Coming Home to Texas

by Victoria Chancellor

  “If you’re sure,” he answered, his tone revealing some skepticism.

  Well, she’d just have to show him that she wasn’t going to suffer any consequences from moderate exercise and a normal schedule. “I’m sure. Don’t worry.”

  “I’ll need to get our suitcases into the house so we can change.”

  “I’ll get the food inside, then we can hurry. It gets dark so early this time of year.” She might not worry about a short jog, but she sure didn’t want to run over unfamiliar ground in the dark.

  “Look, there’s the cabin.”

  The house was rustic and simple in design, set on a slope just above the lake with a great view. Gray Phillips had said it was his late uncle’s weekend house. He and “Dr. Amy,” as everyone called her, had ended their very first date here and used the cabin some weekends to get away. Jodie had been told it was private, clean and stocked with basic necessities—the perfect honeymoon cottage on short notice.

  “Last one outside for jogging has to clean up the dishes,” Jodie announced as she swung the cooler of food out of the SUV.

  “Don’t lift too much!”

  She laughed off Travis’s unfounded concern and entered the cabin. The cooler probably didn’t weigh fifteen pounds. She lifted far more than that at the gym. She wasn’t going to spend her pregnancy sleeping and getting flabby. She might need more naps, but she could still work out, run, bicycle and maybe even surf. She’d ask a doctor once she found a good obstetrics physician, because she didn’t want to do any of her regular activities that might be harmful to the baby. Despite the way she’d laughed off Travis’s concerns, she took her pregnancy seriously.

  “Where do you want your suitcase?” Travis asked.

  She stood in the kitchen after setting the cooler on the counter, staring at her new husband. The enormity of their situation hit her then, as though she’d jogged into a glass wall.

  Where did she want to put her suitcase? And where did Travis want her suitcase? They were married. Why did he even have to ask, unless he felt as conflicted as she did about their relationship?

  BY THE TIME THEY RAN along the road circling the lake and returned to the cabin, darkness had fallen. Luckily, he’d remembered to turn on the outside lights. Travis was pleasantly tired from the exercise and ravenous for food—as well as hungry for Jodie. She was more of a mystery to him now than when they’d first met. He found that exciting, but also daunting. He knew the intense passion they were capable of generating, but he didn’t know how to set the mood. Not surprisingly, a sunny outdoor café and an idyllic suite in a Monte Carlo hotel was more romantic than a borrowed cabin in Texas, even on Valentine’s Day. Even if it was their honeymoon.

  With a sigh, he stepped into the shower. Jodie had told him to go first because he was going to prepare dinner. She was in charge of setting the table, she said. She wasn’t much of a cook, having lived with her mother for so long. She’d traveled so much, she’d told him, that having an apartment didn’t make much sense when her mother had a perfectly fine house.

  When she was younger and working in New York, she’d stayed with her booking agent, Felicia Sparr, who was kind of like an older sister or an aunt. Jodie had only gotten her own place after her modeling career had taken off, she’d told him.

  He took a quick shower, trying not to think about Jodie getting naked. Trying not to think about the fact they were married and on their honeymoon. Trying not to think about where she’d put her suitcase, since he’d left it in the hallway when she’d said she’d get it later.

  All that “not thinking” wasn’t doing his libido any good. Maybe he should have taken a quick cold shower.

  He dressed in sweats and pulled on socks, but no shoes. He hoped Jodie wasn’t expecting a more formal wedding dinner, because he’d planned cheeseburgers, chips and fruit.

  She was in the kitchen when he finished dressing, unpacking the groceries they’d brought with them for a couple of days. “The run made me feel so much better,” she said. “Maybe I haven’t been getting enough exercise. Since I got back to the States, I’ve been in meetings and negotiations far too much.”

  “Maybe. I’m glad you enjoyed it, and I’m glad you didn’t have any problems as a consequence. I’m not an avid runner, but I do it when I don’t get enough exercise the old-fashioned way—through actual work.”

