“Yes. I think we took my sister, Laylee, by surprise.”
Knox continued staring at where Laylee had disappeared. “I didn’t know you had a sister.”
Ford noticed that he didn’t saytwin. He’d bet money that Knox, like him, saw the uniqueness of each woman. “As you can see by the destruction, we’ve had our hands full with the dogs.”
Leaning close, Skye whispered, “They’re giving my sister fits.”
Knox got himself together. “I just finished a big roofing job, so I finally have a little time to measure your yard for a fence. Maybe that’ll help. Paul’s going to lend a hand. He was in construction with me until he bailed to be a dog walker.”
Ford jerked around and met Skye’s alert gaze. Together they asked, “Dog walker?” with a lot of hope.
“Much more fun than sweating balls on a roof.” Paul gave Tank a couple of friendly scratches, then moved on to Maybelline. “And who is this beautiful girl?”
Maybelline put her face up for some love, and Paul, bless him, bent to deliver, even kissing her on her knobby head. “Yes, you’re a sweetheart, aren’t you? Look at those expressive eyes. Yes, baby. Such a good dog.” When Maybelline delivered a wet lick to Paul’s head, he only laughed and used a shoulder to swipe his face. “When Knox said you got a dog, I didn’t expect a dog like this. She’s adorable.”
Adorable. Seeing a solution to their problem, Ford grabbed Paul into a giant bear hug.
“What the hell?” Knox said. “I didn’t even get a hello.”
“You,” Ford replied, while still smothering Paul, “were busy drooling after Laylee.”
Paul finally freed himself. “I’m getting all this love . . . why?”
“You’re just what I need.”
Knox, still keeping an eye on the hall where Laylee had fled, chimed in. “Sorry, Ford, you missed your chance. Paul is now in a committed relationship.”
“Not that you aren’t a great guy.” Giving Ford a thwack on the shoulder, Paul grinned. “A little pretty for my tastes, but still.” He confided to Skye, “Joking aside though, Ford is a solid guy despite his devastating handsomeness.”
“He is gorgeous, isn’t he?”
Paul sighed. “Yes, but he’s also a hard worker with a great job, and he’s funny even when he doesn’t mean to be.” He winked at Skye. “Best of all, whenever I’ve needed something, he’s there.”
“Same,” Knox said. “I like to give him crap, but he’s a catch.”
Ford sputtered. The compliments from Paul didn’t bother him, but from Knox, he kept waiting for a punchline.
When none came, he put his arm over Paul’s shoulders. “He knows men far better than Knox, so you can take his word for it.”
“I already know all about Ford’s great qualities.” Expression soft and full of emotion, Skye said, “That’s why I’m already half in love with him.”
Taken by surprise, Ford opened his mouth but no words emerged. She wasn’t the first woman to say such a thing to him, but she was the first who really mattered to him, and this was the first time he wanted it to be true.
And she’d made that statement with two of his friends standing there, rather than in a private moment. Deliberate timing on her part? Was she nervous about his reaction?
Paul nudged him hard. “Now is when you speak.”
He sucked in an audible breath, then shouted, “Laylee.”
She yelled back, “What?”
Without taking his gaze from Skye, he announced, “Your sister and I are going to my house for five minutes. You have to come out and play hostess.”
She screeched, which had Knox grinning.
To Paul, he said, “Don’t go anywhere. Seriously. We need to talk.”
“I’ll just entertain the dogs until you return.” He took Tank from Skye and shooed the two of them away.
