She wrinkled her nose. “He seems to have taken a liking to you for some reason. Can’t figure out why.”
Ranger yipped, bounding between us like it was a game. He returned to my side, shaking out his coat.
“Damn dog!” I grumbled, holding my arms up to shield my face. I glanced down at myself when he was done, surveying the damage. I was wearing linen for Christ’s sake. “Why is it that I’m always being pelted with mud around you?”
“I think that says something aboutyou, not me,” Isla said, flicking that blonde ponytail off her shoulder. Now that I was really looking at her, I noted the fine sheen of sweat along her skin. She was clad in a running set that fit her very,verywell.I’d be lying if I said I didn’t let my eyes linger longer than they should over those hips and the dip of her waist and…Not the time!
I cleared my throat. “How, uh, are you feeling?”
She looked like she was barely holding back an eyeroll. “I’m fine, Locke.”
“You were out running?”
She nodded. “I usually take Ranger out a few times a week on the trail. He needs to burn off a little energy, and he can’t do that in the inn.”
“And running’s, uh, safe in your condition?”
She cocked her head, a smile creeping across her face. “I’m not gonna pop like a piñata if that’s what you’re worried about.”
“Er, no, I—” I scrubbed at the back of my neck, huffing a laugh. “Truthfully, I don’t know a damn thing about how any of that works.”
“Exercise is safe during pregnancy,” she explained. “Encouraged, even. Especially if it’s something you did consistently before becoming pregnant.”
“Right, good. That’s good.”
“What are you doing out here?” she asked, getting Ranger back on his leash.
“Just…checking up on the place.” I didn’t want to tell her I was wallowing in defeat. There were other properties out there. I knew that. But I couldn’t getthisone out of my mind. I couldn’t stop envisioning the way I could help transform Braeburn into a real tourist destination that helped local businesses thrive.
She pursed her lips. “Well, I’ll leave you to your check-up. C’mon, Ranger.”
She started to turn away, but suddenly, I didn’t want her to go. “Where’s that swing set you were telling me about?” I called. “The one you played on when you were little?”
She paused, her eyebrows knitting together as she glanced over her shoulder. “I’m surprised you remember me mentioning that.”
“I remember everything you told me.”
She seemed taken aback for a beat, but then she collected herself and inclined her head around the building. “It was this way.” She set off, and I took that as my invitation to follow. She lifted her finger, pointing out a small patch of pavement bordered by weeds and wildflowers. “The swing set is gone now, but it sat just there. If I swung high enough, I could peek into Dad’s office.”
Ranger bumped my hand with the cold tip of his nose as I fell in step with Isla. I patted him on the top of his head. He grumbled.
Isla snorted. “He wants a better scratch than that.”
“He’s filthy,” I pointed out.
“You’ll survive, Poshpants. I promise.”
Ranger bumped my hand again, and I gave him a better scratch behind the ears. He leaned into me, tail wagging.
“Over there,” Isla said, pointing out a large, shady tree, “I used to have a table. I’d sit there and color or have picnics.”
“With your dolls?” I asked, imagining a tiny girl with teacups and finger sandwiches.
Her lips twitched. “No, I couldn’t stand dolls. My mother let me paint pet rocks.”
“Pet rocks?” I laughed. Not what I would have guessed, but the more I thought about it, the more it suited her.
“Okay, Mr. Judgy,” she said, clicking her tongue. “Let me guess, you had a collection of stuffed animals wearing tiny business suits?”
