Jasper snorts. “You say that every time you sing.”
“Yeah, but this time I got to sing for the prettiest girl in town.”
I laugh before I can stop myself, and Jasper glances down at me, mouth tilting in a cheeky grin. “You have fun tonight, Red?”
“The most fun.”
“Good,” Lawson says as he glances at me in the rearview mirror. His eyes catch mine and hold for a second longer than necessary. “So did we.”
The ranch comes into view, lights glowing softly against the night, the snow glistening under the moonlight. Once Lawson parks near the guesthouse, everyone climbs out at once. The night air feels cooler out here than it did in town, quieter. The kind of still that makes every sound, every move, feel important.
The four of them are halfway to walking me to my door, because, again, one person obviously isn’t gentlemanly enough, when Lincoln stops short. His eyes narrowed toward the barn.
“Is the door open?” he asks.
Jasper follows his gaze, shoulders squaring. “Wasn’t when we left.”
Beau’s grin is gone now. “I’ll go check it out.”
“I’m comin’,” Jasper says immediately.
Lincoln moves next. “Me too.”
Lawson hesitates, glancing between them and me. “I’ll walk her in.”
“You can go with them,” I clarify.
“Not a chance, Honey.”
The three of them head toward the barn without another word, their strides long and purposeful, tension rolling off them in waves.
Lawson opens the door for me, and Lucy barrels forward the second we step inside, tail wagging. I don’t even know where she just came from. But when we enter, she stops short, her ears flick forward, and her body stiffens.
“Hey,” I murmur, crouching next to her. “What is it, pretty girl?”
Lucy paces, once, twice, then lets out a low huff.
Lawson watches her closely. Before commanding, “Lucy. Search.”
Lucy takes off through the house, sniffing and checking every room before coming back to us and stopping in front of Lawson. When she sits in front of him, Lawson must take that as the “all clear,” and he bends down and scratches her head. “Good girl.”
“I-I didn’t know she could do that.”
“She’s a smart girl, and you can never be too careful. Taught that to her when she was just a puppy.” He straightens, then shuts the door behind him. Lucy finally relaxes and trots toward the living room before circling the dog bed I bought her and flopping down with a satisfied sigh.
“Guess she’s just tired,” I say, though something prickles along my spine.
“Maybe,” Lawson replies, but his eyes scan the space one more time before turning to me.
I smile softly as the two of us shrug off our jackets and Lawson his hat, and walk toward the kitchen, the adrenaline from the night still buzzing under my skin. I grab a glass, fill it with water, and take a sip.
But I can feel him watching me.
It’s not casual. Not polite.
Lawson leans against the counter, arms crossed, gaze tracking my every movement, like I’m the prey he was searching for mere moments ago. Like he’s memorizing me in real time. The way my jeans hug my thighs, the way my hair falls over my shoulders. The way my throat swallows as I take another drink.
The silence stretches, and I rub my hand over my chest. Hoping the beat of my heart doesn’t sound as loud to him as it does to me.
