Page 67 of Always Almost You

Lauren delivered another flawless performance.

When the song ended, the owner of The Friendly Bean emerged from the shadows and joined her on stage. “Thanks for being such a good sport,” he whispered in her ear. “You were even better than I hoped.” He leaned into the microphone. “Let’s send Lauren and Pumpkin back to their seats with another round of applause!”

The crowd obliged. Karaoke continued for another hour.

Lauren checked her watch. She had planned to leave long ago but was having far too much fun to go. When the last singer of the night finished “My Way,” the crowd began streaming toward the door.

Lauren and Pumpkin followed the flow of patrons out into the parking lot. Nearly everyone stopped to compliment her singing, and to pet her puppy. She was unlocking her car when the café’s back door opened.

The owner stepped outside. “Lauren!” he called.

She turned.

“Same time next week?”

Lauren felt a warm flush rise to her cheeks. “Same time next week,” she called back, giving him a thumbs-up.

CHAPTER 44

Mike rolled his chair back from the desk in his home office and rubbed his hands over his eyes. He glanced down at Buddy, who lay stretched across the rug, snoozing at his feet. “I need a break,” Mike said. “I’m not making any progress.”

Buddy cracked one eye open.

“Let’s go for a run. That might help me sort out my thoughts.”

The dog lifted his head as Mike stood and headed for the mudroom. Buddy scrambled to his feet and bounded after him, nails clicking on the hardwood.

Mike laced up his running shoes and drained a full thermos of water. When he clipped Buddy’s leash to his collar, the dog’s tail began thumping against the cabinet doors like a metronome set at allegro.

“Easy,” Mike said with a laugh. “First things first.” He led Buddy to his water bowl. Buddy knew the routine. Whenever those running shoes came out, it meant miles on the trail. He lowered his head and took a long drink.

“Hydration is important,” Mike said approvingly. They stepped outside into the mild California winter afternoon. Across the street, their neighbor stood trimming a hedge with careful precision. “That’s looking great, Ron,” Mike called. “Anyone would think you’ve got a live-in gardener.”

Ron straightened and grinned. “Since I retired, I guess that’s what I’ve become. I love puttering around in the yard every day.”

“You’ve got the best landscaping on the block,” Mike replied.

Buddy wagged politely at Ron before pulling gently toward the sidewalk.

“All right, all right,” Mike said. “Let’s go.” They turned left and began jogging. Buddy and Mike fell into an easy rhythm, their strides long and relaxed as they moved down the quiet residential street.

Mike’s thoughts, however, refused to settle. They circled back, again and again, to his dinner date the night before. He had met Tara through an online dating app. Their first coffee date had gone well enough. She was intelligent, articulate, independent, and interesting. Not to mention stunning.

Mike hadn’t felt an immediate spark, but he had told himself that these things took time. There was no such thing as love at first sight. Attraction could grow. Relationships needed space to develop. He had asked her out again, and she had said yes.

Mike and Buddy reached the end of the block and crossed the street toward the entrance to a hiking trail that wound through low, rolling hills behind the neighborhood. Buddy surged forward as soon as their feet hit the dirt path.

“Hey,” Mike said, shortening the leash. “Remember, you’re not a sled dog.”

Buddy glanced back with bright eyes but adjusted his pace.

They climbed the gentle incline, the trail narrowing as it wound between scrubby chaparral and low eucalyptus trees. Mike allowed the run to stretch his muscles. His thoughts shifted again.

Maybe he did believe in love at first sight. The mischievous glint in Lauren’s eyes when she had handed him those ridiculous flannel pajamas flashed into his mind. He shook the thought away and pushed harder up the hill.

Tara had been just as engaging at dinner as she had been at coffee. If he were working from a checklist of everything he wanted in a partner, she ticked every box. And yet, there was still no spark.

They crested the rise where the trail flattened before looping back toward the houses. Buddy slowed and looked up at him, tongue lolling happily.