T.W. hadn’t come to the hot springs since his cancer diagnosis, but Tyler had considered bringing him over, although he’d admitted he didn’t believe sitting in the healing springs would actually heal cancer.
Kinsey didn’t discount prayer and miracles. She also believed homeopathic remedies as well as complementary and alternative medicine had a place once in a while. But as a registered nurse, she was trained to address physical problems with modern medicine and treatments that were scientifically proven to be helpful.
Regardless, she loved when Tyler talked about the things he was passionate about. He was interesting and knowledgeable, and she liked seeing him come to life.
But there were also times when his moods turned more somber. Sometimes that happened when he was thinking about his dad, although not as much recently since T.W. was improving. Sometimes that happened when conversations steered in the direction of his ex-wife. Sometimes that happened when he considered his family and the challenges each of his siblings faced.
She appreciated that Tyler was a deeply caring man who took his responsibilities seriously. But he also needed someone in his life who could listen to him and be there and share some of his burdens so that they didn’t all fall so heavily on him.
As a friend, she could be that person for him, couldn’t she?
“What are you thinking about?” she asked softly as she leaned back against the smooth stones that made up the side of the hot spring.
He sank down into the water, submerging his body up to his shoulders. Even though he was across from her now, the pool wasn’t huge, and his outstretched leg and foot bumped against hers.
“You’re so serious all of a sudden,” she said.
“Sorry.” He tilted his head back and looked up at the dark sky that sparkled with a million stars.
Here in the high country, the sky seemed close enough to reach up and touch. At night, especially, the stars hung just a little lower and sparkled just a little brighter.
“Don’t be sorry.”
He was silent for several heartbeats, then expelled a sigh. “The blue Speedo isn’t helping.”
A strange heat shot straight through her abdomen.
“But don’t worry,” he continued. “I’ll stay on my side over here and won’t cross the line.”
The heat spread through her body. It had been so long since she’d allowed herself to spend time with a man like this.
“You should know,” she said lightly, wanting to make him feel more at ease, “it’s hard to avoid looking at you too.”
“Is that right?” His tone lost some of the tightness.
“You already know you’re eye candy.”
He huffed a laugh.
“Or maybe I’m just getting old and losing some of my ability to resist a handsome man.”
“So I’m handsome?”
“Oh, please.”
He smiled, obviously satisfied with her roundabout compliment. “You’re not getting old.”
She shrugged. “Twenty-eight isn’t young anymore.”
He was quiet for a moment. “How long have you been in resistance mode?”
“Resistance mode?”
“When was your last serious boyfriend?”
“I haven’t had one in a long time.”
“See? Resistance mode.”
