“Maybe,” Caleb said, glancing down at the snoring pups at his feet. “Seems like less trouble than dating.” And safer, he didn’t add.
That earned a round of laughter. But as the cards were passed around and the music hummed in the background, the idea stuck. Maybe tomorrow he’d stop by the shelter. Just to look.
A couple of hours later, Caleb gathered his cards and pushed them onto the pile in front of Titus. Talk drifted around the table about work, football, the usual trash talk.
Finn mentioned that the last of the downtown renovation was wrapping up. Lainey Harper’s project was finally nearing the finish line. Caleb had helped protect it and Lainey a while back, and every time he drove through, he couldn’t help feeling pride in how the place had come alive again.
“What’s she doing next?” asked Colt Zander.
“She’s starting a nonprofit,” Finn said. “She wants to rehab some of the older buildings and homes near the edge of town into affordable housing and use part of the old district for pop-up shops and training programs.”
“Guess the city council still feels guilty about Councilman, rather ex-Councilman Cho’s fall from grace,” said Caleb.
Finn snorted. “No doubt about it. They never apologized, but that works to Lainey’s advantage since they’re bending over backward to keep her on.”
He leaned back in his chair, took a long swallow of beer, then nodded at Caleb. “Speaking of projects, I’ve got another job coming up if you’re interested. I’m swamped.”
“What’s the job?”
“Mia Whitmore’s barn.” Finn frowned. “You’ve met her, haven’t you? Plated Perfection. She catered the fundraiser for Willow Haven at the Foundry a while ago.”
Mia? Oh, yeah. The tall, slender, blond-haired beauty serving up the most delicious food. He’d been stalking—well, not stalking—but trying to get close to her for a while. Every near miss had left him mildly irritated and more interested than before. Somehow, she kept avoiding him. Yeah, he remembered her all right.
“What’s she looking to do?”
“Something about a party barn. Thought you might want to take a look if you’re around next week.”
Caleb nodded. Yeah. He’d take a look.
By the time the guys called it a night, the air outside had cooled enough to be comfortable. The smell of charcoal still clung in the breeze.
Caleb stepped outside, beer bottle in hand, and leaned against the porch rail. Through the open doors, he could still hear the guys laughing, arguing over who owed who.
He looked out toward the pasture; the light in Emelia’s barn glowed softly. The guys would head home to warm kitchens and soft lights and women who thought they hung the moon. Well, except for Dex, who was still single.
Back home in Vermont, this would be the time his dad would be walking the fence line, then head inside to have a cup of coffee with his mom before bed. Here, it was just him.
He took another pull of his beer. Maybe a dog wouldn’t be the worst idea. Someone to ride shotgun, keep the quiet at bay.
Tomorrow he’d stop by the shelter.
Just to look. That was what he always told himself before things started to matter.
CHAPTER 5
Monday morning brokeclear and bright. Caleb had stopped by the Brotherhood Alliance building to chat with Chase about upcoming jobs. He needed to speak with Finn about Mia’s project, but first he was on a mission.
A mission that might just put his heart on the line again.
He was both excited about the prospect of finding a dog and petrified. Titan had been more than his partner; he’d been his brother-in-arms. Losing him had gutted Caleb in a way he hadn’t been prepared for. Not all wounds bled, but they still ached. And some days the ache hit without warning.
But thoughts from Sunday night circled back. He wasn’t looking for a dog or a companion, but maybe that was exactly what he needed.
The Haywood Lake Animal Shelter was just outside town, surrounded by clusters of live oaks and tall pines. A faded wooden sign out front read:“Every Heart Deserves a Home.”
He parked his truck and sat for a minute with the engine off, fingers drumming against the steering wheel. Did he really want to do this? Or was he just fooling himself, trying to fill the silence in the cabin with another breathing soul? Another responsibility. Another thing he could lose.
Damn.
