Page 11 of The One

She’d cracked a few grins and even blushed at the end.

It was the first time in almost a year he’d felt like his old self again. The one that saw a cute woman and wanted to flirt.

Probably not the best place to do it or person to do it with, but the fact he was feeling good about it was a step.

He hadn’t seen a ring on her finger but knew that meant nothing. Maybe he was just testing the water more than anything.

He hadn’t been with a woman in longer than he could count at this point. Between work and the move, who had time?

But part of starting over or getting back on track wasn’t just in his professional life, but his personal one too.

When he pulled into his garage, he’d seen Robin pushing a stroller a few houses down. She walked up his driveway. “Do you have today off?” he asked.

Robin was a dental hygienist. She didn’t need to work. She’d gotten millions from her divorce that she didn’t want. The divorce, yes, the money, no. Brian owned his own law firm and told Robin she could do whatever she wanted to do.

Robin had a passion for animals and volunteered at a local shelter. He figured she’d do that while being a mom, but his sister still worked two days a week at the dentist office and volunteered at the shelter one day a week, the rest of the time spending it with Harper.

Brian’s mother watched Harper when Robin was out, but he knew Robin wanted to start to bring her to a more structured daycare soon to be around other children.

His sister had always confided in him. Maybe too much years ago, and early in her relationship with Brian it had ruffled some feathers.

“I do. I’m going to the shelter in a few hours. They have a new delivery of puppies coming in.”

“Are you thinking of getting Luke and Leia a sibling?” he asked of the brother and sister labs that his sister had. They were good dogs and you hardly knew they were around half the time.

“No,” she said. “Two is enough. I’d like another child at some point.”

“I can’t wait to get another niece or nephew to play with,” he said, looking down at Harper who had fallen asleep. It was a nice fall day. Mid-fifties, but Harper was bundled up in a fleece jacket and hat on her head with a blanket around her.

“There is time yet. You know what you need?” she asked.

“More plants?” he asked.

His mother hadn’t given him just one, but almost a half a dozen of them. She’d said it wouldn’t take up space, but she kept bringing him more and putting them in different rooms. He had to admit they did look good and he liked watering and pruning them. Something mindless for once to do with his time.

“No,” she said, laughing. “A dog. Come with me. Check them out. You’re home all day. It will give you some company.”

He started to laugh. “I don’t need a dog. I can barely feed myself.”

“What?” she asked.

“It’s a joke,” he said. He shouldn’t have let that slip.

“I’ll bring you over some shrimp scampi tonight. It’s an easy meal and makes a lot.”

He wanted to tell her no, he’d be fine, but Gillian did say fish was good. Shrimp was kind of like fish. He’d seen that in the list. “What do you put in it?” he asked. “Lots of butter huh?”

He’d had it out before at restaurants and knew it swam in butter.

“Not how I make it. Brian isn’t a fan of too much butter. I use white wine and it cooks down.”

“Then that sounds good,” he said. “But I’ll stop over to grab it. No reason for you to go out of your way.”

“Better yet,” she said. “Come to dinner...after you go to the shelter and check out the dogs. Since you’re just coming in now, I’m going to think you’ve got the day off too, right?”

He didn’t want to tell her where he was. “I was just running errands. I’ve got some work to do though.”

“The vet, Dr. Cooper, told me the puppies are boxer mixes. You love those dogs.”

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