Ten years and three thousand miles had created a lot of distance and differences. It encouraged her that they were working on ironing those differences out.
When she was in the hospital recovering from her accident, she'd dreamed of moments like this. It was how she'd survived. Envisioning herself in Balmorhea. In water. Using her imagination to transport her to a happier time and place.
But now she was here, living the dream, she got anxious.
"I've thought about moving away from Cupid," she said, studying his face, waiting for a reaction. "When I graduate vet school. I've always wanted to live near water."
He looked cool, unruffled, unconcerned. Damn him. "You always were a water baby."
"Corpus maybe, or when I'm feeling really brave, I envision leaving the state. I'm thinking Florida."
"It's nice there."
"You've been?"
"Many times. Go for the Gulf Coast side."
"I've heard that. But then I think of everything I'd be giving up. My family, my friends, my entire community, and then poof . . ." She snapped her fingers. "The water dreams disappear. No matter how much I long for water, my family means more."
"You should follow your heart," he said.
Follow her heart? If she followed her heart, she'd throw herself into his arms and beg him to love her in the way she loved him. But Kaia had too much dignity for that. If she couldn't have Ridge, water was the next best thing. Maybe she would move away. For a few years at least. Get the water out of her system.
"But honestly," he said, "I can't see you leaving your family. You're stuck to them like glue."
"I've lived in College Station."
"Knowing it was just temporary until you finish school. There's a difference between moving off to get your education and starting a new life all on your own. It will change you."
She wanted to ask him to elaborate, to tell her what it had been like for him to leave everything and everyone behind. But the look in his eyes warned her off. He lowered his lashes, turned his head away, letting her know he was done with revealing secrets for one day.
After they left the park, they stopped outside of Cupid for gas at a kitschy truck stop filled with tourists.
He held the door open for her as they went inside, and out of now where, a long-legged preteen girl, engrossed in her cell phone, pushed between the two of them on her way out the door.
Startled, Kaia stepped to one side and almost lost her balance, but Ridge was there, righting her with his steadying touch.
"Tessa," scolded the girl's mother, coming up behind them. "Get your head out of that phone or I'm taking it away. You almost knocked those folks down flat."
The girl, thumbs flying madly over the phone screen, never glanced up.
Ridge tipped his hat. "No worries, ma'am. I've been guilty of paying too much attention to my phone a time or two myself."
"Honestly," the mom said, putting a restraining arm on her daughter's shoulder to keep her from crashing into a metal cage of propane bottles. "We get such spotty cell reception here on the outskirts of town, the only time Tessa really has to text her friends is when we come to the store."
"We should blame the Davis Mountains," Ridge said. "And the scarcity of cell phone towers."
Kais couldn't tell if he was being sarcastic or not. He was smiling, but he kept his hand securely latched onto her elbow. Just in case the preteen made another clueless move?
Whatever his motives, she was enjoying the feel of his hand on hers. Her mind hopped ahead, wondering how this day was going to end. Would he ask if he could spend the night? Knowing Ridge, he wouldn't ask. Just take charge and sweep her into bed.
Her heart fluttered crazily. Did she want that?
"If anything, I'm to blame for being too lax with her," said the mom, giving Ridge an appreciative glance.
Hey, hey! Standing right here, lady, she wanted to shout. Jealousy kicked around her stomach, made a nice muddy mess. The woman kept eyeing him up one side and down the other.
Oblivious to her surroundings, Tessa's thumbs flowed like lightning.
"See what I have to deal with?" The mother gave a sexy little moan and fluttered her lashes. "It's not easy being a single parent."
It took everything in Kaia's power not to roll her eyes. Seriously? Did women come on to him like this every day of his life?
"Tessa," Ridge said sternly.
The sound of his deep masculine voice calling her name managed to shake the preteen from her social media – induced trance, and Tessa finally glanced up.