“I realized I’ve let my fears keep me from climbing my difficult mountains for too long and I’ve been missing out on so much beauty.” She glanced around at the view with awe before returning her gaze to him as if he was an even better view. “And now I want to move forward. With you.”
He bent in and touched his lips to hers again, unable to stop himself, not caring that everyone else was still watching them. She was his. And he wanted the whole world to know.
More than that, he wanted to make sure she knew how much he loved her. He intended to make sure she knew it every day, every hour, and every minute for the rest of their lives.
25
“Happy birthday, dear Da-ad. Happy birthday to you.” The song rang out loudly in the July evening as the whole family surrounded T.W. on the deck that overlooked the ranch. It was a special birthday this year after his battle with cancer, a milestone to reach his fifty-ninth year.
Kinsey stood beside Tyler, his arm wrapped around her and drawing her to his side. She’d slipped her arm around his waist too, loving being connected.
Emberly began cutting an enormous cake and passing out pieces. Kade and Dustin sat on one side of the table, sipping drinks. Wyatt leaned against Brock’s chair and stared with adoration at the uncle wholiked to sing and play the guitar.
The boy had been by Kinsey’s side throughout most of the family gathering, eager to talk to her and be with her as he always was. Thankfully, he’d adjusted well to the news that she and Tyler were dating. After Wyatt had returned home from his trip to New York at the end of June, Tyler had sat down with the boy and told him everything, and Wyatt had been genuinely excited to find out his dad was in love with her.
Of course, Wyatt didn’t understand all the implications of falling in love. But he’d apparently been able to see that his dad was happier, and he’d accepted Kinsey’s presence in their lives as if it was natural and right for her to be there.
Kinsey had expected some pushback, maybe a little acting out, or even some questions. But clearly Tyler had done a goodjob of explaining what their relationship meant without harming Wyatt’s connection with Stephanie.
It probably also helped that Wyatt had just spent time with Stephanie and had grasped in his own way that Stephanie would always be on the fringes of his life and never someone who loved him as fully and deeply as the rest of his family.
Whatever the case, Wyatt seemed happy to have Kinsey involved in his and Tyler’s life. She’d grown to love the boy over the past weeks of spending time with both him and Tyler and doing all kinds of fun things together. The two had made sure she’d been able to experience everything the ranch had to offer, from white water rafting to the rifle range. She’d continued her riding lessons, and they’d even done a painting class.
Tyler leaned into her and pressed a kiss to her temple. “I love you, darlin’,” he whispered.
She loved that he was so affectionate, as though he couldn’t show her enough how much he cared about her. She peered up at him, relishing that this handsome man with his rugged and fierce looks belonged to her. “I love you too.”
She reached up to steal a quick, sweet kiss from him. But of course, the moment their lips met, the usual sparks flared to life, and the kiss was neither quick nor sweet.
“Ah, c’mon, you two.” Brock released an exasperated groan. “Is kissing all you do?”
With heat rushing to her cheeks, she tried to break free. But Tyler held her in place for a moment longer as if to show off for his brother. Or to prove to Brock that he would kiss his woman whenever and however he wanted.
When Tyler broke the kiss, he grinned at Brock. “And that’s how it’s done.”
Brock chuckled. “You got real lucky with Kinsey. Don’t know how you did it with as ugly as you are.”
Kinsey had learned that the siblings teased each other all the time. Even though it made her miss Madison, she enjoyed the banter and the camaraderie and the love the McQuaids shared for each other.
Tyler smirked at Brock. “Not as ugly as you, that’s for sure.”
They were both ridiculously handsome, Brock maybe even more so than Tyler, if that were even possible. Maybe it was Brock’s crooked grin or his seductive eyes or the casual drawl of his words.
Whatever it was, women everywhere loved him and flocked toward him. Now that he’d broken up with his girlfriend, Ainsley Rose, he’d probably be swamped with interest.
He’d told his family about the breakup when he’d arrived, had called things off on a recent trip to visit Ainsley Rose. He didn’t seem upset about it. According to Tyler, Brock was never in any relationship for too long before moving on.
T.W. was smiling at everyone and holding Leah on his lap, her arms wrapped around his neck. This week he’d been stronger and had more energy, which was why Kinsey had consented to having the birthday party outside on the deck.
As far as she could tell in the two months she’d lived at Healing Springs Ranch, he was winning the fight against cancer. He’d recovered quickly from his surgery for the obstruction and had gone through one round of chemotherapy, which had consisted of three weeks of treatments and a rest week.
Even though the trips to Colorado Springs were draining and the medicine took a toll, T.W. didn’t complain. He was in good spirits, especially whenever his whole family was together. Like they had been for the Fourth of July and now today for his birthday at the end of the month.
Kinsey was still his primary nurse, even though he technically didn’t need a nurse any longer since he was medically stable. But T.W. insisted she stay for the duration of his rounds—four more—and the McQuaids insisted on continuing to pay for her.
But she’d told Tyler only yesterday that as soon as T.W. finished chemotherapy, she could no longer accept any pay for his care. Not only didn’t he need her, but she and Tyler had begun making plans to build an Urgent Care Center in Healing Springs. They’d already looked at several vacant lots and had hired an architect to come up with a design.
She intended to head up the new medical facility and also planned to work there as a critical care nurse. The prospect excited her immensely, was the next chapter of her life, and would allow her to stay in the area to be with Tyler and Wyatt.
