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He waved.

Wally, who’d been contentedly napping under the bench, leapt up and headed toward me.

“Sit.”Phillip’s voice carried authority that hadn’t been present when we’d first started working with Jordan.Slowly, he was coming into his own.“Wait.”

Wally, wonderful dog he was, stopped immediately and plopped onto his butt.

When I got to them, I winked at Phillip, then stooped to praise Wally first.“Okay.You’re such a good boy.”

Said good boy licked my hand.

Phillip offered me a napkin.

I wiped my hand as I did my cool-down exercises.

“Good run?”He sipped his coffee.

“Yeah.”

“I got you a coffee…but I wasn’t certain if you could drink it right after a run.”

“Thanks.I’ll start with the water.”

“And I figured if you couldn’t then I’d just have a second cup” He chuckled.

I finished stretching and plopped onto the bench, gratefully grabbing the steel water bottle with the cold, refreshing liquid.“You’re the best.”

“I know I am.”He grinned impishly.Then he sobered a little.“How isthismy life?”He pointed out toward the ocean.“Beautiful scenery.Beautiful town.Beautiful man…”

For a moment, I held his gaze.“Because you said yes to fighting.Yes, to starting new.Yes, to this grizzled old guy who nearly tripped over your dog.”

“You’re notgrizzled.”

Wally rubbed against my leg.

I scritched his belly with my sneaker.“See, Wally approves.”

“He’s hoping you’ll share your sticky bun.”

I eyed the dog.“Nope.I know Daddy fed you breakfast.”

Phillip barked out a laugh.“Did you just call me hisdaddy?”

“Yep.Yes, I did.”I took a bite of my sticky bun—grateful to see a pile of napkins.“And since we’re together, that makes me his otherdaddy.”

“Are we?”Phillip eyed me.“Together, that is.”

“You want a ring?”I tried for casual as I took another bite.

He stayed silent.

Oh shit, did it again.“Right, like I know it’s too soon?—”

“If we didn’t have two coffee cups, a bottle of water, and two sticky buns between us right now, I’d tackle you and give you tons of kisses.”He glanced down at Wally.“Add an oversized Yorkie in that list.”

“The Yorkie comes first.”

“Of course.”