find her own way down.
Russo turned his grin on Gunnar. “You been looking for us?”
For the life of him, Gunnar couldn’t remember why. “Just wanted to know who’s fixing dinner tonight and what we’re having,” he said, striding off. He stopped at the door. “I assume you made sure it wasn’t MacBain’s turn before you set her up?”
Russo sighed. “Higgins was supposed to make his firehouse lasagna.” He grinned and gestured at the window. “The dashcam in the truck is on and Wi-Fi enabled, so we’ll intervene if it looks like they’re getting into trouble. If MacBain hasn’t figured it out by sunset, we’ll get them down in time to enjoy at least some of the campfire.”
Gunnar merely arched a brow, making Russo’s grin turn a bit sheepish. “My wife’s bringing our two sons and an outdoor popcorn popper she found at the Trading Post.” He shrugged. “She’s also bringing the elderly couple that lives next door.”
Gunnar slid his gaze to Bean and Mason.
“My landlord stopped by our house yesterday,” Bean said with an equally sheepish shrug, “and asked if it’s true that our campfires are open to the public. I told him that he and his wife should come hang out with us for a while tonight.”
“I met two hot little divorcées from New York City at the Bottoms Up night before last,” Mason said, his grin lecherous, “who used their divorce settlements to go halves on a vacation home right on Bottomless. And when they mentioned they’ve been trying to mingle with the locals, I invited them to swing by tonight.”
The poor unsuspecting bastards hadn’t even lasted a week. “And that, gentlemen,” Gunnar drawled, “is why Gilmore waited for someone with very specific skills to come along before making his final hire.” Fighting his own grin when all three of theirs disappeared, he headed for the door again. “You might want to ask around town if any loggers have butt ends they’d like to donate, because it appears we’re going to need more seating.”
And he intended to carve chief into the top of one of those stumps, so he’d be sure to have a front row seat from which to watch Miss MacBain charm the good citizens of Spellbound Falls out of their hard-earned tax dollars one beguiling smile at a time.
Hell, maybe he’d even pin his badge on his chest and toss out a few grins of his own.
* * *
* * *
Katy scowled down at the purring diesel engine using her leg for a scratching post. “Don’t think I didn’t see you napping on the chief’s windowsill earlier,” she scolded. “Even though I specifically told you to pretend you’re just a stray town cat who enjoys visiting the station,” she added, hoping no one noticed it only visited every third day. But she couldn’t very well leave Tux at the campground all by himself for twenty-four hours straight. Heck, she wasn’t even sure she was supposed to have a cat unless it was on a leash, and she really did not see that happening.
She dropped a piece of butter-soaked popcorn on the floor, then sighed when, instead of gobbling down the treat, Tux batted it around the station kitchen. “Everyone’s been feeding you all day, haven’t they?”
The morning she’d ridden Quantum to Inglenook, Katy returned to her truck in a far better frame of mind than when she’d left, thanks to Shiloh’s infectious joy when the kid spotted her cantering up the resort road and ran out his cottage driveway hollering and waving. Katy had stopped and dismounted, lifted Shiloh onto the saddle, and led him to the stables. She’d continued around the paddock a few times to cool Quantum down as the boy continued talking about how wonderful Inglenook was, then boasted how he’d boldly asked Mrs. Oceanus about the chickens when she’d greeted them in person when they’d arrived. But, he’d admitted with a sly grin, he’d asked after mentioning he was best friends with her friend Katy MacBain. Mrs. Oceanus had told him to send her an email explaining his business plan—which is what he’d been working on when he’d spotted Katy—and they would have an official meeting to discuss it in a few days.
Once Quantum was settled into her new quarters, Katy had kissed her horse on the nose, hugged Shiloh good-bye with the promise she’d be back the next day to give him his first official riding lesson, then hitched a ride to the station on one of the resort vans