Page 25 of Strength

Emmett hung his head and laughed. “A slob, huh?”

I nodded.

“Okay, fair play. Come into my cave of slobbishness.”

I followed him inside and was greeted by a neat, cosy living room with an old-fashioned metal fireplace in the corner beside the huge windows. It was sparsely decorated with a tan leather couch, a Mexican rug on the floor, a round timber coffee table, a cactus plant, and a rustic timber shelf filled with books and vinyl records. Over to my right was the small kitchen, separated from the living room by a breakfast bar with three timber stools.

“Okay, not a slob.”

“I like everything in its place.”

“So, OCD, then?”

Emmett bit his bottom lip. “Maybe a little. The Navy rubbed off on me.”

“Well, I think it’s beautiful.”

“Thank you.”

I went across to the huge window and noticed a small deck outside. I was already in love with Emmett’s little snippet of Santa Barbara paradise.

“You ought to see the sunsets out there. They’re incredible.”

“I’ll bet they are. I love that you have private access to the beach, as well.”

“It’s why I chose this place.” Emmett headed to the kitchen. “Would you like a drink?”

I went to the breakfast bar and sat on one of the stools. “Sure.”

He pulled two beers out of the fridge. He cracked the lids open and held one out to me. “I hope you don’t mind a beer?”

“It’ll do.”

Emmett’s dog came racing down the hallway to greet us. His tail wagged so hard I thought it might fall off.

“You’ve met Tank.” Emmett pointed his beer in the dog’s direction.

“I sure have. Where’s your stick, buddy?” I went to pat him, but then pulled my hands back. “He’s not a mean pit bull, is he?”

“No way. This guy will lick you to death. Although, you may almost die of suffocation if he tries to lay on your lap.”

I gingerly reached down and rubbed my hands over his head and ears. “Hi.”

“Okay, Tank, go to bed.”

Tank trudged down the hall to a doorway and looked back at his owner.

“Go on, Tank.”

Tank moaned.

“Don’t you talk back.”

With one more huff, Tank walked through the doorway and didn’t come back out.

“That is one obedient dog.”

“I’m his boss.”

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