by Jill Gregory
It was a smile that made a woman want to smile back.
And if she were being honest, it made her want to do a whole lot more. Like grab him by the shirt collar, pull his head down, kiss him until neither of them could stand it anymore and they both had to tear off each other’s clothes and fall on the floor and…
She drew in a breath and headed resolutely to the door. None of that was going to happen. Ever.
There was nothing further to discuss and she wasn’t at all sure where they went from here, so he needed to leave. Immediately. She needed time to figure out how to handle this new apparent truce between them.
As she opened the door to the summer night, she fought back a rush of something that bordered on panic. She’d managed to avoid him for all these years and now in the space of an hour she’d agreed to tutor his son, and everything between them seemed to be shifting.
It scared her. She needed him to leave so she could think. Process. Get her equilibrium back.
Both he and Samson had followed her and, without a word, Travis pushed the screen door, holding it open for her.
She led the way out into the quiet June darkness, Samson scampering at her heels as she was met by the vastness of a purple Montana sky glittering with stars. On both sides of the street, the houses were dark. Quiet.
Samson raced eagerly down the porch steps and onto the grass, turning to look expectantly back at her just as a breeze tinged with the sweet scent of sage wafted gently down from the mountains.
“I had no idea you were into quilting,” Travis said, coming down the steps behind her.
“What? Oh…” She spun to face him. “That’s because you don’t know anything about me anymore.”
He moved deliberately toward her, closing the gap between them. “Maybe there’s something we can do about that.”
“Maybe we shouldn’t push our luck.”
His slow grin sent her pulse racing. She felt her breath catching in her throat as he stood before her, all tall, dark, and dangerous. If she were Superman, Travis would be her kryptonite.
“Something tells me it doesn’t need much of a push,” he said softly.
Run. Inside. Right now, a voice inside her ordered. But heat fired through her and she felt rooted to the spot. Travis’s gaze was locked on hers. Then, before she could do the smart, sensible thing and leave, he pulled her into his arms and slowly lowered his mouth to hers.
She could have pulled away. Could have told him no. But she didn’t. Colors and sparks exploded inside her as he kissed her searchingly. She kissed him back, craving the taste of his mouth on hers, needing it.
She cupped his face, touched her tongue to his, her body taking over, moving against his tall, muscled frame, soft curves against hard steel, her heart racing, needing, wanting.
The kiss they shared was slow and intimate. As heady as the summer night. It had every nerve in her body electrified as she tightened her arms around his neck, never wanting to let go.
As if reading her mind, Travis tugged her closer still against the length of his body.
He took the kiss deeper, slowing it down, savoring it until her heart was pounding. An ache filled her, sweet and hot, roaring through her blood like thunder.
The night seemed to tilt around them.
Travis meant to take his time. But it didn’t work out that way. Once he tasted her mouth, then her tongue, exploring its texture, he couldn’t stop breathing her in and wanting more of her. All of her. She tasted so sweet, as sweet as candy and as sexy as musk. Incredibly sexy. Her lips against his were soft and eager, their shape and taste exactly as he remembered from a lifetime ago.
To hell with slow. She all but melted like candle wax in his arms and he felt consumed by everything about her, the softness of her skin, that little moan in the back of her throat, the way her tongue flirted against his.
Mia. She kissed like no other woman he’d ever kissed. Made him feel like no other woman had ever made him feel.
He drew her closer still, his hands sliding downward along the curve of her hips, then gripping her bottom as she fitted herself against him. Their mouths were hot and welded together, waging an escalating battle in a secret language that was theirs alone.
It felt familiar and yet new…brand-new. Hotter even than before. He couldn’t tear himself away from her and he was glad as hell she didn’t seem to want him to. Her arms were wound tight around him and her velvety mouth clung to his as if she were clinging to life and breath itself.
“Travis,” she gasped, trembling against him.
