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The grand opening of the spa restaurant was postponed for three weeks, mainly due to the fact that one of the business owners was looking after her beaten boyfriend. Also, once word spread that the loch was being searched, people set up deck chairs on the shore and watched the divers work. Morag sold pies and Dougal arranged tables outside the pub for his patrons, so they could watch the show while dining. Mitch smiled at the thought. In Invertary they made their own fun.
“Are you sure you’re up for this?” Jodie had been fussing over him since he’d come out of hospital.
“I’m almost back to normal. I can see out both eyes. Look.” He pointed at his face.
That earned him a smack on the chest. Thankfully, she pulled her punch. She looked up at his face, which was now a lovely mix of blue, green and yellow bruising. At least his cheekbone hadn’t cracked. He was thankful for that. Not so thankful for the cracked ribs or the broken arm, but they were both healing nicely and he couldn’t complain—unless it got him some Jodie attention. Yep, he wasn’t above playing the invalid card to get her to give him a bed bath.
Jodie was dressed in a shimmering ruby-red jumpsuit, with wide-leg trousers and a boat-neck top that made her shoulder eminently kissable. There was a pair of mile-high black Louboutins on her feet, courtesy of Mitch. He’d found that time in a sick bed went faster when he shopped online, but only if he was shopping for Jodie. He’d stocked her up with lingerie and shoes. He was only thinking about her. Honest.
As they pushed open the heavy wooden doors to the restaurant part of the old church building, Jodie cast a glance at him over her shoulder.
“Did you look at the email the architect sent?”
“I told him it was fine with me if it was fine with you.” In other words, no, he hadn’t looked at the email. He really didn’t care what the house they built looked like, just so long as Jodie was in it.
“You don’t mind that I told him to replace the living room with a swimming pool?”
Mitch stumbled slightly but recovered quickly enough that he hoped she didn’t notice. Swimming pool? Where would he kick back and watch football?
“I’ve always wanted a pool,” he said, wondering if the house plans had a TV room. He’d have to look at the damn email after all.
“Gotcha.” Jodie’s smile was wide. “Although you should know that if you aren’t going to have any input with the architect at the planning stage, then you can’t complain about the house once it’s built.”
“Baby.” Mitch draped his arm around her shoulders—the arm that wasn’t in a fibreglass cast. “I told you my requirements for the house. Big bed. Soundproofing for when I make you scream with delight. Giant TV. La-Z-Boy in each room. Mini fridge stocked with beer beside the TV. And one of Lake’s kick-ass security systems.”
“It’s good to know you’re low maintenance,” Jodie said and Mitch wasn’t certain she meant it as a compliment.
“A mirror above the bed would be good too,” he added as an afterthought.
“We’re not having a mirror on our bedroom ceiling,” Jodie said as they spotted her brother across the crowded room, positioned behind the long counter that separated the dining area from the open plan kitchen. “It’s tacky.”
“I like the sound of that,” Mitch said against her ear as they made their way through the room.
“Tacky?” Her face said he was clearly losing his mind.
“Our.” Mitch kissed her cheek. “I like it when you say our.”
Jodie relaxed into him. “You are such a soppy romantic.”
“One of us has to be, baby.”
“Mitch!” Josh shouted as he practically ran across the room. “You made it. It’s good to see you.”
Mitch endured a manly hug that meant Josh thumped his back and jolted his bruised side.
“What are you talking about?” Mitch said. “I saw you yesterday. We watched baseball and talked about your tour. It isn’t like I’ve been in a coma for the past three weeks.”
“You got assaulted again, dude.” Josh was dressed in one of his signature suits for the occasion, which meant Caroline had forced him out of the Darth Vader t-shirt he’d planned to wear. He rummaged in his pocket, dug out a business card and thrust it at Mitch. “Here, this is the name of a PTSD specialist Caroline found online.” He handed an identical card to Jodie. “Make him call. He needs intense therapy before he snaps and kills us all.”
“Aw, I’m touched,” Mitch said. “I love you too, man.”
Josh held up his hands. “I’m all about the self-preservation. Get therapy before it’s too late.”
Caroline waddled up to them, looking every bit the pregnant Grace Kelly in a fitting pale blue dress.
