THE PARK OF SUNSET DREAMS

by Ava Miles

  “I live about a half mile from here. If you’d like to continue, we can do it indoors.” Her heart sputtered a little, hoping he would agree. It would be fun to keep spending time with him.

  “I don’t want to put you out.”

  “You’re not. Really. I love helping. Come on. Who knows? He might actually shake your hand by the end of the night.”

  His mouth turned up at the side. “I doubt it, but you’re right. I’m desperate. I can’t take another water bowl incident. See, his ears turned up. He’s plotting again. He’s going to turn on me as soon as we’re out of sight.”

  She laughed. “Well, he’s one smart dog. Why don’t you just follow me, and we can pick this up where it’s warmer? My feet are freezing.” Her running shoes didn’t have any insulation, not like her snow boots.

  “Right. Let’s go. And thanks, Jane. You’re a life saver.”

  “What color?” she quipped as she led Annie and Rufus to the car.

  “Green was always my favorite,” he volleyed right back. Henry jerked on the leash when he saw they were heading for the car, capturing Matt’s full attention.

  “Tell him to sit,” she suggested. And then ran him through the commands again.

  It took another four minutes to get Henry into the SUV. Matt sank against the side of the vehicle when he shut the door. “He hates going home.”

  “Follow me. We’ll have him ship-shape in no time.”

  When she reached her own car and opened the door, Annie and Rufus scrambled into their respective spots in the backseat without any prodding, and she buckled herself into the driver’s seat. She took off, keeping an eye on the vehicle in her rearview mirror.

  Her belly warmed as she thought of him being in her house. Should she suggest he have one of the beers she kept around for Rhett and Elizabeth? Too casual? What about ordering pizza? She tapped her head back against the seat.

  “Oh, I suck at this.”

  She used her Bluetooth to dial Elizabeth. When her friend answered, she immediately said, “Matt is following me home to continue dog lessons. Do I offer him a beer? Dinner? What do you think?”

  “First, take a deep breath. Second, bravo. I’m so proud of you. We’ll hope the weather continues to suck so you can do all your obedience training inside. Now, as for a beer, tell him he deserves one after everything his dog has put him through. Plus, it will help him relax.”

  “Should I change or would that be too weird?” she asked as she turned down the lane to her house. Her mind was buzzing with ideas.

  “Tell him you’re going to pull on something warmer because you’re freezing.”

  “What about a fire? Too obvious?”

  “It’s five degrees outside with wind gusting at twenty. Of course you should start a fire.”

  “Right.” It didn’t have to be about romance. It could be about survival. She almost laughed at herself. “Okay, we’re here.”

  “Call me later.”

  Her smile was soft. No one could talk her down from a massive freak out like Elizabeth.

  Matt was coming around to get Henry when she emerged from her SUV. “Why don’t you let me get him this time? Neither of us wants to chase him down. Can you get my dogs?”

  “Sure. At least we know they won’t ignore me.”

  When she opened the door, Henry hung his head. “Yeah, you know I mean business. Let’s go.”

  They brought the dogs inside, and in the foyer, she knelt in front of Henry. “Now, you’re a guest here, so you’re going to be good, right?”

  “Oh, shit,” Matt commented. “I hadn’t thought of that. And you have a really nice house.”

  The thought had crossed her mind, but they would manage. “Sit,” she said to Henry, and she unclipped his leash as soon as he did. “Now stay.”

  When he did, she smiled. “Good dog.” Her hand gave him a good rubdown as his tail whipped madly through the air.

  Matt knelt beside her and unclipped the leashes on her dogs. Annie pranced over to Jane, and she unzipped her fleece and removed her hat.

  Standing, she rubbed Rufus behind the ears. “I really am freezing, so I’m going to change. Make yourself at home. I’ll be right back.”

  She’d made it to her bedroom when her phone buzzed in her fleece. Elizabeth’s text made her smile.

  Brown cashmere sweater. Skinny jeans. Brown Uggs. A little scarlet lip gloss we bought in Atlantic City. You’re rocking this.

