Page 27 of Beautiful Harmony

“I need to help a dog that’s been beaten up by some other dogs, and I can’t get a volunteer to go with me.” Rayna sounded tired and a little defeated. “It’s on the south side, over in the Dilworth neighbourhood.”

“I’ll go with you,” Emma said.

“I’m sorry to ask,” Rayna said.

“Don’t be silly,” Emma said. “You know I don’t mind, and you also know that I’d straight up murder you if I found out you were going there alone at this time of night. Dilworth is not a safe place at night.”

“I love you,” Rayna said. “I’ll swing by and pick you up, okay? Should be there in about ten minutes. Dress warmly. It’s freezing out.”

“See you soon.” Emma ended the call and turned to Lucas. “Sorry, I have to go. Rayna needs my help.”

“I’ll go too,” Lucas said.

“What? No, that’s okay. We’re helping an injured dog, and it won’t be fun. It’ll be a lot of sitting in the cold with McDonald’s hamburgers trying to coax an injured dog close enough to get a leash on him.”

“It’s also in Dilworth,” Lucas said.

“That’s why I’m going with her,” Emma said. “So, she won’t be alone.”

“I’m going with you, Emma,” Lucas said with a hard finality that was kind of turning her on. “Neither you nor Rayna is going out there tonight without me. Is that clear?”

“Fine,” she said, “but don’t say I didn’t warn you when you’re freezing your ass off.”

CHAPTER8

Emma stared at her phone, ignoring the tingle of pleasure when she saw Lucas’s number. She hit the answer button. “Hey, Lucas.”

“Hey, what are you doing?”

“Just left the store,” she said.

“I didn’t realize you were opening the store on Sunday in the off season,” he said.

“I haven’t. Yet. But I had some bookkeeping stuff to do, and it’s easier in my office at the store. Fewer distractions. What are you up to?”

“Bored as shit,” he said.

“I figured you’d still be recuperating from the celebration after last night's ball game.”

He laughed. “I’m fine. Connor, on the other hand, may still be throwing up.”

“I have never seen two people drink that much beer,” Emma said.

“It was the last game of the season, and both our teams won. We had to celebrate,” Lucas said. “Thanks for coming to my game. I know baseball isn’t your thing.”

“Maybe not, but I’m supportive of my friends. Especially friends who spend most of the previous evening standing out in the cold trying to convince an injured dog to come out from under a porch.”

“It was my chicken nuggets idea that did it,” Lucas said proudly. “I told you no man or beast can resist the deliciousness of a McDonald’s chicken nugget.”

“Well, you’ve won Rayna’s undying devotion forever, and also, she will one hundred percent wrangle you into helping her catch stray and injured dogs again. So, be prepared.”

Lucas laughed. “Happy to help. What are your plans now?”

“I don’t have any. You?”

“Want to take a drive with me and do something cool?”

“Does this something cool involve hitting every electronics store within a forty-mile radius to find a cable only sold in Europe?”

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