Unlucky Charms (22 page)

“Let's keep the heat level down around here,” my boss and friend said with a laugh. “Why don't you two head out for dinner?”

We hadn't talked about that at all. I looked up at Justin, then toward Martha. “Sounds good to me, if Justin wants to, but why don't you come with us?”

“Oh, I don't think I'd like to be a third wheel tonight. But you should bring your dogs along.” She looked toward Pluckie, who was sitting eagerly by the counter where she was tethered.

“Okay.” I drew the word out a bit, especially when I saw the two other humans in the room exchange smiles that seemed to convey something I didn't understand.

Justin accompanied Martha upstairs while I finished preparing the shop to close. Then we were ready to go.

“My car's right outside,” Justin said. “You and Pluckie can come with me and we'll pick up Killer to join us, okay?”

“Sure.”

In the car, we decided to head to Ojai so we could eat dinner at Randie's, a nice restaurant with a pleasant patio where we'd eaten before. We picked up Killer and headed out there. I was surprised when the server on the patio, who'd taken care of us before, exchanged glances with Justin before placing champagne glasses in front of us.

The dinner was delicious, consisting of prime rib that we shared with both dogs. The conversation didn't even touch on murders or Justin's job, which I liked a lot.

But there was something in his demeanor that I didn't quite understand. Or did I?

We headed back to Destiny, but instead of going straight into town, Justin said, “How about if we pretend tonight that we're on a tour?”

“What do you mean?”

“I have an urge to go see the place where those Forty-Niners actually saw the end of the rainbow that caused them to find gold—and found Destiny.”

“Really?” I could have said no, that the drive at night on that narrow winding road could be particularly treacherous.

On the other hand, it would definitely be scenic. And I knew Justin and his driving. I trusted everything about him.

“Really,” he answered.

“Let's do it.”

He drove slowly up that road where no other cars were present. The dogs seemed nice and calm in the backseat behind us. The car's headlights lit the guardrail ahead of us, and every once in a while, as we turned, I could see the lights of Destiny below us. The sky was a bit overcast, although a quarter moon peeked out from behind the clouds now and then. When a larger break arrived in the clouds and I happened to see my first star—or planet, as the case might be—I chanted “Star light, star bright, first star I see tonight, I wish I may, I wish I might, have the wish I wish tonight.” And of course I crossed my fingers before glancing toward Justin.

What did I wish? Let's just say it had to do with him.

Maybe he guessed that. I didn't know. He was watching the road ahead, not me, but he was smiling.

We soon reached the parking lot where tour buses stopped, and so did Justin. He parked and dashed around to my side of the car, opening my door. We opened the back door and grabbed our dogs' leashes before heading toward the railing where we could see a marvelous vista of mountain shadows around us and the lights of Destiny below.

Then Justin stepped back and took my hand.

His voice was a little hoarse and a lot emotional as he said, “I've been considering this for a while, Rory. And not being able to spend as much time with you as I wanted only made me feel more determined. Now that we're together … well … ”

He knelt down, as I'd kind of anticipated—and hoped for. Both dogs flanked him but just stood there, as if they were trained to be part of what was to come.

“Aurora Belinda Chasen,” he said, using my full name, so I knew he was serious. He pulled a small box out of his pocket, opened it to reveal a ring that gleamed in the moonlight, and held it out to me. “Will you marry me?”

Lots of thoughts cascaded through my mind. Oh, yes, I'd been hoping for this, although maybe not this soon. He'd told me he loved me—and I hadn't yet let him know it was reciprocal.

I'd lost a prior fiancé due to superstitions—but had found Justin as a result of superstitions, too.

And in fact, I'd fallen recently while going upstairs. It had possibly been an omen.

A wedding was to occur in my family—mine!

I took a deep breath, reached down to pull him to his feet, and said, “Yes, Justin Halbertson, I'll marry you.”

And as we kissed, I thought fleetingly that I'd better start researching more superstitions about engagements, weddings, and marriage.

about the author

Linda O. Johnston (Los Angeles, CA) has published forty-four romance and mystery novels, including the Pet Rescue Mystery series and the Kendra Ballantyne, Pet-Sitter Mystery series for Berkley Prime Crime, and the Superstition Mysteries and the Barkery & Biscuits Mysteries for Midnight Ink.