Page 22 of The One With The Secret Crushes

"Awww." Travis pulled Joanne into a hug that absolutely swallowed her whole. "Love you too, kiddo."

"Do not call me kiddo!" Her voice was muffled by his shirt and muscles.

"Don't suffocate her," I laughed.

"She can last a lot longer than this." But he let her go anyway, smoothing her hair and pinching her cheek.

"You are such an ogre!"

I sipped my tea and nibbled on a truffle fry. "Any other advice for me?"

He took an enormous bite of his cheeseburger and magically swallowed it after only a few moments. It was truly remarkable how giant men ate food. "For hiking and fishing? Not really. Just have fun. If you don't know how to do something, ask for help. It's not a test. It's an adventure."

I had a feeling everything with Scott was an adventure. "What about the man?"

Travis examined me for a moment like he was trying to work out how honest to be with me. I didn't blame him. I had been gone for a long time and Scott was his best friend. My “little sister” status was still relocating its legs.

He ran his tongue over his teeth and sighed. "He's the same guy he's always been, just older and wiser. Taking over the saloon matured him more than he already was."

"He was always kind of an old soul, wasn't he?"

"Sure is. He still watches over us, he's still the best friend anyone could ask for. You need help? He's there. Having a bad day? He'll whip up your favorite meal and tuck you into his sofa with a game controller. He's a grump but he's our grump."

Joanne nodded along with every point. "And he's only ever been head over heels for you. I promise you can do no wrong."

"You could fall on your face, roll down a hill, get covered in bee stings, and Scottie would still think you float instead of walk and a golden glow surrounds your incomparable beauty." Travis stuck a fry in his mouth and dared me to deny it.

"Don't you feel that way about him?" Joanne asked quietly. "If he was covered in bee stings would you still think he was handsome?"

"Of course I would."

Joanne grinned. "She admits she's attracted to him!"

"I heard they smacked lips last night and they were so into it they could have powered the town." He popped another fry while Joanne swung her gaze my way, mouth hanging open.

"Whhhhhaaaaat?"

The boys hadn't glanced my way when I said goodbye so here I thought they hadn't noticed our little disappearing act. Instead, apparently, we'd had an audience. "I mean, technically we did kiss. Yes."

Joanne was speechless. Travis was highly amused.

I wanted to crawl under the table. I knew gossip spread fast in this town, but damn.

"I'll give you some different advice." Travis waved a fry at me. "The only person more gossipy than your aunt is Digger."

"Does everyone know?" Was my aunt about to come careening around a corner looking for details?

He shook his head. "That's a lost boys thing. We may gossip, but we keep it tight."

"How is this the first I'm hearing of it?" Joanne squeaked.

Travis just grinned as I glared. "I was hoping to keep our private moment private."

"Well it's not private anymore. Dish!"

If I didn't start talking Joanne was going to lunge across the table and yank it out of me. I blushed scarlet. Eventhinkingabout the kiss made me want to combust. Who knew pressing your lips against someone else's lips could cause such a deeply physical reaction?

Not me. I'd had my fair share of lovely kisses but not one of them could hold a flame to the one I experienced last night.

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