Page 45 of Willow Vale

Finally, Travis said a terse, “Okay,” before I heard kegsbeing moved around again. We worked in silence while I picked out a few bottles I noticed weren’t on the shelves out front, setting them aside to take. I needed one more bottle I couldn’t find on the lower shelves, and I sighed when I spotted it at the very top of the shelves.

I swore this bar was made for tall people only. I needed a stool for just about everything. I looked around for one of the step stools but found none. I went up on my tiptoes, but I could barely touch the shelf.

Giving up, I was just about to make my way to the front where Desi kept a step stool behind the bar, when a hand landed on my shoulder before gently moving me aside.

“Which bottle did you need?” Travis asked. If he’d been watching me, he must have seen me struggle enough to decide to step in. It was only when he looked down with a waiting expression that I realized I hadn’t answered him.

“The bourbon whiskey,” I murmured.

Without any trouble at all, he reached over and plucked the bottle with rich amber liquid inside before handing it over.

“Anything else?”

I shook my head, practically hugging the bottle to my chest after taking it from him. With a nod he turned and went back to changing out another keg.

This time I watched him as he bent down to lift one of the empty kegs to set aside, giving me the perfect view of the way the muscles on his back stretched the fabric of his black shirt. The veins on his forearms were visible where he’d rolled the sleeves up his arms, sun kissed from hours of working under the blistering sun on the ranch.

Did other women see what was under his shirt like I had four years ago? There was no doubt in my mind that he’dchanged in the last four years, but I couldn’t stop wondering just how much.

“She seems nice,” I practically blurted.

What are you doing?!

Travis’s hand froze before he could lift the last of the empty kegs to set aside. My heart started hammering in my chest as he slowly turned to look over his shoulder.

“What?” He sounded confused.

I shrugged, turning to place the bottle of bourbon whiskey on the shelf along with the rest of the bottles.

“Amanda. She seems nice. I saw you guys talking earlier. Looks like you’re both close.” I had no idea why I was saying these things. Why I even cared that Travis seemed to like her. Amanda was beautiful, a real head turner with her long, tanned legs and blonde hair. Not that I cared. Not that I had a right to care in the first place. Did that stop me from asking what I was about to ask? Nope. “How long have you been together?”

This time Travis straightened to his full height. All six-foot-three of him towered over me as he took two steps my way. I took a step back only for him to take another, gradually closing the distance between us.

“W-what are you doing?” I stammered as I felt my back hit the shelves behind me, the cold metal seeping through my shirt and making the bottles rattle on impact.

Travis stared me down and, if looks could kill, I’d be a pile of bones at his feet. He didn’t tear his eyes away from me as he braced his hands on either side of my hips, his fingers fitting between the wire shelves and closing around them until his knuckles turned bone white. My heart was in my throat now as the scent of spices surrounded me. The most intoxicating scent I secretly loved so much.

“Why do you care?” he drawled.

“What? I-I don’t.” Standing this close to him, I could see the stubble on his chin and sharp line of his jaw. The scar on his lip, the bottom one a little fuller than the top. Why was he so close? “I was just curious.”

He was so attractive even if he was glaring at me right now, and I found myself gripping the shelf to keep myself from leaning forward.

“Why are you curious, Delilah?” There was an edge in his voice that told me he did not like this conversation one bit.

I stared at his lips as I breathed out, “Why are you upset? Is it so weird for me to ask if you’re seeing someone? You’re free to do that, you know. See other people. I’m sure you’ve done it before. I wouldn’t hold it against you if you moved on after four years, Travis.”

“Moved on…” Travis’s jaw clenched hard enough I was surprised he didn’t crack a tooth. “Is that what you’ve been doing these four years when you’re not taking care of River? Did you move on with someone else?”

My eyes flicked up to match his scowl with one of my own. “You know I don’t have time for that. I barely have time for myself.”

“That’s not an answer, Delilah. Have you moved on since you broke up with me?”

Since I broke up with him.

Something hot and angry slithered its way up my chest. I should have known he wouldn’t forgive and forget as easily as he said he would. There’s no way anyone could forgive being broken up with without feeling some sort of resentment.

“If I did, it’s none of your business. We aren’t together anymore. Just like you seeing some beautiful tall blonde who can’t seem to keep her hands off you in public is none of my business.”

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