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The sun was just beginning to rise. Meg preferred running early for a lot of reasons, but now she didn’t have to spend all day with her stomach in knots of anticipation with Chet joining her. Even so, she’d spent hours the night before tossing and turning.
She bent her right leg and grabbed her ankle. With a slow, gentle pull, she felt the stretch in her quad muscle. It was getting cold enough to see her breath as she drew air into her lungs and then slowly let it out. After counting to ten, she switched legs and did the same on the other side.
She would go to her grave not admitting this to Chet, but seven miles was going to be an uphill climb. Not that she wasn’tup for the challenge, but she had made sure she was stocked with heat rub for her muscles and arrived early enough to have extra stretch time.
It had been almost a week since she and Chet had met at the bakery to talk about a running schedule. And although the meeting itself hadn’t been a date or anything, the level of attraction she felt for Chet threw her off balance. He wandered into her thoughts more often than she liked. She took pride in keeping her life ordered. Controlled. She did things her way. And although Baylee gave her grief about it, not getting too close to too many people kept her heart safe. Free of brokenness. As battered and bruised as it was, she didn’t think her heart could take a small crack let alone another full break.
Reaching for the sky with both hands and lost in thought, she didn’t realize someone was there until she saw white out of the corner of her eye. Well, not someone but rather, something. And that something nudged her hip, almost knocking her over.
“Dottie!” Chet’s voice echoed across the empty park.
Meg regained her balance and laughed. Dottie poked her head into Meg’s belly, demanding an ear scratch.
“Hey, girl. You need an alarm bell or something. You almost knocked me over.” Meg obliged the dog and rubbed both her ears. A loud moan was given in response.
“She’s a sucker for a good ear rub.” Chet had made it to them, his smile wide.
Meg glanced up at him then quickly back down at the dog, to avoid melting into a puddle at the sight of him. How in the world was she going to get through two weeks of running with him every day if she reacted like a high school girl every time she looked at him? And why now? She’d gone a couple years without any reaction to any man, so what made Chet so different?
Not wanting an actual answer to that question, she focused on scratching Dottie on the backside, which the dog had madesure to place front and center for Meg. Meg had to put one foot back to maintain balance as the dog leaned into her with her full weight.
“And you’re not the first to suggest an alarm bell for her. Although the guys at the station think a cow bell would be most appropriate for her.”
Meg laughed. “Is she running with us? I thought you said Great Danes weren’t built for long distances.”
He tilted his head. “I did say that. You remembered…”
Meg felt her face flush. She shrugged and continued to pet Dottie, grateful when Chet continued.
“They’re not great running buddies, but she can go about a mile. I figured we could jog during that time to warm up and then I can drop her at the fire station so we can continue on with the rest of our run.”
Meg tamped down the angst that ran through her at the thought of being near the fire station. “Sounds like a plan.”
She stood and faced him placing her hands on her hips. “You ready to get going or do you need some time to warm up?”
One side of his mouth lifted, as did one eyebrow. “Are you implying I need lots of time to prep for this nice little stroll we are going to take this morning?”
It was crystal clear he was referring to her arriving early to have extra time to stretch. That got her just as riled as the sunlight showcasing the stubble along his jaw he apparently hadn’t shaved before coming. He was pure male from head to toe.
She narrowed her eyes. “Let’s go, Fireman Chet.”
With that, she turned and started to jog. She could hear his laughter, along with Dottie’s paws hitting the pavement, as they trotted to catch up with her.
Grateful he was to her side and not right in front of her where he could see every facial expression she made, she squeezed hereyes tight for a second and then gave a quick shake of her head.Fireman Chet?What in the name of all that was holy madethatcome out of her mouth? Every fiber of her being couldn’t stand when the women in town called him that, and she had gone and spewed it right to his face.
Ugh!
Severely irritated with herself, not to mention flushed from embarrassment, her feet pounded against the ground. He came up on her left side, syncing his pace with hers and she was grateful that her own long legs meant she wouldn’t have to double her steps to keep up with him. She was already a little worried that seven miles a day was going to be rough. Adding steps would not be helpful. Not that she would ever admit that to him.
“You have something on your mind?”
He’d been quiet beside her, a welcomed surprise. His voice drew her from her thoughts.
“I don’t think so, why?”
“I was just wondering what the pavement did to you so I can make sure I don’t do the same thing. You’ve stomped on it so hard I think you left some dents.” He looked over his shoulder behind them.
She took a deep breath and softened her steps. “I think a lot when I run. Will that bother you as my ‘running buddy’?” She put the words in air quotes.
