Colt by Lori Foster

CHAPTER FOUR

WITHHISLAWNMOWERand a variety of tools in the back of Uncle Jason’s truck, and Diesel riding shotgun, Colt headed to Charish’s house. Unfortunately, she didn’t answer the door. Frustrated, and seeing Diesel’s disappointment, he paced for a moment, wondering if he should wait for her, or maybe—

When his cell rang, he pulled it from his pocket and saw it was Heidi. Had she spotted him in Charish’s yard? Sitting on the top step, Diesel beside him, he answered. “Hey, what’s up?”

Heidi said in a rush, “I’m heading into a meeting, but Charish just called.”

One hand on Diesel’s scruff, Colt sat a little straighter. “And?”

“She’s fine, but she went to the creek and apparently there’s an animal stuck in a bush and she wants to know if you can bring some clippers to help her get it free.”

“Yeah, I’ll head there right now.”

Heidi laughed. “Now, how did I know you’d say that?”

“If you’d give me her number—”

“I told her I would text it to you, so you could find her easily, but she said she’s away from the crowd, down by where you two picnicked one summer?”

Yeah, he knew the spot—because they’d done a hell of a lot more than picnic. “Got it. Send along her number and I’ll head that way right now. Thanks, hon.”

“I feel like cupid.” Heidi sighed. “You owe me, so make sure you’re at the diner tonight.” With a kissing sound, she disconnected.

Already getting Diesel back in the truck, Colt heard the text come in. He didn’t save the number yet, not when he’d rather get to Charish. From her house, he was only five minutes away.

He found her easily enough, since he recognized her van. Once he let Diesel loose, the dog immediately bolted through the water and to the other side. Colt quickly grabbed the clippers and followed.

Sitting in the dirt, big sunglasses pushed to the top of her head, Charish held out a hand. “No, Diesel, wait!”

Too happy to see her, Diesel ignored the order and practically knocked her over, earning a laugh from Charish and concern from him.

“Diesel,” he started to say.

“The bushes,” she countered at almost the same time, while trying to get hold of Diesel’s collar. She finally managed by giving the dog a great big hug. With her face against Diesel’s neck, his wet paws and belly tracking dirt over her shorts, Charish explained, “They’re sticker bushes and there’s a little dog stuck inside.”

For only a second, Colt appreciated the picture she made loving on his dog while also concerned for another. She looked messy, very sweet, and it stirred memories of them stretched out together, the scent of sun-warmed skin and young lust in the air.

Drawing a breath, he said, “Let me take a look.”

The little dog yapped.

Ears perking, Diesel went on the alert. Nosing closer to the bush, he also pricked himself until Colt urged him back. “I need you to sit, boy. Sit.”

He didn’t like it, but Diesel obeyed, while also keeping a hawk eye on what Colt did.

Wrapping her hand in Diesel’s collar, Charish said, “I hope you weren’t too busy. I just wasn’t sure who to call. I tried to get him out, but only managed to scratch up my arm, and it made him more frantic and I was afraid he’d hurt himself more—”

“Shh. I’ll get him.” He cut away the lower branches, freeing a path.

With a smile in her voice, Charish whispered, “That’s what I told the dog.”

He would have smiled, too, except the poor little thing looked so terrified. “Good thing I was close, huh, buddy? There now, I’ll have you out in a second.”

“Do you think he got separated from someone up the creek?”

“No.” Colt eased away the last bramble, but saw that some were stuck to the dog’s matted fur. “He has some pretty big ticks on him, no collar, and his fur is a mess. I’m guessing he’s been out here awhile.”

With a soft gasp, she whispered, “Oh my God, poor baby.”

Colt glanced at her, saw sweet concern and honest empathy, and had to brace himself against her impact.

Now able to get his hands around the dog, he carefully pulled him free. The stickers got his bare arms a few times, snagged on the dog, too, but finally Colt held him in his arms.

Turning carefully, he sat in the dirt and held the dog close. “There you go, my man. You’re okay now.”

Diesel’s enthusiasm overflowed. He snuffled the dog, barked, and reared back in excitement. Rather than be alarmed, the little dog yapped in return, wiggling to be free. Cautiously, ready to grab him again, Colt set him on his feet—and watched him shoot over to Diesel as if they were long-lost friends.

The little dog was barely the size of Diesel’s head, but that didn’t bother him. The two dogs circled and sniffed until Charish laughed.

