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“He’s very patient,” Kate said.
“He’s a good boy, but he hasn’t been around many other dogs, so I want to keep an eye on him. So far, so good. How’d bra shopping with your grandma go? She sounds like a handful.”
“Uh, you have no idea. We finally found something appropriate, and I paid for it, but on our way out, the security alarm went off. She had another one in her pocket!”
“Was it an accident? Surely, she wouldn’t try to steal it.”
“I’m sure she just forgot she put it there. I was so mortified, I just paid for the second one, thanked them profusely for not calling the police, and we got the heck out of there. It was a red, lacy scrap of nothing. I don’t want to know why she thinks she needs sexy underwear.”
He laughed. “Assuming you’ve gotten over the trauma, what have you been up to today?”
“Oh, the usual. Wheelin’ and dealin’. Norman sent his offer late yesterday, so I’m working on getting everything ready to evaluate.”
“Sounds good. You ready for a break?” he asked, sliding his arms around her waist and nuzzling her neck.
“I could perhaps be persuaded to take a break. Eek. That tickles.” She giggled.
“Let me try here then,” he said and took her mouth with his. She wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him back eagerly. “Mm. You taste like lemonade.”
“You want some?” she asked.
“Oh, I want some all right,” he said, checking on the dogs before going back to kissing her neck.
“I meant lemonade, silly.”
He pulled back. “So did I. Geez, get your mind out of the gutter, Kate.” He snuck another glance at the dogs.
“You seem worried about the dogs. You think we can leave them alone?”
“Um. Maybe not just yet. Duke’s only ever been around other big dogs, and he has killed a bunny or two.”
“What?” Kate swung her head around to the dogs. Duke was sniffing at everything, and Luna was following him around like a lovesick puppy, doing her best to keep up. “Luna looks a lot like a bunny.”
“I know,” he said. “That’s why I’m nervous about leaving them unattended.”
“Okay. You stay here and guard my dog. I’ll get some drinks.”
She returned with two tall, cold glasses of lemonade and set them on the patio table. “We can watch them from here,” she said, taking a seat. He followed her and sat where he had a view of Duke.
“You can’t possibly be moved in already.”
“Nah. All the big stuff’s where it’s supposed to be, but there are still a lot of boxes to unpack. I’m just taking a break.”
“You’ve had a couple of busy days. Didn’t you drive up here yesterday?”
“Yes. I was going to call you, but after seeing my mom, I wasn’t in the mood. Sorry.”
“That’s all right. Is your mom okay?”
“Define ‘okay.’ When I stopped by to drop off some boxes, she laid it on me that she’s getting married.”
“You don’t seem all that happy about it,” Kate said, sipping her lemonade.
“Hm. I don’t care for the guy at all. I have no idea what she sees in him, and I’m pretty sure he’s just using her, but she doesn’t see it.”
“But you support your mom?”
“Do I have a choice? When this falls apart—and her relationships always do—I’ll have to be around to pick up the pieces. I was actually going to ask if you know of any properties that I could buy for her here in New Bern. I’m going to sell her place in Jacksonville, but want her to have a place to go when this fails miserably.”
