10 Before the Sunset

Owen's P.O.V

It's six already and Bree hasn't shown up yet. It was okay with Owen, it gave him the time he needed to shower and set everything up. By the time Bree arrived he had his firepit going, table and cookware set out and he was at the dock catching his second fish.

It was peaceful here, something Owen desperately needed after his time with the Navy. When Owen was first hired, they explained his living situation and Owen requested to have his own place to be alone. Transporting his trailer there was a big ordeal too but Mr. Masrani was happy to comply with Owens requests.

"Hey," Bree greeted behind him.

"Hey, I was wondering when you were going to show up. I'm going to have to report your tardiness, sweetheart," Owen informed her, jokingly.

"It's not my fault, my transportation was left behind back at the compound remember? You took me home earlier now I'm here without my ride," Bree informed Owen.

It dawned on Owen that Bree was right! He didn't even think twice that she would need her ride.

"I'm sorry-" Owen began.

"It's okay, you can make it up to me by telling me what's for dinner," Bree smiled enthusiastically.

It was a contagious smile Owen returned the smile with the same enthusiasm Bree was showing.

"Tonight, I am making my world famous fried fish," Owen announced. "With a few local sides to top it off."

"Wow makes me glad I decided to bring drinks," Bree shows a case of Coca-Cola she's been holding behind her back. Owen chuckled.

"Really? Coca-Cola? What are we fifteen? I thought you were old enough to drink. What are you twenty-three?" Owen teased.

Bree rolled her eyes at him before picking up a bottle and popping off the lid with her bare hands.

"Twenty-eight," she corrected.

Owen raised an eyebrow. That must have hurt seeing it was the glass Coca-Cola bottles. Twenty-eight, really? She looks younger, Owen would have never assumed she was close to his age. Bree handed the bottle to Owen and he accepted it. Bree then proceeded to grab another bottle and opening it with her bare hands again.

"You know I have a bottle opener right there," Owen pointed to the side of his trailer. Bree looked back then shrugged.

"Too lazy, this is easier," she commented before taking a drink.

"And where would a girl like you learn a trick like that?" Owen asked as he reeled in his last fish.

"College you know, where everyone learns how to drink properly," Bree answered like it was normal.

This stirred up more questions in Owen's mind but that was not the purpose of their meeting, so Owen decided it would be a question for another time.

"Well I'm an adult and I'm not on some weird diet so I think I'll bring out the beer too. You can have one if you would like," Owen offered as he picked up his catch and took it over to the firepit.

"It's not a diet thing, I think it's pretty obvious during lunch that I'm not on a diet," Bree reminded. "I just can't."

It was something personal and Bree obviously looked uncomfortable, so Owen decided to leave the matter at that.

"Do you mind if I prep the fish here or do I need to prep inside? I can if you want but it would delay our meeting a bit," Owen offered.

"Its fine, I will, however, be over here. The smell does bother me a little," Bree admitted.

She took a seat on the other side of the fire pit and began rummaging through her bag. Owen quickly got to work on prepping the fish. This part was easy, he would finish in no time. Owen glanced at Bree a few times, wondering if she was going to start the meet or if she was waiting for him to start.

"So where would you like to start with our meeting?" Owen began after a few minutes of silence.

"Sorry, I am out of sorts today. It's so peaceful here too; makes it easy for me to get lost in my thoughts you know," Bree observed looking out to the lake.

"Yea, I know. One of my favorite perks of the job," Owen agreed.

Prep work was now done. Owen moved his clean fish to another surface were his knives were and began chopping up the fish.

"Wow, those are some wicked skills you have," Bree commented as she watched Owen with amazement.

"Yea learned a thing or two from my time with the Navy," Owen explained.

"So, you are military!" Bree enthused, putting her drink down. "How do you go from being Navy to Raptor Trainer?"

"Animal Behaviorist," Owen corrected. "Schooling just like you, except my tuition was covered."

Bree rolled her eyes at that comment.

"No, really. How?" she pushed.

Owen looked down at his cutting board, trying to measure his next words carefully.

"I guess you can say I was the only commanding officer with dinosaur experience." He replied before picking up the vegetables next.

"How in the world do you get dinosaur experience being in the Navy?" Bree pushed, curious to know more.

"Let's just say I have met Dr. Grant in person before," Owen answered, trying not to let out too many details.

