Chapter 13 #2
“People work way too hard. I don’t understand why someone wants to hurt others for no reason,” she said, shaking her head.
A bag rattled in front of her, and Ty took her hand, placing it on the lid. “I brought you some dessert,” he said, his voice lowering.
Scarlett beamed. “I haven’t eaten dinner yet. You’re spoiling me. What did you make?”
“It’s a warm brownie with fudge, ice cream, whipped cream, and a cherry,” he announced softly. “I didn’t know if you liked it melted. I put it in separate containers.”
“Oh no, I love when it all melds together. I can’t tell you the last time I ate a brownie like this. Did Sledge tell you it’s my favorite dessert?” she asked excitedly.
Ty took out the other ingredients, made up the treat, and then handed her the spoon. “No. You mentioned women liked chocolate, and I guessed you might like this one.”
“Thank you for bringing it to me,” she said, gently holding the side of the bowl as she scooped up a bite. “Mmm. You outdid yourself.”
“I have to speak with Leo this evening. He’s returning from Seattle. I told Kassie I’ll bring you home if you feel comfortable with the arrangement. If you’re not, one of the veterans will pick you up,” Ty explained.
“It seems silly for them to drive here when you’re headed in my direction. I don’t know where Leo lives on the mountain. I don’t want to have you go out of your way.”
“Nonsense. Leo lives to the west of the hospital. There’s a road leading to his house. The rest of the team live on the east side of the mountain, facing Bear’s mountain.”
Scarlett envisioned it in her head. “May I ask you some questions? I’m trying to see if I can recall where things are located.”
“Of course, what do you want to know?”
“Can you tell me where the hospital’s at and everything around it? I know the service dog facility’s distance, but they mentioned cabins. I’m not sure where,” she explained.
“There’s a path to the right of the hospital.
If you stay straight, it leads you to them.
If you take a right at the post, you'll reach the hiking trails. Kassie’s a firm believer that their mountain can help in healing.
If you took the road up and to the left from the hospital parking lot, you’ll find the facility for Serenity Securities.
Further down the mountain, you’ll encounter another subdivision of cabins for veterans to transition into when they graduate from the hospital. ”
“I didn’t realize the size of this place,” she murmured while she continued to eat the gooey goodness.
“Chase, I mean, Doc, and his father dreamed of building this for veterans for years. After he met Kassie, he and the team went on a mission. Their helicopter crashed and she started it in memory of him. When he returned, they built it together and even boosted the economy of Serenity,” he explained.
“Along with the number of strangers coming into our town.” A man behind Ty complained.
“The Winters think they own this place. They don’t even ask what the citizens want.
We’re the ones who must deal with the increasing population, the crowds in the stores, or the traffic on the weekends when they come to visit the people on the mountain. ”
Ty stood and turned while Scarlett braced herself, unsure what to expect.
“I didn’t hear you complain when they paved the streets, Jeremy. Nor did you complain when their friends, Victoria and Ivan, paid for the new library and upgrades to the school.” Ty stuck up for his friends.
“I’m complaining now. All the noise and these kids taking all our jobs,” Jeremy continued.
Scarlett scooted her chair back, hearing the sneer in his voice. Ty placed himself before her. “If it’s such a problem, maybe the police need to speak with you about all these incidents happening around here.”
Jeremy’s chair skidded across the floor. “Are you accusing me of something?”
“You seem to hold a lot of anger for people who have done nothing to deserve it. They offer medical care to our residents instead of us having to drive to Seattle and when they see a family in need, they’re the first to help,” Ty growled.
“Our town seemed good enough for his mother and father. Even Chase lived here for years and didn’t seem to have any issues with us,” Jeremy argued. He moved close enough that Scarlett caught the scent of his cologne.
“Dad, it’s time to go home,” a younger man said, approaching the two men.
“It’s about time you got here. Did you get the field plowed? It’s nearly winter, and you’re a month behind,” Jeremy grumbled as he moved away.
“Yes, Dad. It’s all done. Let’s go home. I have to get to the bank in the morning and still need to muck the stalls,” he stated, picking up the trash his father left on the table.
“Have a nice night, Ben,” Ty said to the younger man as he escorted his father to the entrance.
