It was always nice to spend some time together, especially after a long day. After a warm up they had hit the paths hard. Scott's arms pumped out a regular rhythm, matching his legs as his feet pounded the ground. The faster and longer they run the clearer his head became.
They began to slow, having done three laps of the park. They geared down to a jog for their last lap and that was when he saw her.
A pretty redhead, curvy enough to want to map out all those bends with your hands and from the animated way she was talking into her phone, she seemed like fun.
He slowed to a stop, pausing by a bench to stretch. Partly good cool down, partly because he'd been told his ass looked good in these pants…
And she walked right on by. How was that even possible? His eyes followed her in disbelief as she veered around them as if they weren't even there and continued on her way.
Scott looked at Virgil, who had the biggest grin on his face, tongue hanging out as he panted.
Huh, he could use that.
"Virg…"
The massive wolf shook its head. No way, no how, not again, it was degrading.
"It's not like I ask you to do this all the time, besides, you owe me one for not telling Alan that you were the one that broke his games tablet by sitting on it."
Virgil gave him a look that said he was planning to cock his leg in his cockpit very soon. If they weren't in public and he hadn't had to stay silent, acting the part of the huge friendly dog, he would have sworn a blue streak.
"Come on, it worked so well last time, just this once, I promise. I'll never ask you again."
Virgil snorted, clearly not believing his brother for a second but turned tail and took off at a run.
Scott grinned. Honestly, he had the best brothers in the world.
Virgil lifted his head, scenting the air… Huh, she smelt interesting. Like bacon. Bacon was always a good indication as to the quality of a person.
She was easy on the eyes too, a buxom redhead of middle height with an easy smile on her face. She looked like she'd know how to give a good belly scratch.
He glanced at Scott, who nodded from his hiding spot behind the trunk of a large tree, making a shooing motion with his hands.
Virgil snorted, honestly, he was a highly skilled pilot and engineer and this was how he spent his evenings. He padded after the woman, who was just putting her phone away, and started to woof.
She turned to look at him, watching as he trotted over and shoved his snout into her hand.
She automatically began to stroke his head, fondling his ears when he sat down on her foot.
"Wow, you're a big boy aren't you?"
His tongue lolled proudly out of his mouth. Yeah, he heard that a lot. In both forms.
"Soft though." She eased her foot out from under his bulk and sat down on a nearby bench. Virgil didn't let up for a second, following her and laying his head on her lap.
Smiling, she kept petting him. She had long nails that managed to dig into his fur the way that his brothers just couldn't manage and hit just the right spot that had him sighing in ecstasy, one leg twitching its approval.
"Where's your owner, huh?"
Owner? What was she… Shit, Scott! He was on a mission and he'd completely forgotten. He lifted his head and barked loudly, giving the signal.
The woman cupped his head in her hands. "You have such pretty eyes, such intelligence, almost human."
Lady, you have no idea. He gently butted against her chin, making her laugh.
"Virgil?" Scott's voice was distant but getting closer.
"Virgil, is that you, boy?" He swiped his tongue across her cheek in answer. "Ewww."
His brother rounded the corner at a fast jog, slowing down when he saw them.
"Virgil, there you are. I thought I'd lost you." He bent to pet his brother's head, whispering in his ear. "Good job, buddy."
He straightened, giving the woman his most devastating smile, ruthlessly deploying his high impact dimples. Target is acquired. She smiled back. Direct hit.
"Thank you so much for finding my dog, this isn't our usual haunt and I think he got distracted."
She laughed. "Well, I didn't exactly find him, he found me."
"Either way I'm very grateful. I'm Scott," he offered his hand.
"Rachel," she stopped stroking Virgil's head to shake his hand. "And this fellow is named Virgil?" Bit of a strange name for a dog if you asked her.
"Yeah, that's him."
"Named after the poet?"
"Oh, sure, yeah, the poet." He could be deep, he could be an intellectual.
She didn't look like she believed him and Virgil wanted to laugh. His brother always thought he was so smooth.
A cold gust of wind whipped past and Rachel shivered, pulling her coat tighter around her. She'd had a long day and just wanted to get home.
"It's chilly out here," Scott announced as if they were all too stupid to realise. He glanced across the street for inspiration. Ah ha. "I was just about to grab a coffee to warm up, can I treat you to one, just to say thank you for keeping him company?"
Rachel glanced at the dog, all big brown eyes and cute floppy tongued grin. How could anyone have let such a precious thing run around the park like that and risk him getting hurt?
She looked over at the coffee stand, it wasn't that far and it was pretty cold. She could do with a hot drink right now.
"Sure, coffee would be good."
Scott grinned, pulling out a leash which he clipped to the collar his brother was forced to wear any time they were in public after an unfortunate incident with a dog warden.
This was humiliating, being towed around like a common mutt, and by his brother no less. The things he put up with for his family. Scott had better be extra grateful and do his chores for the next month to make up for this.
They crossed the street where Scott ordered their coffee's. A no nonsense black one sugar for him, a frothy hazelnut latte for her and a hotdog for Virgil who had begun to whine the second he'd seen the meaty goodness.
The grumpy looking man behind the counter slapped the lids on their drinks and deposited them on the counter without a word.
Pleasant guy, that one. Scott thanked him anyway and passed Rachel her drink.
"Thank you."
"You're very welcome."
She took an experimental sip, slightly worried that the man behind the counter had infected it with his bad mood, but found it very pleasant. This was just what she needed to make it home.
"Thanks again, make sure you keep that guy on his leash, you wouldn't want to lose him for real." She settled her bag on her shoulder and riffled through for her subway pass. She bent to pet Virgil again, unable to resist the lure of his soft fur. "It was nice meeting you, puppy."
"Wait? You're going?"
She frowned. "Yeah."
Scott blinked. She was going, just like that? "Can I get your number, you know, in case we're ever in town again?"
She shook her head. "No, I don't think so. I don't date people that can't look after their pets."
She left him spluttering a denial, sipping her coffee as she walked.
Virgil howled with laughter, unable to look at his brother's shocked face. It was so funny to see his overly confident brother strike out in such a big way. Scott, the heroic guy who was always first on the scene and a hit with the ladies had been shot down in a ball of flames.
Smooth, bro. Real smooth. Just wait until he told Gordon about this.
Scott swiped at Virgil's nose, which just made him laugh harder, falling sideways to roll around on his back, all four paws in the air.
"You know, I'm beginning to think I'm more of a cat person, next time I'll get John to be stuck up a tree."
