THIRTEEN
T
ripp stopped partway up the trail back to the parking area when he spotted people coming down it toward him.He hadn’t seen them right away because of the reduced peripheral vision in his right eye.It was still something he was trying to adjust to.
He recognized Rafe in his uniform, followed by a woman he’d never seen before, then Willow...walking a dog.
“Morning,” Rafe called out to him.
“Morning.You here on official business?”His attention was on Willow.
“Yeah, we’re about to do a grid search of the beach.Wanna give us a hand?”
Grid search?For what?“Uh, sure,” he said slowly, giving the new woman a polite smile before zeroing in on Willow.
She was dressed in hiking gear, the form-fitting clothes hugging all her sweet curves in the most distracting way, her shiny brown hair twisted up in a clip at the back of her head.Time had made her even more beautiful now that she was in her mid-thirties.
“Hey,” he said to her.
“Hi.This is my friend Bronwyn, just arrived for a visit.Bronwyn, this is Tripp.”
He nodded at the blonde, who smiled at him.“And who’s this?”he asked, gesturing to the dog, who had slowed down and was watching him with clear apprehension.
“This is Rufus.He’s a rescue, and pretty skittish of men especially, so don’t be offended if he doesn’t seem too friendly.”
“Okay.”He crouched down on his haunches and rested his forearms on his knees, adopting a nonthreatening posture with his body angled away from the dog as they approached.
Rufus stopped well out of reach and stuck his neck out to sniff the air between them.Tripp kept his face averted and stayed still, avoiding eye contact even though the dog couldn’t see his eyes because he was wearing sunglasses.
“I can see you’ve had some experience with skittish dogs,” Willow said, urging Rufus closer.“Come on, buddy.This is my friend Tripp.He’s nice.See?”
Her friend.He had been, once upon a time, and the shift to being polite acquaintances now, hurt.He wanted that friendship back, but the reality was things could never be the same.“How old is he?”he asked, not moving.
“They’re not really sure, but he’s a senior.Good boy, Rufus.You’re safe, I promise.Tripp won’t hurt you.”
The dog cautiously moved a little closer, sniffing at his arm and leg.Tripp slowly lowered one hand to the ground, palm up, and waited.Rufus sniffed at it, then gave him a tiny little lick before backing away quickly.“Was he saying hi, or checking to see if I’m tasty?”
Willow laughed.“He’s saying maybe there’s a chance you can be friends as long as you don’t make any sudden moves and don’t try to reach for him at all.”
