Page 32 of Cherishing Happily Ever After

“Judging me.” He meant it to sound casual and fun in an effort to switch the vibe between them back to the flirty fun they were having earlier instead of the serious heaviness their conversation had turned into. “Isn’t that exactly what you’re doing? I mean, you just told me that because I’ve only had casual relationships, I couldn’t possibly be interested in giving you whatyouwant.”

“I was just trying to be honest, Travis.” Stephanie stood and grabbed her now empty wine glass before heading to the sink. “I think that’s the best thing, don’t you?”

Honesty.

He couldn’t agree more.

“You asked me a question, and I told you the truth,” she continued as she ran water into the sink, her back to him. “I’m too old for games, and I meant it when I said that I’m at a point in my life where I want different things now. Maybe if we’d met—”

“Earlier?” Travis reached around her and put his wine glass in the sink next to hers. He was so close, his chest was almost pressed against her back. She sucked in a breath, but he didn’t step back. “You think if we met earlier, before you wanted all the things you want now, that we could have been together? Like a hookup?”

He watched her swallow. Her shoulders rose and fell with every breath and she finally nodded ever so slightly.

Travis knew he probably shouldn’t, but he couldn’t stop himself. He lifted her silky hair from her shoulder and smoothed it gently down her back before bending so his mouth was close enough to her neck that he could practically taste how sweet her soft skin was. “I disagree,” he said gently into her ear. “Because not only do I know that we can’t bejustfriends,” he continued, deciding to go with the same honesty she’d been employing, “but I also know that nothing between you and me could ever be casual, Stephanie.”

ChapterEight

The smellof roasting coffee filled her senses and woke Stephanie the next morning. She opened her eyes and slowly registered that she was alone in her bed.

With a groan, she closed her eyes again. Her dreams had been so real. And every single one of them had been about Travis. Him kissing her. Touching her. Making her feel things that she was so certain he’d be able to make her feel. If she gave him the chance.

Ifshe gave him the chance.

“…nothing between you and me could ever be casual, Stephanie.”

Those words. His intense gaze while he’d spoken them, as if they were a challenge she shouldn’t back down from.

But she had.

Somehow, she’d managed to find enough willpower the night before to go back to her room, alone, and leave him once more on the couch. But she’d be lying if she didn’t admit that more than once she’d almost reconsidered her stance. Why was she so absolute about it, anyway? Never in her life had she drawn a line in the sand when it came to a man before.

And look at where that’s gotten you.

Still. Maybe she was overthinking it all? After all, he’d really opened up to her, and Steph got the impression that Travis didn’t open up easily.Maybe…

She stretched her arms over her head, testing the sore muscles from all the physical labor they’d done the night before. Her body wasn’t used to hard work like that. It was a good sore, as her dad used to say after a full day’s work. It had been a really long time since she’d worked like that, and the fact that it had been to defend and protect her own property made the soreness even more satisfying.

Travis’s voice came from the kitchen and Steph stilled so she could listen.

Who was he talking to?

“Don’t tell anyone I said so.” Travis’s voice came muffled through the door. “But you’re pretty cute.”

Cute?

“And in desperate need of a bath,” Travis continued.

Completely confused, Steph sat up.

“We’ve got to keep you out of the mud, Tink.”

Tink?

She couldn’t help it; Stephanie burst out laughing and on the other side of the door, the talking stopped. She clamped a hand over her mouth and a moment later, there was a knocking on the door.

“You awake?”

She nodded and through a giggle answered him.

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