Mel returned home to hear laughter coming from the patio. That’s right, John is showing up today. I bet he’s here already. Let’s see if he’s as hot in person as Abby says.
The dog squirmed in Mel’s arms as she set her down and unclipped the leash from her collar. Lucy ran for the kitchen and checked her bowl for treats. Then Mel stepped outside, the dog by her side, to find everyone enjoying a cold brew.
“Hello. We’re back,” Mel said. She zeroed in on John, who was facing her at the end of the table. Her breath caught in her throat at the sight of him. How in the hell did I get so lucky? There are gorgeous guys everywhere I look. It’s like I won the lottery.
Abby made the introductions while John stood to greet Mel. He walked around the table and gave her an unexpected hug. “Sorry, but it’s like I already know you. Abby has talked about you for years. Now I can finally put a face to all of the insane stories I’ve heard.”
The horror on Mel’s face caused everyone to burst out laughing.
“He’s giving you shit,” Abby said. “If I ever told him the truth about you, he’d be afraid to visit.”
“I swear I’m going to kill you right now!” Mel’s face turned hot red. She grabbed a beer from the cooler and sat in the empty chair conveniently located right next to John.
“So, this is the new dog I’ve been hearing about, huh? Pretty cute little thing.”
“Yeah, you should have seen how pitiful she was just a few days back, poor baby. Hey, where’s our ‘guess the dog’s breed’ paper?”
Adam got up and went inside. He returned with the paper that everyone in the household had filled out.
“What’s this?” John asked.
“Dork over there wanted to place bets on what kind of dog Lucy was. We all had to participate and throw a buck into the pot. Do you want to join in before she makes the big reveal?” Adam asked.
John laughed and gave Lucy a long, thorough going over. “Sure, why not. I’m in.” He took the paper and wrote down his name and the breed he thought Lucy was.
“Hand over a buck,” Mel said, smirking. “You aren’t sneaking by without paying, mister.”
She looked at what John wrote down as his breed choice and laughed. “You seriously think she looks like a Maltese?”
“I have no idea. All I know is, she’s small and fluffy, and so is a Maltese.”
Mel picked Lucy up and set the pup on her lap. “Okay, babe, it’s time for your big reveal. Da ta da… she’s a Papillion!”
“What the hell is a Papillion?” John asked.
“That’s what I said to the vet. Apparently she is a spaniel in the toy group, and she’s a purebred. The vet says this breed is pretty expensive. Who knows how the poor baby ended up alone, dirty, and hungry? I can’t even think about it too long or I’ll cry. Anyway, none of us won, so everybody take your dollar back. It was fun though, wasn’t it?”
“Yeah, it was a blast. I can’t even remember the last time I had so much fun.” Ellie snickered. “Anyway, since she’s such a high-end dog, it’s a good thing she’s wearing that fancy collar. She’s almost royalty.”
Betsy pushed her chair back and got up. “Who’s ready for some appetizers? I’ll bring out grapes, crackers, cheese, and salami.”
“That sounds delicious, thanks,” Abby said.
Mel got up, too. “I’ll give you a hand.” She followed Betsy into the house and made sure to close the kitchen door behind her. Once they were out of earshot from everyone outside, Mel squeezed Betsy’s arm so hard she left an imprint on it.
“What was that for?” Betsy yelped.
“Are you blind? Holy shit, John is as hunky as the vet I just met.”
“Mmmm… pray tell,” Betsy said while shaking her arm, trying to ease the pain out of it.
“Not now, but I’ll tell you all the juice later. That man can give me a wellness exam any time he likes. Lucky Lucy… damn her. Sometimes I wish I was a dog.”
Betsy laughed. “You’re so weird. If you recall, Abby gave us fair warning last week that John was hot. She said he looked like Zac Efron and had a six-pack to die for, remember?”
“That’s right. I wonder how we’ll get an opportunity to see it. We need to set up a beach party while he’s here.”
“Honey, this isn’t Magens Bay, but we could plan for swimming and a barbecue next Saturday at Folly Beach. That actually is doable.”
