Noah goes first with the puppies. Momma dog hangs her head out the wheelbarrow to look at them. I scratch her between the shoulders and she relaxes. Moose runs in front and around us, and Chloe is right behind, on the phone with the vet.
“He said to drive everyone right over,” she says when she ends the call. “We left the truck at the trailhead.”
Good. That’ll be quicker than going all the way back into town.
“You really should get Moose neutered,” I scold Justin.
“Oh, he’s fixed alright,” Justin says. We maneuver in silence through a narrow part of the trail, and he adds, “Not sure what happened there, but those aren’t his puppies.”
“Aww that’s double the sweet,” I can’t help but coo, giving Moose another pet as he reaches my spot before running to the front again.
“It’s the Emerald Creek bug,” Chloe says.
Noah glances over his shoulder. “The what now?”
“You know. The found family thing,” Chloe answers.
I chuckle at my friend’s accurate description. So many people have found their tribe here, why not the dogs?
That evening, the four of us share dinner at the kitchen counter—tomato soup from Clover’s Nook, cheese, and a hearty country bread. Mamma is snoring in the mansion’s kitchen, rehydrated and her belly full. The puppies got a clean bill of health and are tucked against her and each other, the furry group lying on thick blankets, making cute little squeaky noises. Moose goes to lick her, but she growls at him.
“Nice to see you have your bite back,” I say, smiling.
“She’s tired, Moose,” Noah says.
“Leave her be,” Justin adds, pulling gently on his collar. “You did good.”
Moose grunts and ambles to Chloe, poking her hand up. She gives him a head scratch “Yes, you did great.”
“You sure you’re okay with that?” Justin asks, his chin pointing at the four canines sleeping in the kitchen.
Noah beams. “Are you kidding? Best thing ever.” Blushing, he pulls me into a side hug. “Second best thing ever.” I feel his heart boom as I lay my hand on his chest in the public gesture of affection that I’ve perfected.
I look up at him, telling myself I’m playing the loving wife for Justin and Chloe’s benefit, but our eyes lock for a beat, and Noah sets his glasses on the kitchen counter.
Two. His gaze drops to my lips.
Three. My knees weaken.
“Alright, well, we’ll be on our way,” Justin says, wrapping Chloe under his arm and giving Moose a quick whistle.
Their footsteps recede, and the only sound is our heavy breathing—and a few squeaks from the furry balls in the corner.
Familiar voices sound in the foyer, but we ignore them.
When the door slams shut, Noah’s hand glides down my arm, and he pulls me from a side hug to a full-on embrace. My gazedrops to his lips, my body tensing for him to lower his mouth to mine.
Footsteps sound outside the kitchen, but we ignore them.
He takes a deep breath, like he’s in pain or something, his eyelids heavy. His free hand lifts my chin just so, his thumb grazing the side of my face.
My tongue lazily wets my bottom lip.
The kitchen door bangs open, but we ignore it. “Ohmygod what is this?!” Lane runs to the dogs.
Noah closes his eyes and grunts.
Mamma dog growls.
