And then she heard another sound coming from behind her…the rumble of a man’s throaty, wicked, evil laughter.

Whew. Pete tried to choke back the laugh, because she turned on him faster than a man could spit.

“What’s so funny, Pete MacDougal?”

He cocked a foot forward. “You. Saw a cat fall in a well once. It didn’t look half as drowned as you do.” Well, that was a complete lie. She was wet, yes, but she looked damned adorable, with her spiky hair and the animation and color in her cheeks. More to the point, she’d broken his heart with how much she’d revealed about herself when she was talking to the dog. And broke his heart more, seeing her still trying, so hard, to be tough, to not feel or care, when it was as obvious as sunshine she cared so much she was crying from the weight of it.

“Dadblamit, MacDougal! I’m not going to take any more insults from you!”

He blinked. “Actually, I just got here, so really, I’ve only had a chance to insult you once. And then, what can I say? You are wetter than the dog. Got more suds and mud on you than the dog twice over. But I don’t recall say anything else-”

“Well, you didn’t. Today. But you sure filled your boys’ ears last week!”

She shot past him so fast he didn’t have a chance to register more than a “Huh?” More interesting, since she’d neglected to forbid him inside the door, he trailed in after her.

Years ago, he’d seen the inside of the cottage. A great-grandmother had lived there for years, had still been around to hand out cookies and candy at Halloween when he’d been a kid. He remembered the place as being small, but full of color and light.