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Maisie nodded, forcing her thoughts from straying again to her conversation with Finn. She wouldn’t feel stupid for her words. They’d needed to be said. And while they hadn’t exactly cleared up his actions, they’d certainly cleared up hers, and she was more than happy about that.

“Let’s get her, then,” he said, moving forward.

“Wait!” Maisie swiftly whispered. “You go down there, she might sprint.”

He gave her an unimpressed look. “You’re that sure she hates me?”

“Yes,” she stated.

He folded his arms across his chest, his dark blue, corded sweater causing his shoulders to spread wider than before. “I see. Perhaps we make a wee wager, then.”

Instantly, Maisie gave him a wary look. “What wager?”

“We both go down the corridor at the same time,” Finn explained. “Whoever catches the dog wins.”

“Wins what, exactly?”

“Braggin’ rights.”

“Boring,” she scoffed.

“All right, then, what?”

Maisie looked back down the corridor, Trifle still shivering in place. “How about we just get the dang dog and put Renee and Trifle both out of their misery?”

He blew out an unimpressed breath. “Are you always this altruistic?”

She smiled, despite herself. “Come on, she’s going to run away again.”

“Then I suggest you come up with a prize that suits us both,” he said, raising a commanding brow.

She pulled her hands to her hips. Despite Finn’s standoffishness today, she was already jumping head-on into enjoying this repartee again.

“Clock’s tickin’,” he said, tapping the watch on his wrist.

She had to be the most weak-willed woman on the face of the planet, falling for his charm and cheek all over again.

“Fine,” she breathed out. “If I promise to come up with something after, can we just go get the dog now?”

He nodded, seemingly satisfied with her proposal.

The two of them concocted a swift plan, then put it into play, appearing at the end of the hallway together.

Trifle barked, still quivering at the closed-off end.

“Hey, girl,” Maisie said softly as they drew slowly toward her.

The dog barked again, clearly becoming more agitated.

“It’s okay,” Maisie cooed. “Remember, it’s me, Maisie. The one who took you out to pee for an hour?”

Finn let out a slight chuckle at her words, but Trifle barked again, her growling kicking up a notch. The dog faced them more fully, her bright red leash trailing out in front of her like a stretched-out snake.

“We should probably stop pushing her,” Maisie said.

Finn nodded, stopping alongside her.

To her surprise, he crouched low to the ground. “Here, Trifle,” he said softly, his voice raising a touch as he stretched out his fingers toward the dog.