White Rock Lake
A reservoir, White Rock Lake covers 1,254 acres and was once used for a portion of Dallas' drinking water supply. Now that it's use as a water source has been supplanted, the area has become one of the favored recreational locations in the city. The forested shoreline is dotted with numerous small cabins, fishing piers, and sailboat docks.
The lake is surrounded by White Rock Lake Park, which is home to the Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden. Running through the park is a 9 mile trail designed for hiking, running or cycling.
Though swimming was banned here back in the '50's, it is still a popular location for area teens who generally enjoy the more deserted areas, using the beautiful backdrop as a makeout spot.
~~
The last hurrah before work resumes on Monday, the opportunity is seized by Brett Coleman to get out for a breath of air. With a text followed by a brief phone call, the request is made for the pleasure of Dr. Summer Houston's company at the lake in town. He's learned his lesson, oh yes… the full moon is way too close, and while last month's shift was filled with little revelations as well as big ones, being a little closer to home, at least for the moment, is preferable.
The night is cloudy, the humidity hangs in the air. Every once in awhile, a large drop falls onto the windshield of his truck with a *splat*, the water droplets causing a ripple effect after a fashion.
Before him, with the lights of his truck still on, the ground.. and then the bank of the lake. Blankets are in the truck, a necessary item now, as well as towels.. and a single change of clothes. Also present, deli sandwiches, complete with dill pickles…
~~
Humidity is a very vile thing, and not something that Summer is actually used to in abundance in Dallas. Dry heat? A breeze compared to humidity. The difficulty with humidity, other than getting wet, is that it tends to make generally nicely waved hair frizz in a very unflattering manner.
Having pulled her Baja into the parking area, she waits for Brett to show up. As soon as she sets foot outside, it's instant frizz and clothing sticking to her. She runs the short distance between the too vehicles, but she's wet, frizzy, and has a slightly irked and wild look in her eyes.
A small fist taps at his passenger window and she waits to be allowed in before she opens the door and just hops up. Which leaves her outside, doing the back and forth dance with her arms crossed over her chest.
~~
Well now.. Brett looks to the side the moment the knock sounds at the passenger side. The truck is old enough that there are no power windows, nor power locks, and he has to scoot over to the other side in order to pop the door. It gets funny in certain types of weather— he'll have to have someone look at that. Probably Miss Abbey this week?
The grin rises as he watches Summer shift from side to side in the 'waiting for the door to open' dance.. and pulling on the handle, pushes it a little awkwardly as he lays partially in the reach.
"Come on in.. you'll—" Oh good Lord.. ".. and close the door." The grin turns lopsided, "Glad you could make it."
~~
"Come on now, the hair's not that bad, is it?" Summer runs her hands over her hair, twisting it up and then letting it drop. It's not as though she looks like she's been electrocuted, just… fuzzy.
Hopping into the truck, dripping a bit, she grins over at him. "Sorry. I was coming from the clinic and figured it would be easier to just drive over." She's careful not to sit on him as she slides in, and she does try not to spill water all over the seats. "Bit wet. Wasn't really expecting large threatening water drops to fall on my head."
~~
"It's cute." Brett straightens out as Summer settles into the truck, he reaches out to toy with a couple of strands. "Fuzzy.. but I like fuzzy." He's teasing, of course.. certainly nothing critical in those eyes as he plays.
"I didn't expect rain either, but it's not too bad. Leave it for a little while and the front will pass. Only problem is, it'll probably cool down a little after it does that." At least, they can hope in order to break some of the spring heat.
"I.." It's with a gesture at their feet that he continues, "… have food. Okay, didn't make it myself so no one will be poisoned, but it's food." He pauses, and theatrically 'deflates', "Your dad made it… and was giving me the oddest looks. He actually talked to me. I mean, not 'Oh hey, Brett, how are you?' but.. he said 'hello'."
