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“What do you think all this means?” she blurted out the question to no one in particular but her mom came to the rescue.
“Sweetie, that’s a question only Marshall can answer.” Gran and her mother pulled her in for a hug. “Now go get your answers?—”
“—and your cowboy,” Gran finished with a wink, pushing her forward with a nudge.
A small crowd started forming around her as she stepped away from the car and walked the short distance to find Marshall.
Before she could take more than a couple of steps a hand on her elbow drew her to a stop.
“Stacey?”
Banners held her hands up in peace. “I just wanted to thank you, Juniper. I hope you can forgive me. I’d like that do-over if you’re willing.”
Juniper smiled. Her mind automatically wanted to shut down anything the other woman had to say but she fought against her instinct and opened her heart instead. “I would really like that.”
“We’ll talk later?” Stacey looked hopeful.
“Yeah, but first one thing. Why the sudden change?” Juniper laughed lightly. “Not that I’m complaining.”
“You made me stop and do a lot of rethinking with your impromptu tongue lashing the other day. I think we could both use some peace.”
Juniper smiled and returned the quick, unexpected hug. Today was full of all kinds of surprises. “That sounds nice. I’d like that.”
“Me too.” Stacey pulled back and Juniper retraced the steps she’d taken with Marshall.
She pushed aside her conversation with Stacey for another moment and bit at the inside of her lip since she didn’t have any nails to speak of anymore.
As she rounded the small bend in the path Marshall came into view. He stood this time, no suit. Instead, he had on her favorite jeans of his and a short-sleeved button-down that matched the gold leaves on her dress.
He stood with hands by his sides and his eyes hooded from her beneath the brim of his hat.
Damn sexy.
A handy trick when you didn’t want to show any emotion. Why the heck was she here if he didn’t mean what he’d said and only brought her out here to humiliate her? She dashed her silly thoughts to the side. Anxiety and nerves kept her from thinking straight.
He spotted her and palmed his hat.
Her steps faltered in the sand and he held a hand out to her.
“Marshall, what are you doing? What’s all this about?”
Her pulse quickened and quivered all at once until tiny dots filled the fringes of her vision.
“I wasn’t sure you would come, sweetheart.”
“Me either, to be honest.” She looked into his eyes and told him the truth. “If it wasn’t for my friends and family, I’d still be huddled under my blankets.”
She glanced over her shoulders and noticed everyone had disappeared, even the cameramen and news anchor.
“Where did everyone go?”
“I didn’t want any interruptions for this.”
“For what, Marshall Blackwood? What game are you up to?” The pain caused by Priscilla didn’t fade overnight and she could feel the burn just as badly this morning as she had last night. More if she focused on it which she would do after Marshall said whatever he had to say and she could go back to sulking and her pity party for one.
She turned back to Marshall. “Why did you sign away your company? What about your family—what will they do now?”
“I did. It’s the only way you would know this comes from the heart with no strings attached. BlackCo is in good hands with Shawn.” He held up a hand when she moved to counter his protest.
