6

Josh changed back into his street clothes. He shared Sam’s frustration. That was the third false alarm that day. It was a Saturday, meant to be a day off. But it’d been one prank call after another.

“So what’s with you and the doc?” Sam asked.

“Nothing.”

Sam grinned. “Yeah, right. Her face lights up every time she sees you and so does yours when you see her.”

“I hardly know her. Anyway, she’s not my type. She oozes faith and church—” He broke off. Not so long ago he’d have been the same.

“Don’t write her off because of that. Chapel isn’t all bad and there’s far more to her than just that.” Sam paused, waiting until the others had left before speaking again. “What are you running from, Josh?”

Josh froze. “What makes you think I’m running away from anything?”

“Aside from your reaction? You came from Oklahoma City to Betws-y-Coed. From some well-paid city job you don’t ever mention, to two temporary jobs. Is it a woman?”

“No.”

Sam blocked his path. “Because I’ll tell you now, if you hurt Jess…”

Josh pulled himself to his full height, which made him a good three inches taller than the stocky Welshman. “Hurting her is the last thing I want to do. I’d never lay a hand on her.”

“That isn’t what I meant.” The threat was there in Sam’s tone, echoed by the look in his eyes. “Jess means a lot to us and her emotions are not to be trifled with. And with her parents out of the country, I promised to keep an eye on her.”

Josh held the man’s gaze. “I wouldn’t dream of it. I never have and never will toy with a relationship like that. It isn’t fair on either party.”

Sam nodded. “Glad to hear it.”

Josh smiled in an attempt to relieve the tension that had suddenly arisen. “Right. I need to get back to clearing this ivy off the house. Jess wants it down before her parents get back on Tuesday. And don’t take this the wrong way, but I really hope I don’t see you again today. Not if I want to finish what I’ve started.”

He left the station and headed out to where he’d left his car. Changing his mind as his stomach growled, he turned and headed past the waterfall signpost to the train station café. The railway carriages set out as a restaurant had fascinated him since he’d arrived and he was determined to try them out.

He ordered the all-day breakfast and a mug of coffee. The girl behind the counter gave him a number. They’d bring the food over when it was done. He turned to find somewhere to sit and his gaze fell on Jess. The light shone around her, illuminating her like a halo.

His heart skipped a beat, his mouth dried and he held his breath.

Everywhere he turned, she was there. It was almost as if it were meant to be. He headed over to her. “Mind if I join you?”

She smiled. “Not at all. You get called out again?”

“Aye. Another false alarm. That’s the third since the early hours of the morning. So much for a day off.” He looked around the carriage. “This place is pretty quaint.”

She nodded. “Get a lot of tourists in here, and not simply after the schools break up, either.”

“I can understand why. And I love the sign post for all the waterfalls. I guess you’ve been to all of them.”

Jess laughed. “Oh, definitely. Have you seen where some of them are?”

He winked. “Niagara is particularly lovely this time of year.” He glanced up as the server brought his food and coffee over. “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.”

Josh picked up his knife and fork. “Try telling Dad that you can eat baked beans for breakfast and he’ll promptly insist on putting syrup over all the bacon. That I never have liked.”

Jess pulled a face. “Yuck.” She finished her toast and wiped her fingers on the serviette.

“What are you doing tomorrow?” he asked.

“It’s Sunday, so chapel first thing.”

“After that? I was thinking maybe we could go to see one of those waterfalls near here. You could be my guide, tell me about them. Or you could just come with me for company. I’ve been here almost three weeks and not seen them yet.”

She hesitated, something all too familiar filling her eyes. “You won’t come to chapel.”

It was as much a statement as a question and he shook his head. “No.”

“Then I can’t go out with you.”

“Why?” he asked, taken aback at her abruptness. “It’s not like I’m proposing marriage or anything. I just know so few people around here, I thought…”

“There’s no point in dating when it can’t go any further, because I can’t be unevenly yoked,” she said. Her phone rang and she checked the screen. “I gotta go. I’m on call today. Enjoy your breakfast.”

Josh watched her go, knowing all too well about the unevenly yoked bit. But it was normally him making that excuse. He’d never known until this moment how much it hurt.

He stabbed his egg, sending yolk sliding over the edge of the plate and onto the table. Haven’t I paid enough, God? How much longer are You going to make me suffer for serving You? Didn’t I pay enough on July fourth?

****

Sunday morning, his third in the UK, Josh was again woken by the church bells. He lay still, his mind whirling. He’d flown thousands of miles, but still the memories tortured him. Rolling out of bed, he padded barefoot to the kitchen and turned on the coffee machine. Next he fired up the laptop on the kitchen table, then dressed while it was booting up. He needed to talk to his brother.

Josh settled in front of the computer and activated the video link. He knew Matt was awake. Sure enough, within a few seconds the call was answered, and as always it was like looking in a mirror.

