I smiled. “Yeah, that’s what this one usually does for me.” I tugged on Dozer’s leash a little while he panted and bounced down the stairs.
“He is a pretty awesome dog.”
“He’s the best.”
“Your accent is stronger in the morning.” His observation and derailment of the conversation startled me a little and I wasn’t sure why.
“I never noticed.” I shrugged, opening the exit into the main lobby of my building. “Hey, Frank, thanks for letting this guy in this morning.”
My concierge looked up with wide eyes. “He was on your list for today, Ms. Abbott.”
“It’s alright. I’m just giving you a hard time. We’re off for a run. If Brett, Kathy, or anyone else on my list comes early, let them know that we’ll be back soon.”
“Of course.” Frank’s tired eyes and weak smile were obvious in the bright morning light.
The street was already hustling with commuters on foot and in cars blaring horns. We patiently crossed the street and started to jog into Central Park.
“It’s a beautiful day,” Finn called me to from a few feet ahead.
I picked up my pace to run alongside him, Dozer practically glued to my right flank.
“So where are you from exactly?” he continued. I hated talking during runs, which was why Dozer was the perfect running mate for me, but Finn seemed to want to be a chatty Cathy this morning.
“Mississippi.”
“You’re a long way from home.”
“That’s the plan.” I was huffing. Man he could run fast. My heart was racing, my ears were pounding, and my breath was catching more than I would have liked. Thankfully, Dozer decided it was time for a pee break and diverted to the bushes.
Finn stood next to me while Dozer did his business. “I was born and raised in Clontarf. It’s close to Dublin.”
“And you came here for college?”
“Aye. I wanted to get more hotel experience and try to get into modeling, hopefully see some of the world. New York seemed like perfect place.”
“It is good for modeling, I guess.”
“You don’t like it here, do you?”
“I never thought I’d stay in the city for longer than a year, but then my career took off and I travel so much that this is a pretty great hub. Do I like it? Not really. I’m not really the city type. I’d love to have a yard for Dozer to run and play in. Someday I’ll move to Tennessee or the Carolinas.”
“It is beautiful there. I’m actually doing a shoot in Boone, North Carolina, next week. I leave in a few days.”
“What’s the shoot for?” We started to jog again, but this time Finn let me set the pace.
“A toothpaste ad for some magazine. Work is pissed that I am taking off again.”
“Work?”
“I’m one of the assistant managers of that hotel we met at the other night.”
I glanced down at my watch. “We need to start heading back. Want to grab some coffee on the way?”
He nodded and we started to double back toward Starbucks. We didn’t talk the rest of the way and even though I didn’t mind the silence, getting to know Finn was entertaining to say the least. My crazy work schedule and the giant chip on my shoulder usually made it hard to make friends. It was a nice change of pace.
“What do you want?” Finn turned to me while I filled Dozer’s travel bowl with water.
“A grande double white mocha and a lemon scone, please.”
