Wearing their identical gear, they drove a short distance to a large field where a hot-air balloon was waiting for them. The pilot was a McQuaid cousin, one of many who lived in the state. As they loaded up, the cousin teased Tyler about her, claiming that Tyler hadn’t divulged he was bringing a lady friend along, especially one so beautiful…and in matching shirts and hats.
Tyler took the teasing good-naturedly, joking back with his cousin. Before long, the balloon with its brilliant stripes wasrising up from the ground, floating steadily higher until miles and miles spread out around them.
She leaned against the basket, and Tyler stood beside her, pointing out various landmarks—the Blue River, the Dillon Reservoir, the Tenmile Range, and more. The view was incredible with the river valley nestled among the mountains covered in blankets of dark-green pine.
She’d never been in a hot-air balloon before, but with Tyler beside her and his cousin carrying on a commentary of Summit County and its history, she felt completely at ease and relaxed, just as she had at the alpine lake.
Tyler was proving himself to be as innovative and creative with their day together—not date—as he was with the activities at the ranch, and she could tell how much he was enjoying showing her Colorado. Was he hoping she would fall in love with the high country the way he had? If so, she was.
“I’d take another nursing job in Colorado in a heartbeat,” she said once they were back in his Jeep and driving to a new destination that he wouldn’t reveal.
“There’s a medical office in Fairplay.” Tyler’s statement was casual, but there was also something strangely charged about it, as if he was fishing for information.
“Returning to routine wellness checks after years of caring for the most severely ill patients?” She tried to keep her tone light. “I’m not sure I would know what to do.”
“I’ve also been thinking about adding a part-time nurse to our staff on the ranch.”
As soon as the statement was out, she didn’t know what to say. Was he indirectly trying to discover if she’d be open to staying in the area? She wasn’t sure. But she did know she couldn’t lead him on into thinking she was willing to settle down into a permanent position. Because she wasn’t, was she?
He glanced at her sideways, then focused ahead again on the road. His profile in the waning evening light seemed harder and more chiseled than usual. Or maybe he was just more serious about this conversation than he had been about others.
Either way, she had to make certain he knew she wasn’t interested in staying long-term. In fact, she’d just talked to Pippa a few days ago about potential new assignments.
“I’ve even thought about building an ER in Healing Springs,” Tyler continued. “That way we have something closer and don’t have to medi-flight every serious case to Frisco or Colorado Springs.”
“Sounds like a good idea.”
“Does it?” His question held a note of hope.
“With as many tourists as the area draws, it seems like a practical addition.”
“But…?”
“But what?”
He glanced at her again sideways. “You don’t seem enthusiastic about the idea.”
“No, I am. It seems great.”
He was silent for a beat. “Just not great for you?”
She sighed softly, feeling as though her answer might let him down, and she didn’t want to do that. And yet she had to be honest. “I haven’t lived anywhere permanently in four years because of all my traveling.”
“Don’t you ever get tired of it? Of always moving and never having a place to put down roots?”
She shrugged. “I know it’s probably hard to understand, especially for a man whose roots run two centuries deep. But I like moving and meeting new people and having new experiences.”
He was silent for several long heartbeats before nodding. “You’re good at what you do, Kinsey. I’m sorry I ever doubted you.”
“Thank you. I’m glad we turned things around and can be friends.”
“Me too.”
She waited for a reassuring smile from him, something to relieve the pressure that was mounting between them. But nothing came.
She was tempted to ask him what was going on and what he was feeling. A part of her knew the conversation was far from over, that it was just beginning. But she was too afraid to keep going down the path they’d begun, too afraid of what he’d say, too afraid of where it might lead.
They were better off sticking to what they currently had and keeping their relationship uncomplicated and fun.