“They’re so cute together.” She turned her big dark eyes on him. “He seems okay, right? Not injured?”

“A few scratches. He needs to be cleaned up, and given the ticks, I’d bet he has mites, too. If I can get it set up in time, a checkup today wouldn’t hurt.”

“Is the vet open on Saturday?”

“I know a vet tech. I’ll give her a call.”

Charish tucked in her chin, gave a grudging nod, and followed the two dogs to the edge of the water to give him privacy.

It didn’t take Colt long to check in with Val, and then he joined them. “She can see us in twenty minutes.”

“Us?”

“Diesel behaves in a car, but I’m not sure about this guy.” He bent to stroke the dog and felt things in his fur that he didn’t want to think about. Peeling off his shirt, he wrapped up the dog and handed him to Charish. “Come on. I’ll drive.”

“My van...”

“We can lock it up, then swing by to get it when we’re done.” He already had dog hair and muddy paw prints in his truck. The van was more suited to a mother of small children...but maybe she’d had that in mind when she bought it. Plus a used van was often less expensive than sportier cars.

Diesel rode on the floor near Charish’s feet, with the scruffy dog in her lap. In that position, she could barely move, but the dogs found multiple ways to bump noses. He noticed that Charish spent an equal amount of time petting and praising Diesel so he wouldn’t get jealous.

By the second, the things to admire about her were adding up. Not that he needed a lot of help in that arena.

“What will you name it?”

She went perfectly still. “Name it? The dog?”

Feeling a grin go crooked, Colt said, “You were planning to keep it, weren’t you?”

She hugged the dog closer. “I hadn’t thought that far ahead. Shouldn’t we check to see if anyone is missing him?”

“Val will know. Missing dogs are always reported to the vet.”

A few minutes later they learned that no, no one had reported the dog lost. During the exam, they also found out that he had an ear infection, luckily no signs of fleas, and an abundance of bloated ticks, which were removed. The scratches were superficial, but Val treated them anyway.

“Thanks for seeing us on short notice,” Colt said.

“Any friend of Diesel’s and all that.” Charish noticed that Diesel loved Val, and she also noticed that—hopefully—Colt and Val were just friends.

“All in all, he’s not in terrible shape for a small dog who’s been on his own.” After removing several badly matted clumps of fur, Val sold them a bottle of gentle dog shampoo, as well as special food that would get him healthy again.

For the records, she needed a name. Colt deferred to Charish, and on the spur of the moment, she dubbed him Winslow.

Val knelt down to cuddle each dog. “Any chance they can spend more time together until Winslow settles in? He’ll need plenty of reassurance, and it appears he’s already bonded to Diesel.”

“Um...” Charish floundered.

“Got it covered,” Colt offered, then slipped his arm around her shoulders. “Charish just moved here and is still unpacking, but we live close enough that even after she takes Winslow, Diesel and I can visit.”

SO WINSLOWWASnow a good reason for Colt to drop by? Actually...that worked for her. It’d be a friendly stop, focused on the dogs, and surely she could handle that.

After they returned to the creek so she could get her van, she tried thanking Colt, but he just told her he’d see her at her house. She didn’t understand until he showed her the mower in the back of the truck that she hadn’t noticed.

“I was coming over to cut your grass anyway. In fact, I was at your house when you called.”

“You...” The audacity stunned her. “You just...dropped in? And figured you’d cut my grass?”

Grinning, he tweaked her chin and said, “Ballsy of me, I know. But it needs cutting, you said yourself you don’t have a mower yet, so why not?” Without giving her a chance to react to that, he added, “Good thing I was close, considering how Winslow was stuck.”

Her gaze automatically went to the front of his truck where Winslow and Diesel watched them through the partially opened window. The grueling sun made the back of her neck damp, and she couldn’t in good conscience have this discussion now. Shoulders back, she warned, “We’ll discuss this at my house.”

Colt didn’t confirm or deny that before he returned to his truck, and then waited for her to pull out first. She noticed that this time he had no problem driving with both dogs.

It took only a few minutes until she pulled into her driveway, with Colt right behind her. He opened his door, lifted Winslow down, and let Diesel bound out.

She was gearing up to insist that she’d pay him for cutting the grass when he shoved the vet bag into her hands.

“Here. You can feed him first, make sure he has fresh water, too, then use the hose around back to bathe him. I’ll mow there first so there’ll be less mess.” With that said, he lifted out the mower and pushed it toward the side yard leading to the back.

