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He chuckled. "You want a ride?"
"No, the walk will do us good. It tires her out so I can work for a while without her needing to be played with. Then, later tonight I'll let her dive into the water for treasures."
"Be careful." His voice was low. He pulled his phone from his back pocket. "What's your number? I'll text you so you have my number in case you need help."
"Why would I need help?"
"I said, just in case." He smiled and she was mesmerized.
7
Grace smiled as she told him her phone number. He tapped the numbers with his fingers as she gave them. He added her as a contact, then pressed the call button and put his phone to his ear.
Grace fished her phone from the little bag she carried around her shoulder and answered. "Hello, this is Grace Murphy."
Sid chuckled. "Nice to hear your voice, Grace Murphy. This is Sid Hoffman."
She giggled and he loved watching her happiness. Chiefy came over and sat beside Grace. Without effort, Grace patted Chiefy's head.
"Well, hello, Sid. What's new with you today?"
Grace's cheeks were an adorable pink. Her hair was slightly windblown, and her lips were shiny.
"Aww, just the usual. A run in with a local biker gang. A visit from a beautiful girl and her gorgeous owner. You know, a regular day."
Grace's smile grew. Her blue eyes sparkled as they bantered, and he wanted to lean in and kiss her so bad his lips tingled.
"Wow, that sounds like a rather interesting day. Are all of your days are like that? This is the happening place to be then."
Sid chuckled. "That's what I hear. Stop by, anytime, every day. I'd love to see you."
She blushed again, dropped her eyes to the ground and her feet shifted. He remembered her comment yesterday about not being complimented by a man, and he thought she should be complimented every day. She was a good person. She was so beautiful. Resourceful and self-sufficient. Who could not want to watch this woman blossom?
He reached out and lifted her chin with his fingers. He saw her swallow and his heart squeezed. His thumb brushed her chin softly and their eyes met. The blue of the Caribbean Ocean is what he stared at. He leaned in slightly, mostly to give her the chance to back away. She didn't.
His head dropped down and he moved in closer. Closer still. Until their lips met. He kissed her lips softly and briefly. Pulling back slightly he waited, then she moved in and kissed him back.
Chuckling reached his ears as Coop waddled into the garage. Sid grinned but Grace's embarrassment was visible. Her face and ears turned a bright red. "Coop, have you met Grace Murphy and Chiefy?"
"Not formally, until now." Coop shuffled to them and held his hand out to Grace.
She placed her hand in his and shook. Coop chuckled and glanced down at Chiefy. "This is the girl who helped you out yesterday. Or should I say, girls?"
Chiefy's tail wagged and Coop leaned forward slightly to pat her on the head. "Chiefy. What kind of a name is that for a girl?"
Grace chuckled. "My brother named her after his friend, Chiefy. He was the leader of their ball team in the military. It started out as a joke that he was the chief ball organizer. Then it was shortened to Chief. He passed away a few years ago and when my brother got this girl here, he named her Chiefy in honor of his friend."
"Well, that's real nice now. She looks like a great honorarium for a good friend."
Grace smiled as she looked at Chiefy. "Yes, she is for sure."
Coop looked up at him and grinned. "Well, I'll leave you all to it then. I've got to finish up this old truck's brakes before the owner comes to collect it." He motioned toward the truck up on the hoist.
Grace smiled and nodded. "It was nice to formally meet you, Coop."
The old man nodded and grinned. His gray hair still stood out from his scalp in a wild array of waves and directions. "It's nice meeting you ladies too."
Coop nodded, turned and grinned at him, then shuffled to the old truck up on the hoist.
