by Codi Gary
Clearing his throat, Travis said, “Well, I’m not sure whether he’ll want to, but we can ask him.”
“I’ll go call him,” Charlie said, starting to jump up.
“Finish your dinner first, please,” Gemma said firmly.
“Mom . . .” Charlie groaned and took a huge bite of pizza.
“Charlie! That bite was way too big. Take smaller ones or you’re going to choke,” Gemma said.
“Mrphgrphdurph,” Charlie mumbled around his full mouth.
“Young man, don’t talk with your mouth full.”
Charlie swallowed and opened his mouth wide to show her it was empty. When she didn’t even crack a smile, he mumbled, “Sorry, Mom, but I’m not a baby.”
Her mood lightening at the familiar argument, she teased, “But you’re my baby.”
“Ugh, Mom.” Charlie looked toward Travis for help.
Gemma turned her attention to Travis also and froze. He was watching them so sadly that it caused a guilty lump to form in her throat. No longer hungry, she stood and picked up her container, tossing it into the trash, before heading over to the sink to clean up the dishes left over from breakfast.
The kitchen grew quiet, with only the sound of dishes clattering.
The silence was finally broken by Charlie. “Okay, I’m done. Can I call him?”
Up to her elbows in a sink full of soapy water, she looked over her shoulder and nodded. “Sure.”
Charlie jumped up, and Gemma saw Travis stand with his paper plate in his hand. Trying to look busy, she loaded the dishwasher, but she couldn’t ignore the warmth of his body when he came up behind her.
“If it’s a money thing, I can give you something to supplement what you’d lose closing down. I owe you ten years of child support anyway.”
“I don’t want your money, Travis,” Gemma said, trying not to be touched by his offer. The last thing she wanted was to add indebted to her laundry list of feelings toward Travis.
“Do you want anything from me, Gem?” he whispered, his breath ruffling her hair.
Gripping the plate in her hand, she tried not to react to the insinuation but failed. Her nipples tightened as the hard planes of his body pressed against her back, his arms coming around her slowly, and her gaze focused on those big hands as they grabbed the dry towel next to her elbow.
“He’s got to work at some new lady’s house.” Charlie’s voice broke into her lust-induced lapse, and she elbowed Travis in the belly by accident.
Sucking in his breath, he said, “I was just going to dry the dishes.”
Liar. Gemma got the feeling he had been deliberately teasing her, but why? Setting the last of the dishes on the rack and turning to Charlie, she said, “That’s okay, honey, maybe next time. Why don’t you go take your shower, put on your pajamas, and I’ll come up to read to you?”
“Can he read to me?” Charlie asked.
Jealousy. It was the first time she’d ever experienced it with Charlie, because she had never really had to share him with anyone. He loved Gracie and Mike, but he’d never asked to have them read him a story if she was there. Even when they visited her mother and family in Nampa, he always wanted his mom.
“Sure, he can read to you,” she said, trying not to feel slighted.
“Yes!” Charlie said.
As he ran upstairs, silence stretched between her and Travis. Gemma went to grab her laptop bag and set up her computer at the table.
“So, what are you reading to him?” Travis asked from behind her.
She stood up from plugging in the laptop cord before answering. “The first Harry Potter book.”
“Oh, cool. I saw part of one of the movies, but that was a few years ago,” Travis said.
“They’re great books. We’re reading that series, and he likes to read Goosebumps books on his own,” she said.
“What are those?”
“Creepy monster and ghost books for kids.”
“Those don’t freak him out?”
“Only the ones about the dummy that comes alive. He can’t read those without having a nightmare,” Gemma said, opening her computer and sitting down.
He sat next to her at the table, trying to catch her eye. “I think you should come with us tomorrow.”
“I told you I can’t—”
“Charlie would be more comfortable, and if I’m ever going to forgive you for all of this, then we’re going to have to start over. Just think about it. It wouldn’t kill you to take a few weeks off for your son’s sake,” he said.
His criticism hurt. “I don’t need you to lecture me on what’s best for my son.”
