Ten
“Dinner’s ready.”
Dave and I head inside from the yard with Trooper trotting faithfully behind us. He reaches the first step before stopping dead in his tracks. He whimpers, staring upward as though we’ve asked him to climb a mountain, but then, I suppose it looks that way to him.
“C’mon, buddy,” Dave encourages, crouching beside him. “You can do it.”
Trooper lifts one paw, places it on the first step, thinks better of it, and pulls it back. Dave taps the step using fingers, demonstrating the climb like an encouraging coach. “See? One foot, then another.”
Trooper studies him with complete concentration before dropping onto his little backside and letting out the saddest whine imaginable. I burst out laughing.
Dave sighs dramatically, dropping his head, then reaches down and scoops him into his arms. “We’ll work on it tomorrow.
” He cradles Trooper against his chest as though carrying a puppy around is something he does every day.
My heart responds with another ridiculous little flutter.
Witnessing a man being gentle always gets my attention but watching Dave with Trooper hits differently.
It’s more personal, and knowing he isn’t trying to impress anyone only emphasizes the truth that kindness is simply part of his DNA.
Some woman is going to be lucky to have him.
The thought hits me like a sucker punch and the idea of an unknown woman in Dave’s future settles a little more uncomfortably than I expect. I’m not sure how I feel because I think I somehow wish that woman might be me.
The smell of Mom’s roast beef reaches me before I step into the dining room, and my stomach growls loudly enough that Dave glances over his shoulder with an amused smile.
“Hungry?”
“Starving,” I admit.
Mom has arranged the table in the exact way I remember. Dinners growing up were roast beef, creamy mashed potatoes, glazed carrots and corn, fresh biscuits, and a gravy boat filled with what I’ll confess tastes better than anything that comes from a jar.
Trooper squirms, his nose twitching at the kaleidoscope of scents. I laugh. “Looks like I’m not the only one who’s hungry.”
I slip back into the kitchen and grab the puppy chow. Filling a bowl with kibble and another with fresh water, I sense I’m being watched. When I glance up, Dave is casually leaning against the counter.
“What?” I ask.
A smile curls the corner of his tempting lips. Heat creeps into my cheeks. I reach for the water bowl keeping my hands busy with.
“Are you sure I don’t owe you anything for all this?” I ask, jutting my chin toward the dog supplies.
“I’m happy to do it for him.” His silver eyes settle on mine, and the corner of his mouth lifts. “And for you.”
My pulse stumbles. Dave has absolutely no idea what he does to me. Honestly, I’m amazed. This full throttle attraction is not what I anticipated coming home to.
I steal one of Mom’s old plastic placemats from beneath the sink, creating a dinner spot beneath the kitchen table for Trooper.
Just before I sit the bowl down, an idea comes to me.
I carry the bowl to the table and spoon a little beef gravy over the kibble, stirring until every piece glistens.
Dave raises his brow as I ready to sit the bowl down on the mat.
“There was canned food in the bag. You could have mixed it with that.”
“I know.”
“Then why the gravy?”
I glance toward the dining room to make sure Mom isn’t within earshot before leaning closer. “I want to celebrate Trooper’s first family meal.”
Dave’s smile spreads slowly across his face. “You’re going to spoil him.”
I grin as I place the bowl on the floor. Trooper dives into it with complete enthusiasm, his little tail wagging so hard it rocks his whole body. The minute his face hits the food, his body goes still and all effort goes to inhaling the kibble.
“No, I’m not.” I whisper, watching him eat. “I don’t believe you can spoil a baby. All they want is love and attention.”
When I finally look up, Dave isn’t watching Trooper anymore. He’s watching me, and somehow that feels dangerous. All at once, it occurs to me; my crush is so much more. I think I’ve been somewhat in love with him since that time, too.