Dinner with Grace and Robert E. went well. They talked and laughed all night. Michaela felt very comfortable with them, and she and Grace had become fast friends. Grace was an amazing cook, and Michaela made a mental note to eventually get some instruction from her, seeing as her culinary skills were a less than desirable.

Days went by with Michaela and Sully as busy as expected. He had begun his repairs to her apartment, and it was all coming together in the clinic too. Michaela had to juggle the shift work at the hospital and trying to organise the needs of the clinic, but relished in the challenge. Sully marvelled at how determined she was, while Michaela was equally impressed with Sully's skills.

Michaela had been lucky enough that her first days off were the following weekend, and she was looking forward to the break. As she flopped herself down on the couch, she decided that she wouldn't do any work on the clinic this weekend. She just wanted to chance to relax and unwind.

She heard Sully's truck pull up outside and smiled. It was nice to have someone there to talk to after a hard day's work. She and Sully had been getting along so well. Their lives seemed to mesh perfectly; working on the clinic together, sharing meals and taking walks over the property.

Michaela greeted him at the door. "Hey," he said.

"Hey yourself," she replied playfully. She felt a bounce in her step all of a sudden.

Sully took a bottle of water from the fridge and looked back at her with an eyebrow raised. "Everythin' alright?" he asked. "Yes," she said simply.

"You wanna head down to the clinic for a bit?" he asked.

"No, not today. I was thinking we could do something fun tonight," she grinned.

"Fun huh? Like what?" he wondered.

"Well someone at work told me about a mini golf place in town. I thought we could go. Maybe we could invite Grace and Robert E., make a night of it? What do you think?"

"Ahh, I really should get some more work done..."

"Please Sully. I need to relax this weekend. It's been a hectic week. You've been working really hard lately too, I'm sure you could use a break too."

"Yeah, you're right, I could use the break," he agreed.

That evening, it was just Michaela and Sully who went to the mini golf park. Grace and Robert E. were going out with Grace's family but promised to catch up with them another time. It looked just like a theme park with all of the holes decorated in elaborate themes, with coloured lights and sounds everywhere. Families filled the grounds, and laughter could be heard everywhere.

Michaela stood at the bottom of the great pyramid, which was the last hole. She held her bottom lip between her teeth as she concentrated on getting the ball up the ramp. Sully stood to the side leaning lightly on his golf club, watching her serious expression. "Ya know, the park is only open for another three hours, think ya can make ya shot before then?" he teased.

Michaela took her shot, getting the ball up the ramp and into the hole in one shot.

"Yes!" she squealed turning to face Sully. "Ha, try and beat that," she said boastfully.

Sully grinned. He liked seeing her relaxed like this. As she walked by to let him have his turn, she tripped on some fake turf that had curled up on its edge and was launched straight into Sully. Sully didn't have time to react and they both went hurtling to the ground, Michaela landing squarely on top of Sully's body.

They lay there winded at first, Sully hands resting on Michaela's back, her hair hanging down either side of their faces, and then they began laughing heartily. As the laughter died away they gazed into each other's eyes, the closeness of their bodies both warming and energizing.

"Ya ok?" Sully asked, his heart sparking at this amazing woman who could send him reeling with her touch.

Michaela nodded and pushed up off Sully, pulling herself to her feet. "I'm so sorry. I seem to keep doing that," she smiled.

"It's nothin'," he assured. "How about we get some ice-cream and take a walk in the park?" he offered.

"That sounds great," she said. "Let's go".

..........................................................................

Michaela felt like she was flying, literally. She held tight to the chains as Sully pushed the swing higher still. "I haven't had this much fun in ages," she called as the wind whipped through her hair. "You should really try this."

Michaela hadn't stopped talking since they arrived at the park, that nervousness she had felt at their first meeting shining through again. It got even worse when Sully had started pushing her on the swing. His warm hands on her back sent shivers through her body, causing her heart to pound.

As the swing slowed, Sully caught the chain in his hands and stepped to the other side facing Michaela in order to stop the swing completely, their legs bumping. Their faces so close Michaela could feel his warm breath on her cheek. Sully swallowed hard as their eyes locked, her sweet smell filling his nostrils. As if an invisible force was pulling them together, they leaned in slowly and... startled as they both heard a yelp and whimpering coming from nearby!

"What was that?" Michaela whispered suddenly conscious of the situation. Sully turned looking behind him. Michaela, a little concerned, grasped Sully's shoulder. "Stay here," he said quietly.

He snuck quietly around a tree and knelt down behind a bush. It was only a short moment and he returned. "Did you see anything?" Michaela asked.

Sully smiled as he approached her. From out of his jacket he pulled a small ball of fluff. "Found this little guy stuck under the bush over there" he held up a small grey puppy in front of him, "Looks like he's all alone, his mother must have abandoned him".

"Oh Sully, he's adorable," she cried as she stroked the little head.

"Whaddaya say we take him home with us? If that's alright with you?" he smiled.

"I'd love it. Thank you Sully," she answered. "He looks just like a little wolf."

Sully paused. "That's a great name for 'im, don't ya think?" asked Sully.

"Wolf? Yes, I think it suits him," Michaela laughed. "Come on Wolf, let's go home," she cuddled the little puppy against her chest and kissed him, snuggling him down into her coat.

Sully sighed, feeling oddly envious of the puppy's already secure position in Michaela's heart.