“It’s not a lecture. I just know how I felt every time I had to switch foster homes and I was left with virtual strangers all the time. It’s scary as hell.”
Gemma felt like a giant ass. She should have realized that Charlie would be nervous about being alone with Travis all day, even if he was his dad, but she was so worried about her own reactions to him that she hadn’t thought.
“You’re right. I’ll go to the bookshop in the morning, record a new away message, and close down shop while you’re here,” she said before adding, “but I don’t need your money.”
“You sure? I don’t mind being your sugar daddy for a few weeks.”
Lips twitching with humor, she said, “Actually, since I’m your wife, what’s yours is mine, I think.”
“So it is.” Travis reached out to tug on a strand of her hair. “But most wives do something to earn their keep.”
Pulling her hair away, she said, “Let’s not get ahead of ourselves, big boy.”
His hand grabbed hers, quick as lightning, keeping her close to him. “What game are we playing here?”
Gemma’s cheeks flamed. “I’m not playing any games. I just thought we were joking around.”
“Dad, are you ready?” Charlie called from upstairs.
“Coming, bud,” Travis said, dropping Gemma’s hand and moving past her to the stairs. He caught her gaze on the first step and added, “I’ll see you tomorrow, Gemma.”
Gemma nodded, and he climbed upstairs and out of sight. Going to the cupboard, she grabbed a glass and filled it with ice. All the mixed signals, high emotions, and sexual tension were making her crazy. One minute she was filled with guilt and remorse, and the next Travis was saying or doing something outrageous, as if nothing had happened.
Suddenly, she didn’t feel like writing and closed her laptop. Her emotions were too jumbled, and honestly, she wasn’t sure she wanted to be there when Travis finished reading. She just couldn’t seem to control herself around him.
She poured water into her glass and started to head upstairs to her room but paused when she heard Travis reading. Sneaking to stand just outside Charlie’s door, she listened to the deep voice change to a high-pitched falsetto as he said Hermione’s lines. Gemma leaned her head against the wall as tears filled her eyes. For so long she’d imagined what it would be like having Travis with them, and now that it was happening, it was so surreal. It was scary to think how easy it would be to get used to having him around.
Wiping her eyes, she peeked around the corner. “I just wanted to say good night.”
“Night, Mom. Love you,” Charlie said from the bed.
“Love you, too,” Gemma said, and added, “Good night, Travis.”
Travis gave her that heart-stopping, knee-jerking, melt-into-a-puddle-on-the-floor smile. “Sweet dreams, Gemma.”
Fleeing the scene, she went to her room and changed for bed. Too keyed up to sleep, she scrolled through her DVR and found an old episode of Grey’s Anatomy she’d saved, then deleted it.
She had enough drama right now. Turning on The Mindy Project, she sat back and tried not to think about how she was going to survive two weeks of this.
Chapter Sixteen
* * *
GEMMA WAS UP at six and out the door a little after seven, trying not to wake Travis or Charlie. Driving into town, her first stop was The Local Bean f
or a little best-friend advice.
Gracie looked up from behind the counter as she walked in and gave her a wide, friendly smile. Gemma’s attention was drawn to the frilly green apron she was wearing. It had little pies all over it and said in bold writing, MY PIES ARE HOT AND SWEET, JUST LIKE ME.
Gemma chuckled.
“What up, bestie?” Gracie said.
Gracie was sometimes outrageous, and her mouth was too big for her little body, but she was a loyal friend. “I came by for a little coffee and talk.”
“Well, I’ve got plenty of both. Trisha, I’m taking a break with Gemma,” Gracie said, pulling two cups off the stack. “One shot or two?”
“Two, please.” Gemma went over to their usual table by the window. Sitting down where she could see Gracie, she caught strange looks from several of the patrons and wondered if everyone was talking about Travis and her.
“So, everyone’s talking about you and Travis and your reception,” Gracie said as she sat down across from her and handed her a cup and a bowl of fruit salad, Gemma’s usual breakfast.
“Thanks, but I kinda figured that. They won’t stop staring at me,” Gemma said, taking a sip with a sigh. “That hits the spot.”
