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over to Mark.
    “Worthless mutt,” Mark said, glaring down at the dog. “I hope you realize what you’ve put Jo Marie through.”
    Rover lifted one foot, offering Mark his paw as if to apologize.
    “Jo Marie might forgive you for running off, but I’m not that easy. Now get in the truck.” He opened the passenger door, and Rover reluctantly walked toward the vehicle. Mark lifted him inside and closed the door.
    “He seems like a special dog,” Amanda said.
    “Spoiled rotten is what he is,” Mark muttered, frowning.
    “My mom would say he’s much loved,” Amanda corrected.
    “Whatever. All I can tell you is that I’ve spent a large portion of my day searching for this mutt when I had better things to do.”
    “But you’re happy he’s been found, right?” Travis said.
    “Oh yes, sorry, I forgot.” Mark reached into his rear pocket and pulled out his wallet. “Here’s your reward.”
    “No need,” Travis said, as he held up his hand in a stopping motion.
    “It would be more accurate to say Rover found us,” Amanda explained.
    Mark looked from Travis to Amanda and then back again. “I was sincere about the reward.”
    Again, Travis held up his hand. “I appreciate the offer, but it isn’t necessary.”
    Mark shrugged. “Your choice. Thank you both.”
    “You’re welcome,” Amanda told him.
    With that, Mark climbed into his truck and drove off. Amanda watched him go and wondered if she’d have a chance to see Rover again. It was good to know that this special dog had someone who loved him.
    “I better get home,” Amanda said, sorry that their time together was at an end.
    “Yeah, me, too,” Travis chimed in. “Thanks for the help. I’m pretty sure I’ve got the hang of it.”
    “Do you want to meet tomorrow?” she asked, hoping he’d agree.
    “Do we have to study?” Travis asked, holding her look. “I’m done searching for your X . He’s gone, and I don’t know Y .”
    Amanda laughed. “Meet for a latte, then? Same time, same place.”
    “Sounds good to me,” he said.
    They each took off in separate directions. Amanda had a warm, hopeful feeling that she’d be seeing a lot more of Travis in the coming weeks, and that suited her just fine.

    Jo Marie made busywork around the inn. It was either do something to keep her hands and her mind occupied or slowly, surely, go insane fretting about Rover. She tried not to think of where he might be or why he’d left her.
    Anytime she left the house without him, he gave her a look that suggested that he was afraid she was about to abandon him. He’d stare at her with those dark eyes of his, and it was all she could do not to apologize. Almost always, she paused to assure him she’d be back.
    Rover hadn’t afforded her the same courtesy, however. Instead, he’d simply disappeared, and from all evidence, he’d done so voluntarily. Dusting shelves, Jo Marie took time to carefully remove each knickknack and wipe down each shelf.
    Someone knocked, but before she could get to the door, it opened. Even before she turned the corner, Jo Marie heard Rover’s bark. It was just one bark, as if to announce he was back.
    “Rover,” she cried, dropping the dust rag.
    He raced around the corner, skidding on the hardwood floor in his eagerness to reach her. Jo Marie fell to her knees, and Rover practically launched himself into her arms. He was licking her face and then yelping before he stretched his neck toward the ceiling and released a howl.
    It wasn’t until she saw Mark’s boots that she realized he was the one who’d brought Rover home.
    “You found him.” Her heart softened with gratitude.
    “Not me,” he said, hands buried deep in his jeans pockets. “A couple of teenagers. They said he basically found them. They were at Java Joint.”
    “What in the name of heaven was he doing there?”
    “How would I know?” Mark countered with a question of his own.
    “I walked all along the waterfront,” she said, sitting back on her