Hank looked up, gave one quick yip, and took off running.He raced around the yard, doing loops.He ran up and over obstacles and climbed under vehicles.Two minutes later, he raced back, sniffed Eric and Wanda thoroughly, and sat, panting, at Officer Davis’s feet, grinning.
Back inside, Lacy handed them each a small bag.
“What’s this?”Wanda asked, peeking inside.“A coloring book?”She looked at the young woman.“Why?”
“We give them out to the kids when schools come to visit.A coloring book, a few crayons, and some RCMP stickers.It promotes safety and good officer-public relations.”
“Thank you.”Weirdly, she couldn’t wait to get home to color the safety book.
After another five minutes of chit-chat, they were back in the car.She reached over and clasped Eric’s arm.“Thank you.That was so much fun and informative, too.And I got a coloring book.”She giggled.
He glanced at her as he started the car.“You’re excited for coloring?Aren’t you an adult?”There was no censure in his voice, just curiosity.
“I am an adult, but I do love coloring.I probably have two dozen adult coloring books.Of course, being a gardener, my favorites are the nature ones, though my best friend prefers the Zen and mandala ones.Coloring is calming after a long day.”She was babbling.She tried to stop, but the words just kept coming.“I love a glass of wine, some old television reruns, or a movie, and my coloring book.I even have a special lap desk just for coloring.And my brother made me this really cool marker stand.It holds pencils, pencil crayons, and my alcohol markers right where I can get at them.”
She slapped her lips together to stop the flow of unwanted information.“Don’t knock it until you try it.”
“I wasn’t knocking it.I know a lot of people color for relaxation.I’ll have to try it.”He shifted in his seat.“Top up, or top down?It isn’t as sunny as it was.”
“Oh, top up please.It’s cold in the shade of the clouds.”
He put the top up and turned on the radio.Ride came on.“That’s appropriate,” Eric said.“I am your ride.”
“I don’t think that’s what the song means.It’s actually quite touching; it’s about supporting another person fully.”
He raised one eyebrow.
She stopped talking and crossed her arms.She loved the song and wasn’t about to let his attitude stop her from enjoying it.“Are you driving or what?We have a bus to catch.”
He saluted, his brown eyes sparkling as he shoulder-checked before backing out and heading toward the highway.
She hummed quietly with the song, a little unsure about singing in public because she didn’t have the best voice.Abruptly deciding that it didn’t matter, she started singing louder and louder until she was full-out rocking to the song and dancing in her seat.
What did it matter?She’d worked for this man for three years and hadn’t seen him even once.After this trip, she’d likely never see him again.
To her surprise, he joined in, his deep voice complementing hers and blending perfectly with Amanda Marshall’s beautiful voice.When the song faded to the announcer’s voice, he turned the radio down slightly.
“Wow.You really can sing,” she praised.
“Thank my mother for that.She made me sing in the church choir from five to fifteen.I’m pretty sure I know every hymn ever written.You’re not so bad yourself.”
“Thanks.No choir experience here, but I do love to sing.I can’t hit the high notes, but a friend once told me just to stay in my range.A lower note, well sung, is better than a screech.”
As the announcer’s voice morphed into an old rock ballad, Eric said, “Are you sharing those snacks, or what?”
Laughing, she lifted the bag onto her lap.“What’s your pleasure?Pop-Tart?Jerky?Chocolate?”
“Didn’t I see red licorice in that pile?I haven’t had licorice in years.Maybe decades.I’d love a piece of that, if you don’t mind sharing your bounty.”
“I think you mean your bounty, since I haven’t repaid you yet.But your wish is my command.”
He turned and grinned at her, a tiny dimple highlighting his cheek.It was probably the cutest dimple she’d ever seen.Too bad he was way, way, way out of her league, because she could probably go for a guy who looked like him and who had his easy-going attitude.He didn’t get upset about missing the bus, just took it in stride and found a solution.
Plus, he seemed to have a decent sense of humor.A lot of guys would have grumbled about the lottery ticket lady.But so far, he’d taken everything in stride, and his idea to stop and visit the RCMP facility had turned out to be fun.She handed him two Twizzlers and took one for herself.The sugary-sweet strawberry scent filled the small car.
“I wonder what they’re doing on the bus?”She was genuinely curious.As much as she hadn’t wanted to be on the trip, she had resolved to make the most of it and maybe come out with a few new friends.
“Probably some crazy ‘get to know you’ games.”He answered without taking his eyes off the road.He was focused on driving, and she appreciated that he was taking their safety seriously.
