Mommy Loves The Military Man

“He’s, uh, very friendly.” Alex struggled against the huge shoulders of the sleek, white dog, as the pooch slobbered happily on his jacket. He turned his head away and grimaced. Boomer had some impressive doggie breath.

“Lizzie, come get Boomer.”

Lizzie bounded down the hall and skidded to a stop on the hardwood floor. “Hey, Mr. Sanchez. You look great.”

Cameron reminded her daughter why she’d been called. “Lizzie, the dog.”

Lizzie waved her hand. “Come on, Boomer.”

The dog immediately stopped struggling and pranced behind Lizzie on her way to the kitchen.

Alex exhaled and stood. Heck of a way to start a date.

“Oh, Alex. I’m so sorry.” Cameron stared and he looked down. The jacket he’d brushed lint off on the porch was now covered in hair and slobber, his tie was askew, and his shirt was half pulled out of his pants.

“No worries. This is all fixable.” He tucked his shirt in, straightened his tie, and brushed some hair off of his jacket. The slobber stain would dry—eventually.

“See, good as…” With Boomer the guard dog slash welcome wagon out of the way, Alex finally had a chance to really look at Cameron in a half-sleeved red dress that fit her perfectly and stopped just short of her knees.

“Alex?”

“Sorry. I was… uh, you look great.”

Her smile grew along with a slight color on her cheeks. “Thanks. Hold on just one minute. Mom?”

Barbara stepped into the living room.

“Can you put these in a vase in my room and close the door, please?”

“Absolutely. Hi, Alex. Nice to see you. You two have a great evening.”

Cameron grabbed a purse off the table and hurried out, Alex right behind her. As soon as he closed the door behind them, she heaved a huge sigh. “Just once, I’d like to have something go like it’s supposed to.”

He chuckled. He’d learned quickly that nothing was predictable when you had kids. Or dogs, apparently. “It’s fine.”

“I had asked Lizzie and Mom to deal with Boomer while you picked me up, but, well…”

“I was greeted by Boomer anyway.”

“I thought Lizzie had put him in his crate. I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be. I knew what I was getting into when I asked you out. How about we put all that behind us and have a nice evening?” He motioned toward his car.

“Where are we headed?” she asked once he had pulled out of her driveway.

“I thought we’d go to dinner at the Army Navy Country Club.”

“Country Club. Impressive.”

“Naw. I think they stash the Warrant Officers out on the ninth green.”

She laughed. Good. That was what he was going for. Now he could relax. After Boomer’s welcoming embrace, the date had nowhere to go but up.

He tried to tell himself not to be nervous. This was the same Cameron who’d laughed with him and the girls over Italian food. The one who ate ham and cheese sandwiches with the crusts cut off because that was what their kids had made for them.

“Wow.” Cameron’s eyes widened as they wound through the expansive lawn of the country club after driving through the white gates. She gestured to a directional sign at the first fork in the road. “That’s the way to the golf course. I believe you said the ninth green?”

Good thing she appreciated his quirky sense of humor. It typically made an appearance when he was nervous. Like tonight.