“Mike has a surprise for you.”
I wondered what it could be. I followed her to where Mike was leaning against a tree. He had a playful glint in his eyes. He pulled a small square box out of the front pocket of his tight jeans and handed it to me. “Open it.”
I looked at Anya and she nodded and winked at me, exactly like Mike. Who knew a wink could be contagious?
I smiled as I pulled out a silver whistle attached to a green and white diamond-stitched lanyard.
“I want you to wear this at all times in case I’m not available. If you, I meanwhenyou, need to be rescued again.” Mike smiled.
I was touched by his thoughtfulness. Mike was being chivalrous and playful, and he had literally saved my ass yesterday. “Thank you for rescuing me and for this whistle. May I give you abear hug?”
Instead of a hug, Mike became military on me; he saluted and said, “Yes ma’am, happy to help.” Then marched off.
“See, he’s really a good guy,” Anya said.
“Thanks.” The whistle was already around my neck. “I’m sure it was your idea.”
“No, it was Mike’s. He bought it after relocating the bear clan in the woods. Although, I did make the lanyard.”
“I can’t believe you actually met up with a bear,” Teddy said later that night.
“I was on my morning walk when I decided I wanted a cigarette. I was digging up the pack you hid down by the lake when I saw it.”
“You mean it was my fault you almost got mauled?”
I took a drag and smiled. “I’m just saying.”
“I feel awful. I wish I’d been the one to save you.”
He looked so sincere that I had to smile. “Thank you, I appreciate that. It was a good thing Mike showed up when he did.”
Teddy pointed to the whistle hanging around my neck. “Where’d you get that?”
“Mike gave it to me.”
“Why?”
“So I can use it if I ever come face to face with a bear and he’s not around to save me.”
“I didn’t know you and Mike were such good chums.”
“I wouldn’t say that, but I’m at the waterfront at least twice a day.”
Teddy took a drag. “Has he come on to you?”
“Yes. Pretty much every time I see him, he says something lecherous to me, and as far as I know, to every other woman that crosses his path. But we all have his number—as a matter of fact, we refer to him as Salacious Mike.”
He snorted. “But you accepted a gift from him.”
I tugged at the lanyard. “Yes, I thought he was being gracious and funny. You wear a whistle for work, and now I’ll wear one too.”
He looked at me for a moment and blew a smoke ring.
“It almost sounds like you’re jealous that Mike saved me from the bear?” I smiled at him.
“As I said, I wish I’d been the one to rescue you. Mike and I will never see eye to eye, but if you want to hang out with him, I’d understand.”
“If I wanted to hang out with Mike, I’d be hard pressed to find time to do it. Plus, he thinks he’s God’s gift to women. As if. Anyway, I prefer your company.”
