Free Darkness Bound by Stella Cameron

if Niles was physically very close to her—which he was. “You’d better watch out or I’ll steal Blue from you.” Even kneeling the man was so much taller than she.
    That appealed to her.
    “He’d probably eat Jazzy,” Molly said, scowling at Niles, who still had not spoken to her.
    “Blue likes Jazzy,” Leigh said, goaded on by Molly’s obvious dislike of animals. “They hang out together.” She tightened the muscles in her jaw and draped an arm as far across Blue’s neck as it would go.
    That’s when she glanced up at Niles, who was giving his dog an interesting stare. He seemed annoyed, but she must be wrong.
    He caught Leigh’s eyes briefly and rested an arm on hers to tweak one of Blue’s ears.
    Awkwardness made her want to withdraw her arm. Niles’s weight and warmth kept her right where she was.
    Molly got up and plastered herself against Gabriel, who kissed her forehead and gave her an appreciative once over.
    “I made arrangements for you to go up into Langley about the sign, Leigh,” Gabriel said, pecking Molly on the lips but avoiding what promised to be a long, passionate smooch. “Do you think you could do that this afternoon? Niles said he’ll drive you.”
    “I’ll be able to find it myself,” she said at once and without thinking. “I mean, I don’t want to put Niles out like that.”
    “I’m going up that way on business,” Niles said, looking at her again. “We’re pretty green around here. We save resources where we can.”
    Short of telling him she was into gas guzzling and waste, there wasn’t much she could say. “When are you going?” she asked. “Jazzy’s due for an outing first.”
    “Bring him with us and he can play on the beach up there. Blue loves it, too.”
    Leigh couldn’t find an excuse to refuse. “Okay, give me a call when you’re ready,” she said. Confession was a good thing—she wanted to go with him.
    “We might as well head out now,” Niles said. “Get Jazzy and I’ll meet you outside.” He took Blue by the collar and led him to the door.
    Leigh didn’t miss the longing stare Molly aimed at Niles. That, at least, gave Leigh some wicked pleasure—even if it did make her worry more about Gabriel’s feelings.
    She let Jazzy out of the office. He leaped around like a lifer suddenly released from the pen and headed back to the bar, by which time Molly was nowhere in sight.
    Gabriel took Leigh aside to one end of the bar. “Cliff recommended this place for making signs,” he said, slipping a card into her hand. “Did Molly give you a hard time? From what she just said, I think she might have. The only one you have to take any notice of is me and I haven’t seen anything I needed to talk about. You’re a gem, my girl.”
    “Molly’s protective of you, is all.” Leigh thought aboutit. “But we do have to collect accounts from customers—something I’m good at—and after I finish finding out the going rates for the stuff we use, I’ll negotiate better prices where it’s appropriate. No one has to worry about things like that. People who make their living selling things are used to negotiation.”
    Gabriel gave her one of his charming smiles and nodded. “You will remember what we discussed about the sign?”
    “You bet.” She hesitated. “What would you think about holding a dance once a month?”
    “People already dance here.”
    “We could hire a live band. Have prizes and special theme food on the menu.”
    Gabriel thought about it. “You might have something there. We’d have to plan it with Cliff.”
    Smiling, Leigh headed for the door. “Niles will wonder where I am,” she said.

chapter
EIGHT
     
    L EIGH HAD NOT BEEN prepared for what she found outside. A gigantic black motorcycle stood there and Blue had just put himself into the largest sidecar Leigh had ever seen.
    Jazzy had to visit some of his favorite territory among the thick screen of firs that framed the gravel car park.
    Niles got tired of waiting and