by Deb Julienne
“See? You want me as much as I want you and I didn’t even kiss you. I wanted you to see your reaction to me.”
She shouldn’t be surprised by his overinflated ego. More than that, she was angry with herself. She was fighting for her survival and in one instant, he managed to prove just how vulnerable she was to his charms. Damn him. Her tears made her furious. Everything he said was true.
He pulled away then tipped her head back, forcing her to look him in the eye.
His eyes made her think of the hot fudge she’d smeared over him. Why’d he have to have brown eyes? Why couldn’t they be a boring blue?
“We can argue the pros and cons of this relationship until we’re crazy, or we can take advantage of the time we have and fall madly, passionately, crazy in love. I for one vote the latter.” He kissed her gently. When he pulled away, his pupils were dilated.
Heat sizzled through her, sending her heart into a frenzied flamenco dance. Her blood pulsed in her temples, and her insides became liquid heat.
“That reaction is not about sex, babe. That’s love. I’m in love with you, and it’s time you accept my words as truth. I don’t give up easily. And I’ve never wanted anything as much as I want you.”
Tears fell in earnest. She wanted to believe him. Wanted to believe they had a future together. Dare she hope and give in only to lose her heart again? She was scared and she didn’t know him well enough to take that chance. He’d been part of the con that Trent had pulled on Sabrina. Granted, it was Trent who’d lied to Sabrina, but Travis had also hurt her when he went to the court and refused to bail her out.
“Would you please just go?”
He gently wiped her tears away and kissed her again. “Fine, but we’re not done. Not by a long shot. I’m a patient man.” He slipped into his jacket and adjusted his collar while maintaining eye contact. He’d barely made it through the curtains before she let out a sob. She wanted him to come back. Wanted him to say everything would work out. And wanted him to take the chill from her, to take the loneliness away and make her heart stop hurting.
The front lock clicked and the bell signaled his departure. She’d driven away her one chance at happiness, blaming him for her own insecurities.
Chapter 8
Travis wanted to show her things could be different if only she’d believe in him, in them.
He left the shop more depressed than the day he’d checked himself into the clinic. He passed bar after bar, tempted to pull over out of habit, but it wasn’t a drink he wanted. A drink wouldn’t fix his mood. A drink wouldn’t fix a damn thing. He also couldn’t stand the thought of going back to his hotel alone. He didn’t want anything but Angel.
He drove his rental car in circles, all around town, only to pull up at Kat’s place. It wouldn’t hurt to talk to her.
After he parked and got out, he took the steps two at a time rather than waiting for the elevator. As he rounded the top landing, he spied a woman knocking at Kat’s door. When no one answered, she placed a package against the door.
“Can I help you?” he asked.
“Ah, I’m not sure. My sister recently moved in here with a couple of friends.”
“Then you must be Marianne. Nice to meet you.” He flashed a smile and offered her his hand.
“And you are?” Her tone was guarded and her posture rigid.
“Disappointed. I had hoped Angel might have mentioned me.”
She let a slight smile slip out then replaced it with a grimace. “Then that would make you Travis Wellington. Yes, I’ve heard a great deal about you.”
“You’re scowling. Does it mean you’re worried about your sister and me?”
“I didn’t realize it had gone that far.” She pierced him with a frown, looked him up and down, and smiled as if she knew something he didn’t.
“I’m trying. She’s resisting. Any chance you’d care for a cup of coffee? I could really use your help.”
“I’ll listen. I can’t guarantee I’ll offer you any advice. I’m very protective of my sister. I won’t take part in anything that’ll harm her further.” Her tone was deadly serious, but he also read a hint of hope in her eyes.
“Great. I can see we’re on the same page, but she’s not cooperating.”
“Sure then. I’m anxious to hear if you’re as good as she said.” Marianne winked.
Angel and Marianne had the same upturned up nose that crinkled when they smiled, the same mouth and eyes. Marianne was a bit shorter and a few pounds heavier. They shared the same cinnamon-colored hair.
