Page 17 of Secret
CHAPTER NINE
Noam let Casper lead him through the park, tugging him gently as she moved from tree to tree, sniffing and exploring everything she could. He smiled at how excited she was to get out of the house for a few hours.
The air was starting to cool, and he could smell rain rolling in. He welcomed the change even if it meant spending more time inside over the next week. The summer had been too hot, and now, with temperatures dropping, he was able to breathe without feeling as if he was suffocating in the hot air every day.
"Can we sit for a few?" He asked Casper as she managed to wrap her leash around a garbage can, forcing him to follow her around it. "Do you have a destination?" He shook his head as she turned toward another patch of trees.
As Casper sniffed something he didn't want to identify, he glanced around, taking in the people around him. Couples walked hand in hand, families laughed as they followed the bike trails and joggers… He lifted his sunglasses to get a better look at the man jogging his direction. As the man got closer, Noam grinned. He waited until the man was a few feet from him before stepping away from the trees toward him. "Hey, Sure-shot, fancy seeing you here."
"Tavor." Kasey grinned as he came to a stop. "What are you doing out this way?"
Noam gestured to his dog. "The lady wanted to go for a walk. Who am I to deny her?"
"Very noble of you." Kasey bent down as Casper came to stand in front of him. "Pleasure to meet you, M'lady." He ran his hand down Casper's side.
"Kasey, meet Casper. She's hairy, snores like a train, and eats me out of house and home, but there's just something about her I adore." Noam smiled as Kasey glanced up at him. Noam took in the light blue eyes staring back at him, the light sheen of moisture on Kasey's skin, the tightness of the t-shirt that seemed to show off every muscle. He really was a good-looking man.
"I can see that about her. She's one of a kind." Kasey stood, grinning at Noam. "Much like her owner, I'm guessing."
"Hairy?" Noam raised a brow.
"Well, hopefully not too, just enough to run fingers through." Kasey stared directly into his eyes as he spoke. "I meant the one of a kind."
"Ah, the world should be glad if I'm one of a kind. I'm not sure they'd want more of me wandering around aimlessly."
"Are you?" Kasey asked.
"What?"
"Wandering around aimlessly?"
Noam shrugged. "Some days it sure feels like it. Others, following Casper around proves it." He tightened the leash a bit as she tried to crawl under a bush.
"Aimless isn't always bad. We don't always need a destination."
"No, but it's sometimes nice to know where you'll end up."
Kasey gestured to the park. "Usually it's here. Running away from where I should be."
"And where is that?" Noam was curious. He wanted to know more about the man who he was suddenly bumping into everywhere he went. Okay, so maybe it was just twice, but that was a lot for someone he hadn't known until recently. Hell, he couldn't even say he knew him.
"Anymore, I'm not really sure." Kasey sighed. "I guess I'm at one of those points in life where I'm just waiting for direction."
"Well, how about you start by letting me buy you a cup of coffee or a drink? Actually, I haven't eaten yet. If you don't mind grabbing something we can eat outside, I'll buy dinner." He nodded to Casper. "She'll have to tag along as a third wheel, but I don't think she'll get in the way much."
"Are you asking me out?"
"You can look at it that way, or you can just say I'm giving you the direction you were looking for tonight." Noam didn't want to overthink what he was doing. He enjoyed the banter with Kasey, and he really was hungry. Sharing a meal would give him time to get to know Kasey better. Even though it was clear the attraction was mutual, it was really nothing more than two friends getting a bite to eat. "Unless you had another direction in mind. If that's the case, Casper and I can take a raincheck."
Kasey ran his hand over the back of his neck. "I could eat. I know a great little place down the street that has a patio where Casper would be welcome. It's nothing fancy, but the food is good."
"Sounds perfect." Noam shortened the leash even more, forcing Casper to his side. She had her time to wander, now she needed to show what a good dog she was and follow him for a change. "Did you want to finish your run first?"
"Nah, I'm good unless you two need more time." Kasey glanced down at Casper.
"We've been walking for nearly two hours. I think we're good. Where to?"
Kasey turned and started down the sidewalk, glancing over his shoulder at Noam. "So, do you live near here?"
