Page 24 of Cherishing Happily Ever After

Travis hesitated.Come in?

Reading his mind, or more likely, sensing his hesitation, she looked up. “Youarecoming in, aren’t you?”

She’d just assumed that Travis would come in and get warmed up. Dry off and maybe change into some dry clothes, if he had any. After all, he’d just spent the last few hours working hard to protecthercabins. The least she could do was make him a cup of coffee or something before he went back to his camper.

Stephanie waited while an array of emotions played out over Travis’s face. It wasn’t a hard question, but they both knew what had happened the last time he’d been in her cabin.Would it happen again? Did she want it to? Did he?

“You don’t have to,” she said quickly. “I didn’t even think. You probably need to go make sure your…camper is okay, too. I’m sorry to keep you so long. I really should—”

“No.” He stopped her. “I can’t get across the river right now, remember? The bridge is out?”

Right.She knew that. But he’d crossed the creek before to get to her place without driving. Just the other night… “Don’t you have a footbridge or something?”

Travis laughed. “I wouldn’t call the log I use to cross a bridge.” He took his hat off and shook it free of water. “And I can’t imagine it’s survived this storm, either. Not if the actual bridge didn’t make it.”

Good point.She nodded. If he couldn’t get back to his place, why was he hesitating about coming in out of the rain? Unless he couldn’t stand to be with her. Considering the way things had been with them lately, she couldn’t blame him. “If you want, you can use any of the cabins to clean up and hang out until the rain stops,” she offered as she gave up on the dog and pulled herself up to standing. “I mean, you’re more than welcome to hang out with me, but I completely understand if you don’t—”

“I’d love to.”

The huskiness in his voice caught her off guard, and she inhaled sharply and had to turn away.

Maybe it wasn’t a good idea to have Travis in such close proximity for who knows how long, trapped in a cabin alone together. Anything could happen.

But at the same time, the idea thatanythingcould happen held a certain kind of appeal, too. A very strong appeal, in fact.

There was only one way to find out. Take a chance.

Nick’s words replayed in her mind. Would Travis be the man she wanted and needed? Or would he keep running from what could be averygood thing?

Maybe there really was only one way to find out.

“Okay,” she said. “Let’s get inside then and dry off. You’re welcome to have a warm shower if you have any clean clothes to change into. I don’t really have anything that will fit you.”

He chuckled. “Thanks. I actually keep an emergency bag in the truck. Tell you what, you go ahead and get cleaned up. I just want to do one more check of the cabins and make sure everything is all buttoned up. Take Tink inside, and I’ll be around in a few minutes.”

She nodded and gathered up the dog, who was more than happy to clamber up into her arms. Before she went inside, she turned and met his eyes. “Thank you, Travis,” she said seriously. “Really. I don’t know what I would have done without you today.”

He smiled bashfully and ducked his head. Clearly not used to receiving compliments, or accepting them at any rate. “It was nothing,” he said. “And I don’t think you give yourself enough credit. You’re a very capable woman. I was impressed,” he added. “Most women wouldn’t have—”

“Travis.” She interrupted him with a grin. “When are you going to realize I’mnotmost women?”

Hell no. She wasnotmost women. Far from it.

Stephanie was exactly the opposite of almost every single other woman he’d ever known.

Travis took his time checking the other cabins, which didn’t really need any checking at all. They were all locked up tight and just as he’d thought, were far enough away from the creek not to worry about flooding. When he was done with the cabins, he circled back to the main lodge to be sure the sandbags were doing their job. The water was still far from reaching the lodge and there was nothing to worry about there, either.

In fact, there was nothing to worry about anywhere. Except Stephanie’s cabin.

That was the only worry he had.

And it had nothing to do with the flood.

Never before had a woman made him question…everything.

From his self-control to his definition ofjust friendsto every single thing he ever thought he wanted and didn’t want when it came to his life.

How was it even possible that one petite redheaded woman could do all that?

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