“Yes, yes, yes! That would be perfect. I haven’t been on a beach in years. Eww… am I too pasty white to be seen in public on a beach? I wonder if I should hit a tanning bed this week.” The thought brought her back to the image of Dr. Dan and his golden tan. I should get a tan anyway in case I’m ever naked with him. I’m sure it would look a lot sexier than the Casper the Ghost vibe I have going on right now. “Why the hell didn’t Gina set up tanning beds in her salon, damn it? I’m screwed on hoping for a discount anywhere.”
“Not necessarily. Tanning salons don’t get much business in the summer. I’d call around and compare prices. Some of them might be running specials to get people back in the door.”
“Yeah, I better get on it right away. Maybe we should find out how long John is staying before I go all haywire with the tanning thing. Abby said a week or two. I’m not sure which it is, damn it. Okay, let’s get the snacks outside so I can drool over him some more.”
***
“I think it’s time to take this little girl for a walk. She needs to do her business. It’s so handy to have the park across the street, and luckily, she doesn’t mind being walked on a leash,” Mel said. She jammed a plastic bag in her shorts pocket and clipped the leash to Lucy’s pink rhinestone collar. She slipped on her oversized sunglasses and told everyone she would be back in a half hour. With Lucy in tow, she headed for the side gate.
“Hey, Mel, do you want some company?” John yelled.
Can my life get any better? Mel grinned before turning around and waving him forward to join her. She gave him a ‘come hither’ smile and said, “Of course.”
Mel and John walked side by side through the park along with dozens of tourists and regulars. They stopped to chat with dog walkers, giving the pooches ample time to sniff and say hello. Mel had become a dog owner, one of them, and instantly felt a connection.
“I’m going to have a whole new group of friends now just because I have a dog. Isn’t it amazing how dog owners congregate with each other?”
“Yeah, it’s pretty cool. Down on the islands, there’s a ton of stray dogs. Nobody ever claims them, but they’re all fed by locals and tourists. Actually, they look pretty healthy and seem relatively friendly and tame. Mongrels have become a breed of their own,” John said. “They’re called curs.”
“Curs are a type of mongrel?”
“Yeah, but there are a lot of different kinds of curs, and they make pretty nice pets. Think about the many types of spaniels or terriers there are. It’s the same thing.”
“Interesting.” Mel thought about Dixie, Dan’s mountain cur, as she and John strolled.
“So, how is life in St. Thomas?”
“It’s kind of like living in a bubble actually. I mean, my business is work, don’t get me wrong, but having a bar and grill on a tropical beach is awfully sweet. I meet a lot of cool people, I work in flip-flops, a T-shirt, and shorts every day, and I make tons of Painkillers.” He laughed.
“It sounds like you really enjoy life down there, but what in the world is a Painkiller?”
“It’s a popular island drink that originated in the BVI. It’s made of rum, cream of coconut, pineapple juice, and orange juice. It comes in three different strengths. Everyone loves them, but you have to be careful. It’s easy to overindulge.”
“I bet. It sounds delicious though.”
“Come on down. I make the best Painkillers on St. Thomas.”
“I’d love to. You want to find a bench to sit on by the water? Oh yeah, you see plenty of water every day.”
“No, it’s fine. I don’t mind at all. Any water is good water with me. Don’t forget I’m from Nebraska. Abby has talked about you a lot over the years, Mel. It’s odd to finally meet you.”
She stole a glance in his direction and smiled. “Yeah… same here.”
Mel found a vacant bench with an enormous live oak offering them shade. She poured water from her bottle into her cupped palm and held it out to Lucy. The dog lapped it up.
“Smart pup,” John said as he situated himself comfortably next to Mel. “What’s on the island out there?” He held his hand above his eyebrows to block the sun dancing off the water.
“That’s Fort Sumter.”
“Really, have you ever toured it?”
“Sure, when I was a kid in school. Our history class went out there on a field trip once.”
“I’d really like to check it out. Would you like to go with me tomorrow? We can get a bite to eat somewhere afterward.”
“I’d love to, thanks. Can I be frank with you?”
He looked surprised as he reached down and petted Lucy. “Yeah, of course you can.”
Her heart did a backflip from nervousness. John was gorgeous and sweet, and she didn’t want to make him feel uncomfortable with the question she was about to ask. “I’m just wondering if you’re a bachelor by choice or if you just haven’t found the right woman yet. You do realize you’re extremely handsome, don’t you?”
