Part 7 (1/2)
”Me, too.”
They had decided on coffee once the adrenaline stopped pumping and their combined energy hit around zero.
”I think you should think about having Madeleine and d.i.c.kens in the house when you're at home,” Simon said.
”Not that it's my business.”
”No, no, I agree with you. I never had pets before and the run was there so I used it. Look at them-they're so cute.”
The two dogs lay, side-by-side, on the mat inside the kitchen door, with their heads resting on crossed paws.
Their brows had shot up as if they knew they were the topic of discussion.
”Nice dogs,” Simon agreed. He had returned al of his attention to Rose, who felt warm under his gaze.
”Clawdia's amazing,” she said. The cat sat at a distance with an expression of serene disdain on her haughty face.
”Real y beautiful.”
”Real y beautiful,” Simon murmured.
”Real y beautiful,” Simon murmured.
Rose got up and piled oatmeal cookies on a plate.
”These were only made last night,” she said, setting them on the table in front of him.
”I've lived up here for six months,” he said. He took a cookie and ate it in three bites. ”That means we've known each other for six months.”
She didn't know where he was heading with that remark but she thought she liked it. ”I guess so.”
”Would you let me take you out to dinner tomorrow night?” He looked at his watch and grinned. ”Make that tonight?”
Fl.u.s.tered, Rose turned her coffee mug around and around. ”You don't need to do that. You're feeling bad about what happened out there.”
”Yes, I am. But that's not why I need to have dinner with you. I just need to-and want to. Wil you?”
Both dogs got up, walked to sit at her feet, and stared up into her face. They almost looked as if they were trying to tel her something.
”Look at them,” she said and scratched each one between the ears. She got licks from rough tongues.
”You're not answering me.”
”I'l cook for you,” Rose said in a rush. She didn't want him to go out of his way. ”You don't seem to like going out much.”
”You've noticed,” he said. ”I like knowing that.”
Rose rubbed her forehead. ”Sorry, I shouldn't tel you how you feel about things.”
”Why not? I don't go anywhere, or not often. But that's because I haven't had a reason to. I'd like to take you into town if you'l let me.”
She looked back into his blue eyes. ”Thank you, then.
Yes.”
”Great!”
He looked too happy to be putting on an act.
Impulsively, Rose touched the back of his hand and said, ”I read your cartoons. Your drawings are wonderful.”
Simon stared at her. ”I know when you get home each day.”
”What?” She leaned closer. ”What do you mean?”
”I listen for your car. I like to know you're back safely.”
She swal owed.
”Does that feel threatening to you?” he asked.
”No,” she whispered. ”Look at this.” She got up and pul ed a sc.r.a.pbook from the top of the refrigerator.
Simon took it from her and set it on the table. Slowly, he turned pages, although she could tel he wasn't real y seeing the cartoon strips she continued to clip and paste each day.
”I scared you badly tonight, didn't I?” he said, resting a hand on top of the book.
”I could have kil ed you.” She laughed and heard a touch of hysteria in the sound.
”We could cal it a weird beginning, only we'd already begun, hadn't we?”
She thought about him listening for her car, and her daily sessions with the sc.r.a.pbook. ”Looks like it.”
”I'l come over for you around six, if that's okay.”
”Perfect. I was going to go walking again but I'd rather go to dinner with you.”
”We could walk together tomorrow,” Simon told her. ”I do a lot of climbing around out there on my own.”
d.i.c.kens spoke from the side of his mouth, ”I think I'm going to be sick.”
”Not in here,” Madeleine said sharply. ”Go to the door and whine. Now.”
”Not real y, sil y,” d.i.c.kens said. ”It's these two. They're soppy over each other.”
”Mmm. ” Madeleine sighed. ”It's lovely.”