Cradling her face, he found himself wishing her hair wasn’t in a damned ponytail so he could stroke his fingers through it. He bent her head back, his mouth taking and giving with a single-mindedness that left them both shaken.
They might have been alone on the highest peak of the Crazies—hell, alone on the planet. There was only the starry vastness of the night, the sage-scented air, and the two of them, him and Mia.
And the dog. The damned midget of a dog.
Samson barked, nudged against Travis’s leg. He barked again, and kept on barking as he jumped up, bracing his paws against Mia’s knee. She seemed to waken from a trance and froze, then jerked back, her lips parting suddenly—not in passion but in shock.
She stared at Travis for a moment as if he were a vampire who’d materialized from the grave and flown like a bat into her front yard, then she scooped the dog up into her arms.
“This wasn’t supposed…to happen,” she whispered unsteadily, and without waiting for him to reply, she bolted up the steps and disappeared inside, slamming the door behind her.
Chapter Twelve
Brittany grabbed up her cell phone Saturday night, then quickly set it down again on the nightstand in the guest room without opening the new text message.
Don’t look at it. Don’t even think about looking at it, she told herself. But nervousness twisted inside her like razor wire. Wade had sent her two other texts today and she’d deleted both of them unread.
But he was relentless. He just didn’t let up.
What was he writing this time? Was he begging her to get back together, or threatening her? Promising he’d never hurt her? Or hinting that if she didn’t take him back, she’d be sorry.
He’s never going to leave me alone, she thought in despair.
He won’t give up. Ever. Oh, God, what am I going to do?
For a moment, she had to struggle against the tears squeezing from between her eyelashes.
Maybe I should tell Aunt Mia, she thought. She already felt guilty for not having told the truth in the first place. If only she’d told her mom….
But her mom had been so happy and excited getting ready for her honeymoon. Britt hadn’t wanted to spoil that.
Since meeting Alec, her mom was happier than Britt had ever seen her. Alec was the nicest guy in the world, and he treated her mother like she was someone special. Britt knew if she’d told her mom Wade was sort of stalking her, she’d have canceled her whole honeymoon and probably called the police and who knew what else.
Staring glumly at her reflection in the tall oval mirror in the guest room, she tried to calm the fears building inside her. You can handle this, she whispered to herself for the thousandth time. He hasn’t hurt you or anyone yet. So chances are he’s not going to.
But he’d threatened Tate. Her half brother, only three years old. He’d sworn if she didn’t meet him to talk over their relationship he’d get to Tate. Scare him. Maybe even hurt him.
The idea of that adorable little boy who called her “Bwitney” and who had the sweetest little giggle in the world getting hurt or even scared on her account made her want to die.
She’d actually agreed to meet Wade at Starbucks that day. Anything to keep Tate safe. But when Wade showed up, he’d said they had to leave Starbucks, go someplace else to talk. He wanted her to go for a ride with him alone up into the mountains, where they could talk about getting back together without all these people aroun
d.
Brittany wasn’t going anywhere alone with Wade. She’d left, run back to her car while he was busy at the counter ordering more coffee.
That was the day she’d decided she had to disappear. She hastily packed a few things, told her mom she was having a sleepover at Laura’s, and then left Laura’s house at five in the morning to drive to Lonesome Way.
Laura was the only person who knew how bad things were with Wade, and she’d sworn she’d never let on to him that she had any clue where Britt had gone.
Until this morning, Britt had almost started to believe he really wouldn’t find her. That by the time the summer ended, he’d have forgotten all about her or landed a new girlfriend, and would be ready to leave her alone.
But this morning everything had changed. Because Wade was here. In Lonesome Way.
He’d found her.
The photo he’d sent to her cell phone proved that.
He’d sent it from a different cell phone, not his own. One with a number she didn’t recognize—otherwise she wouldn’t have opened it.
But the instant she saw the photo, she felt a clutch of fear. It could only be from him.
