She perched one hand on her hip and scowled. “Are you saying I’m a dog?”
Rex shook his head. “Not at all. Only that he’s almost as loveable as you.”
“Nice save.” She flashed a grin. “The park’s a great idea, but can we be back by four?
“What’s at four?” He leaned on the corner, giving the bags a pointed stare.
“You’ll see.”
“In that case, I’m making breakfast. Did you eat yet?”
“No, but I picked up a microwavable bowl of oatmeal to heat when I got here.”
He scrunched his nose. “Omelets sound better.”
Her stomached growled. “They really do.”
“Two omelets, coming up.”
Monica put the rest of the groceries away while Rex made breakfast. They took advantage of the cool front that had blown in overnight and ate outside on the deck.
A dark, shadowy object in the distance caught her attention, and Monica screeched, pointing out past the cane field. “Is that what I think it is?”
“If you think it’s a bear, then yes.” He continued eating without batting an eye.
“Why are you so calm when there is a bear only several hundred feet away,” she said through clenched teeth, trying to calm her nerves. Even Chance noticed something was peculiar and whimpered at the door.
“Because that’s Ole Blackbeard. There is a gully separating the fields and he likes to drink from it.” Rex glanced toward Blackbeard. “The neighbors say he’s been coming around for ten years or so and is harmless. He’s never come any closer.”
“Sure.” Monica drew out the word, not thoroughly convinced.
“I promise, if I thought there was the slightest chance he presented a danger, I’d call the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries. You have more chance of a coyote coming up, then Ole Blackbeard.”
“Gee, that’s comforting.” She crossed her arms and shivered. The only other time she’d seen a bear in the wild was when one ran across the highway as she drove through eastern Kentucky a year ago, and she’d seen it from the safety of her car.
“You’re from the country. Surely, you had wildlife?”
“We had normal things like opossums and raccoons, thank you very much.”
“You’re pretty cute when you’re scared and vulnerable.”
“And you’re not when you’re teasing me.” After the initial shock of seeing the bear, she relaxed.
With Rex by her side, she felt safe. She leaned back and stared at the bear, decided he was cute from a distance. As she watched him, she finally believed the bear had no interest in them and she became entranced watching him paw in the water.
Once the bear meandered off, they gathered their dishes and went back into the house. They gathered a few toys for Chance, packed a lunch to eat later, and took Rex’s truck to the park. When they arrived at the park, she reached for her phone, only to realize she’d left it at Rex’s house.
He sat in the driver’s seat with his door opened. “I can run home and grab it.”
“Would you mind?” On second thought, she shook her head. “Never mind. It’s nice to be free of it for a while.”
“I’d ditch mine, but I’m waiting on a call from Lucas.” He slid out of the truck and grabbed the bag of toys from the backseat.
Monica slipped a hand through the loop of Chance’s leash and walked him to the open field where he was free to run. Within minutes Chance had made friends with a black lab. Rex and the other dog’s owner threw Frisbees back and forth to the dogs while Monica stood to the side watching.
She fell more in love with him as she observed his interactions. Several times, a child would approach and ask if they could pet Chance. Each time, Rex would speak to them gently and hold the dog close while the child showered Chance with attention. The interruptions never bothered him, and he had a smile for every person who crossed his path.
He might not realize it, but he’d be a great dad, a thought which sent Monica’s heart hammering in her chest. How quickly life could change. Marriage and children weren’t on her radar at this time last year, and now she couldn’t stop thinking about it.