  After texting back her thanks, she changed clothes, her toes almost weeping in relief when she shoved her feet into the insulated boots. Looking in the mirror, she winced at her cap hair. It was soothing to run a brush through it, and the lip gloss she applied felt like magic on her chapped lips. She studied herself in the mirror again and tried out a few smiles.

  Her phone buzzed again.

  Stop analyzing. Just be yourself. You look great.

  Laughing to herself, she headed out of her bedroom and into the den.

  Matt was still standing by the door as though he were uncomfortable. His coat was in his hands, and he’d removed his cap and gloves. It was incredible to see him without his winter gear, standing there in just his jeans and a thermal cotton navy long-sleeved shirt. His broad shoulders made her mouth water, and without his cap on, all she wanted to do was run her hands through his thick dark hair. He had cap hair too, and somehow it made him more approachable. Breathtaking but approachable.

  And he was keeping an eagle eye on Henry, who was sniffing the floor. Rufus was lying by the fire she had yet to start, as if to say, aren’t you going to light this thing?

  “Here, let me take your coat, and relax. Henry’s doing fine. Aren’t you?”

  The dog barked.

  “Rufus wants a fire, so let me get that started.”

  “Ah, sure.” He handed her his coat and then shoved his hands in the pockets of his jeans. “I meant what I said before. You have an incredible house.”

  She heard the question in his voice and decided to address it straight out. “You’re wondering how a dog walker could afford a place like this on the bench.”

  He glanced over. “It’s none of my business.”

  “But you’re wondering. I’m great with investments.” That was true.

  “Really,” he said, but she could tell he didn’t fully believe her.

  “I had a trust from my grandparents that I came into when I was twenty-five, and I’ve managed to do very well from it. I love playing the stock market.” She wasn’t going to mention how she’d turned her academic prize money into a fortune. Or the foundation she’d created to fund women’s educational scholarships.

  “I do too,” he said, and slowly he walked forward to join her. “I can take care of starting the fire. It’s the least I can do after all your help. Rufus here seems to be waiting on us. Thank God he and Henry get along.”

  “Rufus is easy going. He makes friends with everybody. Annie’s a little more selective, but she’s always nice about it.”

  “She likes me,” he said, taking the wood and arranging it in the fireplace with ease.

  “Yes, she does. She’s a good judge of character.”

  He looked over his shoulder, his blue eyes punching a hole of pure lust in her belly. “Good to know.”

  In fact, if Annie didn’t like someone, Jane probably wouldn’t like him or her either. Dogs just knew.

  “Where’s your gas key?” he asked.

  She pointed to the right, and moments later, the whoosh of air and oxygen coming together to make fire filled the silence. Rufus yawned and padded closer before settling down in front of the warm hearth. Annie joined him. Henry, of course, got his nose as close to the fire as he could before Matt had to push him back.

  “No,” he ordered. Henry looked like he simply rolled his eyes. He plopped on his butt and licked his leg.

  Watching their interactions, Jane wondered again what made Matt keep Henry when they seemed so ill-suited. Was Matt one of those can’t-fail types, or was it a matt
er of loyalty?

  “Sorry about that,” Jane said. “Since it’s such a large hearth, I didn’t want to spoil the effect with a grate.”

  “Who can blame you? It’s stunning.”

  “Thanks for making the fire. How about we let everyone warm up, and then we can start again? Would you like a beer?”

  Be casual, she told herself. Act like you offer beer to men all the time.

  Matt glanced over, and warmth shot through her body. “Are you having one?”

  This she could be honest about. “I’m going to have a glass of wine.”

  “Then I’ll have that too.”

  Oh, a man who appreciated wine. “Red okay?”

  “Preferable.”

  “Come on into the kitchen then.” She led the way, his footsteps echoing behind her in tune with the percussive beat of her heart.

  Her wine chiller was embedded in the counter next to a cabinet, and she opened it to take out one of her favorite bottles.