“Well, can you blame them? It’s not every day a small-town girl like you marries someone famous. I don’t think it’s been this gossipy since Katie Connors started dating Chase Trepasso. I think you’re gonna be the topic of conversation for a long time.”
Just what I wanted to hear. She wrinkled her nose in distaste. “Gee, Gracie, that’s just what I wanted to hear. Super awesome comforting skills.”
“Don’t be so sensitive. It’s not like it’s bad. It’s all good, and everyone is really excited about the reception,” Gracie said.
Gemma set down her fork and buried her face in her hands, groaning.
“What did I say?”
She looked up at Gracie and caught the gleam in her eye. “Please tell me you aren’t talking about the cockamamie reception Sam Weathers came up with?”
“Cockamamie . . . I like that. I’m going to use that today; it’s so old school.”
“Gracie . . .” Gemma growled.
Gracie shrugged. “You should feel good. People want to celebrate with you and Travis, and they’re willing to organize it. It’s like someone throwing you a party while you just have to look pretty and get gifts and cake.”
“I don’t want cake, I don’t want a party, and I don’t want to be the center of some titillating round of entertainment for the masses,” Gemma said loudly, stabbing a piece of cantaloupe in frustration.
“Simmer down, drama mama, I was just saying that people like you and want to do something nice for you.”
“But it’s not real,” Gemma said, her voice barely above a whisper now that she’d drawn the attention of the whole shop. Several older ladies were leaning into each other, whispering, while they frowned at her, and Gemma almost frowned back. She was tired of everyone butting their noses into her business.
“Says who? You guys stood in front of an officiant and said your vows. I don’t care how drunk you were, part of you wanted to marry Travis or you wouldn’t have done it. And now he’s living in your house. Close quarters, sexual tension . . . it’s like a recipe for an explosion of white-hot desire and wild, butt-crazy monkey sex!” Gracie said.
There was already enough sexual tension without explosions, but Gemma didn’t want to get into that. Gracie might get the idea to butt her nose in to test her amateur matchmaking skills. There were enough cooks in her kitchen already.
“No. No monkey sex. No explosions. Things are calm and tension-free at my place.”
“Really? Why do I not believe you?”
Because my husband is sex on two legs?
“Look, can you just be supportive gal for a few minutes? I need your help,” Gemma said.
Gracie turned her neck from side to side, rolled her shoulders like a boxer, and clapped her hands. “Okay, supportive gal is here. What’s going on?”
“Travis offered to pay my bills for two weeks so I can take off from the shop and hang with Charlie and him.”
“Aw, that’s so sweet,” Gracie said, but she stopped smiling at Gemma’s glare. “And the problem is . . .?”
“He hates me, and things are really weird with us. One minute we’re joking and it’s like nothing ever happened and the next he’s closed off and looking at me like I’m the villain in an Alfred Hitchcock movie,” Gemma said.
“Without the homicidal tendencies and the rotting corpse of your dead mother in a rocking chair,” Gracie deadpanned.
“Seriously, I don’t know how to make it better. How do I fix this?”
Gracie reached across the table and squeezed her hand. “It’s gonna take time, Gemma, but he’ll forgive you.”
Gemma wasn’t so sure. He might make peace with her, and maybe they could be friends again, but could he ever really forgive her?
“And then there’s Mike . . .”
“Don’t worry about Michael; he’ll come around. Besides, I’ve got a feeling he’s going to be very busy coming up. Too busy to be mad at you,” Gracie said, standing up.
Gemma’s eyebrows jumped as she processed that. “You and . . . Michael?” Gemma asked, surprised.
“Of course not! Not me. Yuck.” She shuddered for emphasis and added, “Not that he isn’t a cutie, but I remember when he used to do that ramen-noodle nose thing . . . I still have nightmares. No, there’s a new veterinarian in town, and she’s a kick in the pants. I referred Michael to her to set up her computer, and he was all riled at me yesterday.”
“Why?” Gemma asked.
“I don’t know, something about almost being eaten by her cat; I wasn’t really listening. But she’s super cute, she’s available, and she’s got a rocking personality.”
