“Yes, I think that would be best.”
“Alright, alright.” Only it didn’t sound like downtrodden resign. His response came out light and elated, like she’d just askedhimout in return. “I’m finally getting some muscle back in these guns,” he said, rolling his shoulders as they moved back toward the front door. “Not sure if you noticed yesterday.”
Ty hurried to open the door for him, causing Maverick to pause and frown for a breath. He relented though and shuffled down the hall toward the back room. “I used to be able to lift more than my little brother, Memphis, but now he’s catching up to me.”
“Wait,” she couldn’t help but blurt. “Yourlittlebrother? I thought you were twins.”
“Oh, we are. But I was born first.”
This earned a genuine laugh from Ty. “You’re counting seconds, are you?”
Maverick puffed out his chest. “All three-hundred and twenty-three of them,” he said proudly.
Ty laughed again. “That’s funny.”
He was in the room now, leaning a hand against the door frame and grinning.
“Go ahead and dress down to your comfort level. Climb beneath the top sheet, face down, and I’ll be with you in a moment.”
Maverick was a character, she’d give him that. Ty wasn’t blind to the fact that many women, like Jackie for instance, would go crazy over him. Luckily, he wasn’t Ty’s type. He had surprised her, however, by being so respectful as to take her outside of the spa to ask her out. That detail alone told Ty she need not worry about him pressing the subject while she worked on him. For that, she was grateful.
As always, Ty took satisfaction in the attention, care, and focus she put into her work. Relieving tension, tightness, and soreness with techniques she’d mastered over the years. She took time, inwardly, to reach out to the creator on her client’s behalf, praying health, healing, and wellness over them and their family.
Holly always said we didn’t cross paths with others by chance. Ty firmly believed that, and she intended to be a blessing to those who climbed onto her massage table. Maverick remained on his best behavior, proving he had respect for what she did. He did, however, voice gratitude or appreciation as she worked over particularly sore knots deep in the tissue.
“You’re a freaking magician,” he mumbled as she pressed tension from his outer thigh.
The comment earned a grin, but Ty remained silent, allowing Maverick to focus on the massage itself.
“Alright,” she said once the session was through. “Our time is up. I’ll step out and let you get up at your leisure. No need to hurry.” She almost added that it was her lunch hour, but she feared he might see it as an invitation. So she left it at that and stepped out of the room.
There on the other side of the door, a sigh slipped past her lips. That had gone very well. It took only seconds for her mind to drift back to where it’d been before Maverick arrived for his appointment—Memphis. He’d said he planned to take care of the battery between the things he had on his list today. She hoped it was going smoothly. And that they got the right battery. She hoped also that the problem really was her old battery and not something beyond it. If that were the case, Memphis could do everything correctly and it still wouldn’t start.
Perhaps she should head out front and see how things were coming along.
“Hey, Ty,” came Andie from down the hall. “Would you like to head over to the inn with me and catch some lunch?”
“Sure,” she was quick to reply. She met Andie at the front entrance where Andie turned to the receptionist.
Jackie gave her a wave.
“Do you want to join us, Jackie?” Andie asked as she was halfway through the door.
“No, thank you,” Jackie said, lifting a blender bottle filled with a bright green mixture. “I’m on a smoothie diet this week.”
Andie tipped her head back. “Ah, enjoy then.”
“I’ll try,” Jackie said with a knowing laugh.
Ty couldn’t help but admire the kindness Andie showed to the employees at the inn. Something she further demonstrated as they encountered others in the staff’s dining quarters. Several tables and chairs filled the bright space, offering plenty of seating options as staff filtered in to fill up during their breaks.
Andie led the way through a buffet-style salad bar with soup and bread options, then motioned to a quiet corner beside a window. “Is this good?” she asked Ty before sitting.
Ty nodded and pulled out a chair. “Perfect, thank you.”
Andie perched on the front edge of her chair and dug the prongs of her fork into her salad. They made small talk between bites. Andie wanted to know how the job was going so far and if there was anything she needed. After replying, Ty asked how long ago they’d bought into the inn.
Soon the conversation stretched into new areas. Andie asked about Lucas, and Ty asked about Andie’s recent wedding. “I bet weddings here at the inn are magical.”