He couldn’t help but wonder if she was as prickly as her sister. “And I’m dying to hear what she told you.”
They agreed to have coffee in the restaurant of his hotel. Marianne followed in her own car. On the drive, he tried to put all his hope, dreams, and fears into words so that he’d be able to show Marianne he was sincere. She might be his only saving grace.
Twenty minutes later, he and Marianne were seated. The dinner crowd was over. “I’m worried about my sister.” Marianne watched the busboys clearing tables.
“Me, too. She told me what happened, why she left home. The baby. Everything. And after the letter she received in the mail today, I’ve got to find a way to help her.”
“What letter? Wait. What? She told you—” Marianne’s mouth dropped open and her eyes bugged out.
He nearly laughed, except the topic was anything but funny. “Yes.”
The waitress returned with two glasses of water, flipped their coffee cups over, and gestured to the coffeepot in her hand.
They both nodded.
“Ready to order?”
“Give us another minute, please.” Travis added one sugar and a plain creamer to his coffee.
Marianne added two sugars and a French vanilla creamer. “Everything?”
He hoped Marianne had some ideas about how to get through to Angel. He needed all the help he could get. “Yeah, how awful.”
“I hope you didn’t say that to her.” Marianne opened her menu. “She’s not partial to pity.”
“Tell me about it. She makes it damn near impossible to commiserate with.”
The waitress came back, pad and pencil ready.
“Just coffee, thank you. I’m not hungry,” Travis said.
“Coffee for me, too. I still need to get home and fix dinner.”
The waitress tucked her pad and pencil in her pocket and left.
“Oh, believe me, I understand.” She stared into her cup then back at him. “I have to ask, and I won’t apologize for how this sounds, but do you really care about her?”
“Yes. She’s not the only person on the planet with issues and ghosts. I have my own. Granted mine were my own making, but I’m trying to rectify them. Hell, I’m in love with her, but she doesn’t believe me. Doesn’t think she’s worthy. It’s unbelievable.”
“I know. You have to understand, our parents did a number on her. I can’t say I blame her for not trusting anyone. She’s been hurt in ways you can only imagine.” Marianne appeared skeptical. She paused, had several false starts, as if she wasn’t sure how much to admit.
“Again, she’s not the only one.”
“How so?”
He told Marianne the same things he told Angel then added a bit more of his past.
“Does Angel know all this?” Marianne asked.
“Some of it, not all.”
“You best make sure you do tell her—don’t leave anything out—and soon.”
“I plan to if I can get her to talk to me again. And this stays between us right?”
Marianne took an exaggerated breath and said, “For now. Just don’t let me down.”
“I won’t.”
“Also, you need to know Angel can’t forgive herself for giving up her child. In her mind, it makes what she did to her daughter the same as what our parents did to her. Even if in her instance it was the right thing to do.” Marianne dashed away a tear about to fall.
“But what she did was for
the child’s best interest.”
The waitress stopped by to refill their cups.
Travis nodded and accepted another cup.
“No, thank you,” Marianne said. “You know that and I know that, but she can’t see it. You’re going to have to be very patient with her. If you really love her, it’s going to take every ounce of your self-control and patience to convince her she’s worth loving.”
“She is worth it.”
“I agree. By the way, what came in the mail?” Marianne finished her coffee. “I’m almost afraid to ask.”
“The store’s landlord sent her a notification. He’s selling the building. She needs to relocate.”
She pushed her coffee cup away. “Damn it. She doesn’t need this.”
“I agree. I offered to call some real estate friends. She’s got until the end of March to find a new place. In fact, do you mind if I set a few things in motion?”
“If it’s for Angel, be my guest. May I make a suggestion? Just be careful you don’t victimize her yourself.”
He called his buddy Dan Jacobs then called Kat. Since neither was available, he left them both voice mails to call back. “They’re both busy.”