  Matt’s brows slammed together. “Wait. Please don’t open a Châteuaneuf-du-Pape for me. That’s like—”

  “Don’t make a fuss. I love wine. I don’t drink anything crappy.” Wine was another passion of hers—one on which she was happy to splurge.

  “But that’s like a hundred-dollar bottle at least.”

  It was two, but she didn’t correct him. She took out two wine glasses. “Like I said, I like good wine. And it’s a pleasure to share it with someone who appreciates it. Rhett and Elizabeth could care less.”

  “I’ll take a beer. Really.”

  She took out her waiter’s corkscrew—she hated modern corkscrews with a passion. “Do you always protest this much?”

  His mouth twisted at that. “Not usually, no. It’s just a really pricy bottle.”

  “Want to see my collection?” She pointed to her wine cooler. “I’ve loved wine since I studied in France for the summer in college. This is one of my indulgences.”

  He edged closer. “Okay, I’ll peek.” When he knelt down in front of the glass, she was aware of his head being near her hip.

  “My God, you have a Château Margaux. I’ve never seen a bottle of this in real life.”

  “When you get Henry to follow all your commands, we’ll open it to celebrate.”

  His mouth dropped. “But that’s like a grand.”

  That vintage was over two thousand actually. “Isn’t getting your rambunctious dog to obey you worth a celebration?”

  He shut the door to the cooler and stood. His gaze scanned her face, as though he were seeing her in a new light. “I don’t know what to make of you.”

  Well, at least she’d gone from being plain Jane to a little bit mysterious. “What?”

  “You live about an eighth of a mile from me in a house built by the same contractor, so I know what these go for. You have a love for wine that extends back to a semester abroad in France, and your cooler is filled with some of the priciest bottles out there. You also tell me you’re a wiz at the stock market. Where did you go to school?”

  Another thing she could share. “Harvard.”

  He blinked. “Harvard.”

  “Where did you go to school?” she asked, even though she already knew. She’d looked him up on the Internet.

  “I went to Columbia for undergrad and law school. It’s kinda family tradition. Uncle Arthur, Meredith, and a few other Hales went there.”

  Her family had a tradition of attending Harvard. They were going on with their fifth generation. It stopped with her. “It’s one of the top ten law schools in the country, but it’s a few spots below Harvard if I recall.” And she gave him a teasing smile.

  “A couple, yes. You don’t strike me as one of those stuffy Harvard types, though.”

  She had been without even knowing it before meeting Elizabeth. She hadn’t realized she could act any other way. Thank God, her friend had shown her the light.

  “Not everyone is stuffy, but there are many. It’s just a place where I got my education and met my best friend.” She had a moment in which she wondered if she should have added that last part. After all, it was up to Elizabeth how much she wanted to reveal about herself.

  “You don’t mean Elizabeth?”

  Her smile was over-bright. “Yes.” She finally poured the wine and handed him a glass.

  “But I thought you both worked at The Grand Mountain Hotel before Rhett hired you?”

  Rather than answering, she swirled the ruby nectar, pretending to stare at the wine through the crystal. Then she put her nose deep into the goblet and sniffed. “Blackberry and cherry, licorice, and a touch of oak. This is going to be good.”

  Setting the glass to her lips, she let the wine touch her tongue. Her eyes closed. The bold fruit blended beautifully as it rolled through her mouth. The licorice and oak at the finish made it all the more exotic and rich. She could see the workers in the field, picking succulent purple grapes in the glorious golden French sun. It would warm their backs as they leaned down to pick the grapes. A few of the laborers would pop grapes in their mouths, unable to avoid the temptation. The juice would run down their lips, and they’d swipe at it with their sleeves. She sighed. Took another sip. And then opened her eyes.

  Matt was staring at her, his blue eyes darker now, almost like the violets at the deepest part of sunset. “Where were you just now?” he asked in a voice that had gone soft.

  Awareness went shooting through her in response to his intense gaze. “In the Rhône Valley when they pick the grapes.” She described her thoughts to him.

  He was still holding his glass, though his eyes were glued to hers.

  “Try it and see.”

