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Pushing off the ground, she tried to ignore the aches in her knees and back, but Kade must have recognized her struggle because, midmovement, his arm circled her waist, and he pulled her effortlessly the rest of the way to her feet.
“Thanks,” she murmured, brushing her palms together as she looked around the clearing again. Darkness had fallen in earnest, and all she could see were swaying shadows in the dimness. “You’re so remote out here. Do you worry about being so far from civilization?”
“Nah. I like it. The quiet is soothing. Privacy doesn’t suck either.” He took her hands in his, brushing away imaginary dirt and dog hair. “Come inside. I can’t wait for you to see where I live.”
“How often do you get guests way out here?” She followed his lead, and when he linked their fingers together, she allowed herself to be pulled along in his wake.
“More often than you’d think. My brothers spend a bit of time here. I’ve got a good garage setup, so we’ll bring their rides out to do oil changes or work on problems.” He waved a hand to the side where the garage was attached to the end of the house. “We cook outside, and usually someone’s old lady will bring a grocery getter with coolers of beer.”
“Old lady?” He hadn’t said the words derisively but with respect, so she used the same tenor to ask for clarification.
“Their partner. He’s the lady’s old man, and she’s his old lady. Old lady is a title worn with pride, because it doesn’t just show a sense of possession, but implies exclusiveness.” Kade tossed the response out over his shoulder, not seeming to take offense, for which Mya was glad. “And before you ask, no, I’ve never had an old anything.”
Even though Kade couldn’t see the movement, Mya shook her head. “I wasn’t going to ask.” There was a nudge against her thigh, and she looked down to see Bo striding beside her. “Bo’s taking his job seriously.”
“He should” was Kade’s only response, and she giggled lightly. “What? I told him he had work to do, so he’s doing it. My dogs enjoy having a purpose.”
“They’re more like people in that way.”
Kade paused at the door and thumbed in a code on a nearby keypad. The latch popped free, and he pushed the door wide, tugging Mya inside behind him. He didn’t stop to close it, and Mya missed her chance to swing it shut. Then she saw why Kade didn’t worry about it. Luke stopped beside the door and, once the other three dogs had come inside, nudged it with his nose until it clicked back into place.
“You’ve got your own automatic door closer. That’s pretty cool.”
“That’s one I can’t take credit for. He started that all on his own.” Kade glanced over his shoulder at Mya, a bemused look pulling his brows high. “They’re ridiculously smart.”
Once they reached the kitchen, Kade dropped her hand and immediately turned to the refrigerator, working behind the opened door to pull out a variety of food options. They included the promised steak and potatoes, and she started nosing around his cabinets. He had salad fixings, so she found a big bowl and got busy washing things at the sink.
“Hey.” His hand landed on her hip, tugging slightly. “You don’t have to do that. I didn’t bring you out here to feed me. I’m the chef tonight.”
“I can sous chef like a boss,” she teased, tossing him a grin over her shoulder. “I figured the meat should be your territory, but persnickety stuff like salad I can help with.”
Kade swayed closer, and Mya stilled. When his lips touched her temple, she let out a shaky breath.
“You’re still my best friend, Mya.” He pulled back, his gaze flicking back and forth to look at her eyes. “Just finish up the washing and come keep me company outside, yeah?” His hand gave her hip a squeeze, and she nodded.
As he walked away, carrying a pan holding the food for the grill, Luke and Daisy followed him, while Bo remained only a few feet away from Mya. Rosco was nowhere to be seen, and she smiled at the mental image of him sprawled out snoring in a dog bed somewhere.
Mya shook herself and turned back to the sink, hands moving automatically as she worked with the head of lettuce, peppers, radishes, and tomatoes, ensuring everything was clean and draining before she walked away.
CHAPTER 3
Their evening together had turned into an overnight, with Mya bedding down in one of Kade’s guest rooms. She’d woken the next morning with an insistent Bo tugging the covers off, his unrelenting movements goading her out of bed.
She smiled now as she remembered catching sight of Kade standing in the kitchen, casually leaning a hip against the countertop as he lifted a mug to his lips, ineffectively trying to hide his grin. Without asking, she’d known he’d sent the dog in to wake her.
Now, three days later, seated at her laptop making notes from her day’s patients, Mya glanced at her phone. It had remained persistently quiet, at least regarding Kade.
With a sigh at herself, she grabbed it and thumbed open the text app, going to the short string with Kade.
Wanna hang out tonight? Movie at my place, maybe?
Tapping the Send button with more force than necessary, she grumbled, “There. I texted him. Are you happy now?”
“Depends. Should I be happy?” Lawrence Taylor—the clinic’s other Dr. Taylor—stood in the open doorway, smiling at her.
“You’re annoying.” She crumpled up a tiny piece of note paper and tossed it at him. They both laughed when it barely cleared the other side of her desk. “Pick that up, would you?”
He stepped into the room and stooped to grab the paper, reaching around the side of the desk to toss it into the trash can. “Why am I annoying today?”
