Katie went for a thigh, then plopped a hefty scoop of potato salad beside it. For the first several bites, neither said a word, both enjoying the cold meal.
Raider collapsed with a heavy, dramatic sigh right at Josh’s feet. He rested his chin on Josh’s foot, his dark eyes fixed upward with laser-like intensity, tracking the movement of the chicken from the container to Josh’s mouth.
“Don’t even think about it.” Josh shook his head at the dog.
Raider whined, a high-pitched, pathetic sound that didn’t match his size or his history as a hardened military asset. He nudged Josh’s shin with his wet nose.
“He’s playing you.” Katie wiped a crumb from the corner of her mouth. “Look at those eyebrows. He’s tragic.”
“I see ’em. He’s a manipulator. Learned it in basic training.” Josh tore off a piece of meat, ignoring the dog. “Fried chicken isn’t good for dogs, but I’m glad to see his appetite improving.”
“Would it be all right to give him something of his own? An apple maybe?”
“Perfect.” He smiled. “Nutrients and crunch factor.”
She moved to the fruit basket, grabbing a shiny green apple and the paring knife from the block. The slide of the blade through the crisp fruit sounded impossibly loud in the quiet room. She cut two thick wedges and walked back to the island.
“Compromise?” She squatted down and held out a slice.
The dog didn’t lift his head, and yet his eyes followed her every move. She could see him debating if he wanted the apple enough to trust her. When he took another few seconds, Josh took a slice, set it on his open palm and held it out to the dog.
Immediately Raider snatched up the piece.
Josh gave him a couple more before turning to Katie. “You try this time.”
She had remained low to the ground at Josh and Raider’s side, but wasn’t so sure the poor baby was going to want the apple from her anymore than before, but she did what Josh had done and set the slice on her palm, holding it out, giving the dog time to make up his mind. Unlike before, this time Raider took a single glance up at her before taking the apple slice. “He took it!”
“Don’t sound so surprised. Dog has good taste.”
Now she was sure her cheeks had to be burning red. “Thank you,” was all she managed to say before shoving a slice of apple into her own mouth and retaking her seat.
An arms length away, he reached out, his hand hovering for a split second before his thumb brushed the corner of her mouth.
Katie stopped breathing. Despite the heat in her cheeks, she froze, her heart hammering a frantic rhythm against her ribs.
“Crumb,” he whispered.
The distinct groan of a floorboard settling directly above their heads drew their gazes heavenward.
“Alice,” he mouthed.
“Should we…” Katie pointed vaguely toward the dishwasher.
“Hide the evidence?” Josh chuckled. “I’m sure she won’t mind, but…”
Unable to stop smiling, she nodded. “I’ll put the dishes in the dishwasher.”
Josh pushed to his feet. “I’ll put the containers away.”
They moved together, a silent, synchronized cleanup crew. Josh shoved the chicken back into the fridge, burying it the way they’d found it behind the tub of potato salad. She wiped the table down, erasing the crumbs and the grease rings. It was domestic. It was simple. And it was terrifyingly comfortable.
Chapter Eleven
“Find her!”
Kade’s command cracked through the crisp morning air, sharp and authoritative, a stark contrast to the lazy atmosphere that usually hung over the ranch when no one was working.
Leaning against the rough cedar post of the corral fence, Josh crossed his arms and watched the master at work. Or rather, the masters. Brady, the Sweet family’s retired Military Working Dog, didn’t look retired today. The moment the command registered, the German Shepherd’s posture shifted. Josh watched the dog’s tail—low, focused, not the happy wag of playtime but the serious wag of a working animal. Brady lowered his nose, taking in a deep draft of air, filtering through the scents of horse manure, gasoline, and dry dust to find the one specific track he’d been tasked to locate.
