Page 62 of Will Bark for Pizza (Bluebell Springs #1)

FIFTY-ONE

BECKETT

Connie and Dale’s house was filled with conversation, laughter, and as many people as they could fit around the extra-large farmhouse table.

Madeline won them over with ease, offering to help Connie prepare the massive meal that produced enough food to feed an army.

She was like Nana in many ways, able to fit right into whatever crowd she stumbled upon as though she’d been there the whole time.

She declined Connie’s offer to stay in the guest room I’d occupied. Too bad, because I missed having Kira in my bed these past few days.

I scanned the dining room for Red.

Husker’s nose appeared next to Grandma Connie’s plate, but there was no trace of Kira.

I carried a stack of empty plates to the kitchen, rinsed them off in the sink, and slipped out the back door in search of her.

When I didn’t find her on the patio near the firepit, I turned my attention to the dirt-packed trail I watched her travel down with Husker a couple of weeks ago.

Or had it been longer? Time was an elusive creature when it came to Kira Mason.

I felt as though I’d known her for months.

Years. Lifetimes. And yet, it’d only been a few weeks since the day I found her at Ghost Lake that first time.

“Beck?” I heard her voice before I spotted her on a bench tucked away in a grove of trees, just before the trail started.

“Hey. You okay?”

“Not really.” She let out a heavy sigh, and I joined her on the bench. It was private enough that I might get away with a kiss, but too close to the house to risk it. Any number of people might stumble upon us, and then what?

I hated that whatever was brewing between us was a secret. But until Kira was truly ready, it had to be that way. I didn’t want to put any unfair pressure on her when she clearly had enough on her plate as it was.

“What’s wrong?”

“Those bookshelves I ordered for the store? To replace the ones we dumped last week?”

“Yeah?”

“They were supposed to be here yesterday. I tried talking to someone at the company, but I got the runaround about them being delayed.”

“How delayed?”

“They’re not coming.”

“At all?”

“I just got an email from the distributor canceling my order.” She stared off at the mountains, her expression blank. “Apparently, they had a fire at their distribution center and my dozen bookshelves were incinerated.”

“Fuck.”

“Fuck is right.” She turned to me then, and the shininess I expected to see in her eyes was missing. In its place was quiet determination. “Remember that favor I won beating you at darts?”

I’d actually forgotten until now, but I nodded anyway. “Yeah?”

“I’d like to collect. If it’s not too much trouble.”

“What do you need?”

“Bookshelves. At least a dozen. All built before the grand re-opening in two weeks. It’s not ideal, but I have a plan to hang a curtain to hide the construction at the back part of the store so we can still do our soft opening in the front section, day after tomorrow.”

“You don’t?—”

She bent one knee and tucked her foot beneath her opposite thigh. “I was hoping to use my favor for something more . . . enticing. But desperate times and all . . .”

I scanned the area, looking for the threat of eavesdroppers.

I’d hear a conversation if two people approached, but I could easily miss the light padding of footsteps because the wind would drown them out.

When I was convinced the area was clear, I leaned closer.

I reached a hand toward her cheek, playing with a strand of hair that escaped her loose ponytail.

“You don’t need to use a favor for that, Red. ”

“I don’t?”

“If you want me to make you come, all you have to do is ask. ”

Her cheeks reddened instantly, and dammit did it cause my blood to rush swiftly south.

My gaze dropped to her lips, tempting me to make good on that promise right now. But we both knew it was playing with fire.

“And save your favor,” I added.

“You won’t?—”

“Of course I’ll help with the bookshelves. But I’ll be recruiting help, so it doesn’t seem fair to let you cash in that favor when I can’t do it alone.”

I dragged my fingers along her jaw, wishing so fucking badly that I could kiss her. Just as I was about to say fuck it and do it anyway, Husker ran straight for us.

“Husker? Where’s your leash?” Kira grabbed his collar seconds before he spotted his elusive chipmunk friend diving under a boulder.

“Sorry!” Madeline called, running behind, leash in hand. Of course it was Madeline. She was damn near as bad as Nana about me and Red. I knew she was looking out for me, but I was a little exhausted from all the overprotectiveness.

“I didn’t realize he’d dart right out the door.”

“He likes to go for the chipmunks. Or the chickens, if one gets out,” Kira explained, taking the leash from my sister and clipping it on Husker’s collar.

“I’ll be more careful next time,” Madeline said. “Anyway, it’s time for dessert. Grandma Connie wants everyone inside because we’re apparently celebrating a birthday.”

“We are?” I asked.

“Connor,” Kira answered, pushing up off the bench. “And don’t be surprised you didn’t know. He doesn’t like anyone knowing. He puts Christmas as his birthday on his social media profile because he thinks he’s clever that way.”

I waited until Madeline headed back toward the house before I leaned my lips against Kira’s ear.

“Remember, all you have to do is ask.”