Page 120 of Bragg's Love

Harmony

Ifrown when I notice my purse is not in its usual place on the table in the hallway near the door in my house.

“Black Ops!” I shout but my black Labrador doesn’t come running the way he usually does when I’m at the front door.

“Where did you hide my purse this time?”

I march to the living room where Black Ops is laying in his doggy bed. He doesn’t respond when I enter the room. An action that screams GUILTY in all caps. There’s a reason I changed his name from Blackie to Black Ops when I adopted him after all.

“Black Ops,” I growl.

He whines and covers his eyes with his front paws. I can’t help but notice how cute he is – if only for a second – he’s still a thief. A thief that never learns his lesson.

“Show me.”

He whimpers in response. He’s not scared of me. He knows I would never hurt him. The most danger he’s in from me is from getting suffocated with hugs. He’s totally playacting.

I stomp my foot. I don’t have time for this. As much as I’d love to stay at home all cuddled up with him and my other dogs that are hiding – they always hide when Black Ops is up to his tricks – I can’t. Today is Eden’s party to celebrate her new business venture withNaked Falls Brewing.I need to be there to support my friend.

“Fine. I’ll find my purse myself.”

I check all his usual spots – doggy beds, under the sofa, under the bed, in the clothes closet – and finally locate my purse behind my mud boots in the hallway closet.

“I’m going to stop using a purse if you keep this up,” I tell Black Ops.

He barks from where he’s now standing at the end of the hallway. “I’m serious.”

My other dogs – Pup Tart and Little Bow Wow – slink to his side. Pup Tart tilts her head to the side while Little Bow Wow perks his ears up. They are so dang cute! It’s hard to refuse them when they gang up on me this way. But I can’t give in today.

“Must support Eden,” I mutter to myself.

Eden has worked incredibly hard these past months to push past her fears to be with Miller and give up fighting him and his brewery. I want to be there to show her how proud I am of her.

“I won’t be long,” I say and my dogs scurry away. I swear Black Ops gives me a disappointing shake of his head first.

I hop on my bike and pedal to the brewery. Although I live slightly outside of town, it isn’t long before I’m leaning my bike against the building.

The second I enter I can feel eyes on me despite how packed the place is. I scan the room until my gaze connects with Elder’s. His look could ignite a fire and my belly warms in response. I tell my belly in no uncertain terms to calm down. Nothing can happen between me and Elder.

The man has made it no secret how he wants more than friendship from me. It’s tempting. Too tempting. I wish I could love him. But I can’t. He deserves someone better than me. Someone who isn’t tainted.

He prowls toward me and I have to lock my muscles from launching myself at him. All of the Bragg brothers are handsome, but none of them can compare to Elder.

His long legs eat up the distance between us. I love a tall man considering I’m five-eight. And those lean, compact muscles? My tongue longs to taste them.

He smiles and a dimple pops out on his right cheek. Another part of his anatomy my mouth can’t wait to get a taste of. The man is temptation personified. But I will resist. I must.

“Hey, sweetheart,” he greets and kisses my cheek.

My knees tremble but I keep them locked. No swooning over a man. Especially a man we don’t deserve.

“How’s the party going?” I ask as I retreat a step.

Elder chuckles at my retreat. He thinks I’m playing hard to get and this is all a game. It’s not. Not even close. But I can’t tell him why not. Not unless I want to reveal my past. Something I have no intention of doing. Ever.

“Where’s Eden?” I scan the crowded room but I don’t see her.

He waggles his eyebrows. “Where do you think?”

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