She glanced toward his place. She’d seen him early this morning, washing and waxing his truck. He treated that old Ford like it was priceless. She hadn’t seen him since, though. Not thatshe’d been checking up on him, but she’d become accustomed to seeing him on his porch, staring and scowling. She smirked.
Maybe he was doing laundry. Or baking another cake.
Amused at the thought, she grabbed Beau’s leash and went to find him, which was easy to do in this small space. He was sitting in front of the sliders that went out to the porch, looking longingly toward the grass. “You want to go out? Because that’s exactly what we’re about to do.”
She picked him up and attached his leash as she walked to the door, kissing his little head and telling him what a good boy he was.
She opened her door and found Brick standing on the other side, hand raised to knock. “Oh, hi.”
He grunted in acknowledgment, lifting his chin. “Taking Beau out?”
“Yep. We were just about to go for a walk on the beach.” She took a chance. “You want to come with us?”
He was in shorts, a gray T-shirt with the Marine insignia on it, and sneakers, an American flag ballcap on his head. His eyes narrowed. “You want me to?”
She raised her brows. “I wouldn’t have asked otherwise, would I? You do walk, don’t you? I mean, your knees are all right and?—”
“Knees are fine.”
“Good.” She put Beau on the ground, and put the leash in Brick’s hand. “You take him while I lock the door.”
“I don’t know?—”
“You don’t need to know anything about dogs to hold a leash. Just don’t let go. That’s really the only rule.” She stepped outside, forcing him to move. She turned to lock the door and smiled as soon as he couldn’t see her face.
He was such a grump. Why did she enjoy pushing him to do things? Of course, if he didn’t like her company, why did he keepfinding ways to be around her? She tucked the key in her pocket. “All right. Let’s hit the sand.”
Brick held out the leash.
She looked at Beau, who was already headed in the direction of the water. “You’re good. Come on.”
She started walking. Beau trotted alongside her, then went ahead as Brick caught up. “Water’s beautiful, huh?”
It was, too. The sun sparkled off the gentle waves, making them look diamond-dusted and deep blue.
He grunted. “You shoulda been a gunny.”
She laughed. She’d seen enough of Jay’s favorite movies to know that was a Marine who seemed to be in charge of new recruits. “Why’s that?”
“You like giving orders.”
“I suppose it’s a testament to your time in the service that you respond so well to them.” She glanced at him.
He was smiling.
She smiled right back. “You like me.”
That earned her another grunt.
“Well, you at least like Beau.”
“He’s a good dog.” After a breath, he added. “You’re not like I thought you’d be.”
She nodded, thinking she understood. She got that from a lot of people. “You thought I’d be an airhead more concerned about her nails than anything else? The kind of person who judged others by appearances?”
Which was what she’d done to him, if she was being honest.
His gaze was on Beau, who continued to trot happily through the sand. “Something like that.”
