“You’re the strongest person I know,” Haven said. “Seriously, I never would’ve gotten away without you. Or found Dare, or this place. I just wish I could’ve been there for you the way you were for me.”
“You don’t give yourself enough credit,” Cora said. “Maybe neither of us do. But it’s never too late, and I promise never to keep a secret from you again.” Now that she felt the relief of finally coming clean, it was hard to remember why it had ever felt so important to keep her secret in the first place. She should’ve known Haven would be nothing but supportive, but sometimes your brain was your own worst enemy.
“Me too,” Haven said nodding. They both sagged against the couch, as if the conversation had drained them. “Do you think these Raven men have any idea what they’re getting into with the two of us?”
Cora grinned, almost giddy at being unburdened by secrets after all these months. “No freaking idea at all.”
They were laughing again when the front door opened a little while later, and there was a sudden commotion of voices and footsteps.
“Oh, sorry,” Cora called, remembering the mountain of bags she’d left in the living room. “I’ll be right there to clean up that mess.”
“Don’t worry about it,” Slider said. The boys laughed, and then there was an excited round of shushing.
What in the world were they doing? Cora pushed off the couch to investigate when she caught movement from the corner of her eye. A dog—Bosco?
“What . . . how? Bosco!” she exclaimed.
Cora sank onto the floor and the height-challenged old man got right into her lap, put his paws on her shoulders, and licked her on the mouth.
Laughter rang out from the doorway, where Slider and the boys had gathered with the happiest, most triumphant expressions on their faces.
Cora hugged Bosco, and Haven chuckled as he licked her hand when she petted his head. “What’s happening?” Cora asked, her brain struggling to catch up with this roller coaster of a day.
“Surprise,” Slider said, unable to hold back a grin.
“Are you serious? You adopted him?” she asked, so happy she could barely stand it. She hugged and petted and kissed Bosco until he squirmed to get away.
“Look at the name tag,” Ben said, coming to his knees beside her.
Cora did, and she couldn’t decide which amazingly sweet thing to react to first. T.L.B. The Lovable Basset. Or Campbell. “Campbell. You adopted him . . . for me?”
Slider nodded, his expression so soft and intense her heart almost melted. “He’s yours.”
“And we’ll help!” Ben said, making them all laugh.
“Wow.” Cora could hardly believe they’d done this, but it just showed that Slider Evans had a wide streak of sweetness inside him that he didn’t let many people see, but she saw it. Oh, man, how she saw it. She looked up at Slider. “Thank you. I can’t believe you did this.”
Slider held out a hand and helped her up, and then they were standing face to face. “I did it for you.”
Cora couldn’t hold back. She threw her arms around Slider’s neck, making him laugh. “I love him so much.”
“I know,” Slider said, his arms coming around her, too.
She let go of him before she wanted to, because she didn’t know how his talk had gone with the boys.
Slider wasn’t having it. He grasped her face and pulled her close. “They’re happy,” he whispered. “And so am I.” He kissed her then, just one soft press of lips on lips.
“Argh, Dad!” Sam said, as Ben wrapped his arms around both of them and yelled, “I want in on this hug!”
Haven laughed out loud. “Y’all are so sweet you’re making my teeth hurt.”
Slider slanted her a glance. “Don’t mess up my reputation with that sweet crap.”
Rising from where she’d been petting Bosco, Haven chuckled. “Too late, Slider Evans. I’m pretty sure everyone who’s ever seen you with your boys already knows.”
He grunted, making Cora laugh. “She’s not wrong.”
Haven planted her hands on her hips and gave Cora a loaded look. “Now I think it’s time you deal with that other thing.”
“What other thing?” Slider asked.
Cora groaned, but Haven was right. She couldn’t put this off. Slider needed to know. “I had a visitor today. Sheriff Davis.”
Slider’s brow cranked down. He turned to the boys playing with the dog in the doorway. “Hey guys, why don’t you take Bosco out to the kitchen and unpack his new stuff?” The kids couldn’t leave fast enough, both of them excited to show their lovable basset his new toys.
“Oh, I want to help,” Haven said, very obviously wanting to give her and Slider some privacy.
When they were gone, Slider turned back to her. “What the hell did Davis want?”
“Ostensibly, to go over my statement, but the whole thing was so weird. His tone was combative and dismissive, almost accusatory. He kept discounting what I’d seen and heard. And then he left with this warning about how men involved in dogfighting are dangerous, and that I should be careful.”