Page 90 of In the Air Tonight

“I would, too, and I’ve only known her a few days.”

As promised, the trail ends at a sandy beach.

Fenway goes crazy when she sees the water and takes off in a sprint.

“Did I mention she’s wet on the ride home?”

“I don’t think you did.”

“Thus the laundry offer,” he says with an irresistible little grin. “She loves it here so much that she entertains herself, splashing and chasing the gulls.” He leads me to a log on the sand. “Have a seat to watch the Fenway Show.”

It’s the best show I’ve seen in a long time, especially when she comes over to check in with us and then takes off to continue her performance.

“This is fun. Thanks for asking me to come.”

“It’s much more fun with you along.”

“A girl could get used to being with a nice guy like you.”

“Could she? That’d be awesome.”

“Things are about to get very weird for me.”

“I know.”

“A smart man would keep his distance from that.”

He slips an arm around me and kisses my temple. “I guess I’m not as smart as I thought I was.”

“That’s a pretty big statement to make.”

“Is it?”

“Uh-huh.”

“Well, let me make an even bigger one then. I like you. My dog likes you, which is really the most important thing. We want to spend as much time with you as we can, and we want to offer our support during this difficult time.”

I turn to look at him and he sneaks in a sweet kiss I don’t see coming. My hand rises to his face, and I lean into the kiss, which goes from sweet to sizzling in a matter of seconds.

We’re interrupted abruptly when wet, stinky Fenway crashes into us, nearly sending us backward off the log.

Jack manages to keep us from falling as we fend off the dog’s wild tongue. “For crying out loud, Fenway!”

She plops her butt down and smiles as she pants, clearly pleased with herself as she now has our full attention.

“Sorry about that.”

“Don’t be. She’s so funny.”

“No, she isn’t.”

“Yes, she is.”

Fenway barks, wanting in on the debate, and we laugh at her shamelessness.

“This is why she’s unmanageable,” Jack says. “She uses her cuteness to get away with murder.” He takes my hand and helps me up to walk the length of the beach with Fenway leading the way before we head back to the trail.

As we ride home with the windows down, I realize this has been the nicest afternoon of my adult life. I decide to tell him that.

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