Page 32 of Willow Vale

The smile he had moments ago widened exponentially before he shot up and bolted my way. “Lila!”

I bent down in time to catch him as he launched himself at me. His little arms wrapped around my waist, and I pulled him up into an embrace of my own, swinging him from one side to the other. I breathed in his familiar scent, wishing he still had that clean baby smell.

“I missed you! Did you miss me?” River leaned back and smacked a kiss on my cheek.

I chuckled. “So much, buddy. You have no idea.”

He squirmed out of my hold, and I set him down only for River to take my hand and pull me further into the living room. “Come on! I want to show you what Travis got me!”

Travis’s lips tugged upward as he watched us approach him, making my heart skip a beat. Again. Damn this man for making me nervous and happy to see him all in one go. We’d seen each other not too long ago, and yet it felt like the first time every single time we were in a room together.

My initial reaction to seeing him was always to avoid him. But now that we got things out in the open, all I felt was my heart beating harder in my chest. For him.

But it shouldn’t.

Because we could never go back to what we were before. Weshouldn’t.

“Come sit with us! Travis got me his toys. See?”

I finally greeted Desmond as we walked past him before sinking to the rug with River. He climbed onto my lap without a second thought, showing me his two favorite cars so far.

I gave Travis a hesitant glance. “Hi.”

“Hi,” he said, his voice deep and low as he asked me, “How are you?”

“Good. You?” I felt my cheeks warming under his attention like always—traitors.

He noticed, his eyes flicking to the blush across my facethat only made it feel warmer the longer he stared at me. When his eyes held onto mine again, I felt my breath lodge in my chest. Then he blinked and looked toward River.

“Just keeping the little man busy before dinner. I think he had one too many of Mom’s brownies earlier.”

River squirmed when Travis reached across and poked his side, making him giggle.

“Desmond, look at this one! This one is just like our Bronco, Beth!” River shot up and ran toward Desmond with a vintage Bronco clutched in his fist. Leaving me and Travis alone.

“Has he been good since you got here?”

“He’s been great.” Travis chuckled, watching his dad inspect the toy Bronco with a little more enthusiasm than necessary. But seeing the concentrated look on River’s face as he watched the man, eagerly waiting for his approval, made me smile. They were so good with him. Like it was the most natural thing in the world. Was it silly to get a little jealous at how effortlessly Desmond, Amelia, and even Travis seemed to watch River?

A part of me said yes. I knew I was doing the best that I could on my own, but another part of me said no. A voice that told me I could be so much better. I wished it would shut the hell up for once.

“Funny as hell and quick as a whip, I’ll give him that. Very curious about the ranch too. Better look out or you’ll have another cowboy on your hands,” Travis said.

Another cowboy.

“That’s what I was worried about. I think he’s determined to keep me on my toes for the rest of my life.” I laughed, brushing that annoying curl behind my ear once again. Not wanting to think too hard on what he said—on what it could mean. Not when it made my already pounding heart skip.

River suddenly ran straight into me, jostling me as he jumped on my back. I released a huff of surprise just as a strong hand landed on my shoulder to steady me.

“Easy, bud. You have to be careful with your sister or she might get hurt,” Travis murmured as I straightened. I could tell he wasn’t serious but there was meaning to his words that made both me and River pay close attention to his subtle warning.

“Sorry. You okay, Lila?” River hugged me, gently patting my back.

“I’m okay, thank you for apologizing, though.” I reached around and hooked my arm to pull him onto my lap again, blowing a raspberry against his neck. He shrieked in delight before pushing me away.

His fingers wrapped around my hair, twirling a strand as he said, “Lila, Travis let me sit on a saddle today.”

“Oh, did he now?” I arched a brow in Travis’s direction.

---