Their hearts raced as the song continued to blast from the loudspeakers, and they stared at each other. It was only when the melody stopped, and the speaker's voice sounded metallic from the old box that he broke free from his stupor and bowed his head in embarrassment.

"Sorry," he stammered. "I didn't mean to scare you."

Oh God, he would have loved to sink into the floor. Where had his composure gone that he so desperately wanted back? Instead, it was little more than a harsh whisper that spread between them with a strange crackling heat as Eve's cheeks reddened visibly. Shit, why did she have to look so gorgeous doing this? Ray groaned inwardly, wanting to grab himself by the collar to remind himself that he had just decided to be professional. Professional meant not finding his comrade's (ex)wife sexy!

Meanwhile, Eve opened her red cherry lips to say something, but she was interrupted by tiny footsteps and quick paws.

Liam and Chief came rushing into the kitchen. Ryker pulled his leg to the side just in time to keep them from tripping over him.

The boy was probably on his way to his mother but put on the brakes when he spotted Ray. Chief, who was hot on the boy's heels, was entirely surprised by his playmate. Paws could be heard scraping across the parquet floor as the dog tried to stop his momentum but still crashed into the little legs from behind.

Ryker's arm reflexively sprang forward and caught the boy's tiny body before falling to the tiles due to the dog's momentum. Liam and Chief hung in a tangled ball in his arms and beside his legs.

"Hey, you two, slow down," he said quietly but firmly, still wondering about this unexpected instinct. Intervening... felt so natural, as if he had done nothing else all his life.

The dog whimpered softly as if expecting a thunderstorm. Because he was already backing away quietly, allowing Liam to set the boy back on his feet.

Blinking and wide-eyed, it took a moment for Liam to find his words again.

"Thanks," the boy mumbled as the cheeky boy's chin lifted enough for him to look up at him.

A smirk naturally played around the corners of Ray's mouth, and the mild smile immediately spread under his beard. His gray-blue eyes showed a warm fire as he reached out to ruffle Liam's hair, earning a soft, childish laugh.

"You need to be more careful, Liam," he warned the boy calmly. "Chief doesn't want to hurt you but can't know you'll stop, especially if it happens so suddenly. Then he might accidentally push you. And that was already dangerous at the lake, remember?"

The boy's grin faded a little at the memory of the lake, but then he nodded eagerly. He quickly turned to the male dog, crouching behind them with his head hanging and tail between his legs.

"Sorry, Chief," Liam whispered to the sheepdog, grabbing the big head with both hands. He gently nuzzled and scratched the giant skull, then hugged the male dog with genuine, childlike affection. It only took a heartbeat for the dog's tail to start wagging again and for Liam's furry friend to press his head against the boy's cheek. There was no mistaking the special bond between the two.

Ryker was about to turn around and return to the kitchen when the small hand suddenly closed around his and tugged gently. With a grumble, he turned back to the eight-year-old and was surprised to see that his smile had disappeared and the green eyes were looking at him almost sadly or ... guilty.

"Hey... what's wrong?" he asked immediately, concerned. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Eve watching the scene with curiosity.

"I'm sorry, Ray," he heard Liam whimper and saw a wet gleam in his eyes. "I ... I didn't mean to scare you," the boy mumbled, a sniffle escaping his tiny throat.

Surprised by this reaction, Ryker blinked. Then, his features almost broke open and brightened like a sun pushing through dark clouds. His knees cracked as he crouched down to get to Liam's height. He had never been angry with the boy. It was a game, and Liam was a kid who didn't understand what he was getting into. He couldn't understand it at all. And in a way, that was a good thing. It was also why Ray smiled reassuringly as he clasped the small hand with his much larger one and squeezed it gently.

"It's all right; nothing's happened," he reassured the youngest. I don't like those noises. They give me a terrible headache," he explained patiently, so Liam understood him and saw his slight nod. Good boy.

"How about we play cowboys and Indians next time?" he suggested conciliatory with a cheeky wink. "I'll build you a bow and some arrows - without points, of course. And if you catch me, I'll let you tie me to the stake; what do you say?"

Suddenly, the sad eyes in front of him lit up and gave way to a joyful cry as Liam threw his arms around his neck. The childish laughter mingled with his, and as if Chief had understood what they were talking about, he threw himself at her euphorically. He put his front paws on his thighs and stretched to lick their faces joyfully. But Chief was quickly stopped by Ray's arm before his wet, pink tongue could touch him.

"What a sweet sight," someone murmured not far behind them, followed by a hearty yawn as Riona pushed past them and shuffled to the coffee machine.
"Coffee?" mumbled the blonde, whose hair was completely disheveled and whose eyes were still very small. She had probably just woken up and was starting her day after a long shift in the bar at lunchtime.

"Standing by," Eve replied, pointing to the pot of black coffee with a grin.

"I'll be glad when this week from hell is over," Riona grumbled, wiping the strands of hair from her face before looking at Ray. "Does our deal about Saturday still stand?"

The clouds that had cleared earlier seemed to gather again in a silent storm over Ray's eyes as an uneasy twinge hit him in the chest.

"Of course."

He found the answer harder than it should have been.