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I smiled.“Yeah, that’s rough.”

“Don’t you mean ruff?”

“Ha.See, I knew you had a sense of humor.Oh, gotta go.Love you.”Phillip and Wally had just emerged from their house.I hit the red button, rose quickly, and headed for the door.As I snagged the handle, though, I had second thoughts.

This makes me look like I was waiting for him.This makes me look desperate.

Or he won’t think anything of it.He might not even notice me.

Fuck.Was I going about this the wrong way?I could just wait until he got home, and?—

Nope.I was going for it.I opened the door, caught sight of Phillip and Wally crossing Fern Avenue, locked my door, and started a light jog.

Belatedly, I hit the timer on my watch.

Then turned it off.At the very least, I hoped to spend a couple of minutes walking with Phillip.If he wasn’t interested, or if I sensed he wasn’t happy, I’d hit the button and take off.I hadn’t done my stretching, but I could do that out of sight.So I began a light pace toward the park.

Phillip turned into the path just as Wally tugged off to the grass.

Before his owner could react, Wally raised a leg.I’d always thought male dogs peed on trees and bushes, but Wally often just lifted his leg an inch off the ground, or even just squatted.Whether because of his weight or just because that was how he knew to go, I wasn’t certain.

“Good boy, Wally.You’re such a good boy.”Phillip had confirmed to Jordan that Wally hadn’t yet had an accident in the house.

Jordan suggested praising the dog every time he went outside.To reinforce proper house-training.

Personally, I figured praising the dog all the time was a bright idea anyway.Because he was a damn good dog.His behavior yesterday cemented that with me.He’d been an angel with all the kids, Zelda, Kevin, and their dads.

“Hey, wait up.”

Phillip spun.

Wally barked.

“Shush.”Phillip frowned.“Please be quiet.”

I stopped close to them.“It’s not so early that people will be annoyed.And he only has a little bark.”Unlike some of the other dogs in the neighborhood—given the hours they barked at as well as their relative volume.

“I just…” Phillip winced.“I don’t want to get in trouble.”

“This is a community park, Phillip.Now, if you don’t scoop Wally’s poop, you’ll have complaints for certain.But not for one little woof.”

He gestured to the container of poop bags.“Always have at least four.”

“Good advice.”I couldn’t remember if Jordan had said that.Or had Arthur?Regardless, being well-prepared was never a bad thing.“How are you this morning?”I tried to give him a perusal without being obvious.

“I’m okay.Uh, you?”

“I’m great.”

“You were running.I’ll let you get back to it.”

I shook my head.“Light jog.”

“There is such a thing?”He appeared dubious with one eyebrow arched.

Adorable.

“Sure.I had a long run last night, and?—”