She tried not to swoon at the sight of him carrying a fishing rod and wearing a puppy strapped to his chest, but it was difficult. A ruggedly handsome man in outdoor gear and a baby sling was a more powerful sight than most people could stand, she was sure—especially as he looked completely at ease while he did it. His wide shoulders and casual stance spoke of a level of confidence Sophie could only dream of.

And dream of it—of him—she did.

“Is there something by the trailhead?” she asked. She was pleased to find that her speaking abilities remained intact, even if her reason wasn’t.

“No. That’s why it’s your best bet. The only person he’ll maim over there is himself.” Without waiting for Sophie to decide whether she wanted to be alone with Harrison, he called out to his friend. “Yo, Derek. Make yourself useful and clear out, would you?”

Derek looked over with a grin. “Why? So you can have Sophie all to yourself? No way. I was just about to impress her with my mad throwing skills. Ladies love mad throwing skills.”

Harrison didn’t say a word, but before Sophie could do more than blink, Derek had dropped his throwing arm and was grumbling good-naturedly about his defeat. “Fine. I’ll go, and I’ll take your stupid puppy for a walk too. You win this round, Parks, but I don’t give up that easily.”

Sophie looked back and forth between the men, wondering what had passed between them in that brief moment. From what she could tell, Harrison looked much the same as he always did—a little more relaxed than usual, in fact—but he had still managed to convey to the other man that his stake had been claimed.

She, for one, didn’t mind being that stake. No one had ever tried to claim her before. She kind of liked it.

“Keep Bubbles away from fire, and don’t give her any table scraps,” Harrison ordered. “I’m not kidding, Derek.”

Derek nodded once. “Aye, aye, captain.”

“I mean it. Put her on a leash and hold it like your life depends on it.”

“Does my life depend on it?” he asked with a playful air.

Harrison’s only response was a gruff “Yes.”

As was the case when Harrison had told her to sweep the back hallway at the church, Sophie knew that Derek would follow those orders to the letter. Some things in this world were too powerful to deny, and Harrison Parks issuing commands in his rumbling, authoritative voice was one of them.

Of course, her awe at Harrison’s authority didn’t last long. She did her best to hold on to it as he began the task of unbuckling Bubbles from her pouch. She tried even harder when he told Bubbles that her look of utter despair wouldn’t move him from his intentions.