Of all the... Winslow jumped against her shins, Diesel ran a circle around her, and she simply gave up. The grass was a little too long, there was no way Colt would take her money, and she had to share responsibility for the dog’s care since Colt had agreed to take him home.

It was better that Winslow would be with Diesel since they were going to the diner tonight. She didn’t want the little dog to immediately feel abandoned.

As she led the animals inside, it struck her.

She was barely back in Clearbrook, and twice now Colt had occupied the bulk of her day. Never, not once, had she expected it—or how deeply it would affect her.

CLEANEDUP, BRUSHED, and with a full belly, Winslow was a different dog. Less shaky, a hell of a lot cuter, and as long as he was near Diesel, pretty darned happy.

Sitting together on the back patio, Colt and Charish watched the dogs romp through the freshly mown grass, Winslow serving as Diesel’s constant shadow.

Colt had a feeling the dog was now his, whether he’d wanted another or not.

Silent, Charish chewed her bottom lip.

“Something on your mind?” Colt asked.

She gestured at the animals. “I’m sorry about this. I didn’t mean to burden you with another pet.”

“Do I look burdened?”

“No. But when I found the dog, I never thought—”

“What? That you shouldn’t bother me?” Disgusted, Colt leaned his elbows on his knees and stared ahead. “If you were the type of person who could walk away from a trapped animal, I wouldn’t be here now.” Drawn to you.

That drew her attention, but he didn’t want her asking questions about things he couldn’t yet explain, so he put her on the defensive instead, asking, “Why did you go to that particular spot at the creek, anyway?” It had always been their spot, a place they could go for privacy.

Immediately her gaze darted away and she, too, focused on the yard. After a long hesitation, she whispered, “Nostalgia? I don’t know. I wanted to get some fresh air and the creek just called to me, but I didn’t want to be around a lot of people yet.” Smiling, she added, “That’ll happen tonight, right? At the diner?”

“It’ll be crowded,” he agreed. Diesel plopped down under a tree, and Winslow curled up against his shoulder. Together they closed their eyes with a sigh. “They’re already inseparable. It’s not just Winslow being needy. Diesel seems happy to keep him close.”

“The differences in their sizes is pretty hilarious.”

Colt grinned with her. “How about I keep them, but when I have to go out of town, I might need you to watch Winslow.” Until he knew if the little dude was housebroken, he couldn’t very well ask his dad or uncle to keep the dog. Diesel was fairly self-sufficient, but Winslow? Who knew?

Hesitantly, Charish offered, “I could keep them both then. Diesel knows and likes me, and I’m not sure they’d want to be apart.”

“True,” he said carefully, wondering if she wanted to use the dog as an excuse to see him again. Not that she needed one, but it’d be nice to know she wasn’t immune.

Before he said more than he meant to, Colt stood. “I need to head home. I need to cut my own grass and shower before I pick you up for the diner.”

“Would you rather I meet you there?”

“No.” He didn’t explain himself, just left it at that.

“Oh. Okay. Well, thank you again. I’ll be better prepared the next time it needs to be cut.”

That bugged him unreasonably, so he didn’t comment on that either, choosing instead to call the dogs to him. He’d need to pick up a collar for Winslow, probably another bed and food dish, too. He checked the time and decided he could fit in a quick stop at the pet store, where Diesel and Winslow would be welcome, before heading home.

It turned into a long day, and by the time he finished, both Diesel and Winslow were exhausted.

Before leaving his house to pick up Charish, he took another moment to jog up to his uncle’s house, only two houses away, to tell him about the new dog. Though Aunt Honor and Jason, too, were headed to the diner, it turned into a quick visit from them so they could meet Winslow.

Even with some of his favorite people there, Diesel continued to be protective of the new dog, snuggling him close and putting up with his excited yapping, so Colt wasn’t worried about leaving them alone.

But Honor reassured him even more, promising she’d check in on them as soon as they returned from dinner, and saying she’d be happy to take them to her and Uncle Jason’s house for the night.

A nice idea. “So if I’m out later than intended...?”

“Then just leave them with us. I’ll enjoy it.”

Jason grinned indulgently. “What is it about little dogs that women love so much?”

“He’s like a baby,” Honor said, while scratching Winslow’s ears. That got Diesel snuffling against her, and she laughed. “Yes, Diesel, you’re a big baby, too.”

