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He heaved a huge sigh. “I wanted to spend time with you, I really did.”
“You could have fooled me.” She hadn’t meant to be so blunt, but his rejection had felt exactly that way. His refusal had left her confused and unsure, as if he regretted stopping to help her.
“I know…I wish I could explain what was going on inside my head.” As though frustrated with himself, Cade rubbed a hand over his chin. “I would if I’d understood it myself. I have a group of…friends I meet with, and they sort of set me straight.”
“How so?”
He grimaced before he answered. “They basically told me I was an idiot, and I should’ve leaped at the chance to know you better, and to be honest, they couldn’t understand me turning down a home-cooked meal.”
Looking down, Hope did her best to hide her smile. “I like your friends.”
“I want to make it up to you,” he said. “Would you be willing to go out to dinner with me tonight?” Then he added in a rush, “I know it’s last-minute and that you probably already have plans, so if tonight doesn’t work, I’ll understand. Or if you’d rather not see me at all, I’ll understand that, too.”
Hope wanted to go to dinner with him, badly. “I can’t.”
Cade’s face fell.
“I’d love to have dinner with you, but I can’t leave Shadow locked up in the house on his first day with me.”
“Of course, I should have realized that.” His shoulders slumped forward for a moment before he straightened. “I could always get us take-out. Would that work?” Cade asked. “I could meet you back at the cottage or you could bring Shadow with you to my place, although it’s small.”
Hope loved how eager he sounded. “It’s so peaceful here, do you mind if we stay right here?”
He relaxed. “I think that’s a perfect idea.” He glanced over his shoulder, looking toward the parking area where the food trucks assembled. Most had left after Labor Day, although a few remained, eking sales from the last days of the season.
“How do you feel about hot dogs?” Cade asked.
That sounded exactly right. “Hot dogs are the best part of a picnic.”
“Do you think Shadow would like one?”
She cracked a smile. “You’re joking, right?”
Cade grinned before he leaped to his feet and brushed the sand off his backside. “Don’t go anywhere. I’ll be back before you know it.”
She watched Cade walk away, and there seemed to be a bounce in his step. “Well, well,” she said to Shadow. Her pet placed his chin on her thigh as he relaxed. Gently petting his head, she couldn’t keep the smile from her face. “Will wonders never cease,” she whispered.
Within fifteen minutes Cade returned with a large container holding two large drinks and a paper bag.
“That didn’t take long,” she said.
“I didn’t go far. I didn’t want to risk you changing your mind.”
“No chance,” she said, smiling up at him.
Cade’s returning smile was huge as he sank down into the sand next to Shadow, closer this time. He handed her the soda and then set his own aside before he opened the brown paper bag.
“Are these from Wee Willie’s Wiener Wagon? I didn’t realize he was still at the beach.” The wiener wagon was her favorite of the food trucks, although several sold hot dogs. She thought Wee Willie had left for the season, as she hadn’t seen him in his usual parking spot up from the beach.
“It’s his last day. He took over one of the more popular spots since it was vacant,” Cade explained.
He handed Hope the hot dog wrapped in shiny foil. “I should have asked what you like on your bun. I guessed and added mustard and relish.”
“That’s perfect.”
He removed a second hot dog, unwrapped it, and then tore it into small bites to feed Shadow a little at a time. Given to him whole, Shadow would have immediately inhaled the entire hot dog in one giant gulp.
As she expected, Shadow was in doggie heaven. Wieners weren’t the best diet for him, however, today would be the exception. After everything he’d endured, he deserved to be a little spoiled now and again.
