At least, that’s what it looked like to him. Sophie had assured him, in her typically beguiling way, that it was nothing less than a specialized fire-retardant material to protect Bubbles from the elements. It twisted over one shoulder and wrapped around his upper torso, allowing him full freedom of movement in his arms and legs.

Or so she kept telling him. She had obviously never tried to walk around with a Pomeranian strapped to her chest.

“It’s so beautiful here,” Sophie said as she hopped down from the truck. With the exception of helping him figure out the logistics of the pouch and checking to make sure Bubbles was comfortable, she’d taken no more notice of the puppy. He wasn’t sure how she did it, but she had a way of making the most ludicrous plans seem perfectly rational.

Harrison, I’m going to make you run like a pack mule until your blood sugar drops. And if you stop, I’ll make you kiss me instead.

Harrison, you’re going to wear a baby sling with a puppy in it—and you’re going to do it with a smile.

Harrison, you’re taking me camping for a whole weekend, where the only escape from my soft skin and bewitching smile is jumping off the nearest cliff.

Except now, even the nearest cliff was off the table—unless he wanted to plunge Bubbles into a watery grave with him. Which, as Sophie was fully aware, he’d never do. Not when he was coming to value the little creature more than his own skin, and she damn well knew it.

He never should have put the damn sock on the puppy. It was the sock that had given him away.

“It’s a lot greener than I expected, but that’s probably because of the time of year, isn’t it?” She didn’t wait for an answer, opting instead to reach into the truck to hoist the one small bag she’d brought with her.

That was another thing—how she intended to survive the weekend out here with a single knapsack was beyond him. The bag he’d stuffed with sweaters for Bubbles was bigger than that. Either she was the greatest outdoorswoman the world had ever seen, or she had no idea what she’d gotten herself into.

Call him pessimistic, but he guessed it was the latter.

“Do you need any help carrying things? It might feel strange at first, trying to go through your regular motions with Bubbles in the way, but you’ll be surprised how fast you get used to it. Women have been carrying babies like that for all of human existence, and they’ve made it work just fine.” She paused long enough to take a breath and look around before adding, “Where are your friends, by the way? I see cars, but there aren’t any people.”