“That’s per—”
“Oh, wait!” Reilly shouted as she spun around and raced through the aisles.
“Maybe you wanna get a line of credit,” Stone suggested.
Nico laughed, and the sound was so sexy he had to shift because his jeans were becoming more uncomfortable by the second.
“Where’d you get the dog, anyway?” Brady asked.
“My sister.”
“Niyah’s still here?” Stone asked before he could think better of it.
“She left for California today.” His eyes narrowed. “With her husband.”
Stone figured it was safe to say Nico was aware that his sister’d had a crush on him back in the day. Nothing ever happened because she’d been too young when that revelation came to light, but Stone wouldn’t deny he’d entertained the notion for a bit. But that was before he’d gotten his hands on Stevie. After that, no other female in Coyote Ridge had appealed.
And though he tried to tell himself otherwise, Stevie was a big part of why he’d left. What he’d felt for her had defied logic. It had been a whirlwind from the start, and it only picked up speed the longer they were together. If he had stayed, there was no doubt he would’ve disrupted her life, and the last thing he’d wanted was for her to look back and hate him for it.
Reilly came racing to the front again, holding out a bag of—
“Here’s the gummy watermelon things Stevie likes,” Reilly said, dropping the package into the basket. “What else?”
Nico said something back, but Stone couldn’t process words because his thoughts were on Stevie now that his sister said her name.
“What does Stevie think of the puppy?” Reilly asked.
“She hasn’t been home yet to see him.”
“Home?” Stone asked. As in, theylivedtogether?
He could feel all eyes on him.
“They live together,” Brady said from behind him.
Stone frowned. Were theytogether? Thankfully, the question didn’t fall out of his mouth.
“What do I owe you?” Nico asked Reilly.
“I’ll tally it up and let you know.”
“Here’s a bag,” Brady said, bringing one from behind the counter.
Stone stared, unable to speak. His thoughts were muddied by images of that night so long ago.
Stevie and Nico? Seriously?
***
“All right, little guy. We’re gonna haveto call it good. At least for tonight,” Nico told the puppy, who was curling into a blanket he’d laid out on the front seat. “We’ll figure out the rest tomorrow.”
Nico put on his seat belt and started the truck, adjusting the vents so the heat would blow on the dog. Did dogs even get cold if they weren’t out in the elements? He didn’t know but decided he wouldn’t take a chance. He would take his cues from the puppy.
For a brief moment, as the heat blew directly on him, the little dog lifted his head toward the air and closed his eyes. Again, Nico was pretty sure there was a smile on his face.
How was it that Niyah always seemed to know exactly what he needed? He was pretty sure this was the first time he’d slowed down in months. Slowed down long enough to appreciate something other than the hard work they all put into the business, anyway.
“Ready to go home?” Just as he turned to put the truck in reverse, Stone appeared, rapping his knuckles on the window.