Stepping aside with Jason, Colt said, “I’m seeing Charish.”

Brows shot up. “She’s back?”

“Dad didn’t tell you?”

“I haven’t seen him today.”

Quickly, Colt explained that she’d moved into her family home, and that they’d be at the diner as well. “I don’t know how late or early I’ll be. But now with Winslow—”

“We have it covered,” Jason promised, clapping him on the shoulder. “Plan on us keeping them both tonight, okay? That way you can just enjoy yourself, without worrying about it.”

“You’re sure?”

Jason looked at Honor. “She’s already looking forward to it.”

Having his dad and uncle so close was something Colt appreciated as much as Diesel did. Knowing the dogs wouldn’t be alone opened up new possibilities for him—that was, if Charish felt the same.

Thinking of the night ahead, Colt said goodbye to his uncle, made sure the animals had enough food and water until Honor came to get them, and had just locked up the house when Heidi pulled into his driveway. Greeting her near her car, he said, “I thought we were meeting at the diner?”

Grinning ear to ear, Heidi grabbed him in for a tight hug. “You!” She tried to rock him side to side, but yeah, being a lot bigger than her, he easily stepped her back.

Half grinning, he asked, “What’s going on?”

“Why didn’t you tell me you and Charish were the big romance of the century? Everyone in Clearbrook remembers you two being an item.”

Amusement fled. He’d always been protective of Charish, and now, knowing she was pregnant, the feeling had doubled. “You’ve been gossiping about me?”

“Oh, please. Gossip is rife in this town and you know it.” She frowned at his expression, then sighed as if put out. “Plenty of people saw her moving in yesterday, but I mostly talked with Dave. He’s the one who told me that you two have a past.”

“Maybe I need to have a talk with Dave, too.”

His irascible mood delighted her. “Now, don’t you dare go scaring him off,” she said with a laugh. “Since you’re no longer in the rotation, I need a filler.”

At least she understood that they wouldn’t be together again. Glad that he didn’t have to explain things, he asked with a grin, “Did you tell Dave that?”

“Of course I didn’t.” She hedged a moment, then admitted, “I actually like him, Colt.”

Wow. Heidi didn’t get serious—or at least she hadn’t before now. Ready to tease her, he put on a mock frown. “Meaning you didn’t like me?”

“Ha! I loved you—in bed.” She absently patted his chest. “But with Dave... I don’t know. I enjoy just talking with him, too. About all kinds of things.” As if telling a grave secret, she lowered her voice and confessed, “I’m making time for him. Crazy, right?”

She looked so appalled by that notion, he put a hand to her forehead, as if checking for fever. “Making time for someone else? Shit. Maybe you’re ill?”

“It’s not funny, Colt.”

“Yes, it is.” Maybe because he felt the same way with Charish. Putting an arm around Heidi, he steered her back to her car. He couldn’t leave until she left, since she blocked him in the driveway. “I’m happy for you.”

“I’m still sorting it out in my head, so don’t go celebrating.”

“Sort it out in your heart, hon. That’s what you need to do instead of overthinking it.”

Tipping her chin up, she asked, “Is that what you’re doing? Sorting it out with your heart?”

Oh, hell no. He wouldn’t have this conversation with her. “Totally different.”

“You forget that I saw you two together, and I’m not an obtuse woman. One look, that’s all it took for me to understand.”

Colt opened her car door, a not so subtle hint that she should go.

“Fine.” Sighing, she added, “Play it cool tonight at Screwy Louie’s, okay?”

He braced a hand on the roof of the car. “You mean with Charish, or with you?”

“Oh, you’re funny.” Heidi slid behind the wheel. “You shot past cool with Charish before I ever showed up.” Hand to her chest, she said, “I walked in and I swear, the sexual sparks were enough to put my hair on end. When you look at her, Lord. I need Dave to look at me like that.”

Heidi could be so amusing. “How did I look?”

“Like you’d had a taste and wanted more. A lot more.” She pulled the door shut, then lowered her window. “So... I did good? With you looking all territorial and stuff, I wanted to make sure Charish knew we were just friends with benefits—but I tried to leave off the benefit part.”

“I came from your house, so she figured that out on her own. But yeah, you did great. Thanks for that.”

“I’d hate for a booty call to ruin true love.”

True love? On a basic level, he rejected that premise. He’d tried true love with Charish once, and it hadn’t gone well.

