“You have to press your tongue against your bottom teeth like this.” She opened her mouth and showed him. “Then you have to curl your tongue into the shape of the letter u.”
Wyatt pressed his tongue, then curled it. He blew out air for long seconds before a sound slipped out. It was a whistle so soft that even a baby mouse could squeak louder.
But Wyatt jumped up from his chair, his face alight with excitement. “I did it!” He pressed and curled his tongue again, and this time the whistle was slightly louder.
“That’s right.” She smiled at the genuine delight that shone from his eyes.
For a moment, she felt sorry for him—sorry that he didn’t have a mother to give him all the love and care and guidance that he deserved. From everything Kinsey had picked up during the conversations so far, she’d learned that Tyler’s ex-wife lived in New York City and was remarried to the third or fourth man since leaving Tyler. Her only child was Wyatt, but Wyatt wasn’t close to her, since she’d left when he was an infant.
“Listen.” He hopped up and down, then proceeded to whistle even louder.
“You caught on quickly.”
His grin widened as he started to pucker again, but then his gaze shifted, and he glanced behind her toward the sliding glass door. “Dad!” He darted toward Tyler, who was stepping outside onto the deck.
Tyler had taken off his Stetson, and now a hat ring encircled his hair. Even with his flat hair, he was too ruggedly good-looking with the scruff on his jaw, his dark blue T-shirt pulled tightly across his chest, and his chin jutting with determination.
He was just too hot for any woman’s heart rate to handle, including hers.
She was sure if she stopped and took her palpitations, her pulse would be off the charts.
“Guess what! Guess what!” Wyatt reached Tyler and nearly tackled him with enthusiasm.
“Whoa now.” Tyler lifted the boy up into the air as effortlessly as if he were a paper airplane that he was about to launch from the deck to the open hillside.
“Kinsey taught me to whistle!”
The beginning of Tyler’s smile faltered, and he cast a glance in her direction, a slight crease in his brow the sign that he wasn’t pleased. Why? Because he still didn’t trust her? Because she was being overly familiar? Because he thought she might develop a relationship with his son only to have to end it?
Whatever the case, Tyler didn’t say anything to her and instead focused on the little boy. He had Wyatt show him his new whistle several times and listened with an endearing raptness. Then he sent Wyatt inside, telling him he’d be right in so that Wyatt could practice some more while getting his bath.
As soon as the glass door closed behind the boy, Tyler crossed his arms and peered down at her, that crease deepeningand his eyes narrowing. Why did his shoulders have to strain against his shirt? Almost as if they were pushing to be free of a shirt altogether.
Before he could chastise her, she leaned back in her chair. “You’re welcome.”
“I didn’t say thank you.”
“I saved you the trouble.”
“I don’t consider saying thank youtroublewhen it’s warranted, which it wasn’t.”
“I taught your son how to whistle. I deserve a bonus for that.”
“I didn’t ask you to teach him.” He ground out the words, his scowl deepening.
“Well, too late.” She pushed up, ready to be done talking with Tyler even though they’d only just started. “Even if I could take back teaching him, I wouldn’t.”
The setting sun was casting a brilliant red-orange hue over the western range. It cast a glow over Tyler, too, making him appear even taller and fiercer.
“You’re a temporary nurse to my dad.” With a glance toward the sliding glass door, Tyler dropped his voice. “You’re not here to spend time with my son.”
“I don’t generally make a practice of ignoring children who are being friendly with me.”
“And I don’t appreciate when women befriend my child in order to attract my attention.”
She scoffed. “If you think I want your attention, then you clearly have no clue how to read women.”
“After overhearing the conversation I had with my dad about marriage, maybe you’re trying to weasel your way into my family.”
