She looked down at Milo, who was now sprawled across her boots like a weighted blanket made of sunshine and drool. He thumped his tail once. Smiled his dumb, earnest smile. Looked up at her like she was already his.
Her shoulders dropped the tiniest bit.
“I’ll take the coffee,” she said. “But you don’t have to call anyone. I’ll figure something out.”
“I won’t have you sleepin’ in your car,” I said. “At least take the couch?—”
“There’s a lock on my door in the car,” she interrupted. Her eyes went wide…then she caught herself. “But okay. Yeah. You can call around.”
I gave a slow nod, stepping back toward the workbench where I kept my phone.
She hadn’t meant to say it—that bit about the lock. That had just slipped out. But it told me enough.
Told me she wasn’t just used to keeping her distance—she’d learned to make it feel safer than closeness ever could.
I didn’t press her again. Just scrolled through my contacts until I found the number I swore I wasn’t going to call.
Delilah answered on the first ring.
“Oh no,” she said immediately. “What did Milo do?”
“Nothing. He’s being an angel,” I said, lowering my voice and glancing toward the garage door. “But I’ve got a girl here. Her car’s toast for the next couple days. Motel’s full. You got somewhere for her to sleep?”
“Depends,” she said. “Is she cute?”
“Del—”
“Never mind, of course she is. You wouldn’t be calling if she wasn’t. What’s her name?”
“Noelle,” I said, already regretting this.
There was a pause. Then a thoughtful hum.
“She sounds like trouble,” Delilah said.
“She’s not,” I replied. “Just tired. And stuck. And I’m not sending her to Rhett and Willow’s when the baby’s still not sleeping. Or to Silas and June’s, since they’ve got enough on their plate without a stranger on their couch.”
Delilah sighed dramatically. “You are too soft for this world, Beau Ward. But…yes, of course I have room for her. Unfortunately I gave my guest bed to Silas and June, but I have the futon set up in the extra bedroom now. She doesn’t have any allergies, does she?”
“I’ll check.”
“She gonna bite me?”
I glanced toward the garage, where Noelle was crouched beside Milo now, whispering something into his ear like they had secrets only dogs could understand.
“She might.”
Delilah let out a delighted laugh. “Good. I’m bored. Send her over.”
She hung up before I could say goodbye.
I slid the phone back into my pocket and walked toward the garage. Noelle stood up when I got close, brushing her hands off on the thighs of her jeans.
“My friend Delilah offered to put you up,” I said. “She lives upstairs over at the library…you could walk, or I could drive ya.”
“I’ll walk,” she said. “Can Milo come?”
I chuckled. “Unfortunately I think Delilah’s cat might have a problem with that. You’re not allergic, are you?”
