Page 38 of Fire Harbor

His face split into a grin. “I like the way you think.”

They gorged on pizza—vegetarian for her and sausage for him—while laughing their way through Best in Show, a movie about ruthless dog owners and their cut-throat competitive spirit during dog shows.

After the movie ended, their own dogs needed to go outside. It was such a nice evening under a starlit sky that Linus decided to extend the walk. He veered them further down Pacific Street, heading toward the pier. Down the block, Lake saw firsthand the damage from the storm. Roof tiles had blown off a Spanish bungalow.

“That’s where Ross and Jill live.”

“I know. Abby and Paul Bonner’s house got the worst of it, though. The entire roof blew off,” Linus informed her. “They’re staying out at the B&B until they hear from their insurance company. Ryder, Troy, and Zach start repairs on Monday.”

“Did your house suffer any damage?”

“No, thank God. A shingle or two might’ve flown off, but that’s nothing compared to what I’m seeing now.”

“I wonder if we should cancel the potluck. Or maybe change it to a dual-purpose meeting, like who needs help after the storm?”

“I’m sure the topic will come up. Jordan would’ve said something by now if she wanted to cancel it.”

Walking hand in hand, Lake glanced over at Linus, his features soft in the moonlight. She felt a surge of emotion swell in her chest, grateful for this serene moment amid the chaos of their work, serial killers, and knowing their neighbors were dealing with unexpected repairs.

“I’m glad we stayed in tonight,” she said, breaking the comfortable silence between them. “It feels nice to come home from work and just be here with you now.”

Linus squeezed her hand, their fingers entwined, his gaze meeting hers with a depth that made her heart stutter. “Me too,” he murmured, his voice low and intimate. “I love nights like this. But there’s something special about spending it with you and the dogs. When I’m not working, I usually walk Farley to the beach and back to get rid of his extra energy.”

The street was quiet, the only sounds were the rustling of leaves and the pitter-patter of paws on the sidewalk. Farley trotted ahead of the others, nose to the ground, doing his best to survey his familiar neighborhood route.

They walked in silence for a while longer until they crossed Ocean Street to the pier. The sounds changed. The waves smashed against the rocks amid the distant calls of seagulls. When they reached the sandy beach, the dogs darted back and forth, their energy boundless.

“I guess they like the night air,” Linus offered.

“The goal is to tire them out, so they’ll collapse when we get back home.”

“That shouldn’t be a problem.” Linus noticed the cool ocean breeze lifted her mahogany brown hair. The strands flew all around her face. “Are you cold?”

She stared out into the waning light, into the blackness of the sea. Breathing air into her lungs, she watched the foamy waves as they crashed against the shore. “I should be, but I’m not. It feels wonderful. I don’t want to be anywhere else but here right now.”

Lake cackled with laughter when the dogs rolled in the wet sand, the stuff sticking to their fur like golden glitter. “I see another bath in their future. It’s amazingly simple how little it takes for them to get dirty so quickly.”

Linus tossed a piece of driftwood and watched Scout bring it back. “I think we should do this more often.”

“We will,” she returned, laying a hand on his cheek. “But right now, you need a good night’s sleep and I need to make those brownies.”

They turned back toward the house, walking side by side, shoulder brushing against shoulder.

Linus felt a warm sensation spread through him, a feeling of contentment settling in his chest. The sound of their footsteps created a soothing rhythm matching the beating of his heart. As they approached Bishops Bay, the familiar sight of Lake’s house came into view. Bathed in the soft blush from streetlights, combined with the moonlight, the place seemed to welcome him home.

Farley bounded up the steps ahead of the others, eager to reach the comfort inside. Linus couldn’t help but smile at the sight of his happy dog making himself at home here.

As she stood on the porch, Lake reached to touch his cheek. “Why don’t you head to bed? I still have things to do, like give the dogs a quick wash.”

“I’m not going to bed without you.”

Lake unlocked the door, letting the dogs in first but turned to face him, her indigo eyes sparkling in the dim light. “Are you standing there exhausted and telling me you’re going to help me bake brownies?”

“Is this our first fight?” he cracked.

The dogs reappeared on the porch, running circles around them. Their joyful dances indicated they were waiting for their humans to come inside.

Linus was about to enter the foyer when a flicker of movement caught his eye off to the right of the house. He squinted into the darkness and saw a figure running south down Bishops Bay.

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