“It’s my turn to ask you a question,” Travis said, studying Tess until she felt like squirming on the seat. “What’s your favorite song?”
“This summer, it’s been Honey Bee,” Tess said, giving Travis a playful look. “See, this boy I know made me dance with him at one of our old hangouts while it was playing and he started calling me honeybee. Now, every time I hear the song I think of him and the way he looked at that moment, the way I felt in his arms, the way we seemed to fit together so perfectly.”
Travis offered her a heat-filled look that nearly made her run off the road.
“He wasn’t a half-bad kisser,” Tess said, needling him as she whipped the truck back in her own lane.
“Half-bad?” Travis asked, giving her a narrowed glare. He thought he should definitely rank much higher than half-bad on the kissing scale.
“He could be legendary, but I think he needs more practice kissing. To help out a friend, I’d be willing to assist him in perfecting his skills. It will probably take a lot of time and effort on my part, but I’d make the sacrifice for him,” Tess said, maintaining a stoic expression.
“You are just a giver, aren’t you?” Travis said, hiding a smile. If Tess kept this up, he’d make her pull over before they reached the freeway so he could start getting in some of the practice she mentioned.
“I do what I can,” Tess said, giving Travis a flirty sideways glance. “I hear you have a multitude of talents including everything from riding bulls in the rodeo, race care driving, rock climbing, and wind surfing to designing storybooks for little girls, and developing tactical plans of romance to help your brother win the heart of his dream girl.”
“Trent was hopeless and clueless when it came to Lindsay,” Travis said, remembering how much the pretty blond disliked Trent before he romanced his way into her heart. “He just needed a little help getting started. Once the ball was rolling, he did fine on his own.”
“I think it’s very sweet you helped him out,” Tess said, knowing what a good heart beat inside Travis’ broad, muscled chest. “You must be close to your brothers.”
“Yeah, I guess I am. All four of them.”
Tess looked at him, confused. “Four of them, you only have two.”
“I have two biological brothers, and then I have two friends who are as close as brothers. They have a sister who used to tag along with them when all of us boys would try to play. She’d get in the way and pout, acting like a little princess, trying to spoil all our fun.”
“She sounds like a brat,” Tess said, thinking about how she was a pest to the boys on numerous occasions.
“Oh, I wouldn’t go that far. Funny thing was, she was like a little sister to my two brothers, but she never was to me,” Travis said, watching the bewildered look flit across Tess’ face.
“I knew I loved her from the time I was old enough to notice that girls were different than boys even though I was terrified of getting cooties from her.”
“Are you still afraid of girl cooties?” Tess asked, sliding her hand across the seat and swiping her fingers on his shirt sleeve, like she was wiping something disgusting on him.
“Not so much,” Travis chuckled, catching her hand and kissing it. “They have a certain charm all their own.”
Tess laughed. They continued their silly conversation all the way to the restaurant. Pulling up at the door, Tess started to get out and help Travis, but he assured her he could handle it on his own. Reaching for his crutches, he deftly maneuvered himself out of the truck and waited at the door while Tess parked and hurried back to him.
“You didn’t have to stand out here in the heat,” she said, holding the restaurant door open for him.
“I know, but if I went inside I’d miss out on watching you walk across the parking lot,” Travis said with a wicked grin.
“And why, exactly, would you want to watch me walk across the parking lot?”
“Cause that little wiggle you’ve got going on is killer, honeybee. The only thing better than watching you coming, is watching you going. In that dress, smelling as luscious as you do, you are positively making my mouth water,” Travis whispered in her ear as they stood at the hostess station.
Tess felt a shiver of pleasure race up her spine while her cheeks flushed in embarrassment. She turned to Travis with plans of giving him a disapproving glare, but she couldn’t get past the smile that refused to leave her face.
Seated at their table, they placed their orders and enjoyed the excellent view of the river from their table. Tess was surprised to see their waitress approach with a gorgeous bouquet of pink and white roses.
“Tess Morgan?” the waitress asked.
“Yes, that’s me,” Tess said, her eyes wide in surprise.
“These are for you,” the waitress said, setting them on the table.
Tess removed the card. It read:
For my beautiful honeybee -
Thank you for loving me.
I love you,
Tee
“Oh, Travis,” Tess said, forcing herself not to cry. The flowers were beautiful, but the fact that Travis ordered the bouquet and had it delivered to their table because he couldn’t get flowers himself made the thoughtful gesture even more special. Tess didn’t know when she had ever felt as cherished as she did right at that moment with Travis holding her hand and looking at her with warmth and love in his eyes. “I’ve never seen such beautiful roses. Thank you for thinking of them.”
“They don’t hold a candle to you, honeybee, but since this is our first official date, I wanted you to have flowers. I’d serve you the world on a platter if I could, but dinner and flowers will have to do for now,” Travis said, rubbing his thumb along her wrist and making her blood stir at his touch.
“Have I mentioned before that you say the nicest things?” Tess asked with her face and voice both soft and warm.
“You might have mentioned it once or twice, but I don’t mind hearing at again,” Travis said, smiling in a way he hoped furthered his cause of wooing Tess. She might already love him, but he had a lot of courting he planned to do to make up for lost time.
