Page 7 of Then Came You

“I’ll go tell her. Be right back.” She hurried next door to find Savannah straightening the children’s section, which happened to be nearest to the coffee shop.

Savannah flapped her hand. “I heard everything. Go ahead.”

Gillian rolled her eyes and then went to rejoin Sam, who was standing near the front door, coffee in hand.

“Stand back a little while I introduce you,” he said, holding the door open for her.

“You have to introduce me?”

He smiled and then walked up to the driver’s side window, where Rocky had his head out and his mouth hanging open, displaying an impressive set of sharp teeth.

“Hey, buddy.” Sam scratched behind the dog’s pointed ears. Rocky leaned into his hand but kept his eyes pinned on Gillian the entire time.

“This is Gillian.” Sam glanced over his shoulder at her. “Come closer.”

“Closer? Are you sure?”

“Positive.”

She stepped out from behind him, taking care not to brush up against his bare forearm.

“Now, let him sniff you.”

Gillian’s eyes went wide.

“Your hand,” he corrected.

She felt foolish being this intimidated by a dog. She’d been around dogs her whole life, and none had caused her harm. Then again, maybe it wasn’t Rocky she was afraid of…

She held out her hand, palm down, and slowly brought it up to his snout. He gave her the sniff test and then licked the back of it.

“Oh. Okay, then.”

“See. He likes you. Go ahead and pet him now.”

Sam took a step back, and she stepped forward, scratching behind Rocky’s ears like Sam had.

“You’re a good boy, aren’t you? Assuming, with a name like Rocky, you are a boy.”

“He’s a boy, alright.”

“Where are you taking him? Not that it’s any of my business.”

“We’re on our way to the dog park.”

“Oh. Is there one nearby?”

“About twenty minutes away.”

“Hmm. Cocoa would probably like that too.”

“You should take him sometime. I’m not trying to tell you what to do. Just a suggestion.”

She stepped back and gave Sam a tentative smile. “Maybe I will. I try to walk him every day, but sometimes I get lazy.”

“He could come with me and Rocky sometime.”

Gillian eyed him closely, trying to determine if he were asking about Cocoa or her and Cocoa. Then a group of women walked up to the door of the coffee shop, saving her from having to answer.