She felt Luca’s eyes on her and she nodded without looking at him. Her place, her turf. A tiny element of protection. “Yes. I’d like to change into jeans and a sweater. And introduce you to someone.”
Chapter 5
It was only a matter of a few minutes until the car pulled up outside a stone cottage, perched on the side of a hill dotted with spruce trees and shrubs. Charlie opened her door and she got out. “Would it be too much to ask you to wait for us, Charlie?”
“You’re the boss, Miss Ross.”
She smiled at him then. She was glad Luca had chosen him as their driver. He’d been driving shuttle bus for several years, and she’d always enjoyed his anecdotes about his grandchildren. Charlie was one of the few men she felt very comfortable around.
“You may as well come down too, Luca. We’ll walk to the spot from here.”
She walked down the stone path to her door while Luca retrieved the basket from the car. As soon as her feet hit the verandah the barking started and she smiled. As she opened the door, she called out, “It’s just me!” and was greeted by happy licks and tail wags.
Tommy. Her companion, her protection, her one bright spot of unconditional love.
“You wanna go for a walk, boy?”
More butt wiggling as his tail beat a furious pace. Then he spied Luca at the top of the path and leapt out the door.
“Tommy!”
For once he ignored her command, reached the top of the path and with a loud bark, jumped up on Luca, planting firm paws on Luca’s chest.
What next?
Luca rubbed Tommy’s blonde ears. “Aren’t you handsome.” He called down to Mari. ?
??I didn’t know you had a dog!”
At least he wasn’t angry. Even if she was mortified that her dog had met him with more exuberance than he should have.
“Tommy. Come.”
At her sharp command, the Labrador slunk back down the stone steps to where she stood on the verandah. “Lie down.”
He dropped by her feet.
“If he’s that well trained, I can only assume you whispered something in his ear as he went out the door.” Luca’s teasing voice came closer as he descended to the cottage.
“I’m sorry about your sweater.”
“It’s not even dirty. Besides, that’s what laundry service is for.”
“Tommy, stay.” She left the dog on the porch floor and opened the screen door. “I’ll just be a moment.”
“So this is who you wanted me to meet?”
She paused. “Yeah. I figured if we’re going to be lunching outside, it would be a good chance to let him out for a run. He’s such a good boy, staying in all day and waiting for me.” She knelt down and rubbed the top of his head. “It would be a big treat for him to get out in the middle of the day for a romp.”
“You don’t leave him out in your garden?”
Mari ceased patting and looked up. “I know it sounds cruel, leaving him shut up all day. And I probably could leave him out, but I don’t trust the bears.” She leaned her forehead against Tommy’s warm neck. “I don’t know what I’d do if anything happened to him.”
He was her guardian. Nothing would hurt her while Tommy was close by. He wasn’t vicious by any stretch, but he was big and he was loyal.
“We’ll wait for you, then. Enjoy the outside and get acquainted.” Luca put the basket down and sat on a deck chair, rubbing Tommy’s silky ears in his fingers.
Mari went into the bedroom and pulled jeans and a soft sweater out of her closet. It felt strangely intimate, undressing and knowing Luca was only a few steps away. She slid the jeans over her panties, pulled the sweater over her head and re-did her ponytail.