“Well, well, well.”
That voice.
I turned, already schooling my expression into absolute innocence.
Noah stood a few feet away, his smirk locked in place. But he wasn’t alone, and thank God, because the dog padding beside him might’ve just saved me from having to face him head-on.
It was big and fluffy. Like a dog in a musk ox costume on Halloween, except this one hadn’t taken it off.
“Look who decided to show up,” Noah called out. “Andlooking remarkably upright, considering how you made it home last night.”
I placed a dramatic hand over my chest. “This Blue Storm pleads the fifth.”
His eyes sparked, full of something volatile yet delightful. “No? So that wasn’t you downing drinks like it was the county fair finals?”
“I was celebrating,” I shot back. Then I dropped into a crouch, letting all my attention shift to the dog. “Hey, handsome. Look at you. Stealing the show already.”
“Name’s Reko,” Noah said.
I raised an eyebrow, brushing the dog’s thick coat. “That’s a name with mystery. You sure he’s not royalty?”
“Could be. He sure acts like it. And you’re lucky I gave him a bath this morning…well, let’s call it a bonding ritual.”
Noah glanced at Reko with a smile that said he was still recovering from the ordeal.
“You had energy for that? After a whole wedding day?”
“Weddings don’t knock me out, Blue. Besides, I had a furniture delivery at the new place, though it didn’t go to plan.”
I slanted my face. “New place?”
“Didn’t I tell you? I just moved here.”
That landed with a quiet thud.
“No wonder,” I murmured. “Sheryn told me when I first arrived that Elia didn’t have a brother.”
His smirk widened. “So you asked about me?”
I pretended to be fascinated by Reko’s ears. “I was just being thorough.”
“Careful,” Noah warned as I gave the dog’s face a playful squeeze. “I’ve only known him for a few days. He might bite.”
“Oh yeah?” I let go, but Reko leaned right back into me, hisbig eyes begging for more. He was basically a weighted blanket with paws.
“He wandered up to my porch,” Noah added. “Guess he figured out where home was.”
“Thanks for the heads-up,” I said, scratching under Reko’s snout. “But if this guy bites, then I’m the Queen of Montana.”
“So, what brings you back here? Sheryn and Nick are long gone.”
“I know.” I waved a hand casually, like I wasn’t plotting my way to the oak tree. Finally, I got up. “This Blue Storm lost her earring.”
His brows lifted. “Oh no. That’s terrible. You want me to help you find it?”
Well, hell. That wasn’t part of the plan.
“If you insist,” I said, trying for helpless and trying not to notice how he always offered help before I even knew I needed it.
