“Wyatt talks all the time about Kinsey.” Nettie was watching his expression now.
Was she trying to decide how he felt about Kinsey? Whether or not he was attracted to her?
It was hard not to be. Not when she was beautiful both inside and out.
He’d tried to limit his interactions with her, especially because it seemed that he could never say the right thing around her. He’d made sure to stay as polite as possible and to keep the conversations about his dad.
She’d done the same. At times, she’d even seemed to go out of her way to avoid being around him, and that was fine with him. Although, he couldn’t deny that he liked her sharp wit. She wasn’t dull. That was for sure.
She lifted one of her lower legs in a stretch so that her running shoe bumped her backside.
As if sensing his gaze, which was now riveted to her, she glanced over her shoulder. And caught him staring.
Shoot.
He shifted a step closer to the SUV, braced a hand on the roof, and leaned in toward Nettie. “If you’re free next Saturday night, I’d like to take you out to dinner.”
She’d already lowered her sunglasses, so he couldn’t see the reaction in her eyes, but as her lips curled up into a bright smile, he could sense her pleasure. “I’d love to.”
“Good.” From the corner of his eyes, he could see Kinsey openly watching their interaction.
For a brief second, he was embarrassed he’d asked Nettie on a date so impetuously and in reaction to Kinsey. But maybe that had been the push he’d needed to take the next step with Nettie.
He didn’t linger much longer. After having taken yesterday off to spend with Brock and the rest of the family, he had meetings lined up most of the day and needed to get down to the ranch offices that were congregated on the first floor of the lodge. But before leaving, he stopped into Dad’s room with a fresh cup of coffee for both of them.
His dad was alert and talkative as Tyler sat beside him. “I love that little tyke’s whistling,” Dad insisted. “And I’m sure gonna miss him when he heads off to New York City.”
“I doubt Stephanie would protest if I told her Wyatt can’t come.” Tyler wasn’t sure why Stephanie had insisted on having Wyatt visit this year when she never had before. The most time she’d spent with Wyatt was five or six days over Christmas as well as his spring break in Aspen. Anson had gone with Wyatt and supervised his care, and the old cowboy was planning to accompany Wyatt to New York City too.
With the hospital bed raised, Dad took a sip of his coffee, his brow creased and his eyes filled with concern. “I think Wyatt’s starting to figure out that he doesn’t have a mother.”
“He has a mother.”
“Not one who lives with him like most of his friends.”
Tyler paused with his steaming mug against his lips. Maybe Wyatt had been oblivious when he’d been younger. But now that he was beginning to understand how most families were designed, he probably realized something was missing in his life.
Kinsey breezed through the door to Dad’s room, showered and changed and full of life. At just the sight of her, his dad’s whole demeanor changed. His eyes lit up, the worry lines eased from his forehead, and a gentle smile turned up his lips. “How was your run?”
She didn’t acknowledge Tyler as she returned Dad’s smile. “It’s getting easier every day.”
“How many miles did you go today?”
“I managed five.” She crossed to the bed, attired in her usual jeans and T-shirt.
“You’ll be back up to ten in no time.”
Kinsey shot Tyler a sideways glance, arching an eyebrow in question.
What question, though?
He gulped his coffee and shrugged one shoulder.
She faced him squarely and braced both hands on her hips. “I take it your son has neglected to tell you that I’ll be leaving tomorrow?”
“What?” With his mug halfway to his mouth, Dad halted and stared at Kinsey.
“Tyler doesn’t think I’m an experienced enough nurse.” As Kinsey spoke the words, she stared directly at Tyler. “So he called my company and asked for someone else to come and take care of you.”
