She reached up, her arms almost with a mind of their own, pulling him closer. ‘Oh, Travis, I’m so sorry. I should have trusted you.’
He pushed her back gently, staring down into her eyes. ‘What you should have done was return my calls.’
Again, heat rose in her cheeks. She’d been such a fool. All the turmoil these past few days could have been avoided if she hadn’t been so quick to trust the word of a stranger and believe Travis would betray her. She’d completely mucked things up and she had no one to blame but herself.
She swallowed hard before answering him. ‘Can you forgive me?’
He reached out, stroking some loose hairs back from her face. ‘I can forgive you, if you can forgive me.’
‘Forgive you, for what?’
‘I was afraid you wouldn’t feel any connection to the town—after all, you’d only just arrived. And that jerk, Kelly, made it sound like you were on board with the whole thing. And as much as I hated the idea of you selling out, it made sense. A good offer from him would save you the trouble of trying to sell the properties individually. I was so sure he was telling me the truth I came over here to try to talk you out of it.’
She shook her head. ‘This is surreal, you realise that?’
‘Look, I knew your properties were the critical ones, and that even if I wouldn’t sign, Kelly might press on with the development if he got the saloon and hotel. I came with the hope you hadn’t signed the contracts yet—or at least hadn’t returned them to him. And on the plane, on the way over, I’d even convinced myself I could probably match any offer he’d made and buy your properties myself if you were determined to sell.’
Her heart ached with regret. ‘We’ve both been fooled by that horrible man, haven’t we?’
‘And for that I’m really sorry,’ he said, stroking her cheeks with his thumbs as he searched her eyes. Then he bent toward her and kissed her. When he pulled back and their eyes met, her breath caught.
His voice sounded deeper than she’d ever heard it—full of emotion. ‘We should have trusted each other—we should have talked rather than each assuming the worst—but at least some good has come from all this. It took the thought of losing you to make me realise just what I’d found in you.’
How on earth could her heart speed up further? It was already racing uncontrollably. ‘Found in me?’
A tentative smile broke out on his face. ‘I didn’t think I’d ever want a woman in my life again—not after the mess with Karen. Annie was enough—I was happy just to be her father. Until I met you. Oh, I used the feud as an excuse at first, convincing myself it was important. But it wasn’t. I’ve enjoyed every minute we’ve spent together. And you being so good with Annie … that was a bonus.’
She swallowed back her emotions. ‘Yes, Annie’s wonderful.’
He rubbed her back, sending tingles down her spine. ‘She cares a great deal about you. But as much as she cares about you, it’s nothing compared to how I feel about you. The thought of losing you—forever—thinking you might sell everything and not even have a reason to come back to Masons Flat. I had to see you, had to find out if there was any chance you might … that we might …’
He looked deep into her eyes, as if searching for the rest of the sentence. She licked her lips, and tried to swallow as her heart raced even faster. Then he kissed her.
Closing her eyes, she allowed herself to savour the moment. The room disappeared and the only thing that mattered was that she was in his arms. And then he lifted her, and carried her into her bedroom, setting her down on the edge of the bed. Her heart nearly stopped when he knelt down on the floor in front of her.
‘Come back to Masons Flat with me? We’ll tell this Kelly fellow to shove his contracts. We can rebuild the town, together.’
This had to be a dream. She blinked slowly, but when she opened her eyes he was still there, kneeling in front of her, gazing at her with love in his eyes.
She reached out and touched his cheek. How could she ever have thought he’d betrayed her? He’d come half-way around the world determined to find her—to save his town, and to try to bring her home. He hadn’t betrayed her at all.
Her decision was an obvious one. Masons Flat was her home now. And she wanted Travis in her life even if the details of their relationship might be … complicated. They could sort it out.
She smiled back at him, took a deep breath and leaned forward to kiss him as she threw her arms around his neck. When she finally pulled back, her voice came out in a hoarse whisper—one laced with longing. ‘Of course I’m going back to Masons Flat. It’s my home now, and I can’t imagine not being there, not being with you and Annie.’