He still cared.

She needed someone to confide in.

Their chemistry was still there, big-time.

But that didn’t mean love.

“Don’t get dramatic. She was gone six years and has only been back two days. I hardly think—”

“Oh, Colt. Fool yourself if you want, but take a little advice from someone who cares for you and thinks you’re a really stellar guy—don’t screw it up.”

That profound warning kept Colt standing in the driveway, watching as Heidi backed out and drove away. Just yesterday morning, he’d been going about his life as usual. He’d been content.

Now Charish was back with a baby on the way, and he felt too many things, some of them unsettling, none of them completely clear.

Well, that wasn’t entirely true. The anticipation was clear enough. He felt it in spades.

For now, it was enough.

ENTERING SCREWY LOUIE’Swas like walking back in time.

It hadn’t changed from the last big update in décor, which had happened before her move. Even the smells were the same, prompting her to briefly close her eyes and inhale deeply.

“That’s Dad’s barbecue you smell,” Colt said. “Even though he still cooks out back, a lot of people are eating inside.”

Even this, the way Colt smiled down at her, how he stood so close, took her back. “Mmm, to me it smells like ambrosia.”

“Missed it, huh?”

She’d missed so many things, him most of all. “The last few years have been...chaotic.” Physically exhausting and emotionally crushing, with the health care of her grandma and father, followed by their deaths. Her father’s declining health had been particularly grueling. There’d been no time to think about personal pursuits or pleasures.

Pushing aside the devastation of that loss, Charish took in the crowded booths, the noise drifting out of the kitchen, and the bustling of the staff. “It feels so good to be home. The easier pace just sort of sinks in.”

Just then, Kristy went flying past them, a huge tray piled high with dishes. She was so intent on balancing her load, she didn’t even notice them.

Colt grinned. “No easy pace for anyone working here. Luckily, Violet hired on more help, but Saturdays are still insane. Come on.” Opening his hand on the small of her back, he steered her through the restaurant.

Tonight she wore a pastel T-shirt with loose white cotton shorts that tied at the waist and comfortable flip-flops. She’d left her hair free and used only a modicum of makeup. She hoped she looked better than when Colt first saw her, more like herself now, but still very casual. After all, she didn’t want him to think she’d primped for him—even if she had...just a little.

Along the way through the diner, people greeted him, and occasionally her. She was surprised that so many people remembered her. Some of the faces were familiar, some she couldn’t quite recall.

They all appeared to love Colt.

A few of the women even stared at her with less than friendly expressions. Charish wondered if they were intimate friends like Heidi, but she quickly blocked the thought and merely smiled back.

His sexual history was none of her business.

“This way.” He led her to a hallway.

Acutely aware of his hot palm on her back, she asked, “Where are we going?”

“Figured we’d say hi to Violet first.” He kept her moving until they reached the office. With two raps on the door, Colt opened it.

And found his dad crushing Violet close, their mouths glued together.

Charish blanched, but Colt just laughed.

They broke apart, Violet with a start, Hogan with a scowl for the interruption.

Mortified heat rushed into Charish’s face. “I’m so sorry. We didn’t mean to interrupt—”

“Charish?” Still fit and handsome, Hogan Guthrie smiled, stepped forward, and drew her into a hug. “You’re all grown up and as pretty as ever.”

It was so easy to see where Colt had gotten his charm and his good looks, though he more closely resembled his uncle Jason and was a little taller than both of them. “Thank you, sir. You haven’t changed.”

Having regained her composure, Violet hugged her next. “Welcome home, sweetie.”

Yes, that’s how it felt, like a great big welcome. “Thank you, both of you. It’s great to be back, and of course getting to Screwy Louie’s was at the top of the agenda.”

“Bet you’ve missed our good cookin’ and sterling personalities.”

She smiled with Violet, loving how she infused an extra twang to her words. “Most definitely.”

Colt asked, “Where’s the squirt?”

“Jason and Honor got here just before you did. Paisley is hanging with them out back.” Hogan bobbed his eyebrows. “It gave us a chance for a brief meeting.”

Censuring him for the remark, Violet snapped Hogan in the butt with her dish towel. “I told him we didn’t have time, but he insisted.”

“Doesn’t sound like Dad,” Colt said with a straight face—and then had to dodge the stinging whip of that dishrag, too. He ducked back, laughed, and then snatched it away from Violet.

“You wield that like a master,” Charish told her.