  “Is that one of the reasons you bought the ranch?” she asked as she placed a box of cereal on the shelf.

  “Indirectly. I really wanted a place to put down some roots, have a place I designed with a studio and room for guests. And like I mentioned before, I was tired of cities.”

  “If I get tired of one city, I just go to another one,” Jodie joked.

  Travis laughed, then the smile faded as he realized she wasn’t really exaggerating. She did fly around a lot. Of course, that would change now.

  “Are cheeseburgers okay for dinner? We had such a good meal earlier that I thought something simple might be best.”

  “Fine with me. I’m not a picky eater.” She dusted off her hands and smiled at him, her cheeks still pink from the cool temperatures and their brisk jog.

  “Why don’t you go take your shower and I’ll get started? Will about thirty minutes give you enough time?”

  “Absolutely.” She straightened a chair on her way across the small kitchen.

  “Jodie?”

  “Yes?”

  “The wedding was really nice and I just wanted you to know that everything’s going to be fine.”

  “I hope so, Travis. I know you didn’t want to get married again.”

  “I didn’t think I wanted to,” he clarified as he stepped closer. “The reality is beginning to sink in and I’m looking forward to everything a marriage entails. And I really mean that, Jodie.”

  She smiled shyly as he took her hands then placed them on his shoulders. She felt warm and smelled like the outdoors. “Everything, hmm?”

  He kissed her then, her lips soft and full beneath his, her body warm and real as she leaned against him. The passion they’d avoided for days sprang to life as she wrapped her arms around his neck and pressed closer. His arousal was swift and hard against her belly.

  “I’d better take my shower,” she said breathlessly as she pulled away moments later.

  “Good idea. Otherwise we won’t get any dinner.”

  While the burgers cooked, he cut up apples and washed grapes, arranging the fruit on a plate. He felt very domestic as he prepared the meal for Jodie. In a way, he was also nourishing his child. He wondered if he should pour her a glass of milk, but Jodie usually drank tea or water with her meals. He didn’t want to demand she take special care of herself—just give some reminders since pregnancy was new to both of them.

  They would have to find ways to compromise. Even more important, they needed to learn about each other—the everyday things that married couples or even those who lived together took for granted.

  He put slices of cheese on the burgers and warmed the buns, all the while wondering what condiments Jodie liked. What was her favorite color? Her favorite flower? There was so much he didn’t know about her.

  Just then she walked into the kitchen, all pink and adorable from her shower. She wore no makeup and looked younger than her twenty-nine years. Her shoulder-length hair was piled on top of her head, held by one of those big clips, and she’d dressed like him in worn yellow sweats and white socks.

  “You look great,” he said.

  She tilted her head and smiled. “Thanks. I didn’t know the sloppy-out-of-the-shower look appealed to you.”

  “I have very fond memories of you and the shower.”

  Jodie laughed as she grabbed a slice of apple and a few grapes from the table. “Can I help? I can fill the glasses with ice.”

  “Sounds good. I didn’t know what you wanted to drink.”

  “Just water is fine with me. I drink a lot of water.”

  Within minutes they were digging in to their dinner. “Thi
s is great, Travis. The burgers are perfect.”

  “I’m glad you like my cooking. Helen prepares meals for me about once a week. I keep a few main dishes in the freezer, also, so in case you need anything when I’m gone, just look there.”

  “I’m glad you have someone to take care of your house.”

  “I travel, and even when I’m home, I don’t want to spend time cleaning.”

  “I’m exactly the same way,” Jodie said.

  They finished off the burgers, then Travis took her hand. “When you have your things sent to the house from California, Helen can help you unpack. If you want to store any furniture, I have some empty rooms above the garage.”

  She looked away, picking up the last grape and popping it in her mouth.

  “Does that sound okay?”

  “Mmm,” she said around the grape.

