Page 22 of Sweet Harmony

“What’s wrong?”Connor asked.

“Kira,incoming!” Her brother hollered from the hallway just as the giantfawn-coloured dog scrambled into the kitchen.

“Holy shit,”Connor breathed. “It’s a goddamn horse.”

“Tank, no,”Kira said as Tank, his tongue hanging from his mouth and a giantdoggie grin on his face, lumbered toward her. “Stop! Down!Sit!”

It made her aterrible person, but she almost hoped that Daniel, who was standingin Tank’s path toward her, would be the one knocked over by thefriendly but overly enthusiastic dog. After being slammed into,stepped on, and knocked over by Tank for the last three years, shewas over it.

Unfortunately,Daniel’s good qualities didn’t include taking one for the team inthe form of being trampled by a one hundred-and seventy-five-poundGreat Dane with a zest for life and no comprehension of personalspace. He made a quick side-step just before Tank could close in onhim. The big dog wasn’t graceful enough to turn so he settled for aquick and sloppy slurp across Daniel’s forearm as he skidded byhim.

“Tank, sit,”Kira repeated, then steeled herself for impact when Tank didn’tslow his enthusiastic race toward her.

To hersurprise, the bone-rattling impact never came. Just as Tank reachedthem, Connor stepped neatly in front of her. The dog slammed intohim in a tangle of long limbs, a madly wagging tail and a slobberytongue. Connor grunted but bore the impact well, his body onlylightly pressing against hers as he fended off the giant dog.

Her brotherappeared in the doorway and barked out a command. “Tank, sit!”

Tank satobediently at Connor’s feet, his tail sweeping back and forthacross the floor and his sides heaving with exertion.

“You okay?”Connor asked over his shoulder.

“Yes, uh, thankyou. That was really nice of you to throw your body into harm’s waylike that.”

He gave her agrin that showed off his dimple before turning back and lettingTank sniff his hand. The dog’s tail thumped hard against the floorand when Connor petted him, he stood up and leaned his entire bodyagainst Connor’s.

Connor rockedbackward into Kira and she made a low ‘oof’.

“Sorry,” Connorsaid.

She squeezedout from behind him. “It’s okay. I should have warned you that Tankis a leaner.”

The big dogmade a chuff of happiness before leaning against Kira. Connorslipped his arm around her waist, holding her steady as she pattedthe dog’s head. Tank was so tall that when he lifted his head, hisnose pressed against Kira’s chin.

He licked herchin and she wiped the moisture away with a grimace. “Yuck, Tank.Bad dog.”

“Dog or horse?”Connor petted Tank’s back and the big dog chuffed again.

“He’s a GreatDane,” Kira said. “They get… big.”

“How much doeshe weigh?” Connor asked.

“About a buckseventy-five,” her brother said. “Who are you, exactly?”

Kira groanedinwardly. Gideon was studying Connor like the dentist might be amass murderer. Her brother was above and beyond protective of her,had been ever since her parents died, and she’d had thishalf-hearted idea that she could keep her fake relationship withConnor a secret from Gideon.

It would be badenough for a real boyfriend to be subjected to Gideon’s grilling,her fake one didn’t need to be put through it.

Gideon hadbrushed past Daniel like he wasn’t even there, not surprising -there was no love loss between her brother and Daniel – and was nowstanding in front of them. Her brother was born with heterochromia,making his right eye a wintry shade of blue, and his left eye thepale green of a large jungle cat’s eye. The difference in colourwas particularly noticeable this morning. Of course, it usually waswhen he was pissed off.

Keeping his armaround her waist, Connor held out his other hand. “ConnorMacMillan. I don’t think we’ve ever formally met, SheriffWalker.”

Gideon studiedhis hand for a second or two before shaking it. “You’re the dentistwho opened the new practice on Hudson Road with Grant Henderson.That right?”

“Yes. H&MDental Clinic,” Connor said.

“You’re fromWillington,” Gideon said.

“He’s livedhere like two years now, Gideon,” Kira said hurriedly. Her brotherwasn’t a fanatical Willington hater like most people in HarmonyFalls, but the idea of her dating someone from Willington was boundto set him off.

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