Page 61 of Trap ’N’ Trace

“What else did you tell them?” She held her breath. No way would he have told them everything. Right?

“Nothing. Except that you’re under my protection.” He parked in front of a two-story Tudor house and shut off the engine. “We’re here.”

Relief had her slumping in the seat. She hooked a leash to Angus’s collar and waited for Dayne to come around and signal her to get out. Remy ran straight to the front door, as if she’d been here a hundred times before. Angus barked and strained at the leash. She took a deep breath. A few hours, and it would all be over.

Dayne pushed open the door and Remy bounded inside. Kat maintained a firm hold on Angus’s leash, which only made the puppy strain harder and bark louder. The second Dayne unclipped the leash, Angus bounded through the hallway after Remy.

Laughter floated their way, then, “A puppy! A puppy!”

“After you.” Dayne extended his arm, indicating she should follow the laughter down the hall.

They didn’t make it to the kitchen before Lily met them halfway. Kat held out her hand to the other woman but was swept into a warm hug instead.

“It’s nice to see you again.” Lily released her. “And under better circumstances this time.”

Better circumstances. That was one way to put it.

“Hi, Lily.” Dayne kissed his sister on the cheek.

“Hi, yourself.” She gave him a warm hug then took Kat’s hand and led her the rest of the way to the kitchen. “I need to check on dinner. C’mon in and meet everyone.”

Only then did she realize Lily wore an apron and the house smelled amazing. Garlic, herbs, and something meaty permeated the air, making her stomach growl.

Four sets of eyes turned to her. Two from the couple seated at the round oak table—Dayne’s parents—and two from the kitchen floor, where a boy and a girl stopped playing with Angus and Remy to stare at her.

“Kat,” Dayne’s deep voice resonated behind her, “this is my mother and father, Renee and Bill Andrews.”

When Renee rose from the table, Kat extended her hand but Dayne’s mother ignored it and enveloped her in a hug. “If you haven’t figured it out by now, we’re huggers in this family.”

Renee released her then stepped aside for Bill, who did the same. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, young lady.”

Renee and Bill were in their late sixties, she guessed, with gray hair and warm brown eyes. They exuded a kindness she hadn’t experienced in a long time. Since her parents died.

“Hi, Mom.” Dayne hugged his mother tightly then gave his dad a giant bear hug, clapping him on the back. “Dad. Happy anniversary.”

“Thank you, son.” To Kat, he said, “Can I get you a glass of wine?” He pointed to the bottles of Cabernet and Chardonnay on the table.

“Yes. Thank you.” Try a whole bottle.

“Leave me some of that Cab for the sauce,” Lily said from the stove, where she stirred something in a saucepan.

“Uncle Dayne, where’d you get the puppy?” the boy—who looked to be about ten—asked.

“Guys. Get off your tiny heinies and come here.” Dayne held out his arms, and when the children went to his side, he draped an arm over their shoulders. “This is Miss Vandenburg. Kat, this is my nephew, Jimmy, and my niece, Adele.”

Jimmy held out his hand. On the cuteness scale, this kid was a solid ten. As she shook the boy’s hand, he sucked his lower lip between his teeth. Big, beautiful brown eyes stared up at her. “Pleased to meet you, Miss Vandenburg.”

“Pleased to meet you as well, Jimmy.” She doubted her manners were as good as Jimmy’s at this age.

“What’s your puppy’s name?” he asked.

“His name is Angus, although he’s not really mine. I’m just taking care of him for a while.”

“Can I play with him?” Jimmy’s brows rose, his face brimming with hopefulness.

“Of course you can.”

“Addie?” Dayne gave his niece a slight nudge and the girl extended her hand.