On average, dogs slept eighteen hours a day, so really, not much responsibility in caring for one.
So why didn’t he have one of his own?
He’d always told himself it was because he worked so many hours in a day. But Scott did, too. Of course, Scott lived in a unique mecca where others were there to walk or feed the dog, others whom the dog knew and loved, in his absence.
In his semi secluded showplace on the cliff...not so much.
If he bought the cottage, though...
A hugeif.
First and foremost, even before financial considerations, he’d have to run the idea by Sage. No way would he even consider the idea if it in any way made her uncomfortable. Ocean Breeze was her home. Her happiness.
He’d snatched the life she’d planned from her once.
He would die before doing so again.
And yet...she was the one who’d brought up the idea of a new friendship between the two of them. Like Scott and Iris. She’d specifically pointed to them as an example.
And they both lived on Ocean Breeze.
Maybe that was the trick. Living in the same neighborhood. Seeing each other every day. Having ready access when and if both parties desired, but with no pressure, expectation or obligation.
No strings. Just neighbors sharing a beach.
And no mystery, either. It was all right there. Taken for granted. Plebeian.
Morgan circled his legs. Letting him know she was ready to quit standing around doing nothing. And Gray returned to real life. Pulling himself back half a dozen notches.
Living on Ocean Breeze? Renovating the cottage himself?
He was getting way ahead of himself.
Maybe he should just concentrate on putting out feelers among the neighbors for a service dog water rescue program before he started moving in on them.
And give Sage time to adjust to his return to her life before jumping into any idea of a long-term friendship between the two of them.
Any idea of permanently sharing her beach would just have to wait.
Chapter Sixteen
The next week flew by. Sage was busier than usual at the firm, juggling the depth of detail in Gray’s pro-bono project with her usual workload. And Leigh’s preschool was gearing up for a Halloween party that required parent volunteers. Of course, she was one of the first to sign up. Being a parentanythinggave her as much of a glow four years into her life with Leigh as it had the first day she’d been told she’d passed all regulations and was on the list to get a baby.
There were glitches that week as well as joy. Most definitely. A time or two when she’d instinctively reached out to Gray, only to snatch her hand back.
In an obvious fashion that appeared to have the same effect on him as a touch would have done. Or rather, had had a similar response to his effect on her. Flooding with desire wasn’t something she went around and did on a regular basis anymore.
And the one time she hadn’t pulled back in time...they’d both recoiled as though singed. And that instant was better left to burn to ash and drift away. Out of their memories.
Then there was her new Buzzing Bee Clinics brainstorm. A project she’d already researched. Two events. One for investors. And the other, a smaller affair, for potential contractor veterinarians. She’d just heard back from her public relations expert. Sage would handle all the legalities, of course, and was ready to present the ideas to her pro-bono client.
On Friday of that next week, she texted Gray to call her when he got a chance, and smiled when her phone rang within seconds—with his ID popping up on the screen. They’d seen each other a few times that week. A couple of waves, followed by brief small talk—mostly chatter by Leigh—on the beach. And once, in her office.
“I have a friend who’s in the PR business, Marissa. She excels at putting on events, publicizing them and getting attendees for her various clients.”
“She’s a party planner.”
“Actually, no, she owns her own PR firm. She hires out the actual planning of the party part.”