“Wow, I didn’t expect things to get heated,” Scarlett said as Ty sat.
“Jeremy always likes to cause trouble. I didn’t think he was bitter about Chase. He’s lived here his whole life. His family has always supported the community.”
“Do you think he’s capable of all the accidents?” she asked.
“I don’t know. I’ll mention it to Leo. His men can investigate it,” Ty said as he picked up her empty carton.
“Here, I’m wiping some chocolate off your face.
” He leaned forward and she sat still as the napkin gently wiped the corner of her lip.
His knuckle brushed against her cheek, making her shiver.
His hands smelled of herbs and something smoky from cooking.
“You have goosebumps,” he said softly, taking off his sweatshirt, walking behind her, and placing her arms inside the sleeves.
“You don’t need to give me your shirt,” she said, protesting.
Ty leaned in, his warm breath tickling her ear. “No, I don’t. But I want to.”
It seemed like everyone disappeared from the room, except for the two of them, as Scarlett accepted his offer.
Working in the military made it hard for a woman to decipher between a man genuinely interested in her and someone who wanted a one-night stand.
Unable to see Ty’s face and expressions, Victoria’s warning came to mind.
He might not be Irish or Russian, but he seemed like a man confident in his abilities.
If only she felt optimistic about her own.
When she finished her shift, Ty waited for her in the dining room. He placed her hand in the crook of his arm, leading her to his truck.
“It’s a bit chilly outside. I left it running to warm it up. Let me know if you get too warm,” he said as he opened the passenger door.
“Thank you. You didn’t have to do that. I’ve sat in worse conditions,” she told him as she felt for the side and hefted herself up onto the seat.
“How can I make a good impression if I let you freeze?” he teased.
“You already do when you stuff me with those delicious desserts,” she said, fumbling with the seatbelt.
Ty leaned over and clicked it into place. “There. It can be a bit stubborn.”
She smiled, suddenly becoming tongue-tied by his scent. It lingered with the smell of rosemary, garlic, and something else she didn’t recognize.
“Do you want me to describe the lay of the mountain as we drive up? It’ll give you a better sense of where everything’s located,” he explained.
“Oh, thank you, if you don’t mind,” Scarlett said as she placed her hands on her lap, heating them.
Ty’s warm hand took her left one and held it. His thumb absently brushed against her skin. “You’re hands feel like ice.”
“They’re always cold,” she murmured.
“Alright, we’re leaving the town. The Pizza Palace is on your right. On the left, you’ll find several little boutique shops. They have everything from home décor to baby items. The hardware store sits at the end,” he informed her.
“Then, you’ll take a left and then a right to go onto the mountain,” she said, hoping she envisioned it correctly.
“Very good,” he said, seeming impressed. It sent a warm glow down to her toes. “When we approach the mountain, there’s a check-in station, guarded by veterans and sometimes Victoria and Ivan’s men. I heard you met the infamous Victoria.”
“Oh yeah,” she said, giggling. “She’s a character. I can’t decide if she’s humorous or terrifying.”
“It’s a blend of both,” Ty chuckled. “She’s one of the most generous people I know, but if you hurt her family, watch out.”
“I respect her for that. Family always comes first,” Scarlett said confidently.
“I agree. To my left, we’re passing the guard station. They know my vehicle, and Leo gives them a list of who he’s expecting. We won’t need to stop.”
“Doesn’t it defeat the purpose? What if someone held you at gunpoint?” she asked.
“I’m a frequent visitor because of my catering services. If I’m in trouble, they’ll know. Not everyone has access. Plus, Leo has men stationed around the mountain,” he explained.
“I’m sure he has more than men stashed in the trees. You seem confident of your safety as well as the others,” she surmised.
“Yes, I am. Leo takes the safety of his extended family seriously. Anyone who’s here for treatment or visiting falls under his protection.”
“I’ve heard the men from his team when they visit the hospital. One always smells like tacos,” she said, grinning.
“You’ve met Taco, I see. His wife Tess cooks for the team. They met when Taco discovered her food truck. I’ve heard people say when a person loses their sight, other senses become stronger. You seemed to have perfected your sense of smell,” Ty said, sounding awed.
