Page 26 of Wag More Bark Less

“Like a leash?” Luke folded his arms over his chest and smirked.

“We’re not breaking any laws today, Officer.” I lifted the palm with the leash handle looped around it as evidence.

“Today being the operative word,” Luke said.

“Actually, I was here about baseboards,” I deadpanned.

The mortified expression was worth the jab, and I laughed so hard tears pricked the corners of my eyes.

“Not fucking funny,” Luke muttered.

“Do you two know each other?” Connor guessed, looking back and forth between us.

“Maggie rented the duplex for the next few weeks,” Luke explained.

“Wait,” Connor said, looking at Ellie. “That’s the destructive dog you were worried about?”

The little girl giggled at this, and the sound warmed my heart. I’d been secretly hoping Violet would have a little girl this time. I loved my nephews, but I wanted a little niece to spoil rotten. Since Violet refused to find out the sex, I’d have to wait a few more weeks to see if my wish was granted.

“She’s calmer than Husker,” Joe remarked of Ellie. To Luke, he added, “You never worried about him chewin’ up your baseboards.”

“The only thing you have to worry about with Husker is him cleaning out your kitchen,” Connor pointed out.

“Husker?” I asked.

“My sister’s dog,” Connor explained. “He’s a good boy, just a bit of a spaz at times. He’s way more likely to eat baseboards than this angel, and the odds are still relatively low unless they’re slathered in pizza sauce.”

“In my defense, I hadn’t met Ellie until you got in yesterday,” Luke said, rubbing a hand over the back of his neck. He was clearly exhausted, but whether it was from this conversation or a lack of sleep was still up in the air.

“You mean after you finally decided to show up and stop holding the code hostage?” I chimed in.

“I was on a call.”

“So you said.” I believed him, but damn it was fun to rile him up.

“What was the call?” Connor asked.

“A break-in, if you must know.”

“Ah, the killer crow,” Joe said, chuckling. “Heard all about the drama from Agnes Mosby. She was telling anyone who’d listen about the possessed bird who crashed through Dana’s window and tried to kill her.”

“I swear that woman only eats lunch at Kat’s Place to create drama,” Luke muttered.

“I think Ellie wants to look around,” the little girl said, standing. “Can I walk her around the store?”

“Opal, she’s not your dog,” Connor said, his gentle tone a warning to his daughter and an apology to me.

“It’s okay,” I said, slipping the leash from my wrist and handing it over. “Ellie loves kids, don’t you, Ellie Belly?”

“Ellie Belly?” Luke repeated.

“Is he always this way or do I just bring out the grumpiness?” I directed the question to Joe, but I looked at Luke as I said it. Big mistake. Even frowning, those light blue eyes were too much. The coiling of heat low in my belly warned me as much.

“He came out of the womb wearing a permanent scowl,” Connor said.

“And how would you know? You weren’t even born yet.” Luke’s phone rang, cutting him off as he pulled it from his pocket. “Sorry, got to take this.”

“His heart’s in the right place,” Joe said, dropping his voice even as Luke disappeared down the paint aisle. I couldn’t decide if I was relieved for the separation or tempted to follow him. “He’s one helluva cop. Also, one helluva soldier. Both my boys are.”