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“What’s in the bag?”

“Stuff for the road. Come on, we’re burning daylight.” I caught her hand and headed back out in the heat. I’d parked close to the entrance so she didn’t have to walk far since I knew her foot was still bothering her. I’d checked it last night in the hotel and didn’t see any sign of an infection, but she was still favoring her left foot.

Thirty miles later, I grinned when I heard the bag rustle.

“Did I say you could look in there?”

“I want my pecan log roll.”

“Who said I bought one?”

“You’re as transparent as glass, Zarek Post. I want my treat.”

My grin turned into a laugh.

Score!

“Help yourself. I even got some wet naps because I knew you would make a mess.”

I spared a glance from the road and looked at Chloe. She wasn’t even scowling at me for the insult. Instead, she was looking at the caramel pecan candy like it was a slice of heaven. It was the first time I had seen her look truly happy since seeing her yesterday.

I blinked rapidly.

Fuck.

“Zarek, it tastes just like I remembered!” she cried happily.

“That’s good, Chloe. That’s really good,” I said past the lump in my throat.

* * *

Chloe

I ended up sleeping most of the way from Arkansas to Dallas. I woke up at the sound of a dog barking. I realized I was inside a garage. It had to be Zarek’s.

“Friend, Slayer.” I heard Zarek say outside the truck.

Then I heard the bark again. “Quiet, Slayer, you’ll wake her.”

He sounded like a big dog. When the passenger side door opened and paws settled on my seat, a mammoth black dog with intelligent eyes stared deep into my soul. I take that back. It wasn’t a big dog, it was a gargantuan dog. A humongous dog. It was a behemoth.

I glared at Slayer.

He watched me with a gentle look. Dammit, he seemed to be looking at me with love.

I didn’t need one more male who would try to boss me around. Try to get me to come out of my shell. Even if he was big and beautiful.

Slayer let out a small huff.

“Please, I can’t deal.”

He whined.

I looked past the huge animal at Zarek who was standing behind his dog.

Zarek shrugged. “Don’t look at me, this is between you two.”

Slayer laid his curly black head on my thighs. I pushed my fingers through the silk of his fur. I swear that the dog moaned in pleasure.