Page 33 of Will Bark for Pizza
Beckett shrugged. “Sorry to disappoint you.”
“Did I miss something?” Connor asked as Luke’s police cruiser came up the driveway. Definitely my cue to leave.
Beckett and I shared a conspiratorial glance that seemed to sayI won’t tell if you won’t tell.
“Not really,” I said.
“I can assure you that your new roommate is not a serial killer,” Connor said. He also said something about him being a helluva guy, but I didn’t make much out after the wordroommate.
“I better go,” I said, turning on my heel and power walking to my Jeep, suddenly desperate to get off the farm as quickly as possible.
Roommate.
Well, shit.
TWELVE
BECKETT
Headlights sliced through the darkness,illuminating the gravel drive. Husker perked from his spot beside my camping chair as the fire crackled in the metal pit I’d been poking at for the past hour, unable to sleep.
“I think your mom’s home,” I said to the dog.
I had another long day ahead of me tomorrow, considering I didn’t get to half the things on my list today. But despite my best efforts, sleep eluded me. I was still in mild shock. Red was Luke and Connor’s little sister. Red was the girl who threw snakes right back at her brother without an ounce of fear. I scrubbed a hand over my face, wondering how she felt about this recent revelation. Wondering why the hell I cared.
It shouldn’t be a big deal. If anything, it should be the reminder I needed to steer clear. Redhead or not, she was clearly off-limits now that I knew who she was.
And yet, somehow, that made her all the more enticing.
I addedtalk to Karl about the cabin ASAPto my mental to-do list. The damn thing was a mile long, but this particular item would need to move to the top before the redheaded curse struck and ruined yet another good thing.
The Jeep’s engine quieted, and Kira pushed open her door. Husker tilted his head at that severe angle again, which made those damn ears seem taller somehow. I couldn’t help but chuckle. He did that a lot over dinner, using those big doe eyes and quirky head tilt to sucker almost everyone out of some of their pizza. Including me.
Kira Mason hopped out of her Jeep, headed straight for us. The sliver of moonlight was not enough to illuminate her face, but the gentle flames of the fire were.
Even exhausted, she was beautiful.
And totally off-fucking-limits, I reminded myself.
“Hope he hasn’t been too much trouble,” Kira said as Husker ran up to her, tail wagging uncomfortably close to the firepit. Though it had a lid, flames licked up from the openings. Kira noticed immediately and repositioned him.
“We’ve just been chilling.”
We’d been outside for over an hour. Though Husker was sleeping at the foot of Connie’s bed when I slipped downstairs, he trailed after me when I headed toward the back door. I clipped on the leash that Kira left in the mudroom.
I’d never had a dog of my own, but I always wanted one.
“I’m surprised Opal didn’t steal him tonight.”
“She tried,” I said. “But one of Connor’s hens got out?—”
“Bubbies!” Kira said, her tone both a scold and a laugh.
“He didn’t catch it,” I added. “But it was enough to make Connor more than a little sore at him.”
“Not surprised.” She looked up at me. “Guess everyone is asleep?”
“Yeah.”