  Not breaking her gaze, he raised the glass to his lips and drank. His eyes fluttered as well, but he didn’t look away. “It’s incredible.”

  “Yes,” she whispered, not wanting anything more than to keep gazing into his eyes, the taste of the delicious wine on her tongue.

  Henry barked suddenly, and the moment shattered like broken glass. Matt set his wine aside and jogged into the living room. She grabbed his glass and followed. When she arrived, Matt was pulling on Henry’s collar.

  “No. You don’t get on people’s furniture.”

  “Henry. Down.” She set Matt’s glass on the coffee table and pointed to the floor. “Sit.”

  He immediately leaped off the couch.

  “Good dog.”

  “I almost forgot why we were here,” Matt mused, and Jane felt a small thrill of victory.

  “Okay,” she said, putting her wine down as well. “Then let’s resume.”

  Twenty minutes later, Henry was more biddable, even yawning as though they were boring the crap out of him.

  “Why doesn’t he like me?” Matt finally asked, sounding aggrieved, as the dog joined Rufus and Annie by the fire.

  “He does. He just doesn’t like to work.”

  Matt laughed out loud, and the sound sent tingles down her spine. “I get it. This is the Universe’s practical joke on me for all my years as an over-achiever.”

  Aha! So she might be right about his motives for sticking with Henry.

  “And you’re finished with all that?” she found herself asking.

  His laughter faded, and he looked down at his feet a moment before meeting her gaze. “I didn’t find the partner track to be…my cup of tea, as my mother would say.”

  “I heard around town that she’s moved back to Dare, and that’s why you and your brother came home.” She hadn’t met his immediate family though.

  He shrugged. “Andy and I both wanted to have a life outside our careers. He has a young son, and I…well…I was starting to become someone I didn’t like.”

  Well, this honesty and sharing were encouraging. She liked this side of him, and the way the contours of his face looked when they were illuminated by the fire only made her heart beat faster. “What were you becoming?”

  “A drone,” he said with a slash of his hand through the air. “Someone who was paid
to be mean to widows and kick puppies. And then the system destroyed a client I deeply cared about, and…I lost faith.”

  “I know I don’t know you well, but as the daughter of a lawyer who’s mean to widows and dogs, let me tell you how proud I am that you chose not to go to the dark side.”

  He made a Darth Vader noise with his breath, which to her sounded like “Kahhh, chiii.”

  “You’re a fan?” she asked.

  “Going back to my first Jedi light saber. Of course, I wanted to be Han Solo. He got the girl. Andy liked Luke, since he saved the universe. The guy has the doctor complex down to a T. We used to beg our sister, Caroline, to put her hair up like Princess Leia and dress in a white bed sheet. She only consented when we paid her two dollars from our tooth fairy money.”

  “That sounds like a happy childhood.” Stories like this one made her wish she’d had a sibling, but then she thought of how much her parents had messed her up, and she was glad it had stopped with her.

  “Mostly. What about you? Do you have any siblings?”

  “No,” she said. “Just little old me.”

  They were both quiet for a long moment, just staring into each other’s eyes again, and then Matt looked away. “Well, Henry and I should be going,” he said. “The blizzard’s starting to come in.”

  She glanced out the windows. He was right—the snow was coming down in big, fat flakes. “Are you sure you’re okay to go home?”

  Stay, she wanted to say, but didn’t. Even she knew it was too early.

  “I grew up here. I’ll be fine. As I said, I live close by.”

  “Okay then.”

  Annie must have understood because she hopped up and pranced over to Matt and rested her head against his leg. He glanced down and smiled softly.

  “She really does like you,” Jane said, glowing at the sweet sight. Rufus barked, but didn’t rise from his place by the fire.“And that’s his way of saying goodbye.”

  Matt held his arms out to Henry. “You ready to go home, buddy?”

  “Did you have a dog as a kid?” she asked.

  “No, Mom said she had enough animals to watch with all five of us. We begged, but she’s as tough as they come.”

  “Sounds like she put your needs first.”

  “She’s the best,” Matt agreed and then snagged Henry’s collar.