Once their order arrived, they enjoyed the delicious meal and each other. Travis tried to talk Tess into dessert, but she had other plans.
Leaving the restaurant, she drove them to Denni’s house. His mom was overjoyed to see Travis out and about, especially with Tess.
Denni’s mother, a feisty little woman everyone called Nana, was there and Travis appreciated the opportunity to visit with his grandmother for a while. Denni offered them some cookies and lemonade, which they refused. Standing on the front step both Denni and Nana grinned broadly as they watched Tess and Travis leave.
“Looks like you’ve got another wedding coming up,” Nana said, her hand around Denni’s arm.
“I sure hope so, Mama. That boy of mine has been in love with her since he was old enough to notice girls. It took him long enough to realize it.”
“He’s a Thompson. What did you expect?” Nana teased, remembering how hard Denni had to work to convince Drew Thompson that he was head over heels in love with her. “You of all people should know they fight falling in love tooth and nail but when they finally do fall, they fall hard.”
“Well, it looks like he’s fallen, but good,” Denni said, watching Tess and Travis drive away. “I always hoped Tess would be my daughter-in-law. She’s been like a daughter to me since she was born.”
“It looks like you might just get your wish if Travis is half as smart as we all think he is.”
Travis and Tess waved as Denni and Nana continued to stand on the step, watching them leave.
“Are your ears burning?” Travis asked with a crooked grin.
“No, why? Should they be?” Tess asked, looking over at him and noticing his goofy smile.
“They should be on fire. Mama and Nana are out there talking about us, you know.”
“How do you know that?”
“Because I know them,” Travis s
aid, settling more comfortably into the pickup seat. “When they get that look, it’s because they are talking about one of their offspring and by the smiles as we left, I’d have to say we were the topic of choice this evening.”
“Is that a good thing or a bad thing?” Tess asked, not sure she liked the idea of being the topic of any discussion.
“A good thing,” Travis said, looking out the window as Tess drove through town and pulled up at the drive-in that was an institution in its own right.
“I’ll be right back,” she said, hurrying inside. She returned a short time later carrying two banana splits with all the trimmings. Walking to Travis’ door, he opened it and she handed him the treats.
“What’s this?” he asked as she climbed back in the driver’s side and started the pickup.
“Surely you remember what one of these tastes like?” she asked as she headed out of town and parked them in a secluded spot by the river.
“I do and I also remember the last time I had one was when you and Brice and I were supposed to be running some errands and you begged us to stop and get one. That was right before I enlisted,” Travis said, looking forward to the treat. Three mounds of hard ice cream, a whole banana, chocolate syrup, whipped cream, nuts and strawberries made the frozen dessert hard to pass up.
Tess rolled down the windows of the truck, unbuckled her seat belt, and took one of the plastic dishes from Travis.
“To old times and old friends,” Tess said, toasting Travis with the dish.
“To new times and new love,” Travis said with a pointed look that made Tess shiver despite the heat.
They enjoyed the cold, creamy sweet as a light breeze blew in the window. The sun was starting its descent and the colors filled both the sky and the water with the intense hues of summertime sunsets.
Mesmerized by the hot pink, bright orange and brilliant gold tones reflected off the water onto Tess, Travis sat watching her as she ate her ice cream. He had to keep reminding himself to behave like a gentleman, to act like this was a first date. It was taking all his effort not to pull her across the seat and wrap his arms around that very tempting body of hers.
“What do you think?” Tess asked as she licked her spoon.
“Think?” Travis said, trying to pull his attention away from her lips and back to the question.
“About the ice cream? Is it as good as you remember?” she asked, taking another bite. Travis wanted more than anything to lean over and taste her lips. They would be cool, sweet, and so soft.
“Yeah, it’s good.” He was still only half-listening to what she was saying. They finished the ice cream and watched the sun sink over the horizon. Finally, Tess rolled up the windows but before she could start the pickup she found herself lost in the heat coming from Travis’ eyes.
“You’re going to make me think I’ve got food on my face if you don’t quit looking at me like that,” Tess said, swiping at her cheek with a paper napkin. Travis leaned over and grabbed her wrist, put a hand around her waist and tugged her across the seat toward him. Tess didn’t resist, but she gave him an odd look. “What are you doing?”
“Something I’ve wanted to do since I was fifteen,” Travis said, taking off his Stetson and setting it on the dash before enfolding Tess in his arms.
“What’s that?” she whispered, her eyes locking with his as sparks danced between them.
“Making out with you until we steam up the windows,” Travis said, capturing her lips in a kiss filled with heat.
Dizzy from the emotions spiraling through her, Tess began to slowly melt into Travis. He continued to rub tantalizing circles across her shoulders and back while his lips plundered hers again and again.
Travis had to force himself to keep his hands only on Tess’ back and shoulders. As he leaned against the door, he could feel the soft fullness of her chest brush against him and the sensations produced by the contact were about to make him lose what little bit of control he had left.