  He supposed she didn’t want to talk about moving. After all, that involved a lot of work, and she’d had so much on her mind lately.

  They cleaned up the kitchen together, then Jodie wandered onto the porch to see the lake by moonlight. Travis followed her. A quarter crescent moon hung over one end, reflecting in the water like a postcard for central Texas. He hoped Jodie found it restful and pleasant here.

  He stood behind her and put his hands on her shoulders. She felt so nice and substantial—he could even lean on Jodie if he needed to. She was a strong woman in more ways than one.

  “We could stay a few extra days if you’d like. It might be nice to relax, get to know each other better,” he said softly, unwilling to interrupt the mood.

  Jodie turned her head, but continued to stand facing the lake. “I’d love to, Travis, but I have to be in California on Tuesday. I have a meeting scheduled in L.A. with the creative team for the cosmetics company.”

  “You’re flying back there on Tuesday?” He dropped his hands from her shoulders.

  “Actually, I need to go back Monday night.”

  “And when were you going to tell me this?” He heard the hard edge to his voice and didn’t even try to hide his feelings.

  “We’ve hardly had time to talk. I meant to tell you in the morning.”

  “After our honeymoon? Our one-night honeymoon?”

  “I was planning on you taking me to the airport on your way back to Ranger Springs.”

  “Well, that’s certainly convenient.”

  “I thought so.”

  “No thanks.”

  “Why are you angry? If you had bigger plans, you should have told me. I had no idea you were thinking of staying here beyond the weekend. After all, you called this a weekend getaway cabin.”

  “That’s what it is for Gray and Amy!”

  “How was I supposed to know that?”

  “I don’t know, Jodie! How in the hell was I supposed to know you’d run back to California as soon as we said our vows?”

  “I’m not running back! I’m doing my job. You do remember why we got married, right? Because of my career!”

  “No, Jodie, that’s not what I remember at all.” He felt defeated and angry, as though all his arguments for making this marriage work had been for nothing. “I remember that you came to me because you wanted to salvage your career with a temporary marriage, but I also remember we talked about making it permanent. About working at our relationship.”

  “And I will work at it, as soon as I get back from California.”

  “Don’t bother on my account,” he said bitterly. He turned and walked back into the house, letting the screen door slam shut.

  JODIE HUGGED HER ARMS around herself, feeling the chill of the night air as well as the coldness of Travis’s harsh words. He’d overreacted to the simple announcement that she had to travel on business. This was a short trip that was absolutely necessary. She shouldn’t feel guilty about going back to California for a few days, but she did…just a little, because she’d upset her new husband.

  She’d discussed this trip with Felicia and Neil, and she thought she’d mentioned it to Travis, but perhaps not. There had been so much going on in the past four days, she might have forgotten. That was no reason to overreact as Travis had. He should have been more understanding.

  He’d run off before they could discuss the problem. Apparently he didn’t want to reconcile their differences. He obviously thought she should think and act exactly like him. Well, that was ridiculous, since most of the time she had no idea what he’d think or how he’d react!

  Cold gave way to heat as she became angry. Travis was being dictatorial and unreasonable. She’d agreed to this marriage because she thought they had a basis to build upon, but maybe they didn’t. Maybe he wanted a wife who would stay at home and bake cookies! Well, he shouldn’t have proposed a permanent marriage to a career woman, one who was willing to enter into a temporary marriage to save her career.

  She felt like storming into the cabin and slamming the door, but that would be as juvenile and overly dramatic as his departure from the porch. She’d do the opposite and calmly find her suitcase, then locate an empty bed.

  There would certainly be no wedding night in this frosty cabin!

  Chapter Eight

  When Jodie walked into the kitchen the next morning, the sun was high in the sky and the coffee was old in the pot. Apparently, Travis hadn’t slept late since he’d obviously made this brew more than an hour ago. She hoped he’d had a perfectly miserable night, tossing and turning as she had because of their argument. Not that it was much of an argument. He’d walked out before they could really discuss anything.

