Page 86 of Beautiful Harmony

He made himself take a deep breath. He could hear how ridiculous he was being, and if he didn’t relax, Emma could potentially decide his drama wasn’t worth their current arrangement.

“All I’m asking is if you decide to date James, tell me first, okay?”

“I’m not going to date James,” she said, her voice still calm and steady. “Are we good?”

He nodded. “Yeah, sorry, I… my headache is making me weird.”

“It’s fine,” she said. “I’m gonna go.”

He caught her hand. “Come back to my place?”

“It’s already after seven, and you have a headache,” she said.

“I know,” he said.

She gave him a small smile. “I’ve heard that sex can help a headache.”

He pulled her against him and kissed her lightly. “Then you definitely should come home with me. It’s called being a good friend, Emma.”

She laughed and squeezed his ass. “Well, in that case, I’m about to be the best damn friend ever.”

CHAPTER22

“Idon’t believe you.” Rayna sat on her couch with a thump, absentmindedly petting Bea.

Emma laughed. “Why would I lie about Isaac Stark being nice to me?”

“Maybe he was on drugs. Maybe he was high on weed, and that’s why he was acting like a well-adjusted, normal human being,” Rayna said. “It’s the only explanation.”

“Is it, though?” Emma said.

Rayna glared at her. “He’s a dick, Emma, and as my best friend, you also have to think he is a dick. It’s in the best friend handbook.”

“Okay,” Emma said. “He’s a dick. How did you get those stitches in your arm?”

Rayna stared at the four stitches in her forearm. “I was out last night luring a dog out of a culvert on Louis Hapson’s farm.”

“Rayna! I told you to call me if you were going to his farm. He’s a total pervert.”

“And an asshole,” Rayna said. “You know Harper’s dog, Winston?”

“I think so. A shepherd cross, maybe? I saw her and Nathan hiking with him at the falls last month.”

“Yep, that’s the one. Louis used to be Winston’s owner until Winston ran away. He made Nathan pay him two grand for the dog. Said Winston was a purebred.”

“He didn’t look like one.”

“Oh, it’s complete bullshit,” Rayna said. “He’s just greedy as fuck. We’ve taken more dogs off his property in the last year than I can count. Seriously. My rescue and another rescue in Haven County have been trying to convince him for years to give up his dogs, and he’s finally starting to do it.”

“So, did the dog bite you?” Emma pointed to the stitches.

“No, she was really sweet. Definitely pregnant, though.” Rayna sighed. “I took her to Savina Ras’s place late last night. Poor Savina, she just finished fostering a mama and puppies for me. The mama and the last puppy went to their new home earlier that evening, and I called four hours later with another pregnant dog.”

“I’m sure Savina didn’t mind.”

“Maybe not, but I like to give my fosters a bit of a break, you know? But every foster I have is full up, and unless I can find some more, we’ll be closed to intakes by next month.”

“Sorry, honey,” Emma said.

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