Page 15 of Dock

Is it just me or is his body getting even closer to mine?

“I don’t hate birds?” Scrunching of my face occurs in tandem with my hand falling back to my lap. “Impartial, I guess.” Another uncertain shrug bounces my shoulders. “They don’t do anything for me in particular, but I’m not loading up a revolver to keep them off my yard, if that makes sense.”

“It doesn’t,” Hogan teases on a crooked grin. “You don’t hunt birds with revolvers unless you’re Clint Eastwood.”

“So, you like birds?”

“And Clint Eastwood.”

More snickers escape on an amused headshake.

Mygoodness, how is he doing this?

How is he making me smile so easily?

Feel so…seen?

Comfortable even in the uncomfortable.

“Pelicans,” he slyly continues and gestures his chin towards his stretched-out arm. “American white.” It’s impossible not to turn my head to admire the black and white creatures etched across his forearm that seem to continue to his bicep. “They’re lake birds.”

“And you like the lake.”

“Love.”

“And given how tan you are, it seems the lake loves you too.”

More small chuckles grace my ears.

Wiggle free words that normally wouldn’t make it past my lips otherwise.

“Does…a…woman?”

The brazenness of my question quirks his eyebrow along with the corners of his delicious, not meant for me mouth.

“Like…a…biker babe?” I poorly attempt to save face in a situation I truthfully have no business in. “Is that what you call your girlfriends or loyal…bed…friends?”

God, what is wrong with me?

I’ve met people before!

I know this is bad conversing all around.

I just know Gam Gam is stopping her game of Spades in heaven right now to shoot scowls at me.

Geeeeez.

We should just get back to the assignment.

That’s what we should do.

That’s why non assignment talk is failing so fucking poorly.

“Old Ladies,” Hogan casually informs, stealing a swipe of his lips between statements. “And I don’t have one.”

“Oh,” nonchalantly leaves me as I reach for his letter I disregarded, “because of the birds?”

“No.”