We started to eat before Bear finally answered. He wiped his mouth. “I’ve been here for about ten years now.”
The tenderloin was tangy and delicious. Chaucer lifted his head to sniff at the table. I pulled a rawhide from my bag and offered it to him. He gently took it from my fingers and slumped back down under the table to gnaw on his treat.
Bear took a bite of his potatoes. “Can I just say that you have the greatest dog I’ve ever met? How did you two find each other?”
I extended my hand under the table and a moment later, I felt Chaucer’s head push into my palm. I shifted back a little in my seat so he could rest his head in my lap. “There was a notice on the bulletin board at my ex-husband’s club. A family had purchased him without doing their research. The daughter wanted a small dog, and the wife wasn’t too excited about dogs, period. I have no idea where they got him. I saw his little Newfy puppy face on that flyer and pulled it off the wall; I didn’t want anyone else to see him. I ran outside, called the number, and made an appointment to meet him that afternoon. I spent the rest of the day buying dog food and bowls, toys and a bed, a collar and a leash. I knew he was supposed to be mine. Through some weird twist of fate, he’d ended up in the wrong home, but I was going to fix that.”
Bear had stopped eating, his focus on me. “And you did.”
“Evening.” We both looked up in the direction of the deep voice coming out of the dark. Aiden took a step forward, into the circle of light surrounding our table.
Bear placed his napkin on the table and pushed back in his chair, so he could better see Aiden. “Fancy meeting you here, Chief.” There was a tone I couldn’t quite place, but Bear didn’t appear to be happy about the interruption.
Aiden looked back and forth between the two of us, finally glancing down at the back end of a dark brown blob under the table. “At least I understand now why you’re threatening this poor woman with pneumonia, Bear.”
“Listen—” Bear began.
“This was my choice, and it’s been lovely.” I shifted my gaze to Bear. “Truly lovely. Thank you for bringing us here.”
Bear gave a reluctant smile, some of the tension leaving his shoulders. “So, Chief, is dining al fresco illegal now?”
Aiden ignored Bear’s little dig, reaching down to scratch the top of Chaucer’s head, speaking directly to me. “Just driving by and saw your car. I wanted to apologize about before.” He stuffed his hands in his pockets as an uncomfortable silence surrounded us.
Bear’s eyes narrowed as he studied Aiden. He slowly shook his head, picking up his napkin and fork again. “Well, it sure was nice of you to visit, Chief, but our food’s getting cold.”
Bear’s comment barely earned a glance from Aiden, who then gestured to me. “Go ahead and eat.” He left, walking back around the side of the building. That was odd.
A moment later, he came back, a knit hat in his hand. “I’m glad Bear loaned you a warm coat, but you need a hat, too.”
I glanced at Bear, who was staring openmouthed at Aiden, his cooling dinner forgotten.
“California girl.” I shrugged. “I forget about hats.”
“Bear should have remembered.” He leaned down and drew the hat on me, flipping up the extra knitted weave so it framed my face and covered my ears.
Bear threw his napkin down on the table, annoyance clear.
I hated to admit it, and I wouldn’t aloud, but the hat helped. I gave Aiden a smile of thanks, and he nodded.
24) Buy warm hats.
Preferably the ones with the silly pom-pom balls on top.
“You lose heat out of the top of your head. Got to keep it covered if you’re going to be taken out into frigid winds.” He gave Bear a dark look and then shifted back to me. “Go ahead. Eat. I don’t want you to have to be out in this cold for longer than necessary.”
Bear smacked Aiden on the shoulder. Judging by Aiden’s wince, I wouldn’t term it friendly. “Well, it’s been a nice visit, but we don’t want to hold you up. I’m sure you have important things to do, being on duty right now and all.”
Aiden ignored Bear, his eyes on me. “Please. Eat.”
The waitress came out with a bowl of chowder, the host trailing with a chair. “Evening, Chief. We thought you might like to sit with your friends. Maybe have something to eat, too?”
Once the pair returned to the restaurant, Aiden continued to stand, looking uncomfortable.
“Have you eaten?” The big, embarrassed lug was killing me.
“Sit if you’re going to sit,” Bear said as he kicked the chair to the side in a half-hearted invitation.
“Go ahead, Aiden. Join us. Have some chowder. It’s delicious,” I said.