Matt’s smiling face filled the screen. “Hey, Josh,” he signed. “How are you?”

“I’m fine.”

“Uh-huh. Where did you go? Mom and Dad are really worried.”

“I’m in Wales,” Josh replied. “And they know where I am. I’ve spoken to Dad. The Secret Service found me within a day and had already told him. They aren’t following me or anything which is just as well. Can you imagine the reaction of a small town to a whole load of men in shades and suits following me?”

Matt slid a finger across his throat and pointed at the screen.

Josh laughed. “Probably. So what’s happening?”

“They’re rebuilding your church.”

He scowled and his stomach twisted, causing acid to rise. “It’s not my church any longer—I quit, remember? And that isn’t what I meant. What’s happening with you and Laurel?”

“I’m going to ask her to marry me.”

“About time.” Josh gave Matt a thumbs up. There was the sound of a key in the door, which then opened and shut. “One moment. Someone is here.” He turned around. “Hello?”

“It’s just me.” Jess’s musical lilt filled the small space behind him. “I brought you some breakfast.”

Josh frowned. She brought him breakfast? After having had a go at him the last time she saw him? Which was also at breakfast if he remembered rightly. Had it only been twenty-four hours since he’d seen her last?

She came in to the room. “How are you?”

“Fine. You?”

“I’m OK.” She headed over to the side.

Josh turned back to the laptop and scowled at his brother’s grinning face. “She lives here,” he signed.

“You’re living with a woman?” Even without vocalizing it, Matt managed to convey shock in his signs.

“That’s not what I said. I’m lodging at her parents’ house.” He signed rapidly, not bothering to speak as he set Matt straight, not wanting Jess to know what his brother was teasingly inferring. Not that the grin went away, it only broadened.

“She’s pretty.”

“And you’re pretty annoying.”

Matt laughed. “And she’s right behind you.” He yawned. “I’m going to call it a night. Have a good day. ‘Night.”

“’Night.” Josh closed the laptop. “My brother,” he explained, taking the plate. The contents surprised him. “Pancakes?”

“That is what you Yanks normally eat for breakfast, isn’t it? Other than that revolting sausage, cake, and milk concoction?”

“I’m only half-American. And technically not all Americans are Yankees. Only those that live north of the Mason-Dixon line.”

“Then, tomorrow I shall do haggis as that’s what the Scots eat.”

He broke off a piece of pancake and speared it with the fork. He hadn’t been hungry, but the smell of the food was making his stomach growl. “I’m only half Scottish and no one in their right mind eats haggis for breakfast.”

“Or at all,” she said. “Are you always this disagreeable first thing in the morning?”

“Depends on how much coffee I’ve had.” He sighed. He really didn’t want to start another early morning fight with her, but if she didn’t back off she was going to get one.

“Then it’s a good thing I came prepared, look you.” Jess held out a cup. “Here you go. There’s a whole pot full on the side.”

“Thank you.” He took the cup and inhaled deeply. Just the scent hit the spot. “You’re here early.”

“I need to pick up a couple of things before chapel. Are you going to come with me?”

“No. How many more times…”

She tilted her head. “It’s just there is something different about you that I’ve only ever come across in Christians before. You don’t drink, don’t smoke, don’t swear…”

“You can be born in a garage and not be a car,” he quipped. “I don’t like the taste of alcohol and smoking is a stupid habit.”

“So’s biting your nails.” She nodded to his hands.

He cringed. He’d bitten them far too much in the past few weeks. It was the only outward sign of the stress and raw emotions that filled him to the point of overflowing. “That isn’t going to kill you,” he shot back. “Whereas smoking will, and drinking probably will too.”

“True.”

He ate quickly, hungrier than he realized.

She studied him. “So why run here and not Scotland?”

“Run to the first place they’d look for me? Yeah that makes sense.”

Jess perched a hip on the counter, sipping her coffee. “America’s a big place. Surely there must be some remote place in the mountains or desert…”

“Not when you’re a household name because of your job. And it doesn’t help when your dad is a politician.”

She tilted her head. “You’ve intrigued me now. Are you really famous? Did you save the president’s life or something?”

He snorted. “I wish. No, that’s down to the Secret Service to do that. Thank you for breakfast. I should make a move and get down the rest of the ivy.” He stood, once again taken aback by her beauty and his desire for her…to be with her. Somehow. He had to ask her again, keep asking her. “Will you go out with me later, maybe?”

“I told you, I can’t.”

Once again she’d turned him down.

What would his brother do? How had Matt gotten Laurel to agree to date him?

Josh took three steps over to Jess and kissed her. His hand cupped her face as he poured every ounce of passion he could into the kiss. His other hand slid down to her waist, holding her in place.

Jess froze for an instant, then responded to him.

Then as quickly as he’d begun the kiss, he pulled away and ended it. “If you want me I’ll be out front.”