Page 54 of Stolen for Keeps
The dog squinted.
“He was smart. Reliable. Didn’t bark unless it mattered.” I gave a dry chuckle. “Kind of like you, come to think of it.”
The dog looked me straight in the eye, then let out a huff, flopped down with a grunt, and wagged his tail twice.
“Reko it is. Suits you. Shows up when I need someone. And you look like you wandered straight out of Lapland.”
It’d make a decent story if Maya ever came around. Something light to bring up if the air got weird between us…because it would, eventually.
Reko stretched out, rolled onto his side, and gave a single thump of his tail on the porch.
“Great,” I muttered, settling beside him. “Roommate who doesn’t argue and still thinks I’m worth sticking around for. I’ll take it.”
He grinned in that way only dogs can—mouth open, tongue loose, eyes half-lidded.
I reached out, patting the top of his head. “Remember that, okay? You’re Reko now. I’ll get you a collar the next time I’m in town.”
I thought about giving him a bath—God knows he could use one—but I didn’t have the towel, the shampoo, or the nerve. Besides, he didn’t smell terrible. Just…rustic. And I was going to a wedding. Best not to offend anyone by showing up with the remnants of a wet coyote mix.
“See you tomorrow, Reko,” I said, grabbing my keys. “Wish me luck today.”
He lifted his head, then turned and trotted back toward the trees.
14
NOAH
I rolled my shoulders, adjusting my tie. The suit was a holdover from my media career, but it would do. More than that, it had to be good enough for Maya.
I checked my watch. An hour until the ceremony. Enough time to run through the checklist in my head. Don’t step on her dress, don’t trip, and for the love of everything, don’t hold her too close. That last one? Easier said than done.
Iwantedto hold her close. I hadn’t forgotten what had happened to her yesterday.
That bastard—Napoleon or whoever the hell he really was—had made one cardinal mistake. He scared my girl. But it didn’t stop there. He’d made an even greater sin when he left her for dead.
I was honoring Maya’s request. No sheriff. No questions. But that didn’t mean I’d stopped thinking about what I’d do when I saw him again.
And still, it wasn’t just about what happened. It was abouther.
That storm was real. It wasn’t just attitude. It wasn’t about me walking in while she was changing, or her insisting ondriving off alone after nearly dying. No, this storm had history. Layers.
It would be so easy to press her, to demand answers. But I’d promised her that we’d drop it. Maya deserved this day. Sheryn, too. No dark clouds, no tension in the air. Just a perfect wedding in a small town that didn’t see enough perfect days.
So, for now, I’d let it rest.
Before I could settle into the thought, a familiar weight landed on my shoulder.
“Well, well,” Elia drawled. “Look who’s moving up in the world. From farmhand to wedding party in under a week.”
I sighed. “Just helping out.”
Elia smirked. “Sure. And I heard Richard, her original partner, was pretty disappointed.”
“He’ll live,” I muttered.
“You know? This might not be your last time playing honorary date to a bridesmaid. We’ve had more wedding enquiries come through for the Lazy Moose.”
I almost asked if one of them was from Napoleon. But with the wedding minutes away, it wasn’t the time to stir up trouble or break my promise to Maya.