~~
"Sure. Cute. Until you see a coyote wandering around in the desert that looks like a powderpuff," Summer laments. When he touches her hair, she just widens her eyes a little, then looks down. "At least I don't look like a pussy willow, I suppose."
Reaching up to playfully bat at his hand, she giggles. "I'm sure you wouldn't poison us with a sandwich. Those really are difficult to screw up."
Then, the look that was starting to soften turns into one of incredulity. "He said hello? I mean, he says hello to a lot of the customers but to another Shifter, one that's in my company a lot… that's sort of rare."
~~
Brett laughs at the image of that puffball bouncing around the flatlands. "Even better. Though, you could always try for something.. more fuzzy. A fox? Oh! A pomeranian dog." The grin that remains is ear to ear, "A little black puffy Pomeranian. I promise I won't eat you.. really. I swear." Theatrically, he crosses his chest in promise. Almost as binding as a 'pinky bet'.
He shakes his head and lifts the bag to the seat between them. "Oh, don't bet on it.. Well, okay. I make a mean lunchmeat sandwich. So.. there's roast beast, and I got a tuna salad for me.. turkey, and… pickles." The last is given with a verbal flourish. Definitely setting up for a romantic date? Pickles?
Nodding quickly, Brett offers an almost as incredulous look as sits on Summer's face. "Yes.. but again, he had.. a look," and shaking his head, he continues, "and it's not one that I was able to interpret. It wasn't a 'get away or I'll stab you with this knife' look. More like.. 'you're not going to know what I know' look.. or there's just something that I'm missing along the way."
~~
Don't knock deli pickles. They really are the best pickles to have with a sandwich of any sort.
Even if Summer gives him a slightly odd look.
"A pomeranian? Fluffy, yappy, they look like a gigantic cotton ball running around? Surely I can be something cuter, like a Chow?" Slightly larger, easier to play with as a 'yote.
"That's a dangerous look," she replies, with a teasing whisper. "He may come after you while you're sleeping, or threaten to induct you into the Pack…"
~~
"I don't know…" comes out slowly and deliberately, and certainly teasingly. "I'm not sure Chows are quite fluffy enough.." He pauses as if actually thinking about it before looking at Summer, his eyes gleaming in teasing amusement as he studies her face, and hair. "How do they do at bounding? I mean, the straight-legged, straight out in front of them sort of bouncing run is pretty cute…"
Brett's smile turns a little more.. theatric once again, and his expression falls into the basement in 'reaction' to the whispered warnings. "Oh dear.. Induction into the pack? Does that involve .. heavy drinking with bikers and.." Brett makes a dramatic gulping sound as he continues, "male bonding?"
~~
"Loads of male bonding," comes the quick and easy reply.
Summer flips down the visor, searching for a mirror, and fussing with her hair again. She may not generally be absolutely vain when it comes to something other than clothing, but she's definitely concerned she looks ridiculous in his presence. She slides down in the seat a little, fishing in her pocket for an elastic. When she can't find one she grumbles, then twists the hair up again.
"God, I look awful. I should have worn it up. Braided, in a bun, something."
~~
"You look fine. I'll pass on the pomeranian.. and the chow," is offered gently. "Really. You are a very feminine looking coyote and I wouldn't have it any other way. Your little black nose sits on a gently tapering muzzle, your almond eyes are outlined in a black with lashes.. and your yip is like a song in my ears."
Once given, Brett cants his head a little, and his brows raise. He wasn't aware until he'd said it that it'd serve as a perfect segue into what he'd really like to talk about…
Namely, them.
"I.. I was wondering if you would accept my courting you now? You'd told me that you and Mr. Alexandrov had officially parted ways. I promise that you won't lack for good company and happy times, if it is in my power to bring you such things." Brett takes a deep breath and releases it, realizing that he really hadn't breathed in that moment, and barrels on. "And should you allow it, I'll ask your father for his permission.. providing he doesn't come at me with that knife, or kidnap me for male bonding with the Pack.. because I really, really don't hold my alcohol well…"
~~
The compliment, coming from any other source besides a shifter would be extremely odd. Summer glances out the side window briefly, trying to mask her smile. To hide it all the more, she allows her fuzzy mess of hair to drop back over her shoulders.
