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"It’s pretty safe, don’t worry"

"Pretty safe?" She shivered, backing up another step "I’ll take your word for it You’re right, though It is cool How’d you even find it?"

"I didn’t Coop did"

"Your dog found it?"

"We were hunting He scented a fox and wouldn’t let it go He followed her to a den just outside There was a whole litter of kits--I swear there were a dozen of the things"

"Please tell me Cooper didn’t eat them"

"Never fear You know Coop wouldn’t hurt a fly" Da"

A quiet hissing sounded outside, and she went back to the entrance, glancing out to see a drizzle starting to fall Nothing serious--just a gentle Sierra h that she found herself a spot between rails and slid to the ground, leaning against the side of the tunnel

He tossed down his backpack and joined her "Hungry?"

"Starved" A light breeze billowed in, bringing the scent of damp pine needles It was serene--and eerie, but in a pleasant way She tucked into a turkey and Havarti sandwich and asked between bites, "So you really just wanted to show ave his sandwich a critical once-over and opted for an apple instead He took a huge bite, s as he chewed "Maybe I wanted one ave an exaggeratedly innocent shrug "So You sure it’s over?"

"Yes, I’m sure" She narrowed her eyes at hito lared harder

"Okay, okay," he aduy for trying"

She tried to be mad, but couldn’t It was just too classically Damien Oddly, she felt a stab of affection for him because of it Affection and, at the sa lady-killer he’d been in high school But it wasn’t high school any there with him, she knew more than ever how she’d found her perfect man in Billy The revelation made her as comfortable with Da now that you know I’ hirew thoughtful "You really like that sheriff, huh?"

She finished the first half of her sandwich and dusted off her hands to reach for the second "Yup I really like that sheriff"

"He’s a luckyevery last bit The poor guy still looked fanored it and focused on his choice of lunch instead "I tell you, between you and my sister…" She nodded to his uneaten sandwich "A carb and sootta stay ripped" Damien smiled the confident old smile she knew He cocked an eyebrow "Especially now that I’le"

"Hey, this was supposed to be a hurrah I’d think, just this once, you could feed yourself so other than beef, berries, or protein shakes"

He laughed, pulling the cookie tin close "Then screw the sandwich If I’ar"

"Alert thehim shove an entire cookie into his ar! Apocalypse really is nigh"

He laughed, too, and gobbled down a second cookie for goodover a ," she said sarcastically "Don’t worry, I will If you can saveoff the chocolate end and popping it down "That sheriff better take care of you I worry about you in that lodge"

She stilled, her sandwich held inhim "Why?"

"The place is a…"

"A du to say?"

"No, of course not It’s halfway there, though Why do you think I’ by?"

The realization hit her with a sharp pang She hadn’t loved Damien, but for a little while she’d enjoyed his company Had felt wanted by him "I’d hoped it was because you were aze and held it, speaking earnestly "I really do care about you A lot Say the word, and I’m back on board, baby Your sheriff is lucky Any man would be thrilled to call hie is concerned, you see solo You can’t run the place alone It’s like a demolition zone You need someone to look out for you"

The unexpected sentiment touched her, and for an instant, her eyes burned with unshed tears Little did he kno much she needed actual protection She was sure Billy would disagree, but she found herself confiding "Billy thinks everything that’s been happening…he doesn’t think those are accidents"

He froze, his"What do you mean, not accidents?"

"Think about it" She dropped her head in her hands, rattling it all off "The tree branch, bear box, black ice…stuff like that can happen, sure But a fire in the kitchen? That wasn’t my fault Sully and I keep a spotless oven, and you know it And then there was Laura’s hit-and-run When she was drivinga peculiar expression "What?"<ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:block" data-ad-client="ca-pub-7451196230453695" data-ad-slot="9930101810" data-ad-format="auto" data-full-width-responsive="true"></ins>