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I can’t stifle my laughter as I imagine Sinclair, my usually unflappable, all-business older brother and town sheriff, being given the runaround by a merry whirlwind of fur and slobber. “You should’ve given him his late-night snack, and then he wouldn’t have had to go searching for food.”

“Funny. Real funny, dickhead,” Sinclair growls. “See if I help you clean your fucking kitchen next time.”

I hear the sound of conversation in the background and realize my brother’s frustration led him to blurt out his little secret to his wife. I almost feel sorry for him. Almost.

“Fucker. You’re going to come over and help me clean up the mess your menace created,” Sinclair insists before hanging up on me.

I drop the phone down on the bedside table and turn to Romi. “Evidently, my dog caused a little trouble at my brother’s house, so Sinclair is bringing Angus home right now.”

Her expressive eyes widen. “Do you want me to stay up here until he’s gone?”

“Fuck no.” I take her soft hand in mine. “I fucking love you. I want everyone to know you’re mine. I want to hang the bloodstained sheets from the window to tell every goddamn man in town you belong to me.”

“It’s time to calm down that freaking caveman attitude, Mr. Midnight.” She laughs. “I love you, too, but I’d prefer not to have the entire town talking about the loss of my virginity.”

A little while later,I hear Sinclair’s SUV pulling into the driveway, and before long, there’s a robust knock on the front door.

Opening the door, I find Sinclair standing on the front porch with a look that’s somewhere between stern sheriff and exhausted brother. He holds out Angus’s leash to me. “Here’s your tornado disguised as man's best friend.” I glance down at my dog and find his ears are down in a pathetic attempt to look innocent. Boy, does he know the drill.

“Thanks,” I tell my brother as he steps inside. Angus instantly bounds toward me and nuzzles my hand with an earnestness that reminds me of a repentant criminal finally coming clean. “He seems to be apologetic.”

“Apologetic, my ass,” Sinclair huffs. “That menace is…” Whatever he was about to say about my poor pooch is cut off when Romi steps into the foyer looking radiant and slightly amused.

“Romi, this is Sinclair, the lawman of Midnight Falls and my disaster-management brother.” I wave a hand between them, knowing that a handshake and forced pleasantries are inevitable. But damn if there isn’t a little flicker of something proprietary glinting inside me when Sinclair extends his hand to hers. Some primal, caveman-like part of me growls, “Mine.”

“Nice to meet you, Romi,” Sinclair says, shooting me a brotherly wink as he releases her hand, letting me know he's got no intentions beyond being charming and relaxed, but still raising my hackles just a bit.

“You too,” Romi responds with a grin and steps back over to stand next to me.

While this exchange takes place, Angus sits obediently at Romi’s feet, staring up with those soul-penetrating brown eyes. It’s like he’s trying to communicate telepathically that she’s his new favorite human and she should please never leave again.

“Aww, who’s this handsome fella?” Romi bends down, giving Angus’ ears a rub that would have any dog instantly devoted. If Angus could speak, I’m sure he’d be composing love sonnets.

“This is Angus,” I reply, arms crossed and playfully indignant. “The family rogue. Sinclair just brought him back from one of his infamous trash-diving escapades.”

Romi laughs, and it’s a sound that always manages to brighten rooms. “Angus, you and I will need to have a chat about your desire to dumpster dive.”

Sinclair watches the scene, clearly amused. “Looks like Romi’s won him over already. Not that it surprises me.” He gives me a knowing look, and I barely resist the urge to roll my eyes at him. “I hate to run off, but I have to get home and help clean up the disaster your menace made.”

As the door closes behind him, I turn to see Romi’s transition into total puppy love. Angus is right there with her as if they’ve always been a package deal, his tail wagging at the speed of happiness. “Now, don’t go trying to steal my girl,” I tell my spoiled fucking rotten canine.

“Too late.” Romi glances up at me and smirks. “He’s too hard to resist.” She scratches under his chin, and Angus, traitor that he is, settles in like he’s found his forever human. “I think he’s going to be my cuddle bug.”

Angus basks in the attention, and I can hardly blame him as I watch the genuine connection forming between them.

“We should go for a walk in the park,” I suggest, seizing the chance to let go of daily chores mislabeled as exercise. “If we get him enough exercise, he’ll be too tired to cause any trouble later.”

“It sounds like a plan to me.” She doesn’t hesitate. After finding his walking harness, we head out to my truck.

“I warn you, he’s a menace in the park,” I mention playfully as we drive toward town with Angus sitting up front between us.

“I can’t see this sweetie ever being a menace,” Romi counters. Fucking hell. She’s already fallen for the canine’s charms.