When he seques into courting talk, she slowly turns back to him. The smile is gone from her lips, but still very apparent in her eyes.
"Were you not already courting me, Mr. Coleman?" Arching an eyebrow upward, she graces him with a curious look. "Though I'd really honestly not approach Toby about it. He may throw you into some weird trials to have you prove your worth…" Is she teasing? She definitely sounds serious, but there's still a small twinkle in her eyes.
~~
"I.. I was trying.. sorta.. to keep it on the down low. I mean," Brett chuffs a breath and laughs softly, "But you must know I wouldn't take just anyone out to the…" he pauses a little dramatically before continuing, "…the flats for a game of armadillo soccer. Takes a special girl." He can be serious, really, but there's just something about Summer that lets him express himself with humour, knowing full well that she's got to know what that undercurrent is.
After all, it's obvious to him that she understands him.. what he's trying to say. One day, however, when a more serious day occurs, if a more serious day occurs, he'll give it the sobriety and 'depth' that is required.
Until then?
"Was it that obvious?" From the texting and the presents..
"I shouldn't?" Shaking his head, Brett looks vaguely thoughtful. Now, this is serious business, though.. a man, his daughter.. and a suitor. "I'd be willing to run the gauntlet.." He can see the gleam, and there's a part of him that appreciates the humour, but it's also a time for him to do a little puffing and posturing in front of the lady he'd like to officially court. "Tries of fire.. well, okay.. maybe not fire, but.. I'm pretty good at whack a mole.. and running down a roadrunner? I'm not all that bad there, either. Wile E. Coyote just had a run of bad luck there.."
~~
"And here was me thinking that little stop on trip was entirely accidental." After all, Summer was expecting an evening shift, so they really should have had enough time to get back from dancing. Silly daylight moons, making things exceedingly difficult for a Shifter, and harder to plan around.
"Well you did ask well before I had things figured out, so yes?" Light, airy, teasing. Truthful but still teasing.
Still, since he's tried to give it a bit of formality, she can't help but do the same.
"Let the wooing begin!"
Well, okay. She did try to give it a hint of seriousness, but she failed. It's likely due to looking like a puffball. Hard to be serious when looking like that.
~~
"It.. was.." Brett eyeshifts his response to the now.. slightly suspicious statement before he laughs. "Yes, it really was. Who knew that I'd get to spend the entire evening and morning with a lovely lady on my arm? I didn't." Though, there is no way he'd change that now.
The grin relights his face; Summer has made someone quite happy, as evidenced by the light in his eyes, the smile that runs from ear to ear. "I did, yes.. because I'd figured it out that you and me.. we worked. You laughing, my making you laugh.. you like to play, but apparently you never really took the time before to really just.. play. I knew it." Brett laughs and offers a moment of.. humbleness. Uh huh.. "I mean, I'd never, ever ask you to choose, but…" he considers himself the obvious choice…
A laugh is barked at Summer's pronouncement and there's a moment when he's almost (almost!) completely.. unable to respond. What he does do, after a momentary 'setback' is to reach to take her hand and bring it to his lips to kiss her hand.. and he really has no desire to let it go. Not unless, of course, she's hungry.
Or…
"Want to go take a walk in the rain?"
~~
He's babbling a little, but that's perfectly fine with Summer. He can take on the role of speaker, and she can sit back and go over a few things and…
Her hand is kissed, and it leaves her a little dazed. So gentlemanly, so old-fashioned, and he looks exceedingly happy. Smiling at him, almost shyly, the woman laughs.
"At least tell me you have the towels in that handy tote? I think we'll need them."
There is no letting go of his hand, so instead she nudges him toward his door so that they can slip out into the big droplets of rain that continue to plop and splash over the windshield. "After you then…"
~~
