Page 20 of Looking for Seth

"That sounds nice," she agreed. "Lead the way."

I led her onto the beach, my feet sinking down into the sand as we made our way to the ocean.

"I'm sorry, I forgot that you said you didn't like sand," I said, recalling what she'd said about her oasis.

"It's not that I don't like it, it's that it gets everywhere. But that's not a problem when there's someone around to help wash it off." She winked at me.

I chuckled. "Is that how you see this date ending?"

She shrugged. "It might. Or it might not. I'm trying not to think about how the date might end so I can focus on the moment."

"A wise decision," I agreed.

"You should try and guess what I have in the picnic bag." She gestured to the cool bag slung over her shoulder.

"Is it wrong to be disappointed that it's not a proper basket?"

Menhit let out a light laugh. "No. I considered it, but decided that it was best not to risk the food getting warm. Nothing ruins a romantic picnic like sweaty cheese. Though Tut might like that."

"I'm sure he would."

"Anyway, guesses?"

"Hmm. Strawberries?"

"No. I didn't know how you felt about them, so I stuck to apples. I know you like those," she responded.

"That's fair. Bread?"

"Mmhmm."

"Cheese?"

"Lots of it. I'm pretty sure that the bag is seventy percent cheese."

Amusement danced through me. "Good ones?"

"The best the supermarket had," she quipped. "I didn't want to go too fancy, or the cheese in the picnic might outclass our flirting."

"I'd be okay with that." I grinned, realising that it was surprisingly easy to talk to her. "I look forward to trying your cheese."

She snorted. "That sounds like a weird sex thing."

"It does," I mumbled, trying not to be too mortified. "I meant the actual cheese."

"I know you did," she assured me.

Tut raced back and forth, chasing the waves as they crashed onto the sand. His pink tongue hung out of his mouth, and I could tell he was having the time of his life.

Menhit followed my gaze, and a smile spread over her face as she watched the dog. "He looks like he's having a good time."

"He is. He loves the sea."

"How did he come to be yours?" she asked. "I don't think you've ever told me."

"I was feeling lonely a few years ago and remembered how nice it had been to have canine companionship, so I went to the local shelter. Apparently nobody wanted him because they couldn't tell what he was a crossbreed of and he was so shaggy. I knew he was meant to be mine the moment I saw him."

"I think you made an excellent choice," she said.