Page 10 of Cherishing Happily Ever After

The thought filled his brain.No. She wasn’t Stephanie.

But Stephanie didn’t want him.

No.

That wasn’t fair.

Stephanie didn’t want hisgames.That was how she’d put it. She didn’t play games.

Neither did he. But she didn’t know that yet.

But Georgia…

He took a breath and opened his mouth to somehow let Georgia down easily and let her know that he was no longer interested in their usual arrangement. But a flash of the red hair he’d recognize anywhere grabbed his attention, and he looked up into the gorgeous green eyes he saw in his dreams.

Stephanie.

Travis pulled away from Georgia so quickly, she was almost knocked backward. He reached out to steady her, but then once more withdrew his hand to grab Tink’s leash as she also noticed Steph and, just like the puppy she was, wanted to run and say hi. He held her back and steered the puppy under the table.

When he looked up again, Travis saw the moment Georgia turned and saw the source of his distraction. Georgia’s mouth turned down into a quick frown when she looked across the deck and saw the trademarked red hair of Glacier Falls’ newest celebrity resident.

“Oh.” Georgia forced a smile. “It’s like that.”

“Like what?”

He was so focused on Stephanie that it took him a moment to tear his gaze away and focus on Georgia again.

They’d never been serious. Not even close. But still he felt bad that she was clearly taken off guard by his rejection.

His gaze was pulled away again as Stephanie joined Nick Newton at a table.

“Travis?” Georgia waited until he once again focused on her. “If you’re not into this…” She wiggled her finger between them. “Just say so.”

He inhaled slowly. It was never his intention to hurt her.

She lifted her glass of wine for a deep drink and waited.

“Georgia.” He took her hand in his. “You’re a great girl.”

“But?”

“But, I told you from the beginning. I’m not looking for anything serious.”

He didn’t miss the doubt reflected in her eyes.

She wasn’t an idiot. No doubt she could see the way he was looking at Stephanie. He’d never been good at hiding his feelings about anything.

“All good things must come to an end, I guess.” She pulled her hand away.

He watched her for a moment and then offered her a smile. “We’re good?”

She nodded. “We’re good.”

They spent the next few minutes making small talk and catching each other up on what was going on in the other’s life. Well, Georgia did most of the talking, and Travis mostly nodded and occasionally smiled. He didn’t want to be rude to her, but he was completely distracted by the redhead who hadn’t so much as looked in his direction. Even when Nick waved and called out a greeting to him.

After a few minutes, she finished her wine and stood. “I should get going. I can’t really be away for too long. “

“From the bakery?” Travis stood, too. “I guess that place really depends on you to run smoothly.”

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