“Are you playing matchmaker again?”
Gracie struck a pose. “Just call me cupid.”
Gemma finished the last bite of her fruit and stood up. “Thanks for listening.”
Gracie got up from the table and hugged her tight. “Everything will work out. I’m a firm believer in soul mates and happily ever after.”
Gemma sighed. “I wish I had your optimism.”
“Trust me, sweet cheeks. I know true love when I see it.” Gracie turned to walk away singing, “‘Matchmaker, matchmaker make me a match . . .’”
Gemma walked out of the shop shaking her head. Gracie really needed to stop concentrating on everyone else’s love life and find her own happily ever after. She was too romantic to be alone.
TRAVIS WOKE UP to Charlie’s face a few inches away from his, staring at him, and it took a second to remember where he was.
And that this boy is my son.
“Finally! I thought you were going to sleep all day. I do this to Mom sometimes and it wakes her right up, although she usually calls me a little beast. So, wanna go do something?”
Man the kid had more energy that any kid he’d ever met, which had been few and far between.
Shaking the cobwebs from his brain, Travis sat up. “Sure, let me just wake up for a minute. What do you want to do?”
Charlie bounced onto the bed next to him. “I don’t know. Mom left a note, saying she’d be home around one.”
Travis looked over at the clock. It was nine in the morning. No wonder he was tired. He had tossed and turned until around three, thinking about Gemma and how, despite everything she’d done and lied about, he still wanted her. Last night he couldn’t stop thinking about that afternoon in her hotel room, her warm mouth sliding over him, and . . . well, it had been a hard memory to shake.
How could she have slept with him without trusting him?
“Hello? Dad? Can we go?” Charlie said, breaking into his thoughts. He was still getting used to the fact that Charlie called him Dad with such ease.
“Go where?” Travis asked.
“To the shelter! I like to ride my bike over there sometimes to look at the dogs. Mom ke
eps saying we’ll get one, but it has to be a perfect match, otherwise Penny will get upset.” Charlie scrunched up his nose.
“Penny?” Travis asked, suspecting it was a cat. Gemma had always adored the fuzzy little snobs, so much so he was surprised she’d never had more than one.
“Yeah, Mom’s cat. She’s okay, but she’s not a fan of dogs. When Callie comes over, she brings her dog Killer, and Penny always hisses and growls at him,” Charlie said.
“I’m pretty sure that’s just a cat being a cat,” Travis said, getting out of the bed and grabbing his bag. “I’ll go take a shower, we’ll grab some breakfast, and check out the shelter, if that’s what you want.”
“Yes!” Charlie said, running out of the room.
Travis smiled and shook his head. He couldn’t believe how quickly the kid had wormed his way into his heart. He was quite the character, and his mom was right; his high energy and cheerful demeanor reminded him of the girl he’d met in high school.
That girl was still under there, but could he trust her again? Travis still wanted her; that much hadn’t changed. Forgiving her was essential to his plan, especially if it meant giving his son something he had always craved: a stable, loving family.
Besides, she did promise me three dates . . .
No matter what happened between Gemma and him, though, he would make sure Charlie knew he was here to stay.
THEY WALKED INTO the Rock Canyon Veterinary Hospital and Shelter an hour later, and Charlie said, “Hey, Dolly.”
The dark-haired receptionist looked up with a smile. “Charlie, back so soon?”
“Yeah, I brought my dad to come look with me.” Charlie slipped his little hand into Travis’s and said, “This is my dad.”
Dolly held out her hand. “It’s an honor to meet you, Mr. Bowers. I love your music.”
“Thanks,” Travis said, giving her a firm shake.
“Just head on back. Cats to the left, dogs to the right,” Dolly said, pointing to a pair of gray doors with clear labels.
Charlie started pulling him toward the dog door, but as he passed the cat window, Travis saw a fluffy little Siamese looking out at him. He stopped Charlie’s dragging, unable to take his eyes off the tiny thing, which would fit in the palm of his hand. Normally he wasn’t a big fan of cats, but the ugly creature sure tugged at his heartstrings.
