Chapter 17 #2
Dutton shrugged. “I wouldn’t call it trouble. If you manage to get one as sweet as Shortcake, maybe we’ll just call you lucky.”
“I have always wanted a puppy,” Melissa said. “But since I travel so much for work, I was never able to get one. But now…” She looked over at Briggs. “I have a built-in puppysitter.”
Briggs groaned. “But what about when King needs me to travel for work?”
Melissa sent him an exasperated scowl. “Seriously? When’s the last time you had to travel to work on one of his songs?
You guys usually make music here. And if you do end up traveling, then we’ll work it out.
Don’t you want a precious cutie like this one to play with all the time?
” She nuzzled Shortcake, and the dog gave her a sweet kiss on the nose.
“I’m dying. I think my heart just exploded. ”
Briggs let out a sigh and said, “Thanks, brother. I bet she tries to drag me to the rescue today.”
“Yes, please!” Melissa bounced a little bit and looked down at Shortcake. “I hope they have your twin. I’d love to have a little cutie like you.”
“Okay. That’s enough drooling on Dahlia’s dog,” Dutton said. “We’re going to take her on her walk.”
Dahlia chuckled softly to herself and then said, “I’m in no hurry.”
“If we stand around here too long, I think Melissa is gonna dog-nap Shortcake,” Dutton said, reaching for her leash.
“I’m not a dog-napper,” Melissa insisted. “Maybe a dog-borrower.”
“Let me know if you do get a new dog. Maybe we can have doggie play dates,” Dahlia said. She’d love for Shortcake to have a new friend. Dahlia knew she wouldn’t mind making another friend of her own, either.
“Definitely.” Melissa stared longingly at Shortcake as Dutton led her down the steps of the porch.
“Shortcake and I would love that,” Dahlia said, meaning it.
“It’s a deal.” Melissa followed them down off the steps. “Hey, did you two have a good time at the harvest festival last night?”
Dutton and Dahlia shared a wary glance.
“Uh-oh. What happened?” Melissa asked.
Briggs hopped down the stairs, clearly anxious to hear what his brother had to say.
“Nothing happened. I did see the two Magical Task Force agents that detained me a few days ago, but I just avoided them,” Dutton said.
“Then why the long face?” Briggs asked, eyeing his brother.
“It was nothing. I…” Dutton let out a groan. “If you must know, I somehow ended up in the haunted house, and it was more of a psychological horror show than anything I’d expect to find at a Keating Hollow fall harvest festival.”
Melissa wrapped her arms around herself. “I went in it, too. It was awful.”
Briggs wrapped his arm around her and pulled her into him.
“I’m just glad Briggs didn’t go in there,” Melissa added. “Because you’re right. There was nothing spooky about it. Just torment.”
Dahlia thanked her lucky stars that she hadn’t found her way into the house of horrors.
“But thankfully, I heard that they are closing it today,” Melissa went on.
“They are?” Dahlia asked. “I thought the festival was going on through Halloween. Please tell me it is, because I don’t think I can live without another piece of that fried pumpkin cheesecake.”
“It is.” Melissa nodded enthusiastically. “And I’m with you on that cheesecake. I’ve never put anything so delicious in my mouth before.”
“Nothing?” Briggs asked, raising one eyebrow.
She subtly elbowed him in the ribs.
Briggs grunted but just smirked at her when she glanced up at him.
Melissa shook her head as she rolled her eyes and said, “Anyway… Yes, they’re shutting down the haunted house because it’s not at all what the organizers were expecting. They wanted the usual. Ghosts, vampires, zombies, etc. Instead, they got whatever that was. And everyone is complaining.”
“Who was responsible for the attraction?” Dutton asked, frowning.
“I have no idea. Someone from out of town. I guess the witch who usually handles it bowed out this year, so the town hired someone nobody knows,” Melissa said. “At least that’s what I heard at Incantation Café this morning. I bet the town doesn’t make that mistake again.”
“Next time, I’ll just skip it altogether,” Dutton said.
Dahlia slipped her hand into his. “Same. I never really liked haunted houses anyway.”
Melissa stared pointedly at their hands and then gave them both a huge grin. “I see what’s happening here, and I think I like where it’s going.”
“Melissa—” Briggs started, his tone full of warning.
She cut him off. “Relax, Briggs. I’m not going to say anymore. I just like seeing people happy, that’s all. We can’t suck up all the happy vibes in this town. It wouldn’t be fair.”
“No, it wouldn’t,” Briggs agreed as he moved to her and wrapped his arms around her from behind.
She leaned into him, her easy smile lighting up her face.
They looked so happy and at ease with each other that Dahlia found herself battling a little bit of jealousy. It wasn’t too much to want what they had, was it?
“Okay, you two. Get a room,” Dutton said. “We’re off to walk the pup. See you later.”
“Have fun!” Melissa waved.
“But not too much,” Briggs called after them.
“Why not too much?” Melissa asked him. “They should have all the fun they can possibly muster out there in the woods by themselves.”
“Not with the puppy watching,” Briggs said. “That’s just not right.”
Dahlia snickered as they headed down the path that took them into the redwoods. “Are they always like that?”
“Pretty much. Though today they were a little over the top,” Dutton said. “I’m pretty sure they were trying their best to embarrass me.”
“Did it work?”
He tightened his hold on her hand. “Not at all.”
“Good.” She brushed his shoulder gently with her own. “Because as far as I’m concerned, there’s nothing to be embarrassed about.”
He swept his gaze over her. She saw just a hint of the hunger she’d experienced that morning, but it was quickly replaced by a softness. One that made her heart flutter just a tiny bit.
Dutton had proven to be a protector. At every turn he’d been watching out for her.
Though he’d never made her feel helpless or less than.
He was just there, ready to jump in if needed.
From helping her escape her wedding, to saving her from the barbecue fire, to just watching over her, he made her feel safe.
And that was directly at odds with Gwynn’s warning.
Dahlia watched Shortcake happily trotting down the path and decided she was exactly where she was supposed to be.