Page 29 of Cherishing Happily Ever After

So. Much. More.

Travis swallowed hard. “No,” he answered honestly. “You’re not wrong. Lynx Creek is very special to me.”

Stephanie could see the struggle within him. It was clear Travis didn’t want to talk about Lynx Creek. But why? And why hadn’t he bought it when he had the chance? It didn’t make sense. Why live across the river from the place that was so special to him when he was young, see it every day, and even work on it, but not actuallybeon it?

It was as if he didn’t think he deserved it. Like he was punishing himself somehow for some reason. She wanted to ask him about it, but it wasn’t the time. Besides, she’d enjoyed getting to know Travis. A lot. Despite it so obviously being hard for him, he’d opened up to her. Not only did that mean a lot, but she also really liked what she’d learned.

Travis was starting to make a little more sense to her.

They chatted for a few more minutes about her childhood and what it had been like to find out that not only was she adopted, but she had two half-sisters. “Pretty crazy, obviously,” she said. “But I’m used to it now. I only wished that I could have known my birth mother before she died. But sometimes life doesn’t work out the way we expect it to, right?”

He shrugged.

“I guess we both kind of have that in common, hey?”

Travis raised an eyebrow in question.

“Our moms abandoning us,” she explained further. “I mean, it’s different, but still kind of the same.”

Travis nodded slowly as he absorbed what she said. “You’re right. And you know what? I don’t think I’ve ever met anyone outside of the foster homes whose mother…well…huh.”

“See?” Steph chuckled a little. “You’re not so unique after all.”

It was his turn to toss the pillow back at her. She caught it moments before it knocked her coffee over and stuck out her tongue. “So what do you think?” She dropped the pillow to the floor.

“About what?”

“About being just friends.” Even as she said the words, she felt a tightening low in her belly. “Not so bad, right?” She sure hoped she sounded more convincing than she felt.

“That’s what this is?” He laced his hands behind his head and leaned back. “Friends?”

She nodded, suddenly not so sure.

“I don’t know if I like it.” He dropped his hands and shook his head. “No. I know I don’t like it.”

“What?” Stephanie sat up in her chair. “Why not? We just had a good talk and—”

“You and I both know that we’re never going to be just friends, Steph. We might as well just—”

“What?” She jumped up from her chair and put her hands on her hips. “We might as well just what? Get it over with? Fall into bed?”

“Yes.”

He was so straightforward and matter-of-fact about it, she wanted to scream. He waswaytoo bloody cocky for his own good. But damn if it wasn’t so freaking sexy. Stephanie took a deep breath and forced herself to look away from his intense gaze.

“We’re not,” she said, her back to him. “I told you already—”

“Just friends,” he finished for her.

Good.He wasn’t going to push it.

“I’m starting to get really sick of those words,” he grumbled under his breath. “But I do have a question,” he added.

She turned around and raised her eyebrow.

“Why is that again?” he asked with a sly grin. “I mean, you’re obviously attracted to me.”

Apparently hewasgoing to push it. Stephanie forced herself not to react. “I am, am I?”

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