“I got your email,” Mitch said. “I’ll go over it and let you know what I think. I’ve set up a meeting with our lawyers for early next week. Because of your condition, they’re flying in to see us.”
Caroline patted her stomach. “It isn’t a condition, Mitch. It’s a baby and pregnant women have been known to get on a plane, you know.”
“Nope.” Josh grabbed his wife’s hand. “You aren’t the only one who can do research. I looked it up and way more pregnant women die in air disasters than choke on chicken bones. You’re staying in Invertary until you’re finished cooking Josh Junior.”
Caroline gave her husband a smile that clearly telegraphed she was humouring him and would do exactly what she liked.
“Are you two really going into business together, then?” Jodie’s lack of faith continued to amuse Mitch. She laughed every time he talked about his partnership with Caroline. Mitch wasn’t sure why. He’d known since the minute he’d set eyes on Caroline that she would be an amazing asset to have in his corner.
“Yes, we’re really going into business,” Mitch said patiently. “Harris-McInnes Entertainment Management.”
“McInnes-Harris,” Caroline said. “It sounds better.”
“Harris-McInnes,” Mitch said firmly. He might think Caroline was an organisational genius, but if he didn’t stand his ground, she’d walk all over him.
“How about a Hollywood mash-up?” Josh said. “McHarris, or HarInnes, or Harnes.” He frowned. “That last one doesn’t sound too good.”
“Harris-McInnes it is,” Caroline declared.
Josh beamed at her. “You are going to be totally amazing as an entertainment manager. You’ll be the best in the business. No act would dare give you any trouble.”
“I’m glad you think that,” Mitch said. “Because she’s taking over the bulk of your management.”
“What?” The horror on Josh’s face was priceless. “No. You can’t. You’re my manager. She’s my wife. Never the twain shall meet.”
Mitch smiled at Caroline. “I’ll let you deal with this. While you’re at it, can you get him to stop using the word dude?” Then he took Jodie’s hand and headed towards her brother.
“That was evil,” Jodie said with a fair amount of pride.
“He had it coming.”
Messing with his best friend was a nice side benefit of making Caroline a partner. The main benefit being that it freed Mitch up to do other things. He just hadn’t decided what other things exactly. Originally, he’d thought he’d take on more singers, but now he was wondering if there wasn’t something he could do to help Jodie’s cause instead. He had time. He’d figure it out.
“Deke, I’m so proud of you.” Jodie let go of Mitch and wrapped her brother in a hug. “The restaurant looks amazing and people seem to really be enjoying the food.”
“It’s the first night,” Deke said. “People are inclined to like you on the first night. Plus, the night is young. There’s still time for Robin to poison the table of morons who’ve been pissing her off all night.”
They looked over to where Robin was gritting her teeth at a table full of businesspeople from out of town. It was easy to spot their condescending smiles from across the room.
“I’ll sort this.” Jodie was striding towards Robin before anyone could stop her.
Deke and Mitch watched her go.
“I don’t think Robin needed help,” Mitch said. “She strikes me as a woman who can take care of herself.”
“There’s no stopping Jodie when she’s out to save someone.” Deke looked at Mitch. “You going to marry her or just shack up in that house of sin you’re building?”
“Remind me again how old you are? Because sometimes you sound like the reverend, and he’s in his eighties.”
“I’m mature for my age. So what’s the deal? Marriage or not?”
Oh, what the hell, he might as well answer the guy. “I don’t want to push her. But we’ll get there. I have it all planned out.” He’d had it all planned out since the moment he’d set eyes on her. Mitch had no doubt that he was going to spend eternity with Jodie, but he also knew how to play a long game.
“You’re kidding, right? You’ve pushed her along every step of the way since you met her.”
“That’s why I thought I should back off for a while. Let her get used to being a couple before I make it official.” Although, he didn’t plan on letting her spend too much time getting used to things. He knew Jodie. At some point her thinking would take a negative turn and she might talk herself out of keeping him.
“You aren’t getting cold feet, are you?” Deke glared at Mitch. “Are you planning to dump her and run?”
Mitch glared back. “Right now I’m planning to hit you over the head with my fibreglass cast. What about you? You planning to marry Brenda?”
