Duke squeezed his eyes shut and jerked his head a little in an incredulous shake. He dropped the hand in her hair to her shoulder and pulled her into a quick, firm hug.

"I should, uh, get back in there before he drinks Linda out of house and home. Even if I do kind of think she deserves it. . . ." He pulled back a little but didn't entirely let go. "You want to come in, too, or stay out here a bit longer?"