Bree was silent behind him. When he turned around to get his ingredients on the fire her eyes were as wide as saucers.

"Y-you were there? You rescued them?" Bree awed.

Owen simply nodded not knowing how else to answer. He was just about done getting everything into his pan when a pair of arms warped around him behind him. Bree was there hugging him.

"I can't tell you enough how thank full I am that you saved them," Bree explained still hugging him.

The hug threw him off. She was willingly hugging him now not just holding on to him for dear life like she normally is on the back of his motorcycle. Not knowing what else to do he patted her hand that was on his stomach.

There it was again, the intoxicating feeling of her touch. He felt this earlier when he held her for the first time in the raptor cage. She was so soft to the touch Owen just wanted to hold on and feel more. Something about the feel of her skin again his turned on a long-lost light inside of him. The fire of being yet alive and hungry for… more.

More of what?

Owen didn't have time to ponder that since Bree then pulled away from him blushing.

"Sorry I know that wasn't appropriate I just- You have no idea what I went through when I realized that they were late coming back from that island. Or when I had the realization that they might be…" Bree trailed off.

Owen noticed she was holding on to herself and nervously playing with loose curl. He wanted to hold her and tell her its okay, that all that is in the past, but he wasn't sure where they stood yet on their friendship.

"Don't worry, I understand," Owen offered a reassuring smile.

"For now, though we should get back to our meeting that way we are not here all night," Owen reminded.

Bree gave him a smile, but the smile didn't quite reach her eyes. Bree then walked back to the other side of the fire pit and prepared her things.

"Let's start with their feeding habits," Bree began.

The meeting went on a while as Owen cooked and served dinner. It turned out to be quite educational. Bree gave a new perspective to the Raptors behaviors and had a bit of a debate on a few things. Despite feeling very strongly about her views she was open to listening to Owen and a few times Owen realized he did win a few arguments.

The best part, however, was watching Bree glow with enthusiasm as she learned more new things about the velociraptors.

"What do you mean they almost ate you? You were up quite high. How high do they jump then?" Bree questioned scribbling frantically in her notes.

"Very high, you will see tomorrow during training," Owen answered as he began to dish out the food. "And dinner is served!"

"Wow!" Bree exclaimed as she reached out to grab the plate Owen was passing to her. After passing her plate Owen picked up his own put but held off on eating to watch Bree's reaction. She cut up a piece of fish and dipped it a little in the sauce that was on the plate and took her first bite. Her reaction was priceless.

"Holy cow! This is good! You should open up your own restaurant here!" Bree exclaimed. She took another bite of food and relished it in her mouth. "I bet it would be a big hit!"

"No, it would ruin cooking for me. Best enjoy it with good people," Owen responded finally taking his first bite. Fresh fish is his favorite.

"Still, I might pay you to make all my dinners for the duration of my stay," Bree added.

It made Owen feel good someone enjoyed his cooking.

"I'm not your cook sweetheart," Owen teased.

"And I'm not your sweetheart," Bree threw back smiling.

Without warning the setting outside changed. It was as if someone turned off the natural lighting and turned on a big orange light on the outside.

"Wow," Bree let out as she stared out to the lake.

Owen looked out to see what had grabbed her attention. The sun had just disappeared over the mountaintop and gave out vivid streaks of orange and pinks across the sky. The water reflected the color the sky had giving more life and color to the scene despite the darkness already creeping in the woods.

It was nice, but it wasn't something that grabbed Owen's attention much anymore. Instead, he turned back to continue his meal when something else grabbed Owen's attention.

She looked like someone who came out of a painting. Bree glowed beautifully in the light of the setting sun. Her eye's shined in the wonder of the beauty and magic she was staring at. She stood out against the dark wood setting behind her. She placed her empty plate down and changed positions in her chair making Owen again notice the beautiful shape Bree had.

"I love sunsets," Bree whispered still in awe not noticing at all Owen's attention on her.

"So, do I," Owen whispered back now realizing his pulse has quickened.

There was something about Bree that made him want to find out more about her. He liked her, no point in denying it anymore. She was down to earth and ready for anything life came at her with. She loved and appreciated the small and simple things of life. She didn't feel the need to fill her life with lavish things or be on her phone all the time (like most girls he knew). Opposite of Claire or anyone else he has ever met.

One thing is for sure now, he will never look at another sunset the same way ever again.