“Aw shucks, ma’am,” he said. The corners of his mouth turned up and formed a smile.
She laughed and shoved him, taking notice of how long his eyelashes were. “Smart-ass… I was being sincere right then.”
“Hmmm… the lady wants the truth.” He winked at her. “Okay, I’ll be serious for five minutes, then all bets are off. I’m open to the thought of having a woman permanently in my life, but it’s tough. I live on an island where most of the people are tourists on vacation and are going home in a week. The females living there that came from the states are eighteen years old and there to party. I’m not looking for a relationship with someone fifteen years younger than me.”
“Wow… I totally get that. I’m friends with a guy that’s twenty-two, but it’s like we’re from different generations. He’s way too spontaneous and wild for the likes of me. His viewpoint on relationships is much more laid-back than my own. I think a relationship grows over time as you get to know each other. I wouldn’t say I’m in a relationship after knowing someone for only a week.”
“So… in your opinion, how long should it take?”
“I don’t know. I guess it depends on the person and if they’re actually serious or not. I’m twenty-eight, yet I don’t think I’m really compatible with someone who’s twenty-two. I’m thinking with a thirtyish brain, and he’s thinking with a twentyish brain. We’re in different worlds.”
“So, what do you think of someone who is thirty-four?”
She laughed before answering. “I think thirty-four is a really nice age and sounds a little more settled. Maybe it works better when the guy is older than the woman. You know how long it takes men to mature, right?” Her eyes twinkled with delight at their back and forth banter.
“Have you ever been to the Caribbean?”
“No, and to be honest, I’d love to go. Just seeing the pictures Abby sent me when she lived there made my jaw drop. I can’t believe water can be that turquoise.”
“It is pretty spectacular. So, what’s stopping you? Abby has her house again, and when it isn’t rented out, it just sits there empty. You know she’d let you use it.”
“I do have some vacation time coming up, but isn’t it hurricane season right now?”
“Yeah, but nothing has been severe in the last five years. Of course you never know, but I’ve lived to tell the tale. Why don’t you come back with me when I leave? I make a great tour guide, and I’ll have more time now than in winter when it really gets crazy. I know it sounds sudden that I’m asking, but I feel like I already know you. Abby really loves you, and she’s talked about you a lot.”
“And you think it’s safe?”
“To be around me?”
Mel laughed. “No, you goof, I’m talking about the weather.” Mel scooped up Lucy and held her on her lap when she noticed two large dogs approaching with their owners. “You never know. I don’t want Lucy being another dog’s lunch,” she whispered.
“Let’s walk and talk some more.” John got up and reached for Melanie’s hand. “I’ll take the leash, too, for a while.” They followed the sidewalk on Murray Boulevard along the water’s edge.
“What day are you leaving to go home?”
“I’m flying out of Savannah next Saturday. Do you have a passport?”
“Sorry, but no. I guess that’s kind of pathetic at my age, right?”
“Nah… I was just thinking of fun things to do, that is, if you’re considering it. There’s plenty of activities right in St. Thomas or St. John. We don’t need to go to the BVI. Give it some thought. We could have a lot of fun. I’ll show you my itinerary when we get back to the house.”
“I’ll have to talk to Abby before I make any plans. It would be a no go if renters are at the beach house.”
“Not necessarily. I don’t actually live on the beach. I have a house, too, with a couple of bedrooms.”
“Oh, really? So you’re saying I can’t use Abby as an excuse not to go?”
“That’s exactly what I’m saying. You can’t use Lucy either. There are plenty of people in the house that will take good care of her.”
“That’s true. Everyone loves you already, right, baby?”
Lucy cocked her head and wagged her tail as if she understood.
“Okay… for now it’s a definite maybe. I have a few things to wrap up at work this week, and of course I have to make sure Lucy will be taken care of. I’ll talk to Abby tonight and let you know by Monday evening for sure.”
“We’re still on for Fort Sumter tomorrow though, right?”
“Yes, definitely, we’ll have a blast. What hotel are you staying at?”
“I’m at the Charleston Inn right by Waterfront Park.”
“That’s perfect. The boat dock is at Liberty Square just north of there. I can think of a few cool restaurants in the area, too. If we take the nine thirty ferry, we’ll be back in time for lunch.”
“That sounds good to me. Should we head back to the house?”