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Before she could think more on that, Houdini began barking at her feet, rubbing his furry body against her bare leg, then he chewed on her flip-flop. “Look at how much he’s perking up.” She picked him up and kissed his nose. “I missed you too.”
From his spot leaning against the wall, arms folded, Shep stated, “It’s pretty clear who he loves.”
“It’s not just me. He loves everyone this much.” She handed Houdini to Shep, and the puppy licked his nose. “See?”
Shep lifted Houdini up to his eye level and smiled. “Sly dog, making everyone fall in love with you.”
Harper watched the exchange. Houdini would be so lucky to join this family. Not that she didn’t love Brody and the life they had, but sometimes she had envied the closeness the Blackshaws shared. That’s what she missed about having her parents. Sunday night dinners. Apple pies cooling on the windowsills. Someone there taking care of you when you’re sick. The things parents did for their children. It really was a shame that Chase didn’t have time for Houdini. “He’s looking for a home, you know,” she told Shep.
He shook his head, quickly handing the pup back to her. “You know that Emma would take him in a second, but with the guest ranch opening, and with my company as well, we don’t have the time for a puppy.”
Harper glanced hopefully at Nash, and he snorted. “I have Gus. Need I say more?”
Harper chuckled, totally understanding. Gus was so full of energy and spirit. Maybe that was why he was such a good fit for Nash. He got a taste of his own medicine. She placed Houdini back down, noticing tools were spread out on the floor. From what she could tell, Chase seemed to be adjusting the fire alarm on the wall. “Are the fire alarms the issue the inspector found?” she asked Chase.
He nodded. “There’s more on the list, but yes, five of the cabins’ fire alarms are off by a centimeter, some a little less than that.”
“Seriously?” Harper drawled. “The guy is making you change all these for a centimeter?”
Nash interjected with a firm nod. “It’s ridiculous. He’s being a picky prick.”
Chase frowned, running a hand through his messy hair. “The city has these rules for a reason. He’s doing his job.”
Harper wasn’t sure she agreed. “Who is he?” she asked.
“Never met the guy before,” Chase explained, shoving his hands into his pockets. “Doesn’t really matter. It’s up to him if my work meets building code requirements, so if a centimeter is a big deal to him, then that’s all that matters.”
Shep nodded. “Let’s get it right and get him gone.”
Harper glanced back at the hole where the fire alarm had been. Chase appeared to be building a new base for the alarm. When she turned back to Chase, she noted the dark circles beneath his eyes. “How much more do you have to do tonight?”
Chase ran his hand over his trimmed beard. “I’ve sent the team home for dinner with their families but they’re coming back in a couple hours. We should get through the list before sunrise.”
“Maybe you need to rethink your team,” Nash offered.
Chase paused then shook his head. “The team is good. Strong. Some of these fire alarms just needed a tap of the hammer to get them in the right spot. This one”—he gestured to the fire alarm—”needed a little more adjustments to stay in place.”
Again, Harper took in Chase’s tired eyes. “That sounds tedious and annoying.”
Chase nodded. “It is.”
Silence settled in, and seeing how stressed Chase appeared and the matching concern on Shep and Nash’s face, Harper figured her reasoning for coming here was more important than ever. “So, I thought since you were working late, we could squeeze in a quick dinner.” She held up the plastic bag in her hand. “Roast beef sandwiches with herb salad, mustard, and parmesan.”
“Damn,” Nash muttered. “My mouth is watering.”
“So is mine.” Chase reached for her, tugging her in close, and dropped another soft kiss on her lips, telling her he wasn’t talking about the food.
The move was so Chase, bold and sweet all at the same time. She was left a little winded, feeling the heat rise in her cheeks.
“Did you happen to bring any extra?” Nash asked with an eager smile.
She cringed. “I’m sorry, I didn’t know you were here.”
Nash glared at Chase. “You’re a lucky bastard.”
Shep laughed then squeezed Nash’s shoulder. “Come on, I’ll drive you home. I’m sure Emma’s wondering where I am.” To Chase, he added, “Let us know if you need any help tonight getting this shit done.”
Chase nodded, keeping his hand possessively around Harper’s middle. “Thanks, but me and the team have got this tonight.”
