Bear smiled. This time Pete was even more sure Bear was checking him out.
* * * *
“Don’t mind BJ. He’s a total softy,” Bear said, unlocking his back door.
Pete laughed when the dog launched himself at Bear. “When you said you had to get back for BJ, I, uh…” Pete blushed. “Never mind.”
Noticing the newcomer, BJ transferred his greetings to Pete. This involved raising up on his hind legs, his front paws resting on Pete’s shoulders, and his tongue washing Pete’s face.
Mortified, Bear commanded, “Get down!”
Pete laughed and rubbed BJ’s back. “He’s fine. I love dogs. Who’s a good boy?”
Bear shook his head. “Pete, meet Ben Junior, or BJ for short.”
“If he’s the junior version, I’d hate to meet the senior and presumably bigger version.”
“The dog I had growing up was a basset called Ben.”
