad,” Garrett said over the racket.
“It wasn’t me.” Dad looked down at baby Fiona in his arms. “Someday you’ll tell them, Fi.”
“The man is six for six,” Molly announced.
“And then there were none,” Liam added.
“It wasn’t—”
“It’s okay, Uncle Daniel,” Ella said. “You can start on the Mahoneys next.”
“Not until he goes on at least six dates,” Shane called out. “We each get to set him up.”
“That means twelve,” Chloe corrected. “In-laws get a say, too.”
While everyone laughed and Kookie barked and Stella found her way to Josh’s shoe, Darcy closed her eyes, pressed her head against Josh’s chest, and let the family fade away. Then, all she could hear was the steady heartbeat of the man who’d helped her grow into exactly the woman she was meant to be.
Looking for more of the Dogfather? Because Daniel himself must find love. (And it might not be through the handiwork of his kids!) And there are four Mahoney cousins who need some Kilcannon magic. But first…there will be another Kilcannon Christmas novella!
If you want to stay up-to-date on every release, sign up for my newsletter. http://www.roxannestclaire.com/newsletter-2/ And you can join the private Facebook group of Dogfather fans for inside scoop, secret tidbits, and fun giveaways! https://www.facebook.com/groups/roxannestclairereaders/
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Fall in love with The Dogfather Series…
Available now
Sit…Stay…Beg – book one
New Leash on Life – book two
Leader of the Pack – book three
Santa Paws is Coming to Town – book four (a holiday novella)
Bad to the Bone – book five
Ruff Around the Edges – book six
Double Dog Dare – book seven
Coming next
Bark! The Herald Angels Sing – book eight (a holiday novella)
Old Dog New Tricks – book nine (Daniel’s story!)
Find information and buy links for all the books in The Dogfather Series on Roxanne’s website here:
http://www.roxannestclaire.com/dogfather-series
About the Author
Published since 2003, Roxanne St. Claire is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of more than fifty romance and suspense novels. She has written several popular series, including The Dogfather, Barefoot Bay, the Guardian Angelinos, and the Bullet Catchers.
In addition to being a ten-time nominee and one-time winner of the prestigious RITA™ Award for the best in romance writing, Roxanne’s novels have won the National Reader’s Choice Award for best romantic suspense three times, as well as the Maggie, the Daphne du Maurier Award, the HOLT Medallion, Booksellers Best, Book Buyers Best, the Award of Excellence, and many others.
She lives in Florida with her husband, and still attempts to run the lives of her young adult childre
n. She loves dogs, books, chocolate, and wine, especially all at the same time.
www.roxannestclaire.com
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About the
Barefoot Bay Series
Have you kicked off your shoes in Barefoot Bay? Roxanne St. Claire writes the popular Barefoot Bay series, several connected mini-series all set on one gorgeous island off the Gulf coast of Florida. Every book stands alone, but why stop at one trip to paradise?
The Barefoot Bay Billionaires
(Fantasy men who fall for unlikely women)
Secrets on the Sand (ALWAYS FREE)
Scandal on the Sand
Seduction on the Sand
The Barefoot Bay Brides
(Destination wedding planners who find love)
Barefoot in White
Barefoot in Lace
Barefoot in Pearls
Barefoot Bay Undercover
(Sizzling romantic suspense)
Barefoot Bound (prequel)
Barefoot with a Bodyguard
Barefoot with a Stranger
Barefoot with a Bad Boy
Barefoot Dreams
Barefoot Bay Timeless
(Second chance romance with silver fox heroes)
Barefoot at Sunset
Barefoot at Moonrise
Barefoot at Midnight
Find information and buy links for all the books set in Barefoot Bay on Roxanne’s website here: