Chapter 32
Chapter Thirty-Two
B laise’s amusement over Cece’s easy transformation was not going away anytime soon. It had been fun to do and Cece’s reaction was the cherry on top.
Blaise went back to her house, put away the things Cece hadn’t borrowed, then changed into beach-walking clothes: cropped leggings, a long-sleeve T-shirt, her cap, sunglasses, and sneakers. It was time to get Beau out for some real exercise.
It would be good for both of them, especially after that indulgent coconut cake she’d had at Brick’s. She wondered if he’d seen the announcement in this morning’s newsletter about the upcoming bake-off.
That cake felt like a surefire winner. Maybe she’d mention it to him when she saw him next, although she could already predict it wouldn’t be something he’d be interested in. Then again, maybe he’d surprise her.
She doubted it.
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 that she’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 keep finding 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.”
“I get it. I spent a lifetime being pre-judged.”
He gave a nod. “Sorry.”
“It’s fine. I imagine a lot of people judge you by how you look. Like you’d just as soon kill ’em all and let God sort ’em out.”
He snorted, a sound that almost passed for a laugh. “My sons got me that T-shirt.”
Making him laugh even in some small capacity felt like winning something. “Were you a gunny?”
“No. Master sergeant.”
“I see.” She didn’t really, but she doubted asking more questions would result in any further understanding. She’d Google it later and see what she could learn that way.
A couple came toward them, also walking a dog, a big, happy yellow Lab. She said hello as they passed the trio. The two dogs sniffed each other briefly and then carried on.
She thought Brick was going to try to pass her the leash again, but he didn’t. His hand had tightened around the grip, though. He was doing well with Beau, so she wasn’t taking it back from him. “Do your sons come to visit you often?”
“Some.”
“What do you do when they’re here? Go out to eat? Golf? Fishing? Go to the pool?”
“Eat. Fish.”
She rolled her eyes at the overload of information.
She stopped abruptly. It took Brick a step to catch on, then he stopped, too.
She put her hands on her hips. “It’s really hard to have a conversation with someone who answers in single syllables.
Do you think maybe you could elaborate a bit?
Even if you think it’s information I wouldn’t be interested in, I can assure you, it is.
For example, you could tell me where you go to eat.
What your sons’ favorite restaurant is. What dish they like to order.
How long you’ve been going there. Or what kind of fish you fish for, what kind of bait you use, if you’re on a boat or you fish from the beach.
If you eat the fish or throw them back. Literally anything else you can think of. You think you can give that a try?”
He stared at her with something that might have been amusement in his eyes, but it might have also been irritation. She really couldn’t tell.
The right corner of his mouth quirked up a centimeter. “Yes, Gunny.”
She laughed, pretty sure that was his equivalent of a joke. She started walking again and as he fell into step beside her, she asked, “Hey, did you see the Buzz this morning?”
He shook his head.
“There’s a competition coming up.” That was nothing new, though. The community center was always hosting some kind of competition. “It’s a bake-off. You should enter your wife’s cake.”
He grunted.
“Nope,” Blaise said. “Grunts are no longer acceptable answers. Unless you want me to just interpret them as I see fit, which in that case, I’ll take that grunt to mean not only do you want to enter, but you’re looking forward to it and you’d like me to fill out the entry form for you.”
“No.”
“No, you’ll fill out the entry form yourself?”
“No, I’m not entering.”
“Why not? And let me preempt you by saying ‘Because’ is not an answer.”
He sighed. “I don’t want to.”
“Mmm…nope, that’s not going to pass as a valid answer either.
” She put her hand on his arm. “Hey, you’re not afraid of winning, are you?
I mean, I can see how that might be a problem.
There are a lot of single women in this community.
They find out there’s a tall, handsome, eligible bachelor who also bakes and you’ll be beating them off with a stick. ”
He cut his eyes to her.
“What?” She looked up at him. “You are tall.”
He smiled. “You have to help me.”
She almost fell over in surprise but managed to play it cool. “By filling out the entry form?”
“With the baking.”
“Okay, I can do that, but only if we make two cakes. You teach me to make it so I can take one to my book club.”
He grunted. Then nodded. “Bring Beau.”
She smiled. “I can do that, too.”