The shot had been taken early this morning when she’d stepped onto the porch to pick up the Lonesome Way Daily for Aunt Mia. In the photo, she was wearing the gray tank top and pink sleep pants she’d worn to bed last night, and her hair was still all mussed from sleep, not even brushed yet.
Britt knew this was Wade’s way of telling her that he was here in Lonesome Way. Close by. He was trying to scare her.
Somehow he’d found out where she’d gone when she left home, and he’d been hiding outside Aunt Mia’s house early this morning, watching her, snapping that photo to show her she hadn’t gotten away.
Fear pumped through her, but so did anger. What had she ever seen in Wade? He was cute, sure, and pretty hunky. Not to mention smart. He’d been nice at first and funny, with that kind of sarcastic edge that appealed to her, but underneath it all…she’d always sensed something. Something a little bit off.
He always wanted to know what she was doing when she wasn’t with him. And he didn’t like her talking to any other guys, even her guy friends, the ones she’d known forever. He picked fights over the stupidest little things, like when she didn’t tell him she’d made plans with Laura and their friend Tracy to go shopping downtown without checking with him first to see if he wanted to hang out. He’d started acting like he owned her—and that’s when she’d broken things off.
Her hands shook a little as she pulled on her cute new T-shirt from Top to Toe, the one with the heart. It looked perfect with her khaki shorts, all crisp and new. Taking a deep breath, she slipped into the silver wedge sandals her new friend Lacey from A Bun in the Oven had lent her to wear to Jackie Kenton’s party tonight.
But her skin felt like ice and she wasn’t as excited anymore about going with Seth to Jackie’s house. She was scared. And she wasn’t sure what to do.
She dug her peach lip gloss from her purse and swiped it on. As she ran a brush through her hair one more time and let it fall in loose curls around her shoulders, she could hear Aunt Mia in her own room, opening and closing drawers, getting ready for the birthday celebration at the Double Cross Bar and Grill.
If I tell her what’s going on, it’ll spoil her whole night. She’ll stay home and she’ll make me stay home, too. She’ll probably even make me call Dad and tell him.
He’ll force me to go back home—and keep me under lock and key for the whole summer.
She wanted to stay here. She liked living with Aunt Mia, she liked working at the bakery—and she liked Seth. He was sweet and easygoing and funny. He made everyone at the bakery laugh, and she hadn’t met a single person who didn’t want to be his friend.
Seth actually was everything Wade wasn’t. As in, normal.
And what good would it do if she did go back home? Wade would get to her there, too.
And he’d be closer to Tate….
I can handle this by myself, she told herself, dropping the lip gloss back into her purse and taking a deep breath. There’s no reason to tell anyone yet. It’s only a photo. Wade’s being a jerk and a creep, yeah. But he’s just trying to pull my chain.
You don’t have to let him, she decided as she met her reflection in the mirror.
Hearing the doorbell, she dashed to the window, and smiled in relief and anticipation as she spotted Seth’s Chevy truck parked out front.
I won’t let Wade ruin my summer. And he’s not going to spoil tonight. She snatched up her purse and headed down the hall.
Aunt Mia was already opening the front door, greeting Seth. Britt stifled a wince. Oh, God, it was so embarrassing. She was telling him to drive carefully tonight.
If she only knew….
“Hi, I’m ready,” Britt called out, skidding to Seth’s rescue just as he promised to drive nice and slow.
“You look great.” Seth’s glance skimmed over her cute new clothes and long legs. Britt loved that he actually blushed a little. Then he smiled into her eyes.
“He’s right, honey. You look beautiful.” Aunt Mia brushed a kiss against her cheek. “Have fun, you two. Be good. Remember, Britt, home by twelve.”
“I know.” Britt gave her aunt her sunniest smile and tried to ignore the knot of worry as tight as a spool of tangled thread in her chest. Walking out to the Chevy hand in hand with Seth, she was grateful Aunt Mia didn’t know that Seth’s driving speed was the least of her problems.
