Page 9 of Cherishing Happily Ever After

It was starting to look more and more likely that he’d be living in his camper for another season. But there were worse things.

“It should take a few weeks to get everything in,” Brett Bryant told him when he finished processing Travis’s order. “Do you want me to keep it in the yard when it arrives or have it delivered to the site?”

Travis took off his hat and ran a hand through his hair. “Deliver it straight to the site. That way, if I ever find a spare minute, I can get to work.”

“You’re hell-bent on doing this on your own? Because you know I’d be happy to lend you an extra set of hands anytime you need.”

Travis nodded. He didn’t know Brett well. Hell, he didn’t knowanyonewell. Not really. But he’d always liked Brett and his easygoing style. Plus, he knew about construction. If he was going to have anyone help him out with this build, it would be Brett. “I appreciate it, man. But I’m good.”

“You’re really going to do it by yourself, hey?”

Travis grinned. “Really.”

Brett dropped his head and chuckled. “I’m here if you change your mind.”

Travis thanked him and left the shop with Tinker Bell—who was trying and failing to get used to the leash he’d bought her—by his side. She alternated between biting at the leash and pouncing on leaves or shadows as they walked. Travis couldn’t help but laugh at the pup. Despite himself, he’d grown attached to the fluff ball. And she was quickly becoming his constant companion.

He headed down the street toward the Knot, the local watering hole. It was a beautiful day and a cold beer on the patio, where he was pretty sure he’d be able to have Tink with him, sounded like a good way to kill half an hour.

Five minutes later, Travis found a spot on the deck and settled in with a pint of beer in his hand. He scanned the patio for a familiar face and found Georgia, who ran the bakery down the street. She’d seen him, too. She sat alone, a glass of wine in her hand. She tipped her head in question before getting up and making her way across the deck toward him. “Is this seat taken?”

Travis shook his head and she sat next to him.

They’d been out a few times over the years. Not on dates per se, but the two of them had a sort of easy, no-strings type of arrangement that seemed to work for both of them. At least ithadworked. Travis hadn’t so much as looked Georgia’s way since the first time he’d met Stephanie. He wanted to think the two things weren’t related, but he couldn’t. Not without lying.

“Long time no see, cowboy.”

“I’ve been pretty busy.”

Georgia gave him a look like she knew exactly what kind of busy he’d been.

“Not like that,” he added.

“Oh yeah?” She lifted her glass of wine to her lips and took her time taking a sip.

The woman was sexy. He’d give her that. But in a very different way than Stephanie. Where Georgia’s confidence in herself oozed from every pore, Steph was almost completely unaware of her beauty. Which was bizarre, considering she was quite literally voted one of the sexiest women in the world byThe Pulse. His lips twitched up involuntarily at the thought of Steph sitting in the dirt, playing with the puppy, her hair falling all over her face, her white pants smudged with mud and pine needles. Yes, she was stunning.

It was only when Georgia reached out to touch his arm that Travis realized she thought he was smiling in response to her.

Shit.

He’d always made his intentions with Georgia clear. Withanywoman, for that matter. Nothing serious. No strings. Mutually beneficial sex. That was it. No emotions at all. Which was why Travis had stuck mostly to one-night stands, and usually not in his hometown. Georgia was the only exception, but that was because she’d understood the arrangement.

Or did she?

He pulled his arm away.

“Very busy,” he said, in an effort to steer the conversation or any future conversation away from what he was pretty sure the woman was looking for. “Between the work at Lynx Creek and Nick Newton’s house, never mind my own place, I’ve barely had time to—”

“Have a little fun?”

Under the table, her hand slipped to his thigh and squeezed, eliciting an instinctive response. His gaze shot up and met hers.

Desire darkened her eyes as she leaned closer to him. “It’s been awhile, hasn’t it?”

He needed to put a stop to it.But why?Georgia was a gorgeous, sexy woman. He’d had a good time with her in the past, and she knew what to expect and what not to.

She wasn’t Stephanie.

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