“Do you think you’ll be able to help?” Marianne sighed.
If Dan couldn’t do it then it couldn’t be done. He’d put his best team on it. Waiting was all he could do now. “I’m hopeful.”
Marianne glanced at her watch. “Shoot, I really need to get going. After dinner Scott and I need to finalize our wedding plans.”
“Oh, yes, of course, congratulations. Angel told me you’re getting married soon and here I’m dumping all this on you. Good luck with the final plans. That can really be a challenge.”
“Thank you. Planning a wedding on a budget is not my idea of fun.”
“Don’t worry. Things always manage to work out in the end.”
“From your mouth to God’s ears and I hope he’s listening.” Marianne looked heavenward.
He chuckled. “My Uncle Max used to say that. Forgot all about it. I’m sure you’ll be fine. You’ll see.”
She took a pen from her purse, jotted down her cell number, and slid the paper across the table toward him. “It was nice meeting you, Travis. Keep in touch.” She squeezed his arm before she walked away.
He stuffed the paper into his pocket and picked up his cup to finish it.
“Still acquiring phone numbers wherever you go, I see. She hardly looks your type.” Delaney Prescott stood there, eyeing Marianne’s departure, utter disdain on her face, her lip curled in a sneer like a territorial bitch.
His chest tightened and his blood pressure rose. “Del, what are you doing here?”
“What? A girl can’t come visit her fiancé?” She wiggled her fingers in front of him to show she was still wearing his ring. She maneuvered past a waiter holding a full tray then leaned down to kiss his cheek, but he moved out of reach.
“Take that thing off.” He lifted his chin toward her left hand. “I told you before, we’re done.” He didn’t give a rat’s ass about the ring.
“Get over yourself, Travis. You don’t throw away two years together on a misunderstanding.”
“Misunderstanding, my ass!”
Customers nearby stopped and gaped at them.
“I gave you two months to come to your senses. Time to man up and do right by me. Besides, the folks are counting on us. You can’t let them down.” She pranced from foot to foot, waiting for his manners to kick in.
He stood and waved for the check. He was done being accommodating. “It’s not going to happen. I already told you that. Nothing’s changed. I’ve moved on.”
“Moved on?” She cocked her head. “Can we please talk about this like adults?” She took a seat with her bumptious nose in the air.
“I—” His cell phone rang. It was Dan. “I’ve got to take this call.” He stepped away from the table.
“Be my guest.” Delaney captured a weary waitress and ordered an espresso, adding it to his bill.
“Dan, I need your help pronto. There’s a property over on Front Street. Can you check into it for me?”
“Sure. Is it currently on the market?”
“I’m not sure. The building that Angeline’s is in.” He gave Dan the address.
From the tilt of her head and the pointed glare, she’d heard every word.
He hadn’t said much. Perhaps she hadn’t understood. “Get back to me when you can. It’s urgent.”
“How about tomorrow? Can we meet for lunch?”
“Name it,” he said.
“How about The Crab Shack at noon?” Dan suggested.
“See you then.” He terminated the conversation as he tried to figure out how to get rid of the woman.
Delaney sipped from the cup, her perfectly manicured pinkie finger curled. Everything about her said relaxed.
He didn’t buy it for a minute.
The waitress returned with his tab. He pulled his wallet from inside his jacket, put a twenty in the jacket and retrieved the receipt then handed it back to the waitress.
“Business?” Delaney asked.
“Yes.”
“Since when are you into real estate?” Delaney shot him a speculative glance and a fake smile. She’d been eavesdropping for sure.
He should have let the call go to voice mail but he had needed to talk to Dan as soon as possible. “It’s none of your business. Look, Del, we’re done. Have a nice life.” He pushed his chair in and walked away.
Her acrylic nails tapped the table. “That’s what you think.”
