Unnatural Conflict (Fantasy Story)

Chapter 2: Hunting

An hour later, dressed in short shorts and a tied-up blouse that revealed more than it hid, she went out into her yard with a cup of coffee.  “Come into my parlor,” she murmured to herself, as she studiously did not look in his direction.  Instead, she looked at the old trees of the forest that bordered her yard.

It did not take long.

“Hallooo,” came a shout from her left.  She turned to see him waving at her.  She smiled brightly and gave him a casual wave.  She went back to studying the trees, even though she knew them well.  She had climbed them all many times, and sharpened her claws on most.

The dog was barking continuously now, but then she heard “Will you shut up?”  She turned her head to see him walking across her lawn, bare-chested, wiping his face with a shirt.  It was already warm, and he had been working hard.  His hair was a mass of shaggy brown curls.

He walked with an easy motion that she liked, and he carried himself with a maturity that she found interesting as well.  Easy, girl.  He’s just another human.

As he got close, he smiled at her and said, “I wanted to apologize for Ruddy--that’s my dog.  I’m hoping he’ll get quieter when he has a big yard to run around in.”

She was surprised at how much she liked his voice.  It was warm and deep, with enough richness in it to put her on her guard.  The mention of the dog gave her the focus she needed.

She turned fully toward him with a little frost in her voice.  “He certainly is noisy for so early in the morning.”

His eyes opened wide, but not without a flicker to her décolletage.  “Did he wake you?  Oh, I’m so sorry about that.”

A dismissive wave.  “No matter.  I usually sleep in on Saturdays, but I came out for my morning stretch and saw you working out there.”

He gave a nervous chuckle and said, “Well, I’m sorry if I disturbed you.  I was pretty focused on my work.” 

Her eyes opened a touch wider, impressed in spite of herself.  He looks nervous, but not too nervous.  Confident, but not arrogant.  Not only that, he was smart enough not to mention seeing her naked.  It was nice to know it wasn’t going to make him act like an idiot.

“I’m being rude again,” he said, holding out a hand.  I’m Lucas.”  Nice brown eyes, and looking at my FACE.  Tactful AND polite?

“Gail,” she said, taking his hand.  As she did, feeling calluses on a strong hand, she caught a whiff of clean masculine sweat.  She didn’t mind that at all, but felt suddenly uneasy.

Before she had time to wonder why, there was a yip and a snap from his yard, and Ruddy wasn’t barking any more.

“Oh, damn,” said Lucas, as Ruddy came charging across into Gail’s yard at a sprint.  He was a full-grown pit bull, and he ran straight at them.

“Don’t worry,” Lucas said, “He’s actually very swee--”

That was as far as Lucas got, as Ruddy dodged around him, trailing a foot of chewed rope.  Ruddy did not slow down at all, as he leapt at Gail’s throat.