Page 19 of Beastly Mountain Man

“That sounds exhausting.”

“It’s extremely efficient exhaustion.”

His laugh was low and immediate.

“I’m glad you think my dysfunction is charming.”

“I think you’re charming. I don’t know enough about the rest to vote.”

The answer caught me completely off guard.

Warmth moved across my chest beneath the sweater.

Lucky seemed to realize exactly what he had said but showed no inclination to take it back.

I liked that too.

Bear shoved the rope into my lap.

I looked down.

“You have very poor timing.”

“Actually,” Lucky said, “for him, this is excellent timing.”

I threw the rope across the great room.

Bear launched himself after it, nails clicking over the wood floor before the rug muffled the sound.

Lucky watched him go. “You know one throw isn’t a real number to a retriever.”

“I’m establishing a reasonable limit.”

Bear returned.

I threw it again.

Lucky said nothing.

By the fourth throw, I pointed at him. “I can feel you being right. Please stop.”

“I’m standing here.”

“Exactly.”

Bear finally abandoned the game and collapsed near the hearth with the rope between his front paws.

The room settled.

For almost a minute, neither Lucky nor I said anything.

The silence did not feel empty.

That was new enough to notice.

Lucky checked his phone. “Temperature’s dropping faster. Snow could start within the hour.”

I glanced toward the windows. “Do I need to order dinner now?”