The hair on the back of Travis’s neck stood on end. He forced one foot in front of the other and bit his tongue to keep from reacting to her. Part of him wanted to stand and fight to get rid of her now and forever, but this wasn’t the time or place. Besides, it would only create a scene he wasn’t prepared to deal with.
Plus, if he knew Delaney, and he did, things were about to get a whole lot worse.
If the claws were coming out, it was time to talk to the Queen of Mean. Kat would know what to do.
* * * *
Travis sat quietly on the couch in his cousin’s apartment.
Kat paced, arms flinging wide with each comment. “Are you kidding me?”
Travis didn’t move. Didn’t reply. Didn’t dare. He prayed he wouldn’t have to wait long for her to run out of steam. He half expected one of the massively built WWE wrestlers she and Jill were so fond of to come try to take her down in the middle of the room. They’d lose to Kat in her present state of mind. She’d remove every shred of masculinity from them.
“You’re a fucking moron for not pushing her down a flight of stairs and introducing her to your Hoover. What a bitch. And her parents are no better. Did you inform your folks about what you overheard?” Kat bared her teeth, nostrils flaring like a bull about to charge.
Delaney was up to something and he didn’t trust her. He needed Kat’s advice.
“Travis, are you listening?”
“Yes. I’m waiting for you to calm down.” He’d folded his hands in his lap, but he couldn’t refrain from rolling his thumbs.
“Calm down my ass. Did you tell any of this to Trent?”
“Nope, I came straight to see you.”
Kat stormed into her bedroom muttering something about “moron cousins.” She re-entered the room holding her cell phone.
“What are you up to?” The last thing he needed was another person to butt into his life.
She held up her finger for him to wait while she spoke into the phone. “It’s Kat. Get your ass over to my place, pronto.”
“No.” He started for her but she shoved him back in his seat.
“You’re brother needs you.” She flicked her phone off.
Son of a bitch. He eyed her cautiously but remained silent.
“I don’t know how you two survive on your limited miniscule brains.” Every time she looked at him and he opened his mouth to speak, she shook her head, let out a h
aughty snort, and resumed pacing. It was no use wasting his breath when she was in a frenzy.
He removed the book from his pocket and started re-reading it. He wondered how long it would take her to notice the book and comment on it. At the same time he wasn’t sure he wanted to hear her comments. But he was surprised Kat was missing an opportunity to harass him.
Finally, Trent knocked on the door.
Kat let him in and barely allowed him to take a seat before gave him a brief overview.
“Now tell Trent what you told me.” Kat couldn’t sit still.
“What’s to tell? You said it all. I came over to talk to you about what to do about Delaney, not rehash old news.” Travis couldn’t see how any of this would help.
“We’ll get to that. First I want him to hear the whole story from your mouth.”
“Fine. The reason I decided to go into rehab in the first place was because of Delaney’s miscarriage.”
“No, not that, the part where you walk in on the conversation between Delaney and her parents. Damn leeches.” Kat’s hair whipped around with her jerking motions.
“What does any of this have to do with how to get rid of Del?”
“We’ll get to it. First things first. Continue.” Kat stubbed her toe on the coffee table and swore.
Travis huffed. “Regardless of how bad things were, I was sad when Del lost the baby. It was my kid, too. At the same time, I was relieved. When she told me she was pregnant, I realized I didn’t want to marry her. I had already started to pull away, wanted to break off the engagement, but the timing wasn’t right. I stopped at a florist and picked up the biggest bouquet of her favorite flowers.” He got lost in the telling and transported back to that horrible day.
* * * *
He came off the elevator on the sixth floor maternity ward. At the nurse’s station, he asked for Delaney’s room. He headed for room 606.
Roselyn’s voice was raised in anger. “…you couldn’t even do the pregnancy right. You had no right to be at the gym working out. We needed that baby. Your father has licked the Wellingtons shoes long enough. You were our last chance to fix things. Damn it, Delaney, what the hell were you thinking?”
