Me: You explore caves? For fun?
Unknown:For work. Wildlife management. Sometimes the job requires getting into places not designed for human access.
My eyebrows rise.This stranger is infinitely more fascinating than Derek.
Me: That sounds way more exciting than my day job. I work in marketing. The most dangerous thing I encounter is running out of coffee.
Unknown:Coffee shortages are serious business. I've seen grown men weep over empty pots.
I'm grinningat my phone like an idiot.
Me: So, what else is on this infamous top ten list?
Unknown:Only if you promise not to judge my life choices.
Me: No judgment here. I just accidentally sent lingerie photos to a stranger.
Unknown:Fair point. Number nine: I once spent three days tracking a bear that turned out to be a very large, very angry dog.
I burst out laughing.
Me: Please tell me you figured it out before you tried to tranquilize it.
Unknown:I figured it out when it started barking. Very distinctively non-bear
behavior.
Me: What did the owners say?
Unknown:They apologized and asked if I wanted to adopt him. Apparently, he'd been an escape artist for months.
Me: Did you?
Unknown:His name is Ranger and he's currently sprawled across my couch, snoring like a freight train.
Something warm unfurlsin my chest. A man who rescues misunderstood dogs?
Me: Ranger sounds like excellent company.
Unknown:Better company than most humans, honestly.
Me: Sounds like you're not much of a people person.
Unknown:People are complicated. Animals are straightforward. If a wolf wants to eat you, it doesn't pretend to be interested in your personality first.
There'ssomething in that message suggesting this man has been hurt.
Me: Sounds like you've had some bad experiences with people.
Unknown:Something like that. What about you? What's your story?
Me: Just got home from a terrible first date, actually.
Two hours of my life I'll never get back.
Unknown:That bad?
Me: The guy spent the entire dinner explaining why he alphabetizes his sock drawer.
