Taking Chances (The Chances and Choices Duology - Book 1 of 2 - Contemporary Romance) by Ann Omasta

up. I
wasn’t able to put any weight on my injured ankle, so I tried hopping on one
leg. I realized the rocks were too slippery for that when I almost slid in
again.

 
    I sat down and reached for my cell phone. It was
waterlogged and completely dead. Guess I
should have sprang for the expensive, waterproof case, I chastised myself.

 
    I looked around, considering my options.
Realizing there weren’t many, I started scooting on my butt towards the shore.
After what seemed like an eternity, I looked up, only to see that I didn’t
appear to be much closer to land than when I had started. I was cold and frustrated
and my ankle hurt. I just wanted to go home and relax by the warm fireplace,
but it didn’t appear that I would be doing that any time soon.

 
    The closest house was the one on the cliff, but
I had no way to climb up there. My ass would be raw if I tried to scoot all the
way there, and the rocks were too slippery to try to hop on one foot. I really
wasn’t sure what to do. When the rain started, my tears started as well. It was
just too much.

 
    When I saw the big, black head my self-pity
quickly turned to panic-stricken fear. I wasn’t sure what kind of animal it was
from this distance, but I could tell that it was huge, and it appeared to be
looking in my direction. We stared at each other for what seemed like a long
time as I tried to figure out what it was.

 
    Do we have
black bears in this part of Michigan? I wondered. My second guess was a wolf, and I
really didn’t want to come face to face with either of those animals,
especially in my injured state.

 
    Suddenly, it began to run towards me. Fear took
my breath away until it got closer, and I could see that its tail was wagging. A dog? This huge monster is a dog? Relief flooded over me, but I almost couldn’t believe it because I had never
seen a dog of this magnitude. It appeared to be some sort of black lab on
steroids.

 
    By the time it reached me, I could tell by its
body language that it was friendly. It plopped its big butt down right next to
me and began licking my face. “Stop that!” I turned away, but the silly animal
was adamant.

 
    I laughed and started scratching its ears and
chest. We were getting along quite well, until I saw the figure of the man
standing at the edge of the lake looking at us. By now the rain and wind had
kicked up enough that I was having trouble deciphering if he was friendly.

 
    At this point, he was my only option, so I
lifted a hand to wave. He didn’t wave back. Instead, he started walking towards
us. I wondered briefly if the dog would protect me from an attacker, but then I
saw it’s purple collar and realized the dog was probably the man’s pet.

 
    As he stalked closer, I tried to determine if he
was a threat. His hooded, yellow rain slicker obscured his face, but I could
see by his walk that he was angry. When he came closer still, recognition began
to set in. “Seth?” I didn’t understand how he had found me or why.

 
    The glare he gave me could have frozen hot
coffee.   His voice oozed annoyance
as he replied with an adamant “No.”

Chapter 22

 
    Sam . My body was having its
usual reaction to his nearness, but I had chalked it up to fear. My breath had
quickened noticeably, so I attempted to slow it.

 
    “What the hell are you thinking?” The level of
anger in his voice shocked me, and I reared back as if I’d been slapped.

 
    What right
did he have to be mad at me? “I’m thinking that I’m cold, wet and injured;
and the last person I want to see right now is you,” I snapped. It was probably
a little harsh, but his unjust irritation with me had set me off.

 
    “Well then, I guess I’ll leave you alone.” He
turned to make his way back along the boulder path to the shore. The giant,
black dog gave me a bewildered tilt of its head, before turning to follow its
master.

 
    He’s
bluffing. I
told myself as Sam continued to walk away. He