She held out her hand, a silent demand for Colt to return it, which he did. “With these two, I’ve had plenty of reason to perfect my aim.”

Oh, she liked these people, so much so that she couldn’t stop smiling. “It is really good to see you both again.”

“Dinner is on us tonight,” Violet proclaimed. “Order up whatever you want, and be sure to get some cherry pie, too.”

“We’re meeting Heidi and Dave,” Colt explained, earning a quick look of surprise from his father.

Violet didn’t blink.

Because they both knew Colt was involved with Heidi? Yup, now Charish felt her own face heating.

“They’re also out back,” Violet said. “Since my break is about over, and so is Hogan’s, we’ll walk you out.”

Hogan kept his arm around Violet’s waist as they wended through the diner. It was nice, seeing them still so much in love. Once, years ago, she’d wanted the same with Colt. To this day, when she thought about “happy ever after,” she couldn’t picture herself with another man, not after Colt. Resigning herself to a single’s life didn’t seem so bad, when the alternative meant settling on someone else.

“Pensive?” Colt asked near her ear.

Briefly, she leaned against his shoulder, the gesture meant as an answer that words couldn’t convey, but his arm moved up and around her, keeping her there.

She didn’t want to rely on anyone. She wanted total independence, much as Violet had enjoyed before marrying Colt’s dad.

But this? The friendly support, the closeness, was irresistible to her starved senses. Colt couldn’t know that it gave her a thrill to be against his tall, hard frame, secure under the strength of his long arm. She knew, which was why she shouldn’t allow it, but honestly, it felt too good to resist.

They stepped outside to bright sunshine and humid air. August evenings could be scorchers, but still the picnic area was filled, every wooden table occupied. Toward the back, Dave and Heidi held a round table with two extra chairs and a broad umbrella.

As if they were best friends already, Heidi waved happily to her.

Feeling incredibly lame and a little resentful, Charish lifted her hand to wave back. Colt wasn’t paying any attention to them. His focus was on his uncle, who currently manned the grills.

“Thanks, Jason,” Hogan said as he reached him, relieving him of the tongs to quickly turn a few slabs.

Colt drew her forward. “You remember my uncle Jason and aunt Honor?”

“I do.” Charish reached out for a handshake, but got drawn into another hug. This was one of those things she’d missed, too. Colt’s family had always treated her like one of the family.

“I heard you were back,” Jason said with a warm smile, releasing her so Honor could share her own embrace.

“Welcome home,” Honor said, giving her an extra squeeze.

Was that how his family really saw her return? As coming home? Sure, she felt that way, but Charish was a little surprised that they did.

As she looked around at all the beaming faces, her heart melted. Again, this was what she’d wanted—the open friendliness, the closeness—for herself, and the child she carried.

“Thank you. Where I’d been living, you didn’t get to know your neighbors so well. Everyone kept to themselves and we didn’t have a wonderful family restaurant like this.”

Just then, a small girl pushed to the front of the group. Hands on her hips, long dark hair tumbling everywhere, she stared up at Colt, then at Charish. “I’m Paisley.”

Oh my, such a beautiful girl. “Hello, Paisley. I’ve heard a lot about you.”

Her little nose scrunched up with suspicion. “Like what?”

Charish barely held back her laugh. “How pretty you are, and that Colt adores you.”

“Yeah, he does,” she said with smug confidence. “I ’dore him, too.”

Colt scooped her up, making her giggle as he blew raspberries on her neck.

Laughing, she caught his face and, nose to nose, said, “Let’s play army.”

“Sorry, munchkin. I can’t right now. I’m having dinner with friends.”

Sending Charish the stink eye, Paisley asked, “Her?”

Oh my. What a feral look from such a cute child. Grinning, Charish said, “I do apologize.”

Violet said, “Paisley,” in a quiet but serious way, earning a look of contrition. “Mind your manners.”

Staring down at Colt’s chin, Paisley mumbled, “Sorry.”

Colt gave her a hug and set her back on her feet. “Soon, okay?”

“Tonight?”

“Maybe tomorrow.”

Paisley made another face. “Uncle Jason is taking me to the creek tomorrow.”

“Because she’s not at all spoiled,” Hogan remarked.

“She’s my only niece,” Jason countered.

“Have a few of your own, man.”

Honor cleared her throat. “Well, as to that...”

In a rush, everyone turned to Honor, their excitement bubbling over.