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“Just a few centimetres higher on the right.” Luke spotted me, and his expression brightened. “There she is.”

Even after a year, that look gave me a secret little thrill.

“Nobody likes a perfectionist,” Theo said.

Luke looked toward the house. “You proposed to one.”

“Hey now.” He flashed a good-natured grin. “Don’t be talking shit about my fiancée.” Theo twisted on the ladder. “Nice of you to join us.”

“I came to rescue Sadie.”

“I’m sure she’ll appreciate it,” he said. “Little B’s been giving her hell.”

“You okay?” Luke asked as I sidled in against him. He cupped the back of my neck and touched his lips to mine.

I nodded, stealing another quick kiss. “I’m fine. You?”

“Good. Just trying to prevent a workplace fatality.”

Theo flipped him off.

When we first arrived, Luke wouldn’t have known what to do with that. Now he returned the gesture without missing a beat.

“Back soon. I need to play referee.” I slipped out from under his arm and headed for the verandah while their banter continued behind me.

We’d just made it past breakfast, and the place was a shambles.

Tim would’ve loved it.

Before I’d even reached the front door, Sadie came outside with Brynn on her hip.

Norm slipped past her and bounded over to check on the guys.

Brynn’s cheeks were red, her eyes shining. Her brown hair curled loosely around her head, thicker now than when I’d first seen her in Theo’s arms.

“Who won?” I asked.

Despite their struggles, Brynn leaned in and clutched Sadie, tucking her face against her neck.

“It was a draw,” Sadie said. “I’m choosing my battles. She doesn’t need a ribbon in her hair to celebrate her birthday.”

“No, she doesn’t.” I tickled her under the chin. “You’re beautiful as you are, aren’t you, Brynnie?”

She smiled and squirmed against Sadie.

Norm’s sudden bark cut through the noise outside the café, a single woof followed by a rapid string of them.

Sadie went still and stared in his direction. “He did that when you showed up here.”

“That’s how he always barks,” I said as he ran toward us, tail windmilling.

She shifted Brynn in her arms and shook her head. “He has a playful woof, then a weird, frantic one when he finds a snake. That’s how he barks when someone’s here.”

“Right.” She’d lost her mind during the battle with Brynn. “Who could possibly be here? Did you order clothes online? A pizza?”

Sadie gave me a flat look.

“Anyone expecting a visitor?” Dave emerged from the other side of the house, wiping his hands on a rag. He tucked it into his back pocket and stepped away from the building, staring down the drive. “Someone’s here.”