Emmy sat on the counter wearing a red apron and licking a spatula. Laine wore a matching apron. They hadn’t spotted him yet. He leaned against the doorway, watching the two of them. Emmy had flour streaked across her cheeks and batter on her face. It seemed as if they’d used every dish they could find. The kitchen was a wreck.
And he’d never felt more at home.
Laine stuffed her hands into mitts, opened the oven door, and pulled out a muffin tin. “Yikes. These ones are huge!”
“Oh, oh, oh! I want that one,” Emmy exclaimed, pointing at the pastry overflowing the sides.
“All right, that big guy has your name on it.” Laine whipped off the mitts and turned. A big smile lit her face when she spotted him. “You’re home.”
“Yay! Come have a muffin with us. They’re banana chocolate chip.”
“I’d love to, sweet pea, but first, maybe we could all go for a drive?” He hadn’t rehearsed how he’d spring the dog on them, but it didn’t matter.
“Sure!” She hopped off the counter.
Laine removed their aprons. “Perfect timing. We’re all done baking. Where do you want to go?”
He led them through the house. “Uh, not far.” He moved ahead several paces and went into the garage.
A beat later, his girls followed. He stood next to the truck and watched. Emmy spotted the dog first.
She squealed. “A puppy!”
“Ohmigosh, Roarke! You got us a dog?”
The furball barked and jumped to his feet. He ran toward Emmy then tore away to sprint laps. He whipped back around to leap at Laine’s jeans.
Laine bent to welcome him.
He grinned and knelt beside her. “Do you mind?”
Emmy’s laughter echoed through the garage. Laine’s smile spread from ear to ear. She giggled as Emmy and the dog ran around the truck.
“Mind? Emmy has wanted a dog forever.” Sadness crept over her face. “So have I. Besides, Emmy’s therapist thought a pet was a wonderful idea,” she said, smiling through the moisture around her lashes.
He took her hand and gently stroked her knuckles. “I hope he’s not too much trouble. With me being gone day after tomorrow, I was worried I’d made things more stressful for you.”
She wiped her fingers beneath her eyes. “He’ll be the perfect distraction. Emmy’s over the moon,” she added with a laugh. “I can’t believe this.”
“He’s a mutt. Pit bull and shepherd mix is their best bet?—”
A flash of reddish brown leapt between them, and Emmy let out a hysterical hoot. The pup came rearing back and into another race with her.
“He could be a big dog, but it’s hard to say.”
“He’s perfect. Look at him go.”
He couldn’t look at the dog. All he was capable of doing was staring at Laine and dreading the day when he’d have to say goodbye. She wrapped her arms around his neck, and he pulled her close.
“You’re incredible. Thank you.”
Emmy skidded in front of them. “Can we keep him? Can we keep him?” She jumped up and down.
Roarke tickled her beneath her chin. “Of course. He’s your dog.”
“Eeek! Thank you!” She hugged Roarke’s legs and then took off racing around the garage again.
The animal stopped and spun in a tight circle.