Passion darkened his eyes. He stood, unbuttoned his shirt and tossed it over the mirror. Then he reached out and took her hands, pulling her to her feet and into his arms.
Chapter 33
Alex woke to the sound of Travis breathing softly beside her. She blinked a few times, making sure he was really there, then watched as his bare chest slowly rose and fell. Indecision crippled her, toggling between her desire to touch him and his need for a bit more sleep.
She tingled as she recalled their love making the day before, and how it had felt to snuggle up to him all night—in her bed—in her home.
Her sensible side won out; she knew he needed to sleep, so she rose, wrapped herself in her bathrobe and tiptoed out of the room, pulling the door closed as softly as possible behind her.
In the kitchen, she made a cup of coffee and caught up on the news on her iPad.
Casey rang just after nine-thirty, but Alex didn’t mention Travis—she simply said she’d decided to make her own way up since she didn’t really need to be there for the rehearsal. She promised to be there in time for the cocktail party, and yes, she had the address as she’d found the invitation in her stack of mail. Casey sounded suspicious, but eventually let it go.
The first indication that Travis had gotten up was when she heard the water running. A few moments later he appeared, dressed in the same clothes he’d arrived in. His dark hair was slicked back with water, his face ruddy from the hot shower. She wanted to stand up and run to him. Instead, she took a sip of her coffee.
He cleared his throat. ‘Forgot my suitcase is still in the car. I’ll go grab it and then change and have a shave.’
‘How about some breakfast first? We’re in no rush.’
Over a leisurely breakfast they agreed he would come to the wedding in Willows with her. Then, since they didn’t need to leave for several hours, they made love again which meant Travis needed another shower.
~~*~~
Allowing Alex to drive was a smart move. He’d made it to her place in one piece the day before, but he’d had pure adrenaline pumping through his veins. Today he was quite happy to be a passenger as she navigated them onto the freeway, through a tunnel, and then manoeuvred through a convoluted series of exits and overpasses. They crossed a bridge heading northwest, then went past housing estates, industrial areas, and eventually farm-land as they left the city further and further behind.
It hadn’t been much more than an hour before they pulled into the town of Willows. Alex drove slowly down the main street, past buildings made primarily of stone and brick. And even though it was a cold day, there was a buzz of activity with kids hanging out in front of both a small grocery store, and a shop with a sign reading fish and chips.
As they left the town behind, the roads grew narrower until eventually they turned off onto a dirt road. When they finally pulled up at a large ranch-style home there were already twenty or more cars parked at the front. They were greeted by a woman who had to be one of Alex’s sisters, and within moments he’d been introduced to the whole family.
Several hours later, with the cocktail party waning, he was standing alone outside on the porch, marvelling at how easily he’d fit into Alex’s family. It was as i
f he’d known all of them for years. He hadn’t been outside long when he heard the screen door squeak and footsteps coming up behind him. He turned as Alex stopped beside him, handing him a glass of sparkling wine.
‘Cheers.’ She smiled, and the gold flecks in her eyes shimmered, catching the rays from fairy-lights along the roof over the porch.
‘Cheers,’ he replied, touching his glass to hers before taking a sip.
They both turned and gazed into the darkness. It was cold tonight, and there must have been a million stars visible in the clear sky. Soft music and muffled voices drifted out through the open door behind them, but ahead of them it was still and quiet. He pulled her close, leaving his arm resting across her shoulders.
Alex sighed. ‘It’s lovely here, isn’t it?’
‘Gorgeous.’ It reminded him of home, the cold air fresh and clean—not at all like what he’d experienced at Alex’s apartment.
Alex took a sip of wine as she turned to him. ‘It’s funny; I used to wonder how Summer could live somewhere like this … in such a small town, practically in the middle of nowhere.’
‘I didn’t think Willows felt small as we drove through.’ He waited for her to reply, holding his breath.
