Page 27 of An Engagement Pact

Five

THAT WEEK, I GET EVENmore overtime because a now-and-then client is out of town for the week and her husky needs a long walk every day.

The owner normally takes Sasha for a three-mile run every evening, so a nominal walk won’t work. I don’t like running, but I can walk for long distances, so at seven in the evenings I add a four-mile walk for Sasha to my regular routine.

It’s a lot. When combined with all the walking I do for the normal clients, I’m exhausted when I’m finally done for the day. But I’ll never say no to overtime pay.

And I’m not exactly sad about having a viable excuse for avoiding Dan for a little while.

I see him in passing most mornings, but we don’t have to hang out in the evenings this week because of the extra walk. It’s a relief.

Distance is the only cure for all those flutters I’ve been feeling.

He calls to check in at least once a day, and he doesn’t complain about my busy schedule. I’m thinking I’m going to get a weeklong reprieve from dealing with the weird feelings when on Thursday around lunch Dan calls and asks if he can join me tonight for Sasha’s walk.

I’m surprised. Taken aback. I hesitate, grappling mentally for an appropriate response.

As if he knows I’m searching for an excuse, he adds quietly, “People are wondering why we just got engaged but haven’t seen each other all week.”

Of course they are. It’s fine for me because I don’t have a large social circle here who would be curious about such anomalies. But Dan does.

I’m going to get paid a hundred thousand dollars for this, and hanging out with him is part of the job.

“Oh. Yeah. Sorry. That makes sense. Sure you can come.” I sound mostly natural. Not reluctant or confused.

He must hear something in my tone anyway. “Is anything wrong?”

“No. No, of course not. I’m just tired. It’s been a long week. But of course you can come with me. I usually pick up the trail behind the library since that’s close to where the owner lives, so we can meet there around seven if you want?”

“That sounds great. I’ll be there.”

“I usually walk about four miles.”

He chuckles. “No matter how much it will tax my reserves, I’m sure I can manage to tough it out.”

“I didn’t mean—”

“I know. I’m teasing. The weather is supposed to be great today, so I’m looking forward to it.”

“Okay. I’ll see you then.”

And that was it. I’ll have to take a walk with Dan.

I really shouldn’t be so excited about it.

***

GREEN VALLEY HAS Awell-kept, paved walking and biking trail that winds all the way through and around town. It’s the best way to have a long, comfortable walk without circling endlessly in the park.

Later that day, I go to Sasha’s house and, after greeting and feeding her, get her lead on and head for the main branch of the public library a couple of blocks away.

Instinctively, as I get closer, I glance down at myself to make sure I don’t look too bad. I’m wearing cotton shorts that show a lot of leg with a white T-shirt with my college logo across the front and my regular walking shoes. My hair is pulled into my normal ponytail, and I’ve got sunglasses on because we’ll be walking right into the setting sun for part of the way.

No one can accuse me of dressing up for this outing, but I still hope I don’t look too bad. My legs are pretty good. Maybe Dan will notice them.

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