“Maybe you need a husband.”

A what now?

Thatcher’s attempt to lighten the mood by making a goofy joke wasn’t funny. He had no way of knowing how unhappy her marriage had been, though, so she tried to keep her tone light. “If you’re trying to be humorous, stick to knock-knock jokes.”

“I’m serious.” His stare was so intense he didn’t even blink. “Marriage could solve some of your problems immediately.”

“And create a heap more.” She’d already had a husband, and he’d left her with nothing. It was time to make it clear to Thatcher that this topic of conversation was officially closed. “I heard about Beatie and Dutch playing matchmaker with Sadie and Mick, but I didn’t expect it from you, too. Now, I’m going to take this salad out to the dining room and we can forget this conversation ever happened.” She gathered the glass bowl and turned away.

“What if it’s me?”

She stopped. Rotated back to face him. “What did you say?”

He looked her straight in the eye, his cocoa-dark eyes soft. “You could marry me, Bliss.”

The dish slipped from her hands and shattered at her feet.

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Happy reading!
~ Danielle.