She shrugged. ‘I said I used to ... I used to think it was too small for me. But neither Willows nor Masons Flat feel too small any longer. Neither one is far from a city where you can get anything you need. In fact, the way I see it, both give you the best of both worlds—country living, but within a few hours’ drive of what most agree are a couple of the world’s best cities; Melbourne and San Francisco.’
He sighed; grateful she got it. Then he turned to face her. ‘You know, Alex, when I got down on my knees in your bedroom yesterday ...’
Silence weighed heavily between them for a moment as he tried to find the right words.
‘Yes?’ Her voice sounded tentative.
‘There was something else I wanted to ask you … more than just about going back to Masons Flat.’
Her eyes sparkled, and though he suspected it was still just the reflection of the fairy-lights around them it was all the encouragement he needed.
‘Marry me? Make me the happiest man on the planet.’
His heart pounded, awaiting her answer—hoping for the best, fearing the worst. When she was slow to respond, he reached out and touched her cheek. ‘Don’t say no. Say you’ll give it some thought. If you want, we can just see how things go. I shouldn’t be putting this kind of pressure on you. We haven’t known each other long … it’s just I know we’re right for each other. I’ve never been more certain of anything.’
When she turned and looked into the distance, he couldn’t breathe. She was going to say no. He shouldn’t have asked her—not here, not today. When she finally faced him, there were tears in her eyes. He swallowed hard, bracing for rejection.
‘I’m not going to say yes, or no—not yet anyway,’ she whispered. ‘There’s something I need to tell you—and it might make you change your mind.’
He sighed with relief. ‘Alex, nothing you tell me could make me change my mind.’
She turned to look into the distance again and then took several deep, ragged breaths.
Putting his arm around her shoulders again, he pulled her close. ‘What is it Alex? If it’s about the saloon, forget it. I have. That was my father’s issue, not mine. Okay?’
She pulled away from him, and now there were definitely tears in her eyes. ‘It’s not that. It’s …’ She let out a loud breath, then spoke in a whisper. ‘I can’t have children. Because of the accident. I didn’t only injure my shoulder. My pelvis was fractured, and … I had internal injuries as a result. The long and short of it is … I will never have children.’
He stared at her, disappointment draining his energy, pain constricting his chest. He drew in a deep breath, searching for the right words as her face crumbled before him.
‘Oh, Alex, I’m so sorry. That’s so unfair. Life is so unfair.’ He swallowed hard, not knowing what more he could say.
Her head shook back and forth as she sniffed back tears. ‘I should have told you sooner.’
‘No, don’t say that. It doesn’t matter. It doesn’t change anything. I never expected to be a father again. Heck, I never expected to be a husband again.’
She blinked several times, then wiped at her eyes. ‘Are you … sure?’
‘I’ve never been surer of anything.’
‘And … you still want me, even though I … even though it means you won’t have any more children?’
He leaned forward and placed his hands on her shoulders while he stared into her eyes. ‘Alex, you’re all I want. You and Annie. I’m just sorry you won’t get to experience the joy I felt when she was born, when I held her for the first time. It’s unfair to you, not to me.’
Her eyes glistened. ‘Really?’
Once again, he pulled her close, speaking into her hair. ‘I want you in my life, Alex. Not being able to have children doesn’t change how I feel about you. How could you even think it would matter?’
She shivered in his arms, and he held her closer. When she finally spoke, he could barely hear her words. ‘Because that was what Liam said to me. He said it like it excused his behaviour—his cheating—like he couldn’t be expected to stay with a woman who couldn’t give him a family.’
He shook his head. ‘Your ex-husband sounds like a complete fool. But I’m glad, because if he hadn’t been, I might never have met you.’
When he released her slightly so he could see her face, it had softened. He swallowed hard, knowing she was in pain, but also seeing it lessen before his eyes. ‘Let’s get married tomorrow. Let’s make tomorrow’s wedding a double header.’
