Chapter 10 #2
“Well, if you need anything, run into any problems, you let me know. I’ve done quite a bit of work for Nellie over the years.
Mostly handyman stuff, but I’ll offer you the same service.
If you have items on your honey-do list that are beyond your comfort level, let me know.
I can always stop by and take care of them for you. ”
“That’s awfully nice of you. I don’t suppose you’re an exterminator, too?”
“Sorry, no. Problem?”
“Nothing I can’t handle.” And by nothing, I meant everything .
We gave the waitress our orders, both of us starting off with the clam chowder to stave off the cold. A few moments later, the bowls were placed before us. I breathed in the steamy goodness, anticipating my first real meal in weeks.
“Bear, it feels like I would have remembered you if you’d been around when I visited as a kid. Did I miss you, or are you a transplant?”
He took a spoonful of soup and shook his head. “Rest assured, even if you hadn’t noticed me, I definitely would have made myself known to you.” He stirred his chowder. “I do have a weakness for redheaded women.”
I looked down, busying myself with my soup, hoping the low light hid my blush.
“No. I grew up in Washington—the state. I met a girl in college and fell in love. She was from Bar Harbor. I came out to visit her and never wanted to go home.” He tilted his head, a self-deprecating laugh at his lips. “The girl dumped me, but the town seemed to like me just fine, so I stayed.”
“Her loss,” I said softly.
Bear looked up at the seriousness of my tone. He reached over and rubbed my hand. “I’m fine, but thank you.”
“How long have you lived here?”
The waitress came back, collected our soup bowls, and placed the teriyaki tenderloin tips in front of me and the salmon in front of Bear.
We started to eat before Bear finally answered. He wiped his mouth. “I’ve been here for about ten years now.”
The tenderloin was tangy and delicious. Chaucer lifted his head to sniff at the table. I pulled a rawhide from my bag and offered it to him. He gently took it from my fingers and slumped back down under the table to gnaw on his treat.
Bear took a bite of his potatoes. “Can I just say that you have the greatest dog I’ve ever met? How did you two find each other?”
I extended my hand under the table and a moment later, I felt Chaucer’s head push into my palm.
I shifted back a little in my seat so he could rest his head in my lap.
“There was a notice on the bulletin board at my ex-husband’s club.
A family had purchased him without doing their research.
The daughter wanted a small dog, and the wife wasn’t too excited about dogs, period.
I have no idea where they got him. I saw his little Newfy puppy face on that flyer and pulled it off the wall; I didn’t want anyone else to see him.
I ran outside, called the number, and made an appointment to meet him that afternoon.
I spent the rest of the day buying dog food and bowls, toys and a bed, a collar and a leash.
I knew he was supposed to be mine. Through some weird twist of fate, he’d ended up in the wrong home, but I was going to fix that. ”
Bear had stopped eating, his focus on me. “And you did.”
“Evening.” We both looked up in the direction of the deep voice coming out of the dark. Aiden took a step forward, into the circle of light surrounding our table.
Bear placed his napkin on the table and pushed back in his chair, so he could better see Aiden. “Fancy meeting you here, Chief.” There was a tone I couldn’t quite place, but Bear didn’t appear to be happy about the interruption.
Aiden looked back and forth between the two of us, finally glancing down at the back end of a dark brown blob under the table. “At least I understand now why you’re threatening this poor woman with pneumonia, Bear.”
“Listen—” Bear began.
“This was my choice, and it’s been lovely.” I shifted my gaze to Bear. “Truly lovely. Thank you for bringing us here.”
Bear gave a reluctant smile, some of the tension leaving his shoulders. “So, Chief, is dining al fresco illegal now?”
Aiden ignored Bear’s little dig, reaching down to scratch the top of Chaucer’s head, speaking directly to me. “Just driving by and saw your car. I wanted to apologize about before.” He stuffed his hands in his pockets as an uncomfortable silence surrounded us.
Bear’s eyes narrowed as he studied Aiden. He slowly shook his head, picking up his napkin and fork again. “Well, it sure was nice of you to visit, Chief, but our food’s getting cold.”
Bear’s comment barely earned a glance from Aiden, who then gestured to me. “Go ahead and eat.” He left, walking back around the side of the building. That was odd.
A moment later, he came back, a knit hat in his hand. “I’m glad Bear loaned you a warm coat, but you need a hat, too.”
I glanced at Bear, who was staring openmouthed at Aiden, his cooling dinner forgotten.
