“There will be time for that. We don’t have to talk about everything right now.”
“Yes, there will be other chances.” He glanced toward the door, reality weighing on him. Not talking about things right now felt like a relief, an excuse to delay the inevitable. “But right now, as much as I don’t want to leave, I told Caleb I’d help him monitor the backyard tonight.”
“Of course.”
Max leaned in and pressed a quick kiss to her lips. Then he stepped back before it could turn into something more. They needed to take this slow—even though everything inside him wanted to jump in with both feet.
He’d never felt like that before. Being with Hadley made him feel like the luckiest man in the world.
He forced himself to head for the door. “Good night, Hadley.”
“Good night, Max.”
As he stepped outside, he felt lighter, like something had morphed inside him. Because somethinghadmorphed. Something wonderful and beyond his wildest dreams.
He walked toward his truck, the faintest trace of a smile still lingering as he reached for the handle.
Then he stopped.
He glanced around, half expecting to see Travis lingering nearby. But he didn’t see anything to cause concern.
Tension threaded between his shoulders as he pulled his truck door open. He’d left it unlocked as he usually did around here.
His eyes widened at what he saw.
Long, jagged cuts tore through his upholstery, exposing the stuffing beneath it.
His seats had been slashed.
Someone had wanted to send a message—and they’d succeeded.
CHAPTER 23
The next morning,Hadley paused beside Juno’s pen and peered at the new mama.
Juno’s tail thumped, and Hadley stepped in to check the puppies. All six were warm, active, and feeding well. Even Quirkle appeared to have put on some weight.
“You’re doing just fine, aren’t you, little guy? I’ve been rooting for you.”
She held Quirkle to her chest before turning her attention back to Juno. “What are we going to do with you, Mama? You can’t stay here at Refuge Cove forever. We need to find you a home—and all these precious little babies.”
Juno stared at her with big eyes as if trying to do a mind meld.
“What are you trying to tell me?” Hadley murmured.
Couldshetake Juno home?
She missed Latte, her husky back in Atlanta, terribly. But Latte had been Ethan’s dog. It wouldn’t have been right to take him, especially when Ethan took such good care of him.
Her heart hadn’t felt ready to move on to another dog yet.
But Juno did need a home . . .
She decided to think more about it later. She had enough on her mind right now as it was.
Instead, her thoughts drifted to Max. To the way he’d looked at her last night. The way he’d hesitated before leaning in. The way he’d kissed her like he meant it.
He’d also hinted that there was something in his past that he was ashamed about. What could that possibly be? Whatever it was, she couldn’t imagine it was that bad. Max was a good guy.
