Page 14 of Perfect Harmony

“Yeah?”

“Would you like to go – shit!”

Tank had barreled into the kitchen and,always eager to meet new friends, he’d plastered his big body against Lucas’s,leaning hard into him. His tail wagged, hitting the cupboards with rhythmicloud thuds as Lucas petted behind his ears. “Hey, ya big moose.”

He glanced up at Grace. “He’s gotta be thebiggest dog I’ve ever met. What do you think he weighs? One fifty, onesixty?”

“One seventy-five, actually.” Gideon walkedinto the kitchen and Grace crossed her arms over her torso, feeling weirdlyguilty.

“How much does he eat?” Lucas stroked downTank’s back before scratching just above his tail and the Dane’s eyespractically rolled up into his head with pleasure. He leaned his entire bodyweight against Lucas, and Lucas made a low grunt before laughing.

“Ten cups a day,” Gideon said.

“Holy shit,” Lucas said. “It must cost anarm and a leg to feed him.”

Gideon shrugged. Grace could feel his gazeburning into the side of her skull, but she kept her eyes on Tank and Lucas.

“Would you excuse us, Lucas. I need tospeak with Grace alone,” Gideon said.

Lucas looked her way, studying her for amoment before saying, “You good with that, Grace?”

“Why wouldn’t she be?” Gideon said.

Lucas didn’t reply, and Gideon sighedimpatiently. “It’ll only take a minute.”

“I’ll meet you back outside in a fewminutes, Lucas,” Grace said.

“Sure.” Lucas squeezed out from behindTank and left the kitchen.

Tank moved to Grace, panting happily andshoving his head between her arm and her hip. Grace patted his side. “What doyou want, Gideon?”

“How well do you know Lucas?”

“I’ve met him a few times.”

“Are you going to date him?”

She laughed. “That’s none of yourbusiness.”

“I’m looking out for you. If you’re goingto date him, then I need to do a background check on him.”

“Don’t you dare.” She turned to face him.“I mean it, Gideon.”

“He’s from Willington,” Gideon said.

“So what? That doesn’t make him anaxe-murderer.”

“It’s my responsibility to look out for you,”Gideon said. “So, if you’re going to date him then -”

Exhaustion had made her temper, alwaysshort to begin with, even shorter. Anger erupted inside of her, flash fryingher brain and turning her irrational. She stalked to Gideon and glared at him.“I am not your responsibility. Do you hear me, Gideon? I am not some littlegirl who needs you to look after her. I am a grown adult who has always, andalways will, take care of herself. You are not in charge of any aspect of mylife, and that includes my goddamn love life!”

She knew she was overreacting, but she wasnearly vibrating with rage. It drained her already depleted reserves. Herhead was throbbing, and her very bones ached with weariness. The adrenalinefrom her anger was already fading into that fog of fatigue that swallowed everythought, every feeling in thick murky clouds.

“I have to go,” she said.

“You’re not driving,” Gideon said.

“Leave me alone, Gideon.” She tried toleave, and Gideon stepped in front of her, blocking her path.

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