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Chapter

Four

Chase had never experienced hydrotherapy like this.

Not being able to see should’ve been annoying, but if it made Lizzy more comfortable, it didn’t bother him.

His other senses were heightened and every time she took his hand to lead him to a new spot or brushed against him with her soft but firm curves, his heart threatened to pound out of his chest.

He’d never felt suave or flirtatious around women, but with Lizzy he was comfortable, flirtatious, and confident.

There was also a sense of protectiveness that went beyond the instinctive feeling of wanting to keep her physically safe.

He wanted to protect and help her emotionally as well.

He knew she’d taken a knife to the chest from a deranged father a month ago.

She had obvious emotional scarring from that and from whatever made her limp slightly.

He wanted to strengthen her and would go to battle if anyone dared make a snide comment or look strangely at her.

They sat in the steam room until sweat poured down his face, chest, and back.

Even his arms and legs were covered with moisture.

They talked about her children’s center as they sat there sweating.

She explained that her research project for her master’s in social work had been providing respite care for children and she’d been awarded a grant to do just that upon graduation.

Her house had started as a small rental space in an older office building.

Now she had a large, renovated home for the children with an apartment upstairs for her and a fenced yard for the children to play in.

Impressive.

“It’s been fifteen minutes according to my Apple watch,” she announced. “And I can’t take the heat anymore!”

Her voice pitched up with that unique excitement that Chase was beginning to see was all Lizzy. Despite being injured emotionally and physically, she had a zest for life and a flair that he appreciated. It reminded him of his Army buddies who joked no matter how bleak the battle zone.

Chase chuckled and lifted his hand to her. “Lead me to the cold plunge, ma’am.”

“Those words still sound awful. I shiver just thinking about it.”

“I promise it’ll feel great after this. Are you not sweating buckets?”

“I am. Thank heavens you can’t see me.”

“Sorry you have to see me ,” he teased.

“That is actually not a burden, my friend. I’m obsessed with your chest muscles.”

Chase laughed and puffed out his chest.

“Oh my! You are a work of art.” She also laughed. “Don’t let it go to your head, though. I’m naturally effusive.”

Chase wished he could see her beautiful face, but she seemed more relaxed around him than she had been initially.

The conflict in her eyes tugged at his heart.

He couldn’t see those brown eyes now and he longed to, but he’d take not seeing for this level of teasing with Lizzy.

Offering to wear a blindfold had broken through barriers, and their current comfort felt too good to be true.

“I won’t get cocky about it, I promise.”

“Good boy.” She said the words in a complacent tone, as if he were a dog. He recognized it as a social media trend and laughed even harder.

She put her hand in his and tugged. He stood, and she led him out of the steam room and across the smooth concrete.

Pausing, she clung to his hand. “Do we ease into it?”

“No, ma’am. We need to leap into the icy fringe. Can I take off my eye covering if I promise not to open my eyes? You can put it back on after we do the plunge, but it might rip off as we jump.”

She didn’t say anything for a beat, and he almost retracted.

“All right.” She released his hand, untied the knot, and slid the shirt off his head. Her soft hands brushing his face made his pulse race.

Keeping his eyes shut was a conscious effort, not only because it was unnatural, but because he wanted to look at her in her swimsuit. Not to check out her scars, but to check her out in a swimsuit. He could imagine he’d be more ‘obsessed’ with her shape than she was with his chest.

He resisted the impulse, praying they could develop the trust she needed to allow him to look at her. Was there something besides the knife wound and whatever made her limp that had scarred this beautiful lady?

“Tug me off the ledge,” he instructed.

“This is crazy, Mr. Fox.” Then she yanked him forward, screaming, “Cowabunga!”

Chase laughed as they went off the edge, closing his mouth before the water covered his head. It was icy cold, but the plunge felt as refreshing as he’d promised it would. She clung to his hand as they plunged underwater and then resurfaced. Again he had to remind himself not to open his eyes.

She screamed even louder, “Cold! Cold, cold, cold!”

He chuckled and tugged her down. “You have to sit completely submerged in it for six to eight minutes. It’s incredible for circulation.”

“Are you kidding me right now?”

His eyes almost popped open. “No, ma’am. I can show you all the research after we swim. Right now, you’re going to have to trust me.”

There was a pause, and he realized what he’d said. Sadly, she didn’t seem to trust him. It was instinctive to be offended by that and wonder what he’d done wrong, but he suspected it had nothing to do with him.

“All right, Retired Army Ranger Lieutenant now Officer Chase Tenley. I am trusting you.”

Those words were a relief. He wanted to hear her say them regarding more than just a cold plunge.

They sank into the cold water up to their chins and clung to each other’s hands. He could hear her teeth chattering almost immediately and wanted to tease that it wasn’t that cold.

“You’ll get used to it,” he promised. “At least you’ll get numb soon.”

“That sounds horrible. Who wants their entire body to be numb?”

He laughed. “Are you timing us?”

“Of course I am. Counting down the seconds. My goodness! Watching my timer only makes this misery worse.”

“You can just look at me and think how funny I look with my eyes squeezed shut.”

“Not funny at all. Remember my Chase’s chest obsession?”

“How could I forget that?” He flexed, and she laughed. He felt confident around her, but he was also afraid to set off any triggers.

“All right,” she said, cheerful again. “Tell me stories. Tell me all about your family and your growing-up years.”

“Um …” Now Chase was the one who wanted to hide something, and the cold water didn’t feel cold at all as he flushed with embarrassment.

He knew logically it wasn’t his fault that he didn’t have family, but it didn’t change his reaction when somebody drew him out about it.

He swallowed and pushed out the words, “I don’t have a traditional family. ”

“What do you mean?”

“What you do, with your children, that means the world to me. I was raised in foster care.”

“Oh, Chase.” The sympathy in her voice was genuine, and instead of grating on him as sympathy often did, it was a soothing balm. He barely kept his eyes closed. He wanted to look into her brown eyes and let that sympathy wash over him.

“But I have my brothers, ‘Squadron 7’ as Brandon named us in high school, and I have my Army Ranger brothers as well. They’re all the family I need.”

She was quiet, but she squeezed his hand gently. “I’m grateful you have all your brothers.”

It was a quiet for a moment. Then he asked, “What’s your family like?”

There was a pause, and he wished he could open his eyes and stare into hers, but he’d promised.

“It’s just my mom and I,” she finally said. “She’s incredible and always praying for me and supporting me. Oh, and my best friend Janie. She’s my true sister even if we don’t share blood, like your Squadron 7 and Army Ranger brothers.”

“I like that.”

She obviously had a past she didn’t like talking about either. He could relate and wasn’t about to push her.

“Oh, what do you know? Four-fifty-eight, four-fifty-nine, five minutes! We did it.”

“Six to eight minutes,” he reminded her.

“No way! That was more than enough torture for the likes of me. Let’s get out of here.” She tugged on his hand and instructed. “Step, step, step, step. Okay, hold still while I put your blindfold back on.”

He held steady. Her hands brushing his face and her body brushing against his made him warm all over, despite the freezing water they’d just exited.

Could he gain Lizzy’s trust over the next two weeks? He was drawn to and intrigued by her. She was incredible.

Maybe Brandon and Madelyne had just done him an epic favor … bringing Lizzy into his life.