“Good, because I’d love to tell you.”
“Where are you staying?” Keaton’s eyes sparkled with mischief.
“At the V & G Bed & Breakfast.” Gran was going to be ecstatic about my dinner date.
“My last appointment is 5:00 p.m. I’d like to go home, shower and change. How about I pick you up at 6:30 p.m. and we can drop Scorch off on our way to dinner?”
My heart skipped a beat in excitement. “Perfect.” I turned to leave and Scorch bumped Keaton’s leg. He leaned down and gave Scorch one last stroke on his head. A heated, flush crept up my face. I hadn’t felt that kind of instant attraction—ever.
CHAPTER TWO
Rain slammed against the front windowpanes of the B&B as Scorch and I waited for Keaton to arrive. Scorch had on his red raincoat and I opted for my cashmere lined, ankle-length black coat. It was warmer and much more attractive than my red raincoat.
The first three months of the year, I’d spent in nice warm South Florida. The men were hot— and I don’t mean from the heat—tan, and gloriously buff. I’d met a guy named Wayne and spent quite a bit of time with him in Miami. When I told him I wasn’t planning on staying, that Florida wasn’t for me, he didn’t take it well. He’d called, sent flowers, and then became increasingly angry. He’d even insisted on quitting his lucrative job and moving with me. When I said no, he’d called my cell phone and when I’d answer, he’d hang-up—day and night. I got a new phone number and reported the harassment. He apologized and said it wouldn’t happen again. I learned to keep my mouth shut about my plans after that.
April, May, and June were spent in Colorado, but Denver didn’t feel like home either. The week before I left, the hang-up calls started again on the cabin phone. Wayne had found me. I reported the calls and my suspicions to the local police. Luckily, it was time to move on. Wayne was starting to scare and annoy me.
July, August, and September, I settled in Brunswick, Maine. If it wasn’t for the extreme cold winters, I might have visited awhile longer
Wayne had found me two days before I left. He’d definitely read more into our relationship then I had. He was a nuisance, like a fly buzzing past my ear, but I called my Gran and she said she had friends in Miami who would pay him a visit. Hopefully that would discourage him from any more harassment.
Keaton pulled up in a dark SUV. It was hard to tell what kind it was through the rain. He hopped out, jogged to the door and once inside he ran his hand through his hair. It wasn’t tied back. A wet strand fell forward and I felt a strong urge to smooth it out of his masculine face. He flipped his head to the side and took the pleasure away from me when it fell back into place.
“Wow. If the temperature keeps dropping, we could have snow by morning.”
The sky did have that whitish glow that meant it was on the way. “I just flew in from Brunswick, Maine and talk about crazy weather—I wasn’t sure I was getting out of there.”
Keaton knelt down and scratched my Pug behind the ear. “Did you live in Maine?”
“No. I was just visiting.” Because I might be doing the same here and I’d learned my lesson, I didn’t elaborate.
He picked up Scorch and tucked him under his arm. “Why don’t you stay here while I put Scorch in the car?”
“Okay.”
Keaton placed Scorch on the backseat of his car, covered in a blanket, and then came back with an umbrella. We both tucked close under it and jogged over to his car. He opened the door and I slid into the passenger’s seat. The car smelled woodsy, like rain combined with the warmth from the heater. After folding up the umbrella he tossed it in the back and hopped into his seat.
He turned in his seat and spoke to Scorch. “Are you ready to meet your date for tonight?” Scorch barked. “I take that as a yes.” Keaton chuckled.
Keaton’s windshield wipers got a workout, whipping back and forth on high speed as he drove us through the streets of Vine Grove. He was concentrating on the road while the warm interior of the car and the soft music he played on the radio, lulled me into a relaxed mood. A few minutes later we pulled into a large parking lot. In large, bold letters, the sign stated, Vanhorn Pet Clinic.
“We’re here. Are you ready to play?” Keaton asked Scorch.
My dog hopped up and down in excitement.
“Let’s repeat what we did at the B&B. I’ll be back in a minute to get you.” He picked up my happy, wiggling dog and rushed to the front door, unlocked it and disappeared into the darkness. He must have hit a master light switch because the whole inside of the building lit up. When he came back, I had already stepped outside with the umbrella. He looked a little disappointed.
“Hey. I don’t get to show my chivalry often. Let me do the honors.” His smile was broad and sincere. He took the umbrella, tucked me under his shoulder, and we ran to the door.