judging me and coveting Havoc.
He’d begged Ella for a dog, and she’d nearly relented—then Maisie’s diagnosis came down. But I wasn’t supposed to know that. Wasn’t supposed to know that he wanted to play football, but Ella was too worried about concussions and pushed him toward soccer. I shouldn’t have known that he was supposed to take snowboarding lessons this year, or that he’d shaved off all that hair on his birthday because his sister had lost hers.
I wasn’t supposed to know him, but I did.
And it was hell to not be able to tell him that.
“Actually, I rented it for seven months. And you look a little short to be judging people.” I crossed my arms.
He mirrored my pose without hesitation. “That makes you even crazier. And I don’t let crazy people around my mama or my sister.”
“Aah, you’re the man of the house.”
“I’m not a man. I’m six, but I’ll be seven soon.”
“I see.” I bit back a smile, well aware that he wouldn’t be seven for another eight months. But time was all relative at that age. “Well, I’m not crazy. At least she doesn’t think I’m crazy.” I nodded toward Havoc.
“How do you know? Because you said if she talks to you, that means you’re nuts.” He stepped forward, resting his hands at the top of the gate, which came to about his collarbone. I needed to sand it down so he didn’t get splinters.
Man, did he have some lovestruck eyes for Havoc.
“Do you want to see her?”
He startled, his gaze flying to mine at the same time he stepped back. “I’m not supposed to talk to strangers, especially guests.”
“Which I totally respect. However, that didn’t stop you from coming out here.” I glanced behind him, seeing the blue, kid-sized quad that was parked haphazardly behind my cabin. At least there was a helmet resting on the seat.
I had a feeling that wouldn’t save him from Ella.
“No one’s ever stayed this long, and never with a dog. Not unless they work here, or they’re family. I just…” He gave a melodramatic sigh, and his head hung.
“You wanted to see Havoc.”
He nodded without looking up.
“Do you know what she is?” I walked forward slowly, like he was a wild animal that I’d spook if I moved too fast. Once I reached the gate, I unlatched the metal closure, letting it swing open.
“Ada says she’s a job dog. But not like a special needs dog. There’s a girl in my class who has one of those. He’s cool, but we can’t touch him.” His eyes slowly rose, his conflict so open and expressed in those eyes that my heart flopped over in my chest.
“If you back up a little, I’ll bring her to see you.”
He swallowed and glanced from Havoc to me, and then nodded his head like he’d made his choice. Then he walked backward, giving us enough room to get off the dock and onto solid ground.
“She’s a working dog. She’s a soldier.”
He quirked an eyebrow at me and then skeptically looked at Havoc. “I thought those had pointy ears.”
My smile slipped free. “Some do. But she’s a Lab. She’s trained to sniff out people and…other things. Plus, she plays a mean game of fetch.”
He stepped forward, sheer longing in his eyes, but he looked at me before getting too close. “Can I pet her?”
“I appreciate you asking. And yes, you may.” I gave Havoc a little nod, and she padded forward, tongue lolling out.
He dropped to his knees like she was something sacred and began to pet her neck. “Hiya, girl. Do you like the lake? It’s my favorite. What kind of name is Havoc?”
And boom. I was done for. The kid could have asked me to deliver him the moon and I would have found a way. He was so like Ella in expression, and like Ryan in the way he held himself. That confidence was going to serve him well as a man.
“Now look who’s crazy, talking to dogs.” I clucked my tongue.
He glared at me over Havoc’s back. “She’s not talking back.”
“Sure she is.” I dropped down next to him. “See how her tail wags? That’s a sure sign she likes what you’re doing. And the way her head is leaning into where you’re scratching? She’s telling you that’s where she wants you to scratch. Dogs talk all the time, you just have to speak their language.”
He smiled, and my heart did the flop thing again. It was like pure sunshine, a