Her eyes grew brighter—the gold flecks sparkling now. ‘We can’t. In fact, would you mind if we keep it to ourselves for a while? Can we … not rush things?’
He touched her cheek, the tips of his fingers barely making contact and yet it was enough to send pulses of electricity through his whole body.
‘We can take all the time you want, just so long as we’re together.’
Epilogue
Three Weeks Later
Movement caught Alex’s eye as she and Travis finished lunch in the dining room at Masons Hotel. Hilda Weston was approaching their table.
‘Welcome back, Alex, Travis.’
They’d been back from Australia for almost two weeks, but it was the first time she’d seen Hilda.
‘Thanks, Hilda. Have you got time to join us for a coffee?’ She smiled, indicating the empty chair.
Hilda took a moment to sit, fiddling with her purse before eventually meeting Alex’s gaze. ‘Sam mentioned you’ve decided to stay on here. It’s absolutely wonderful for our community.’
Warmth raced through her at the kind words. ‘Aw, thanks.’
Hilda smiled, but after a moment her smile faded and she shifted her gaze down at the table. When she spoke, her voice was soft and low. ‘I’m sorry it’s taken me so long to catch up with you. I … wasn’t sure what to say. I still find it nearly impossible to believe my own son could do such a thing. I raised him to be truthful, not to sneak around trying to cheat people.’ Hilda started ringing her hands as her eyes darted back and forth between Alex and Travis.
Alex reached across and placed her hand on Hilda’s forearm. ‘Don’t blame yourself. In fact, don’t blame Harrison, either. He simply had stars in his eyes. Literally.’
Hilda stared at Alex’s hand for a moment. When she looked up, the tension in her face had softened.
Alex continued. ‘Look, no real harm’s been done. If anything, I’m grateful to him. This whole experience is what helped me make up my mind about staying here. It showed me just how much this town means to me.’ She turned to Travis and when he smiled warmth washed over her. She looked back to Hilda, hoping her face
didn’t give away their secret.
‘That’s very generous of you, but I’m not sure I’ll forgive him so quickly. His father, God rest his soul, would be appalled.’
Travis turned to Hilda. ‘Alex is right. If none of this had happened who knows whether she’d have decided to stay on. Harrison did us all a favour, by accident, but even so the town will forever be in his debt.’
‘You’re both so sweet. And I suppose everything has turned out okay, hasn’t it? But still … him traipsing around with that man.’
Alex laughed. ‘You’re obviously referring to Kevin?’
Hilda sniffed out a breath, frowning. ‘Yes.’
‘He’s actually quite nice. A bit flamboyant perhaps, but I suspect most movie directors are like that—artistic and driven. I liked him from the moment I met him.’
‘You’ve met him?’
‘Yes. He and Harrison came to see me a few days after I got back—to apologise for the way things turned out. They’d trusted Ben Thompson, and that’s where they went wrong. Ben was behind everything. He’d brought in Paul Kelly, and called all the shots … instructing Paul to lie to everyone. Paul made it sound like Kevin, his client, was calling the shots, but that wasn’t the case.’
‘And you’re sure neither of you blame them, Kevin and Harrison?’
‘Of course not. They had a dream—and counted on Ben, the so-called expert, to make it happen. It’s Ben Thompson who I’ll struggle to forgive. Ben lied to my face, and my uncle’s as well.’
‘It wasn’t their fault,’ Travis said. ‘They thought they were using professionals.’
Hilda shook her head looking unconvinced. ‘I think it’s wonderful you’re so forgiving, but I’m not sure I would be, if I were in your shoes.’
Alex smiled warmly, trying to let Hilda know there were no hard feelings. ‘Look, the movie was a great idea. If Harrison and Kevin had come to me directly, I’d have been happy for them to use the hotel and saloon for filming. And for all I know, that might still happen. It was taking things to the next level and trying to buy up all the buildings in such a dishonest fashion that made everything come unstuck.’
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