“With bacon?”
He barked, and I laughed.
“Bacon and scrambled eggs it is. I’ll ask your dad what kind of dog food you eat so I can keep some here.”
I got to work making our breakfast dinner and moved around the kitchen feeling light on my feet. It was the first time in a very long time I’d felt such a sense of peace, and I knew it was because of the man sleeping on my sofa and the dog at my feet.
Jack sat right near where the bacon was cooking and kept sniffing the air. He certainly had a good nose for smell. Willa had mentioned Jack was a tracking dog—dogs and missing persons—so it was no wonder he was so focused on the bacon.
“That smells good.”
I jumped and nearly let out a scream. “You scared me, Hunter!”
He smiled, then gave me a wink. His hair was a mess, like he had run his fingers through it. Lord, if he only knew how sexy he was. That smile had always been a weakness of mine. It was one of the reasons I had agreed to go out with Hunter in tenth grade. When he smiled at me, he made me feel like I was something special. He would smile at other girls, yes, but not like he smiled at me. He had a dimple on his right cheek, and it only came out if he smiled big enough. I could also easily get lost in those blue eyes of his.
“I hope breakfast for dinner is okay; I don’t have much in the way of food. I need to go to the grocery store.”
Hunter reached down and gave Jack a good scratching. “Good boy, Jack.”
Jack’s tail hit the floor a few times before he focused back on the bacon.
“I was making Jack some eggs, as well, since I don’t have dog food.”
“I’ve got some in my truck. I always carry some, just in case.”
Jack let out a small whine.
“Don’t worry, buddy. I’ll still give you some bacon,” I said softly.
Hunter laughed as he walked back into the living room to put on his shoes and coat to run outside.
“Does he need to go out?” he called back to me.
“Nope, he went already.”
The front door opened and closed, and I scrambled the eggs in a bowl before pouring them into the pan. Jack slid down to the floor and lay there while I salted and peppered the eggs.
The door opened again and Hunter walked in. Jack jumped up when Hunter set down a bowl, opened a small Tupperware container, and took out a scoop.
“Leave it,” Hunter said as he put the scoop back into the tub, shut it, and set it to the side.
Jack waited so patiently for his dinner that I couldn’t help but be impressed.
Hunter finally gave the signal, and Jack leapt for his bowl. He ate his food so fast I wasn’t even sure he was chewing it.
“Goodness, is he just swallowing it?”
“Yes, the little hog,” Hunter said with a chuckle before he looked at me. “I have a different bowl at home that makes him work for it more.”
I nodded. I loved having Jack and Hunter with me, and knew I wanted them to spend more time here. I chewed nervously on my lip, realizing what I was about to do was a huge leap. “Would you mind buying him another bag of his food, so we can keep some here? And maybe the same bowl you have at home?”
A wide grin appeared on Hunter’s face. “I don’t mind at all.”
We stared at each other for a moment, and I wondered if he could tell that I was mentally begging for him to kiss me again.
“Need any help?”
His words pulled me back to reality. “Um, do you mind putting some bread in the toaster oven there?”
Hunter reached for the bread, took out four slices, and then slipped them into the toaster. He pushed them down, then walked over to the cabinets. “Plates?”
“Left side. Did you want me to make you any coffee?”
“Nah, I only drink a cup a day, and that’s in the morning.”
Smiling, I moved the eggs around in the pan. “Well, you did just wake up from a long nap.”
Hunter paused and looked at his Apple watch. “Shit, did you know it was seven?”
“I did.”
He frowned. “Guess that makes sense—it is dark outside.”
I giggled. “Did you manage to watch all of the movie?”
A bright pink tinted Hunter’s cheeks. “Yes, I forced myself not to fall asleep. That sofa is comfortable.”
“I know. I’ve slept on it plenty of nights.”
Hunter opened his mouth to say something, but then shut it.
“I need to get my car,” I said to fill the sudden silence.
“Already done. Bishop followed Kyle out here to drop it off. He left the keys on the front seat. I grabbed them when I got the dog food.”