Moving from her lips to her ear, where he worried her earlobe with seductive kisses, he heard Tess moan as she clung to him. She was so soft, so warm and enticing. Feeling like he might overheat as blood thrummed through his veins, Travis realized all the mind-blowing excitement he was ever going to need was right here, in Tess’ arms.
His fingers trailed down the creamy column of her throat and Tess tipped her head back. Thick eyelashes looked like delicate, dark fans against her cheeks and her lips parted slightly, letting out a whoosh of air as his fingertips caressed her skin.
Unable to think of anything but Tess and how much he wanted her, Travis sunk his head down to the neckline of her dress and pressed hot kisses there. Her hands cradled the back of his head and he heard her whisper his name.
A tap on the glass behind him brought Travis skidding back to reality. Tess jerked away and slid across the seat. In the high beam from the flashlight shining through the fogged up window, he could see her cheeks glowing bright red.
Rolling down the window, Travis was surprised to see one of the sheriff’s deputies standing there smiling broadly.
“I should have known it would be none other than Travis Thompson,” said the officer.
“How you doing, Darren?” Travis said, sticking his hand out the window. Darren Williams was someone he knew in high school through 4-H and FFA competitions.
Darren shook his hand and laughed. “Doing fine. Though maybe not quite as well as you at the moment. Mind introducing your red-faced friend?”
“This is Tess Morgan, Brice’s sister,” Travis said, giving Tess a look that conveyed how sorry he was to put her in such a compromising situation.
“Nice to meet you, Miss Morgan. I’ve known your brother and this trouble-maker for a long time. Usually they are raising Cain together. I’m sure you’re a welcome substitute for Brice.”
“Oh, well, I…” Tess said, barely able to make words form. She was beyond mortified to be caught necking with Travis like a lusty teen on an exploration mission.
“I had a report that some teenagers were up to no good out here, but since it’s just you two, I’ll head on out. Nice to see you, Travis. I heard about your accident, but it doesn’t look like it kept you down for long,” Darren said, waggling his eyebrows as he walked toward his car.
“Thanks, Darren. Maybe we can catch up one of these days,” Travis said with a wave as Darren nodded and got in his car.
Tess buckled her seat belt, started the truck and didn’t say a word to Travis the entire way home. They turned down the Triple T’s long driveway and were part-way to the house when Tess stopped the pickup and turned off the lights.
Travis stared at her in surprise. He knew better than to say anything on the way home, thinking their romantic first date had certainly ended on a sour note.
Then he started to worry. What if she was so upset she wouldn’t go out with him again? What if she packed up and went back to Portland like she’d threatened before they admitted they loved each other?
Finally, he realized if she truly loved him, she would see him again. She would eventually forgive him for embarrassing her and give him another chance.
She still looked more tempting than Travis could handle. Her thick, dark hair was a tousled mess of waves and curls, her cheeks were still flushed pink and there was a sparkle in her eyes that was hard to miss. Then there was the bombshell dress that highlighted every single one of her amazing curves to perfection.
Along with those sexy heels, how did she expect him to behave himself all night? He was glad Darren showed up when he did and thought maybe the interruption was divine intervention.
Tess glanced at Travis for a minute before she let out a long sigh. She unbuckled her seatbelt and slid toward him. Travis sat completely still, waiting to see what she would do.
“I figure we’ve got less than five minutes before someone decides to come investigate who is parked out here, so I’ll keep this brief,” Tess said, wrapping her hands behind his neck and giving him a quick ki
ss. “I don’t ever want to be caught like that again, you idiot. I felt like I was sixteen and had done something both legally and morally corrupt. We have to keep control, Trav, no matter what we are feeling for each other. This is worse than the time you and Brice stole one of my bras and took it camping to use as a slingshot. It took weeks for the teasing at school to stop, and this is ten times worse with an officer of the law as a witness.”
Travis nodded his head, hesitant to speak.
Tess gently rubbed his neck with her thumbs, making his cooling temperature quickly start to rise.
“That said, I never dreamed being with you, being loved by you, would be this incredible and wonderful, Tee. You make me feel like a beautiful, cherished, desirable woman and for that I thank you.”
Tess drew his lips to hers and kissed Travis with a passion that wiped his mind clear of all thought. Caught off guard, all he could do was watch as she slid back across the seat, started the pickup, and drove him to the house.
Before she could get out of the pickup to help him in the door, he pulled a small box from his pocket, handing it to her. Tess turned on the interior lights so she could see, taking the box from his hand.
“What’s this?” she asked, turning a curious gaze to Travis. She fought the desire to scoot back over into his arms and get lost in his kisses again.
“Just a little something to say thank you for taking such good care of me,” Travis said with a smile that made a tingle start at Tess’ toes and race through her entire body, making her insides heat.
“You don’t need to give me a gift, Tee. It’s my pleasure to take care of you. Besides, you are kind of special to me,” Tess said with a loving smile.
Opening the box, she broke into a huge grin, removing a necklace with a tiny bronze bee sitting on a topaz drop of honey.
“Do you like it?” Travis asked as she held it up. The pickup light reflected through the topaz, sending out little amber beams into the cab of the truck.
The Cowboy's Summer Love Page 25
