Diana made a sound like she wanted to protest, but then she quietened, clearly wanting to respect Ash’s decision.
Ash looked at him with his dark, serious eyes, which practically seemed to pierce Calvin’s soul.
He felt sweat beginning to form on his palms.
I wasn’t expecting to have to prove myself to a child today! But then, everything about today has been weird.
After what felt like an eternity, Ash nodded.
“Nice to meet you, sir,” he said solemnly.
Breathing a little easier, Calvin straightened up, holding out his hand. “It’s nice to meet you too, Ash,” he said honestly. “And you can call me Calvin.”
Ash shook his hand, the gesture a little tentative at first, before firming up somewhat.
Protect this child with your very life,his wyvern growled.
Well I would, but I’m pretty sure his dad already has that covered,Calvin told it. He knew the wyvern had accepted the situation, but that didn’t mean its instincts were so easily tempered.
“This is Bella,” Ash said, indicating the helicopter dog at his side. “Would you like to pet her? She’s very friendly, but she gets excited easily.”
Glancing at Diana, who nodded, Calvin smiled. “Thank you, Ash – that sounds wonderful. I’d love to meet Bella.”
He crouched back down, holding out his hand for Bella to sniff.
“Bella, this is Calvin,” Ash said with a seriousness that was almost comical. “Please introduce yourself.”
Apparently those were the magic words, because she lifted her right paw, waiting expectantly.
Really, what choice did he have, but to match the apparent solemnity of the occasion?
“A pleasure to meet you, Bella,” he said gravely, taking her paw in his hand and shaking it gently.
Bella stared at him with doggy love in her eyes, tail whacking the ground in anticipation.
“Okay, Bella, now you can play,” Ash said, and before he could react, Calvin found himself practically knocked to the ground by sixty pounds of overexcited golden retriever.
I can see that Bella is at least part of the reason why Ash is okay with me being here,he thought.If someone wanted to cause any trouble, she could definitely leave them in a world of hurt if she wanted to.
“Oh, is that how it’s going to be?” he asked as he started to roughhouse with her, being careful not to let his shifter strength cause her any harm.
Not so much of a roughhouse as a gentlehouse,he thought with a smile, as he picked up a stick and flung it into the woods. Bella sprang after it, crashing through the trees with more chaotic energy than was probably warranted.
Standing up, he turned – to see Diana watching him intently.
Our mate enjoys watching us cavort with her animal companion,his wyvern hissed triumphantly.
“Oh!” Diana said, as if she’d been caught out. Why, Calvin wasn’t quite sure.
Looking flustered, Diana went on, “We should start to pack up. The mosquitoes will be out soon.”
Calvin nodded. “Just let me know what you need me to do.”
Under Diana’s direction, the three of them got to work, passing the next few minutes in companionable silence.
As Calvin was peeling the lemonade-sticky tablecloth off the table, Diana suddenly spoke up.
“Oh, Ash, your dad called me this morning.”
