Page 50 of Puppy Kisses

“I didn’t know you guys… You never said…” The sound of Phoebe running a hand over Gigi’s head was followed by “Yes, Gigi. That’s enough. You’re beautiful and perfect and everything I want in the world, but you have to getdown.”

The puppy’s misbehavior didn’t bother Adam nearly as much as it might have a few minutes ago—and not just because Dawn had promised to fight dirty for him. He was too busy trying to discover what kind of damage control was needed now that he and Dawn had been caught in the act.

They’d have to admit their relationship. They’d have to come out in the open. They’d have to move forward as two people who were unquestionably sleeping together.

And the only thing Adam felt about any of it was profound, enthusiastic relief.

“I wish I’d have known you two were coming. I would have reserved front-row seats.” Phoebe wound her arm through Adam’s. “They designate a few for family members, but they fill up fast. You’ll have to make do with some dusty outpost. You don’t mind, do you?”

Adam’s relief disappeared in a flash.

“I mean, Zeke’s going to be crazy excited that you’re here no matter what. And surprised. You didn’t say a word this morning, you sneak.”

“He’s been planning it for weeks,” Dawn said in a calm, easy lie. “Now that he has Uncle to lend him a hand, it seemed as good a time as any.”

Phoebe paused long enough to plant an affectionate kiss on Adam’s cheek. “That was really sweet of you, Adam. It’s going to mean so much to him to have you here. Lately, he’s been feeling…well…you know.”

On the contrary, Adamdidn’tknow, but he was starting to get a sense of the general lay of the land. And to be perfectly honest, he didn’t feel as though he stood on stable ground. It shouldn’t have been that much of a shock for him to be here today. If the bubbling voices in every direction were any indication, this was a well-attended race. Family members, friends, people who just liked being supportive—they were all here in abundance.

Because this was a normal thing to do. Run triathlons. Be supported by those you love. Live a life that didn’t include twenty-four hours a day of chasing down rogue cows and fixing irrigation systems and trying to buy up the neighboring lands.

“He’s feeling cooped up?” Adam suggested. When that elicited no response, he tried again. “Hog-tied? Fenced in? Imprisoned?”

“Notimprisoned,” Phoebe protested. “Let’s just say he’s been feeling his lack of a social life lately.”

Dawn laughed. “I tell him all the time that I’m the only real friend he has, but he thinks I’m being full of myself. I’m obviously much more important to his well-being than he realizes. Yours too, Adam.”

“Oh, don’t worry. I realize it just fine,” he admitted. These days, it was pretty much the only thing on his mind. “I never would have come out here if it wasn’t for you. Thank you.”

“You’re welcome,” she said and left it there. She also turned her attention to Phoebe with a sharp reprimand. “Now let go of your brother’s arm so Uncle can lead him to the stands. Unlike you, I don’t have a day off today—and neither does Uncle.” In an exact imitation of Bea’s voice, she cackled and added, “Just like a Dearborn, slacking off when there’s work to be done.”

Phoebe burst into laughter at that, but Adam couldn’t help feeling hollow. As happy as he was to be here—and as thrilled as he was to find that Uncle was exceeding expectations—he could no longer pretend there was any hope of keeping Gigi for himself. The only problem was that he couldn’t admit it out loud. To acknowledge defeat, to relinquish his negligible hold on Gigi, would also mean letting Dawn go.

And that, unfortunately, was something he was finding it more and more difficult to do.

Chapter 11

Dawn might not have been adept at making dinner, but she was excellent at making reservations.

“Yes, there will be four of us, and we want the best seat you have in the house. We’re celebrating tonight.” She pressed the phone against her shoulder and glanced over at Zeke. He was leaning against the now-empty spectator stands, but the fact that he was still on his feet was a testament to how good an athlete he was. Dawn was exhausted just thinking about how many miles he’d covered today. “Can I tell them it’s your birthday? I don’t think they give out congratulations-you-won-a-triathlon cake, but they do this amazing flourless chocolate thing for birthdays.”

She didn’t wait for an answer. The chocolate was that good. “Yes, it’s a birthday.Fourbirthdays, actually. We’re quadruplets.”

“Make it triplets,” Adam called from where he was sitting and lavishing praise on Gigi fornotmaking a meal out of Zeke’s sweaty running shoe. “You’ll have to celebrate without me. I’d like to get back to the ranch before it gets dark.”

A chorus of protests went up around them. Phoebe’s was the loudest, though how that woman had any of her voice left after all the cheering she’d done today, Dawn had no idea. Zeke had easily won the competition, but they’d been caught up in the spirit of the chase quite a few times. Her own throat felt awfully scratchy.

“It won’t be the same with just the three of us,” Phoebe said with a pout of her lower lip. “Come on, Adam. It’s only another hour or two. What difference will it make?”

“Do you want the actual answer to that? Because I can recite a whole list—and most of it involves cattle in various states of neglect. There’s no telling what’s happened at the ranch in our absence. For all we know, Dawn has escaped and made it to the Canadian border by now.”

“I’m sure they’re fine,” Phoebe protested. “They’re cows. And someone would have called us by now if Dawn was making a nuisance of herself or the place was burning down.”

“Are you sure about that?” Adam countered. “The Smithwoods would love to watch us go up in smoke, and if there’s a fire, I’m guessing Bea Benson isn’t too far away holding the match.”

Dawn would have laughed out loud at this pessimistic—if accurate—summary of the situation back at Dearborn Ranch, but no one else seemed to see the irony.Shewas the one everyone assumed lived a life of chaos and intrigue, but she obviously didn’t have a monopoly on it. She’d never met a family so determined to make everything more difficult than it needed to be.

As if to prove that, Phoebe’s pout deepened. “I knew this would happen,” she said. “I knew we couldn’t just enjoy an entire day off together.”