Deke’s eyes softened when he looked over at the tiny blonde. She was laughing, surrounded by the women of Knit or Die, all seated at a round table by the window.
“Absolutely,” Deke said.
“Does she know that?” Mitch could push back when he wanted to.
Deke’s eyes snapped to his. A fierce determination filled them. “No, but she’s about to.”
To Mitch’s surprise, Deke put his fingers to his mouth and let out a piercing whistle. Every face in the room turned to him. He pulled out a chair and stood on it.
“Ladies and gentlemen, if I could have your attention for a moment.” Deke’s voice carried through the silent room. Mitch stared up at him in awe. He was doing it. He was proposing. Now. Damn it, Mitch should have done this. The opening of the restaurant was perfect for a stealth proposal.
“As you know,” Deke said, “this is the opening night for my restaurant.” There was a loud cheer, and Deke gave everyone a bashful smile as he held up his hands for silence. “This restaurant has been my dream for a very long time. When Jodie and I were kids, we’d talk about what we wanted to do in the future. We wanted to start our own business together and create a safe home for our mum. Mum didn’t make it—cancer took her a few years ago—but we carried on with our dream and made it a reality.”
Those in the room who knew about the refuge and the safe home they’d made for other women were clearly emotional.
“During all of our planning, over the years, I didn’t realise that there was one huge part of my dream I hadn’t thought of.” He looked at Brenda. “Someone I loved, to share it with.”
Brenda covered her mouth and tears trailed down her cheeks.
“Brenda Smith,” Deke said, “you made my dream complete. With you in my life, I have everything I ever wanted. Please make it permanent. Please say you’ll marry me.”
A loud sob escaped Brenda. “Yes,” she called.
“No!” Jodie shouted.
Every face that had been smiling turned in horror to Jodie, who waved a dismissive hand. “Not no to the wedding. No to you stealing my thunder. You’re a bloody backstabbing limelight stealer, Deke Miller.”
Deke grinned, jumped off his chair and headed straight for Brenda. “Don’t listen to her, Bren. She’s jealous that I was smart enough to get in first. We’re still getting married, right? Because I know I heard you say yes.”
“Of course I’ll marry you, Deke.” Brenda threw herself into Deke’s arms.
“Well, that’s just perfect,” Jodie said. “Fine. I guess I’ll have to play second bloody fiddle to my annoying brother. Okay, everybody, I have an announcement. I’m marrying Mitch Harris.”
There was a cheer. Mitch was a bit dumbfounded. He was pretty sure he hadn’t proposed already. The proposal he’d planned wasn’t something he’d forget. It was something that would go down in history as the most epic proposal of all time. He looked at Josh as Jodie made her way through the clapping and cheering crowd towards him.
“Did I propose when I was drugged out of my mind in hospital?”
Josh shrugged, but Mitch wasn’t interested in his answer anyway, because Jodie was standing in front of him.
“We’re getting married?” he asked the seriously grumpy woman who was frowning up at him.
“You don’t think I’d build a house with you and not marry you.” She shot a look at her brother where she tried to incinerate his head with the power of her mind. “I had a whole romantic proposal worked out and he blew it.”
Mitch felt like he’d entered an alternate reality. “Did you get me a ring?”
Jodie gave him a look that told him exactly what she thought of that question.
“Fine, did you get you a ring?” He hoped not. The one he’d had made for her was locked up in the hotel safe.
She put her hands on her hips. “I can’t buy my own engagement ring, Mitch.”
“Of course not. What was I thinking?” Mainly he was wondering what the hell was going on.
Jodie seemed to catch that he was confused, because she stepped into him and wrapped her arms around his waist. Her face softened as she looked up at him.
“I love you, Mitch Harris. Are you going to marry me or what?”
Mitch stared at the woman he’d fallen in love with the minute he’d set eyes on her. There was never any question in his mind over where they were heading. So it hadn’t gone exactly as planned. He could be flexible. Especially if it meant he got what he wanted earlier than expected. He looked over her shoulder at the crowded room, full of his friends, his family. All of them grinning his way.
“I’m getting married!” he shouted.
And as Invertary cheered, Mitch kissed his girl.