“No. He’s really a good guy. Patch disguises his feelings with crude, snarky remarks. He likes to give Knight a hard time,” Ty said, slowing down. “We’re coming up on the second subdivision Kassie built after realizing the benefits of her first one.”
“Thank you for telling me. Knight. He’s the one who smells like baby powder,” she recalled.
“Knight and Gabby have a baby about six months old. They live beside Claire and Patch. They’re good friends,” he said, attempting to give her a full view of everyone.
“Thank you for bringing me home, I appreciate it,” she said softly.
“It’s my pleasure. Since I’m telling you about everyone, why don’t you tell me something about you? What do you like to do in your spare time?”
“I guess you might say I’m an avid book reader. The guys always teased me about how many books I read. I love going to the movies, especially for thrillers. What do you like to do?” she asked.
“I don’t have much spare time,” he sighed. “My restaurant keeps me busy. When I’m not there, I run a small ranch. The food I serve comes mainly from there. Everything from the beef to the veggies. Bear, Leo’s new tech guy, provides most of the fish from Alaska,” he said. “We’re coming up to the hospital. I’ll drive you toward the facility to give you an idea of the distance and then bring you back,” he explained.
“Oh, I don’t want you to go out of your way,” she exclaimed.
“Nonsense, I’m enjoying spending time with you. It’s not far, and Leo doesn’t expect me for another twenty minutes,” Ty said, turning left. “Now, we’re on the roadto the facility. About a mile down on the right, you’ll find the road leading to Leo’s.”
“He likes to stay close to his job,” she murmured.
“You’ll find the team members consider each other family. Except for a few in town, most of them live here. Now, we’ve arrived at the facility. No one goes past this point except team members. As we return, on your right, you’ll find two dormitories for hospital staff and a couple of cabins scattered here and there for the team.”
Ty turned the truck around in the parking lot.
“I miss this time of the year. I love the fall foliage and I can detect the dampness in the air. I bet it’s beautiful,” Scarlett sighed.
“It’s not cold enough to bring out the red colors in the leaves, but there are bursts of gold and browns,” he described as he drove back to the hospital and parked his truck.
Scarlett opened her door and jumped out before he made it around the vehicle. He waited until she gathered her things and placed his hand on her arm. She took out her cane and nervously tapped it on the ground. “Thank you again. You’re a great tour guide.”
Ty walked her up the steps and stopped by the entrance. “I enjoyed every minute. If you find yourself in need of my services again, you only need to call me.”
“Does your tour come with chocolate cake or fudge brownies as a perk?” she asked, grinning.
“It can always be arranged,” he assured her. “You don’t even have to fall flat on your face to get a slice.”
“Ha, ha. You’re funny,” she laughed.
“How do you feel about popcorn?” he asked.
“I love it. Do you make it with chocolate, too?” She stopped to the right of the doors.
“There’s a thriller playing in town at the movie theatre. We can go, and I’ll let you taste my amazing popcorn concoction,”he coaxed. “Have you ever tried movie popcorn with chocolate and caramel candy mixed in?”
“No, but it sounds yummy,” she said, her mouth watering as she imagined the flavor.
“Great. Then, I’ll pick you up after your shift tomorrow. We can eat dinner and then head over to watch the movie,” Ty proposed.
“I haven’t gone to a movie since I returned,” she said uneasily.
“Don’t worry. I’m an excellent guide there, too,” he whispered.
She grinned. “I’ll see you then.”
“I’m looking forward to it,” Ty promised in his deep voice, sending shivers down her spine as he walked away.
Scarlett turned and entered the hospital, feeling lighter as excitement flowed through her. Ty might not have been Russian or Irish, but somehow she knew he had his own appeal.
CHAPTER 14