“No, not really. She must be a good cook, too. Every time he comes near, my mouth waters for tacos and an ice-cold beer,” she admitted. “Who’s the one who punches people in the arm? He sounds kind of like an…asshole.”
Ty chuckled. “Funny, you call him that. It’s because of Patch, Leo named his second team, Team Asshole. He’s the corpsman for teams.”
“Does he always come off as gruff?” she asked.
“No. He’s really a good guy. Patch disguises his feelings with crude, snarky remarks. He likes to give Knight a hard time,” Ty said, slowing down. “We’re coming up on the second subdivision Kassie built after realizing the benefits of her first one.”
“Thank you for telling me. Knight. He’s the one who smells like baby powder,” she recalled.
“Knight and Gabby have a baby about six months old. They live beside Claire and Patch. They’re good friends,” he said, attempting to give her a full view of everyone.
“Thank you for bringing me home, I appreciate it,” she said softly.
“It’s my pleasure. Since I’m telling you about everyone, why don’t you tell me something about you? What do you like to do in your spare time?”
“I guess you might say I’m an avid book reader. The guys always teased me about how many books I read. I love going to the movies, especially for thrillers. What do you like to do?” she asked.
“I don’t have much spare time,” he sighed.
“My restaurant keeps me busy. When I’m not there, I run a small ranch.
The food I serve comes mainly from there.
Everything from the beef to the veggies.
Bear, Leo’s new tech guy, provides most of the fish from Alaska,” he said.
“We’re coming up to the hospital. I’ll drive you toward the facility to give you an idea of the distance and then bring you back,” he explained.
“Oh, I don’t want you to go out of your way,” she exclaimed.
“Nonsense, I’m enjoying spending time with you. It’s not far, and Leo doesn’t expect me for another twenty minutes,” Ty said, turning left. “Now, we’re on the road to the facility. About a mile down on the right, you’ll find the road leading to Leo’s.”
“He likes to stay close to his job,” she murmured.
“You’ll find the team members consider each other family.
Except for a few in town, most of them live here.
Now, we’ve arrived at the facility. No one goes past this point except team members.
As we return, on your right, you’ll find two dormitories for hospital staff and a couple of cabins scattered here and there for the team. ”
Ty turned the truck around in the parking lot.
“I miss this time of the year. I love the fall foliage and I can detect the dampness in the air. I bet it’s beautiful,” Scarlett sighed.
“It’s not cold enough to bring out the red colors in the leaves, but there are bursts of gold and browns,” he described as he drove back to the hospital and parked his truck.
Scarlett opened her door and jumped out before he made it around the vehicle. He waited until she gathered her things and placed his hand on her arm. She took out her cane and nervously tapped it on the ground. “Thank you again. You’re a great tour guide.”
Ty walked her up the steps and stopped by the entrance. “I enjoyed every minute. If you find yourself in need of my services again, you only need to call me.”
“Does your tour come with chocolate cake or fudge brownies as a perk?” she asked, grinning.
“It can always be arranged,” he assured her. “You don’t even have to fall flat on your face to get a slice.”
“Ha, ha. You’re funny,” she laughed.
“How do you feel about popcorn?” he asked.
“I love it. Do you make it with chocolate, too?” She stopped to the right of the doors.
“There’s a thriller playing in town at the movie theatre. We can go, and I’ll let you taste my amazing popcorn concoction,” he coaxed. “Have you ever tried movie popcorn with chocolate and caramel candy mixed in?”
“No, but it sounds yummy,” she said, her mouth watering as she imagined the flavor.
“Great. Then, I’ll pick you up after your shift tomorrow. We can eat dinner and then head over to watch the movie,” Ty proposed.
“I haven’t gone to a movie since I returned,” she said uneasily.
“Don’t worry. I’m an excellent guide there, too,” he whispered.
She grinned. “I’ll see you then.”
“I’m looking forward to it,” Ty promised in his deep voice, sending shivers down her spine as he walked away.
Scarlett turned and entered the hospital, feeling lighter as excitement flowed through her. Ty might not have been Russian or Irish, but somehow she knew he had his own appeal.