The scent of some rich soup drifted up from the kitchen, and she’d stopped pretending an hour ago that she was interested in the book she’d been reading for the last two hours. Gideon hadn’t let her out of bed since he’d brought her home five days before. But she couldn’t just lie there anymore. She wasn’t used to sitting around and doing nothing.

Gideon had other ideas though. It was becoming routine because the man loved to argue with her. At first, she’d shied away from conflict, yet she strangely enjoyed arguing with Gideon. The distraction was also needed. Bill’s latest attack, the things he’d said—she relived them in her nightmares.

She had to go through every detail with Camden. It was the first time she had ever filed a report. Unfortunately, Bill was nowhere to be found. That didn’t mean he didn’t lurk and wait for the next opportunity.

She grabbed the heavy quilt and threw it off her legs, then she eased from the bed. The healing wound on her thigh pulled uncomfortably, but she stepped gingerly. It was guaranteed Gideon would fuss about her being up. She’d take it to be out of bed for a bit.

Their first fight was about Gideon giving up his room to her. She felt guilty about it, although his bed was comfortable, and she might have relished spreading out in a King-sized bed even on a temporary basis. She fisted her hands in her cotton gown and tiptoed down the steps to the kitchen. A quick peek around the corner revealed the kitchen was empty.

She slipped into the room and strode toward the fridge. She still found it odd that she had permission to make herself at home. Her reflection in the stainless-steel door caused her to avert her gaze. The scars weren’t as bad as they could’ve or should’ve been, and she hadn’t quite processed it yet.

On her list of important issues, her looks were low on it. She avoided attention because most of the time the attention she received wasn’t favorable. It normally preceded pain and humiliation.

She roughly shook her head and pulled open the fridge door. She refrained from a silly happy dance at sports bottles of Gideon’s iced tea with peaches and mint muddled in the bottom.

“Why are you out of bed?”

She squeaked as she turned to find Gideon standing in the doorway.

“Um, I—”

“I told you to call me if you needed anything.”

“You’re working. I didn’t want to—”

“If you say you didn’t want to bother me, we’re going to have another disagreement.”

“If I’d known you were a dictator I would’ve gone back to my place.”

“No, you wouldn’t have, because I said you were coming to stay with me. And I assure you I’m nowhere near dictator status.”

“I beg to differ.”

“You’re not going to change the subject, you should be resting.”

“I’ve been resting for almost two weeks, and I’m tired of it, I’m fine. My stitches are out. The bruises are fading, I’m sure I can go home.”

They’d kept her in the hospital for almost a week before they’d freed her to return home. Gideon’s house wasn’t where she’d expected him to take her. At first, it was odd to take up residence, even temporarily, on the farm, but she had to admit the last five days were amazing. It felt like home there, yet she didn’t want to admit it.

“Until they find Bill, you’re staying here. Now, since that’s over—”

“It’s not over.”

“Yes, it is. Now come out on the porch, I have a present for you.”

“Pre…present?” No one ever got her a present before except for Kyle, Clora, and a few members of the Crews. Gideon had given her flowers.

He turned, bowed and motioned toward the door.

She closed the fridge and hugged the sports bottle to her chest—her steps hesitant.

“Come on, honey, I’m sure you’ll like your surprise. You want me to go first?”

“I’m sorry.”

“Don’t apologize, I’ll do this as fast or as slow as you need, I want your trust and I know I haven’t earned it yet.”

“I’m—”

“Quit saying you’re sorry, there’s nothing for you to apologize for.” Gideon stepped outside. “I had a friend call me this morning while I was in the fields and asked me a favor.”

“Oh.”

“You can pick one.”

“Pick one, what—”

Gideon moved to the side, and her eyes widened at the cardboard box filled with the tiniest puppies she’d ever seen. There were only two, and each looked like it would fit perfectly in the palms of her hands. She barely noticed when he took her drink, and she eased down to kneel beside the box. She started to reach for them but hesitated.

“Go on, you can pick them up. They’ll need to be bottle fed for another month.”

“Where?”

“The local vet and his husband run a rescue, they shut down a puppy mill. These were the only two that weren’t ready to be put up for adoption. Jared thought since I run my own business I’d have the time for them. So I agreed to foster them.”

She glanced at him as he sat on the porch beside her.

“I saw them and thought you might want one.”

“Can’t I have them both,” she asked and cringed.

