Lennon drove to Memorial Park, a large expanse of trails and trees interspersed with thick slabs of grass. “I can’t believe we’re so close to downtown,” I said as we got out. “I can barely hear the traffic noise.”
Lennon smiled. “It’s not Central Park, but it’s pretty nice. Ready?”
“Yep.”
Belladonna trotted beside us, and I noted that Lennon shortened his stride to match mine. We made an easy loop that was probably a couple of miles, and by the time we’d finished, I was sweaty and probably red-faced. I lifted the hair off the back of my neck and fanned my cheeks.
We walked back to his truck, where Lennon offered me a bottle of water. He poured some into a bowl for the dog before he drank his own. I’d known from the beginning that he was a kind man, but watching him care for his dog, his T-shirt plastered to his chest and the thick slabs of muscle on his abdomen, caused a thrum of desire.
I finished my water, both pleased to know the connection was still there and afraid to explore it. I inhaled. The only way I could manage these feelings was to work through them, so I might as well start. “Thanks for the run,” I said. “I needed that.”
He pulled a couple of hand towels from his gym bag and offered me one. We both wiped away perspiration.
“Sure. I like to run. Quiets my head. And with my mom…I think I’m going to be in the best shape of my life.”
I laid my hand on his forearm. “I’m sorry you and your family have to go through this, Lennon.”
He nodded. “I know you’ve been there.” He cleared his throat and worry settled in his eyes. “How are things looking? I mean, any update on her prognosis?”
“It’s actually really good,” I said. “She said I could talk to you about this—otherwise, I couldn’t.”
“I get that.”
“So…yeah, the biopsy was positive. The mass will be removed this week, but it’s small and localized. The first round of chemotherapy starts next week, and we won’t know how she reacts to that until we get there. But she’s healthy, and we have ways to mitigate the symptoms.”
“Good. That’s all good.”
I hesitated. “She doesn’t need a private nurse. It’s a large expense and?—”
He squeezed my fingers. “Please don’t worry about the money. I can afford it, if she’ll let me pay.”
I laughed. “She won’t.”
“She won’t,” he agreed. “She wants you. And I want you there with her. As long as you’re okay with your arrangement, we’re all happier for it.”
I blew out the breath I’d been holding since the plane ride here. “Okay.”
“I’m really glad you’re here, Vivi.”
I smiled at him. “Me, too.”
“Want to swing by my place now?” he asked. “I’d love to show it to you.”
“Let’s go.”
He helped me back into the huge pickup, and I buckled in while he started the engine.
“So…you don’t live far?” I asked.
“Not too far. I wanted to be close enough in case my mom needed me—when I’m in town, that is.”
“How much do you travel?” We hadn’t discussed his season in great detail when we met. Now, I had a better sense of his travel time, which he confirmed for me.
“About half the season. Sometimes that’s lumped together, and we can be out of town playing an away series for eight to ten days, but that’s rare.”
I frowned as I studied his profile. He glanced at me, and I liked how the sunlight glinted off his brown eyes.
“That’s a long time. Isn’t it hard on families?”