“California girl.” I shrugged. “I forget about hats.”
“Bear should have remembered.” He leaned down and drew the hat on me, flipping up the extra knitted weave so it framed my face and covered my ears.
Bear threw his napkin down on the table, annoyance clear.
I hated to admit it, and I wouldn’t aloud, but the hat helped. I gave Aiden a smile of thanks, and he nodded.
24) Buy warm hats.
Preferably the ones with the silly pom-pom balls on top.
“You lose heat out of the top of your head. Got to keep it covered if you’re going to be taken out into frigid winds.” He gave Bear a dark look and then shifted back to me. “Go ahead. Eat. I don’t want you to have to be out in this cold for longer than necessary.”
Bear smacked Aiden on the shoulder. Judging by Aiden’s wince, I wouldn’t term it friendly. “Well, it’s been a nice visit, but we don’t want to hold you up. I’m sure you have important things to do, being on duty right now and all.”
Aiden ignored Bear, his eyes on me. “Please. Eat.”
The waitress came out with a bowl of chowder, the host trailing with a chair. “Evening, Chief. We thought you might like to sit with your friends. Maybe have something to eat, too?”
Once the pair returned to the restaurant, Aiden continued to stand, looking uncomfortable.
“Have you eaten?” The big, embarrassed lug was killing me.
“Sit if you’re going to sit,” Bear said as he kicked the chair to the side in a half-hearted invitation.
“Go ahead, Aiden. Join us. Have some chowder. It’s delicious,” I said.
He looked between the two of us, sitting reluctantly. Bear, grumbling under his breath, returned to his meal.
The rest of dinner was strained, Aiden staying, even walking me to my car and opening my door for me.
Once Chaucer and I were inside, Aiden and Bear had what looked to be a strained conversation.
I’m a pretty good lip-reader, and I’m almost positive Bear called Aiden a cock-blocking asshole, but I couldn’t be sure.
Afterward, both men turned to me and smiled.
Aiden walked back to his cruiser, and Bear circled around to the passenger door of my car.
He climbed in, buckled up, and we were off.
“I honestly have no idea what that just was. I’m sorry dinner got weird.” He shook his head as though trying to clear it. “I don’t think he’s been on a real date since his fiancée ran out on him a year ago. Maybe he’s forgotten how they work.” He mumbled what sounded like asshole .
“Did you know her?” It was none of my business, but I was curious.
Bear nodded. “Yeah, Alice seemed nice enough.”
“And?” That could not have been all he had to say on the subject.
He blew out a breath. “And I never liked her. It’s easy to say that now, knowing what she did, but I didn’t like her. She was sweet to Aiden, but she seemed, I don’t know, open to the possibility of someone better. You know?”
I nodded, understanding exactly the kind of person he was describing.
“Aiden’s my friend.” He rolled his eyes.
“Usually. Anyway, she kept touching me. You know, I’d make a joke and she’d laugh, grabbing my arm or running her hand down my back.
Sure, she could have just been a touchy person, but I noticed she didn’t do it with everyone.
Aiden? All the time. Me? Most of the time.
Women or random dorky guys, not at all. When he learned that she’d dumped him for another guy, it crushed him.
So maybe I gave Aiden a little more leeway than I would someone else busting into my dinner date.
” He shrugged. “He’s still an asshole, though. ”
I laughed and glanced over at Bear. He was gorgeous and sweet. What was he doing here with me? “Bear, why aren’t you married?”
“Aunt Sarah?” He looked around in the back seat and then smirked.
“Sorry, that’s how most of my conversations with my aunt begin.
” He shifted in his seat. “Damn, I was supposed to sit in the back. I forgot.” He looked longingly at the big bench seat Chaucer was stretched over.
“The usual reasons. Haven’t met, or convinced, the right one. Not yet, anyway.”
When we arrived back at Gran’s, Bear walked me to the door, stopping two steps down from the porch. I kept walking, pulling out my key before I realized he’d stopped. I turned to find him watching me.
“C’mere, Red.”
When I stepped back toward him, I understood why he’d stopped.
Two steps down put us at almost the same height.
He grinned, holding out his arms, and I stepped right into them.
A Bear hug was an amazing experience. It was just the right combination of warm affection, comfort, and protection, without a skeezy side of grope.
When he loosened his hold, I moved back. “Hmm, that was nice. You give a good hug, Bear.”
“So I’m told. Would a goodnight kiss be out of the question?”