The truck lurched as Harrison touched the brakes. “What did you just say?”

“We can introduce the pouch.” She reached into the bag at her feet. Fortunately, Derek had said there were more than enough camping supplies to go around, so she hadn’t had to pack much more than her clothes, toiletries, and her newest stage of the Harrison-Bubbles training routine. “I know you’ve been worried about how you’re going to carry her around on the job, but I wasn’t kidding when I said her size is more of an asset than a drawback. I have a plan.”

“You have a plan?” he echoed.

“Of course. And it should be easy once you get used to wearing it. I found it online. I think you’re going to like it. It’s not bad, as far as pouches go.”

The truck lurched even more, this time grinding to a halt on the side of the highway. Sophie barely had time to lift a hand and brace herself on the glove box, but Harrison was on top of things, his arm shooting out to prevent Bubbles from cascading to the floor.

He didn’t even realize he was doing it either. Like a mom protecting her kids from an oncoming accident, he was all instinct. And his instinct was to keep that sweet little dog safe at all costs.

Sophie’s heart swelled in her chest. It was impossible to feel anything but admiration for someone so un-self-consciously, heroically good. Protecting Bubbles came as naturally to him as breathing. She felt, down to the tingle in her toes, that those protective urges extended to all the living creatures lucky enough to cross his path.

Of course, getting him to admit that…

“Say that word one more time,” he said.

“What?” she asked. “Pouch?”

She wasn’t able to stifle her giggle in time. Yes, Harrison’s thunderous look was dark, but he’d scooped up Bubbles and was holding her against his chest. It was impossible to be scared of a man clutching a Pomeranian puppy like a shield.

Poor Harrison. Bubbles was a great dog, but she wasn’t a miracle worker. Even she couldn’t save him from himself.

“If you think for one minute I’m going to wear this dog like a kangaroo bouncing through the outback—” he began.

“You’ll do what? Turn this truck around?”

“For starters, yes. And don’t think that sweet, innocent smile is going to save you. I’ve had just about enough of you two wriggling and squirming and licking me until I can’t think straight.”

Sophie raised her eyebrows. “Is there something you need to tell me about what you and Bubbles get up to after hours?”

“That is not what I meant, and you know it.”