Chapter 23
The next morning, Hadley paused beside Juno’s pen and peered at the new mama.
Juno’s tail thumped, and Hadley stepped in to check the puppies. All six were warm, active, and feeding well. Even Quirkle appeared to have put on some weight.
“You’re doing just fine, aren’t you, little guy? I’ve been rooting for you.”
She held Quirkle to her chest before turning her attention back to Juno. “What are we going to do with you, Mama? You can’t stay here at Refuge Cove forever. We need to find you a home—and all these precious little babies.”
Juno stared at her with big eyes as if trying to do a mind meld.
“What are you trying to tell me?” Hadley murmured.
Could she take Juno home?
She missed Latte, her husky back in Atlanta, terribly. But Latte had been Ethan’s dog. It wouldn’t have been right to take him, especially when Ethan took such good care of him.
Her heart hadn’t felt ready to move on to another dog yet.
But Juno did need a home . . .
She decided to think more about it later. She had enough on her mind right now as it was.
Instead, her thoughts drifted to Max. To the way he’d looked at her last night. The way he’d hesitated before leaning in. The way he’d kissed her like he meant it.
He’d also hinted that there was something in his past that he was ashamed about. What could that possibly be? Whatever it was, she couldn’t imagine it was that bad. Max was a good guy.
Hadley let out a quiet breath and shook her head.
She straightened, brushed some dirt from her hands, and then turned toward the door as it opened.
Her heart lifted with expectation before she could stop it. Was Max here? She’d be lying to herself if she said she wasn’t anticipating seeing him.
But instead of Max, Kendra stepped inside.
Her expression was bright and cheerful as she called, “Good morning!”
Hadley smiled, pushing down the flicker of disappointment. “Good morning.”
“I was hoping I’d catch you while you were here,” Kendra said as she walked farther in. “How are the puppies?”
She looked down at them again as she placed Quirkle back with the litter. “They’re doing great. Juno’s settled, and they’re all feeding well.”
“That’s good.” Kendra leaned to look into the pen, her posture relaxed and friendly. “The puppies are so tiny and adorable!”
“Aren’t they?”
Kendra straightened and looked back at Hadley, her attention shifting from the dogs. “So . . . how was the rest of your day yesterday?”
Hadley hesitated, unsure how much to say and not wanting to overshare. She thought about her canceled appointments. About the movement at the back of the property at Refuge Cove. Of the kiss she and Max had shared.
She’d share none of that.
Instead, she settled on saying, “It was fine.”
“I’m glad. After everything that’s been going on, you deserve a normal evening.”
Hadley studied her. There was nothing off in Kendra’s expression, nothing she could point to. But something about the woman made her feel uneasy.
Maybe Hadley was just reading too much into things.
Kendra smiled again. “I had a really nice time yesterday. Lunch was fun.”
“It was. Thanks for the invite.”
“We should do it again.” Kendra tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. “Or dinner, maybe. Something where we can actually relax and not feel rushed. Maybe tonight?”
Hadley hesitated.
It wasn’t that she didn’t want to get to know Kendra better. She did. Or at least, she thought she should.
But her thoughts flicked to Max. To the way things had changed between them. To the possibility of seeing him again tonight. To the fact she wanted to see him tonight.
She glanced at Kendra and realized she was waiting for an answer. Her delay was bordering on rude.
“I . . .” Hadley started then stopped. She still didn’t know how to answer.
Kendra’s eyes stayed fixed on Hadley as she waited.
Before she could finish, the door opened. Hadley’s attention snapped toward it.
Max stepped inside.
Max . . .
Her pulse quickened.
He nodded hello to Kendra before his gaze met Hadley’s. “Hey, could I talk to you a minute? Outside?”
As soon as Hadley heard the tension in his voice, she knew something was wrong. “Of course.”
Max pushed open the door and stepped outside with Hadley.
As soon as the door closed, he turned toward her and stepped closer. Snow flurries drifted around them and clung to their hair.
He’d come to tell her something timely. But as he looked at her now, his thoughts disappeared.
He was drawn to her by something he didn’t fully understand . . . and wasn’t sure he wanted to. Keeping some distance would be easier. So would slowing things down and addressing his hesitation.
But none of that seemed to matter when Hadley was standing in front of him.
When Max was with her, he knew without a doubt that she could be the best thing to ever happen to him. He wanted to keep believing the two of them had a chance together. But would they when she learned all the details about his past?
He should just tell her. Yet he couldn’t bring himself to do that. The words stopped in his throat.
Hadley smiled up at him and gave his hand a squeeze. “Good to see you.”
Something shifted in Max’s chest, and his heavy thoughts disappeared. “Not as good as it is to see you.”
Their gazes held, neither of them in a hurry to look away.
Then Hadley’s expression softened. “Is everything okay? You sounded urgent.”
Her words brought him back to reality and the reason he’d come out here.
He’d intended on telling her this in the kennel. But then he’d seen Kendra, and he hadn’t wanted her close when he talked to Hadley.
“I didn’t want to say anything earlier,” he started. “I didn’t want to alarm you. But someone got into my truck last night while I was at your apartment and slashed the seats.”
“What?” Her eyes widened. “Max, I’m so sorry. That’s awful. Who would’ve done that?”
“Kenny, maybe. Or Travis. It’s hard to say. Sheriff Sutherland’s looking into it.”
A frown tugged at Hadley’s lips as she shook her head. “That’s not normal. None of this is normal.”
“No, it’s not.” He shifted his weight. “Sheriff Sutherland and his guys are still searching for Lyndee. They’re checking cabins deeper in the forest to see if there are any signs Kenny and Lyndee have been there.”
Hadley’s expression tightened. “Hopefully, there will be an update soon.”
Max glanced toward the trees beyond the property before looking back at her. “I hope so.”
For a moment, neither of them spoke.
Then Max’s attention drifted toward the building behind them—to where Kendra was. Without meaning to, he frowned.
Hadley’s eyes narrowed as she seemed to notice his reaction. “What is it?”
Max hesitated before saying, “I didn’t know how to bring this up or even if I should. But for the sake of transparency, I thought I should let you know that Kendra hasn’t . . . well, she hasn’t taken our breakup well.”
Hadley’s brows drew together.
“I don’t want to make things worse by flirting with another woman when she’s around. Does that make sense?”
Hadley nodded, understanding settling in her expression. “It makes perfect sense. I wouldn’t want to do that to her either. In fact, I appreciate your consideration of her.”
He let out a small breath, relieved that Hadley understood. Of course, she did. He hadn’t expected anything different from her. “Thank you.”
Just then, the door behind them opened. Max turned as Kendra stepped outside carrying an arm full of trash bags to the bins around the corner.
She stopped near them, her expression neutral. “Hey, guys. Hope I’m not interrupting anything.”
Hadley took a step away from Max. “Not at all.”
Kendra turned to Hadley. “So, dinner tonight?”
Dinner? The two of them were having dinner together now?
Hadley hesitated. “As much as I’d love to, could we do it another time?”
Kendra’s smile stayed in place. “Of course. Definitely another time.”
There was no tension in her voice. No sign of disappointment.
Relief washed through Max.
He’d expected a bigger reaction from Kendra. She could be highly emotional. At times, he’d even thought of her as being emotionally unstable.
Instead, she gave a small nod and walked past them, heading toward the side of the building with the trash bags.
As Max watched her go, something in his chest loosened. He must be overthinking things.
Maybe his new relationship with Hadley wouldn’t be as complicated as he’d thought.