Chapter Thirteen
Cruising into town, Mia heard Vince Gill’s voice blasting from the jukebox before she even neared the parking lot of the Double Cross Bar and Grill.
A few clouds had just begun to drift across the night sky, nearly obscuring the moon and stars, but there was enough misty light to see that the lot was even more crowded than usual and she knew it was due to the turnout for Tommy’s party. She recognized his and Rafe’s trucks in the lot, along with a half dozen other vehicles, including Zeke Mueller’s police cruiser, but as she headed toward the door, her gaze sweeping over the parked cars and trucks, she didn’t see Travis’s Explorer.
A cold sensation settled in the pit of her stomach. Travis hadn’t arrived yet—maybe he wasn’t coming at all. Maybe he’d had second thoughts ever since their kiss and wanted to avoid her.
Which would be just as well. She was having second thoughts herself. And third thoughts.
She didn’t know what had come over her the other night. But whatever it was, she was ready to obliterate it. Travis not only back in town, but back in her life?
No. That wasn’t happening. It was only one kiss, one little kiss. Well, she thought, memory flooding back, maybe not so little. And maybe not just one.
But none of it meant anything.
We were swept up in the moment and now we’re back to point zero, she told herself as she crossed the lot.
Travis had found out her email from Lissie and sent her the information she needed from Grady’s school district himself. But he’d added only the briefest of notes.
“Here you go. Will get you the textbooks. Thanks.”
So romantic.
And for all she knew, he’d probably just drop his son off on Monday and drive away. Go someplace where he could kill time until the tutoring session was over.
It will be better that way, she assured herself as she pulled open the heavy double doors and a roar of noisy merriment—along with the smells of beer and chili burgers—swept over her.
If she did see Travis tonight she’d just pretend that kissing business never happened.
No problem.
And there was always the possibility he wouldn’t even show up.
As comforting as that thought seemed on the surface, deep in her heart, she doubted that would happen. It was his brother-in-law’s birthday, after all, and the Tanners were all about family and celebrating every milestone together. Lissie had told her that Jake was competing in a major bull-riding event at
a rodeo in Tulsa tonight, with a huge liquor endorsement deal riding on it if he stayed on the meanest bull on the circuit for eight seconds, so he wouldn’t be making it to Tommy’s party.
But Travis? Travis would be here.
She’d known that as she dressed tonight. As she brushed her hair and let it flow long and loose in smooth curls that tumbled past her shoulders. As she slipped into her favorite topaz silk sweater and black pants and stuck her feet into sexy black stilettos.
After dressing, she’d hunted through her jewelry box for the small diamond studs her parents had given her when she graduated from college. While scooping them up she’d accidentally knocked her engagement ring from Peter onto the floor.
The ring was a marquise-cut diamond, big, bold, and flashy—so very Peter. At the time of their engagement he’d been flush; that was before his business wheelings and dealings went sour and his little real estate kingdom came tumbling down around his ears. Mia had offered to give the ring back to him right after the divorce—right before she discovered that he’d cleaned out their joint savings account. He’d breezily insisted she keep it—and she’d never been sure if that was due to pride or arrogance. Peter Clancy had more than his share of both.
Looking at the ring as she snagged it and set it back inside her jewelry box, she’d suddenly had the surreal feeling that her marriage to Peter had existed not only in another lifetime but almost in another dimension. Peter Clancy had no more bearing on her life now than a road marker on a nearly forgotten trail.
But Travis, of all people, was back in it. Marginally, perhaps, but still…
Those kisses were anything but marginal, a voice inside reminded her. She felt herself growing warm at the memory.
But she wasn’t going to think about Travis. If he didn’t want to talk to her or deal with the mistake they’d both made the other night, that was fine with her.
There were plenty of men in this town who might want to dance with her tonight. And she would dance when she felt like it. She’d laugh and have fun. She’d drink a beer and have a good time.
