Tanner Ties

Luke shook his head. “’Preciate the offer, but I need to get the dog out of the weather.”

“He’s welcome to come in, too.”

“But he’s wet and muddy and smells like dog.”

Laughing, Lauren gave the dog’s ears an affectionate rub. “He is a dog. What should he smell like?”

Luke watched her head for the cabin door, the dog trotting happily along at her side. With no other choices left to him, he followed.

Three

The interior of the cabin was dark as a cave. Luke had been right in assuming Lauren would lose electrical power during the storm.

“Give me a second to light some candles,” she said, “then I’ll get you a towel.”

He remained just inside the door and stripped off his dripping slicker, then toed off his muddy boots. He heard the scrape of a match and saw the burst of a small flame. With her hand cupped around it, Lauren leaned to touch the flame to a wick. The flame burned brighter, illuminating her face. She moved her hand to light a second candle, a third. After lighting them all, she straightened with a sigh, pushed back the hood of her jacket and shook out her hair.

He couldn’t help but stare. God, she’s beautiful, he thought. In the candlelight, her hair gleamed like black satin and her cheeks like dew-kissed roses.

She glanced his way and gave him an apologetic smile, as she removed her raincoat. “I’m sorry I can’t offer you hot coffee. The electricity’s off.”

“I figured you’d lose power during the storm.”

“I can offer you a dry towel, though. Give me a sec and I’ll get you one.”

He watched her pass through an open doorway into another room. He heard her scuffling around inside and figured she was changing clothes. She appeared moments later, wearing a butter-yellow sweatsuit, a towel wrapped around her head, turban-style. She was carrying a stack of fluffy towels and handed him one, then dropped down on the sofa and opened the remaining one over her lap.

Smiling at the dog, she patted the towel. “Come on, Buddy. Let’s get you dried off.”

In the midst of drying off his own face, Luke slowly lowered the towel. “Buddy?” he repeated dully.

Her expression turning sheepish, she scrubbed the towel over the dog’s head. “Sorry. Habit. I’ve probably had five pets in my lifetime, and I’ve named every one of them Buddy.” With a shrug she wiped the towel over the dog’s back. “So, what did you name him?”

He eased closer. “Didn’t. I just call him…buddy.”

She lifted her head and looked at him in surprise. “Really?” She shifted her gaze back to the dog and smiled. “Then, I guess Buddy’s your name. Is that all right with you?”

In answer, he licked her full on the mouth.

Laughing, she dragged the back of her hand across her lips. “And isn’t that just like a man? Trying to French kiss a woman on the first date.” She quickly dried the dog’s legs, then leaned back to inspect him. “You still look half-drowned, but that’s the best I can do.” She cocked her head. “How about a treat?”