Breakfast for three

It's been a few days since Jax ran off and that guy showing up on my porch with him. I have the windows cracked to let in the damp breeze of spring. A few flowers have bloomed so their fragrance is clinging to the breeze. But that scent doesn't make it far in the kitchen since I'm frying up bacon. 

I look to Jax laying on the floor waiting for me to drop any morsel of food. He moves his eyebrows in hopes if I look at him food will magically fall.

"I already gave you your dog food." I say to defend myself against the puppy dog eyes.

A knock at the back door makes Jax scurry toward it barking. I peek my head around the corner and see it's that guy. Why is he shirtless? I get closer to the door. Alright there has to be a legal limit to how many abs a guy can have. Jax is jumping up and down at the door.

"Alright calm down." I tell Jax and hold onto his collar so I can open the door.

"Yo, I was out jogging and your cooking smelled amazing so I thought I would try my luck." He kneels for Jax. He pulls me closer to this guy to get petted.

"Jax calm down." I try telling the excited dog.

"Don't worry about it but I would worry about the burning bacon." The guy states.

The smoke alarm starts going off.

"Oh no!" I yell and take off to the kitchen. 

I pull the pan from the burner then try to get a chair to reach the smoke alarm. I start to climb up but this shirtless guy is standing in my kitchen and is tall enough to shut the screaming alarm off. His chest is inches from my face.

"Well is it save-able?" He smiles down at me.

He's in my house. Red flag? He saved Jax though so yellow flag? I don't know his name though... How would knowing his name help me anyways if he offed me?

"Uhhh." Is all I could get out. What was the question again?

He looks over to the pan. "It don't look too bad." Then he smiles to me.

I need to find a shirt or sweatshirt for this guy if I'm going to think straight. I take my foot off the chair and quietly make my way to my room for a shirt for him. I could hear Jax whining for attention from the guy as he is opening windows in the kitchen. I make it back and shyly hold up a shirt while looking off to the side. It's a plain black one but it should fit him.

I could hear him chuckle while taking the shirt. He slips it on and it's almost too short but it covers him. Words return to my thought process. I guess this could be the meal to repay him for bringing Jax back.

"H-how do you like your eggs?" I ask making my way to the stove to get the bacon out of the pan.

"Over easy." He says sitting on the floor while petting Jax. 

"I only have white bread for toast if that's alright?" I ask shyly as I break the eggs into the pan.

"White's fine." He smiles at me while Jax is rolling all over him. Jax is sneezing here and there and his ears are perked tall while happily having his tongue out. Next thing I know Jax is zooming through the house. He stops near mystery guy in a play stance just for a second before taking off again. 

"I haven't seen him this happy in awhile. Jax really likes you." I say putting together this guy's eggs, toast and bacon on a plate.

"He is a good dog." The guys says getting up and taking the plate from me. "Thank you Katie." 

My blood runs a little cold. He knows my name.

"Y-yea." I stutter. "H-how... my name?"

"Everyone in town has been talking about you lately. You're lucky to have walked off my uncle Howard's property alive." He says while biting into his egg soaked toast.

"So your Howard's nephew?" I ask trying to stay calm while scrambling eggs in the pan for myself. 

"Yea he owns all the property across the road from you." He says.

"I'm sorry, I haven't caught your name yet." I say walking up to the table with my plate.

"Oh I'm sorry it's Tate." He reaches across the table to shake my hand. "Tate Kane. It's nice to meet you Katie Lyals."

I shake his hand. The name sounds familiar. I sit across from him. Tate snaps his fingers so Jax will lay on the ground and not be begging. How does he make it look easy?

"S-so what do you do for a living Tate?" I ask.

"I'm the only dog groomer in town. I have a little spot in the bottom half of my house for it." He explains. 

"That's why your name is familiar! Becca from work was talking about getting her dog groomed from you." I say when the dots connect.

"Yup! She has a very well mannered wire hair fox terrier named Tex." Tate replies.

"Small towns really do know everyone compared to the city." I comment.

"That they do. Lived here my whole life and everyone knows everything before you even know it happened to you. So you're from a big town?" He asks.

"Well it wasn't huge but I didn't even know my neighbors at the apartment complex." I say.

"Really? That must have sucked." Tate finishes up the last bite of food.

"I had Jax so it wasn't bad." I say trying to not remember my controlling ex.

"That's good at least. I do hate to eat and run but my first appointment is in 30 minutes." Tate says getting up and taking his plate to the sink.

"Oh I'm sorry." I instinctively reply.

"Don't be sorry. I'm hoping I can help you later on to get more of your good cooking. Maybe even trade Jax's grooms for it." His smile is playful. "Oh you probably want your shirt back."

He stripped it off then leaves in on the table, scratches Jax and waves goodbye.