Page 100 of The Grand Ruin: Lance & Scarlet-Part One

“You can go outside with him if you want to, Scarlet.”

I cut my gaze to Lance, slowly smiling up at him when I find the softness in his features. “I’ll be five minutes tops.”

I make my way to the door, my feet moving as my mind trails a few steps behind, lingering with the man and his mother at my back. I’m not sure leaving them alone is the right thing to do, but the awkwardness between the two of them is bad enough to steer me out the door.

Bear jumps at my legs the second I’m outside, and I bend down, letting his paws rest on my knees. “Hello.” The second I drop my head close enough, his tongue lashes at my face. I laugh and turn my head, but he goes for my ear instead.

I stand, and he bounces at my feet, ready. “Show me your garden, then,” I tell him, and he just sits, staring up at me.

The second I take a step forward, he takes off across the patio and toward the steps that lead down to the large open garden. I follow him.

He runs around and around me, his ears flapping around his face as he zooms past. “Bear!” I call.

He doesn’t acknowledge his name, and I bend, picking up a beat-up tennis ball from the long grass. “What’s this? Go get it!” I throw it, and he’s gone in a flash, searching for the ball and then bringing it back to me. I throw it over and over, smiling as he bounds around the garden.

“You’re a good boy! Yes, you are, Bear.” I rub his head and around his neck, patting his chest as his tail wags. “Such a good boy.” He jumps at me, and I lose my footing, falling back into the grass.

“Bear!”

He’s on me and licking my face before I can blink. “Oh my god.” I laugh, my eyes closing as I try to dodge his tongue and move him off me. “Bear, stop,” I try to catch my breath, unable to stop laughing.

“I thought he was your good boy?”

I twist my neck to find Lance standing with his arms crossed over his chest above me. He’s upside down and looks ready to fight the dog.

“Help…me…” I chuckle as Bear steps on my shoulder, my hair flying across my face.

“Bear,” Lance commands and whistles.

The dog flies off me, standing at my side as he looks up at Lance. Waiting. I wait too, but Lance doesn’t give any orders. He just stares back at Bear.

I pull myself up, and it snaps Lance back into the now. He pulls me to him when I’m halfway off the floor and starts to check me over.

“Are you okay?”

“I’m fine. I love him.” I grin.

“Seems he likes you too.”

“You two don’t get along?”

He shakes his head and sniggers, looking back down at the dog. “Today’s the first time meeting him. Come on, dinner’s ready.”

He laces our hands as we walk back to the house, and I can’t help the disappointment that starts swirling in my gut.

Is it going to be as awkward as before?

Did Lance and his mum talk while I was outside?

As we reach the patio steps, I pull him to a stop, silently commanding his attention as I stare up at him.

“Are you okay?” I ask, squeezing his hand in mine.

He brushes his lips across my knuckles as if he’s done it a million times before and then tips his head toward the double doors. “Ask me that in an hour, sunshine.”

Lance

We sat down for dinner fifteen minutes ago, and already I’d rather be outside with the dog.

---