My throat tightened.
“She’s going to freak out,” I said.
Belle laughed, tired but genuine.“Tell her I’m sorry.”
“I won’t,” I said.“She’ll say you’re crazy for apologizing for being so talented.”
Our eyes met, and for a second the noise faded away.The line.The music.Everything but her.
“We still on for that drink?”I said quietly.
She shook her head.“I can’t.”
“Why not?”
She smiled, but it didn’t reach her eyes.“I have Salt and Pepper.By the time I take them home and get ready, I’m going to be exhausted.”
I nodded slowly.“Understandable.”Her eyes flickered with disappointment at my agreeing so quickly that we wouldn’t have a drink tonight.
I paid, lifted the box, and hesitated.“So let’s have dinner tonight.”
She blinked.“Dinner?”
“Nothing fancy,” I added.“Just food.You, me.The dogs at your place.”
She laughed softly.“You’re willing to change your plans for my dogs?”
I shrugged.“They’re pretty cool dogs.”
She hesitated, and for a moment I thought she’d say no.
Then she sighed.“Okay.”
Relief hit me harder than it should have.
She wrote down her address and tucked it into the pocket of my leather jacket.“I should be home by six fifteen.I don’t have any food in my house other than dry kibble, eggs, bagels, and three apples.”
I chuckled.“I will be there around six thirty with dinner.”
She smiled and tucked her hair behind her ear.“I will see you then.”
I walked out to my truck and set the large box on the passenger seat.
Belle and I weren’t going for a drink, but this was going to be even better.
Her house where she would be relaxed and just the two of us.Well, and Salt and Pepper.
Sounded like a damn good night to me.
Chapter Five
Belle
By the time six-thirty rolled around, I’d changed my shirt twice and vacuumed the living room, even though it didn’t really matter because there was always Salt and Pepper hair everywhere.It was the way of the Australian Shepherd.
Salt followed me from room to room like a supervisor, head tilted, eyes calm and assessing.Pepper, on the other hand, took my nervous energy as an invitation to ricochet off furniture like a pinball.
“Okay,” I told them both and stopped in the middle of the kitchen.“Everyone needs to settle down.”