“If that’s what you want. I’ll let him know. He brought everything we’ll need. He said they’re some kind of teacup Yorkie/Maltese mix. Specially bred to be tiny. The rest of their litter mates didn’t make it. The mother appeared too young and exhausted, it didn’t look like she was nursing them. The condition the kennels were in was the worst he’d ever seen. They’ve been in the clinic for about a week.”

“So they won’t get much bigger?”

They were so cute and tiny, she rubbed the tops of their heads with her fingertips. She refused to look at Gideon as she tried to blink away tears.

“Harper,” he softly said her name, then his fingers stroked her scarred cheek, and his thumb traced the fringe of her wet lashes.

“Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.”

“I want Joker to have one of them.”

“Really, I don’t know if a micro dog is exactly Joker’s style.”

She snorted at the amusement in his voice. It probably wasn’t, but her friend was way too reclusive. He needed something of his own. Something to focus on other than his demons.

“I have a key to his place, we’ll leave it, her, him?”

“Her, they’re both girls.”

“We’ll sneak her in and leave her with a bow.”

“Sneaky.”

She gently reached into the box and lifted both brown and black puppies, cradling them to her chest.

“Names?”

“I don’t know, I’ve never gotten to name anything before.”

“No hurry, you’ll figure something out.”

“Why are you so nice to me?”

“That’s a question I’m only going to answer once, come here.”

She nearly dropped her presents when he patted his lap. Did she even dare?

“Do you trust me,” Gideon asked. “Even a little?”

“Yes.”

“Then come sit on my lap, I won’t hold you, you’re free to get up at any time. I just want you close while I answer why I’m nice to you. You can even hold on to your new babies.”

She nodded as she carefully got to her knees and moved close to Gideon until she could sit sideways on his lap. She buried her face in soft fur and waited. Gideon’s stomach was soft against her ribs and hip. His scent was rich earth, sweat, and the incense he always seemed to burn. His beard strangely soft against her neck.

He kept his word, he didn’t trap her in his arms. Instead, his right arm laid casually over her thighs and his left loosely wrapped around her. Gideon’s large hand rested on her left hip.

“Now, you wanted to know why I’m being nice to you.”

She nodded causing his mustache and firm, yet soft lips to brush the still tender scar on her cheek. Harper forced herself not to shy away from the caress. It seemed an inadvertent act. She’d come to rely on her gut instinct when it came to situations where it might prove dangerous for her, but in that instance, she didn’t feel the need to flee. She oddly wanted to get closer like she had the day they’d napped, and he’d held her.

“I think I’ve mentioned it before, I’d like to take you on a date. Get to know you. You’re beautiful and sweet, even when you’re being stubborn.”

“I’m not stubborn.”

“We’ll leave that as another point of contention.”

The corners of her mouth twitched. She really didn’t understand her level of ease with Gideon. She lowered the sleeping puppies to her lap and gave into her desire to lean against Gideon, resting her head on his shoulder.

She nibbled nervously on her bottom lip as Gideon’s fingertips drew circles on her hip. The strangeness of the gentle touch caused tingles to travel over her skin. She almost crossed her arms over her chest when her nipples beaded against the cotton of her gown. A lifetime of self-preservation urged her to conceal the awakening of her long-dormant libido; she wanted to flee. Although she didn’t want to listen to it, she wanted to savor and analyze.

Gideon shifted until he could lean back against the wall of the enclosed porch and rearranged her on his lap.

“So, we have something we need to discuss.”

She stiffened. “I don’t want to talk about the attack.”

“We’re in charge of two toddlers and an infant this coming weekend.”

“But we have puppies.”

“Yes, but everyone arranged for Psycho and Ben to go away for their anniversary. Bernie and Stacey needed a break too.”

“With Psy gone, it’s all hands on at Brawlers.”

“Yes, so, want to be my co-babysitter for a weekend?”

“You’re in charge of heating puppy and baby bottles.”

“You’re in charge of dia—”

“To that, I don’t agree, Mr. Jane, that’s where the co-babysitter relationship comes into play, we share the horror of diapers.”

“Fair enough, Ms. Sage.”

He gave her a light squeeze. Gideon was always gentle with her. He claimed she was sweet but he was, and it caused her to wish for things long forgotten. Silly dreams she had always kept to herself. She wanted to believe Gideon was genuine. Craved for the secrets she had decided long ago were unattainable. Maybe she'd finally earned her chance for something more than pain and humiliation.