They walked together to his cruiser.
“Yeah, and while I don’t like the high-handed way you did it, I can acknowledge that now. But this whole letter thing has me spooked.”
“Big of you, and I bet. It has me spooked too,” he said, opening the passenger door and waving her in.
Maggie clamped her teeth together as he walked around to the driver side and got in.
“We’re not doing that again,” she added as he started the car.
“Yes, we are.” He didn’t pretend to misunderstand her.
“No, we are not.”
He simply drove through town in silence, then headed back down to what she called the residential part of Ryker Falls. The streets were lined with houses that when she first came to Ryker were almost empty. Fin pulled up outside one.
“Why are we outside Jeb and Jenny Morrison’s place?”
“Come inside, and I’ll show you.”
“I’ll wait here.” Maggs folded her arms. “Or better yet, I’ll walk home.”
Fin’s sigh was loud. “Please come in with me, Maggie.”
It was the please that did it. She got out. It was colder now as they headed into early evening. Darker. Tugging down Fin’s hat, she realized he didn’t have one on.
“I could give you your hat back and pull up my hood.”
“It’s okay.” He knocked on the front door.
“Hey there, Fin, Maggie. They’re out back in my office, tucked up nice and warm.”
“Mind if we take a look, Jeb?”
“No worries. I’ll come out soon.”
“What’s going on, Fin?”
“You’ll see.” He took her hand again, and as no one was watching, she let him. Her fingers felt good clasped in his big warm hand.
He opened the side door of the garage and entered. The office door was then opened, and they stepped inside. It was blissfully warm in here, and then she saw them.
“Puppies,” Maggs breathed, dropping to her knees beside a large open crate. “Oh, Fin, they’re so cute.”
“The father is one of Buzz’s brothers,” he said, crouching beside her.
“Are you getting one?” She looked at him.
“I wasn’t, but Mr. Goldhirsh is really insistent I do.”
“That man,” she whispered, stroking a soft, silken head. “There are no words for what he is.”
“None.” Fin ran a finger down the body of one of the pups. This one had tan feet and a white stripe down his nose.
She crouched over them, patting each and cuddling the mother, who watched them closely.
“I think you should get one.”
“Yeah, why do you think that?”