  She took a deep breath and told herself not to think about how he’d flung his hurtful words at her before slamming the door on their marriage. She was going to be civil and polite despite her anger and disappointment.

  Jodie made two slices of toast and poured a glass of orange juice from the refrigerator. Just as she sat at the table, the back door opened and Travis came inside, bringing the smell of crisp air…and still emitting cold censure.

  “I think under the circumstances,” he said without even a morning greeting, “we should head on back to Ranger Springs. I’m sure you don’t want to continue this fiasco of a honeymoon any more than I do.”

  “Fine with me,” she said, attempting to keep her voice steady. She calmly buttered her toast and refused to look at Travis. “I have things to do anyway.”

  “Do you want to go directly to the airport like you’d planned?”

  “No, I don’t think that would look too good. We should probably go back to Ranger Springs. I’ll drive myself to the airport and turn in my rental car.”

  “Fine. I’ll go pack.”

  Yes, you do that, Jodie thought. I’ll just sit here and eat my toast. I’ll pack up my things when I’m darn good and ready.

  The two-hour ride back to town was much less cordial and chatty than yesterday’s drive to the cabin. Jodie tried to nap, but she was too tense. What she really wanted to do was to rage at Travis for reacting too strongly to her simple and reasonable need to get back to work. The cosmetics company wasn’t paying her the big bucks to sit around a small town in Texas and eat bonbons.

  She waited until she was about to burst, then said, “Look, Travis, we can’t go on like this. We’re supposed to be newlyweds, not mortal enemies. If you’d just try to see this from my point of view, I’m sure you’ll understand why it’s important to continue my career.”

  “I’m not saying you should sit around my house and do nothing. But giving us only Sunday and part of Monday together after our wedding makes it seem as though the marriage isn’t important.”

  “Of course it’s important, but you’re the one who said we’re in this for the long haul. Doesn’t that mean we have more than a couple of days to get settled? Why does that mean I have to drop the rest of my life to play the dutiful wife? For heaven’s sake, Travis, this isn’t the nineteenth century!”

  “The point is that you should have told me.”

  “I discussed my plans with so many differe
nt people that I thought I’d mentioned it to you!”

  “Well, you didn’t.”

  “I know that now. I didn’t realize it yesterday.”

  Jodie had nothing else to say, so she remained silent. Travis had a point, but so did she. If she started backing down now, what kind of marriage would they have?

  TRAVIS SLOWED as they approached the turnoff for town. He probably should have gone the long way around to his ranch, but he hadn’t thought of it. He hadn’t thought of much else beyond getting them back home.

  If he could just settle into his house, he could make things right. He’d felt that way from the time he’d planned the space. Everything was just right, from the size of the rooms to the appliances to the furniture arrangements. Rarely had he accomplished his goal as an architect as completely as he’d done with his own residence.

  Church was just letting out as he drove by the town square. He saw several people he knew: Joyce and Ambrose in their sensible sedan; Robin and Ethan Parker in his new police department SUV; Thelma Rogers walking with Jimmy Mack Branson through the square toward the Gazette offices. The scene of his adopted hometown and neighbors was so ordinary, yet today it felt different because he was different. He was married—again. And this time to a woman whose career and independence were far more important than his position or wealth.

  The damn thing was that Jodie only needed his name and a minimal amount of cooperation. She didn’t need his emotional or monetary support. She didn’t need him.

  He didn’t know how to deal with her independence. The women he’d dated since his divorce had catered to his every whim. They’d been looking for a husband for a far different reason that Jodie’s. When he’d told them he wasn’t available under any conditions, most of them had stayed around for the perks—travel, parties, gifts.

  Looking back, he could see how some people might say he’d held too much power over them. How he’d manipulated the circumstances to suit him. But he hadn’t felt that way at the time. He never forced anyone to go out with him, to travel or to attend parties. They’d gone willingly or he’d gone alone.