Finding Refuge (8 page)

“Rare enough that a good vet can still save it.”

Ian laughed and Travis nodded approval. “Woman after my own
heart.”

Andri set the last plate and left Rachel to distribute
utensils and glasses. She passed by Travis and swiped a freshly cut tomato
wedge from his cutting board. He growled at her, then added the tomatoes,
cucumber slices and chopped mushrooms to the salad bowl with long, dexterous
fingers she ached to have against her skin. Nothing major, really. Just to hold
her hand. That’s all. “My, my you are a domestic soul, Mr. Holt.”

He shot her a dark look, the effect ruined by the humor in
his eyes. “Hey, I’m just doing whatever I can to move things along, since I’m
hungry. Purely self-preservation.”

She reached for a snappy reply, but couldn’t find one. The
slow, sexy grin spreading across his lips mesmerized her. A flicker of heat
sparked deep inside her, and she mentally shook herself, trying to tamp it
down. Luckily, Ian saved her, pushing the door open, balancing a platter of
sizzling steaks.

Travis surprised her when he set the salad bowl on the
table, then stepped over and held her chair as she sat next to Rachel. He
settled across the table from her.

Conversation picked up easily between the four of them, the
way words should flow with ease at a family table. Of course, in her family,
words frequently overflowed, as likely into loud arguments as into shrieks of
laughter, especially when visiting extended family. Either way, tears regularly
followed. Here, in Rachel’s home, there didn’t seem to be much arguing, but
there was always plenty of warmth and kindness, with meals offering nourishment
in the form of emotional support as well as food.

Travis fit here, a testament to how long he’d known Rachel’s
family. He poured himself another glass of iced tea.

The conversation rolled along, with each of them
contributing details of their day. When Ian explained the curriculum of the
training camp he was heading to in Lake Placid, New York, in a few days, Andri
found her focus shifting repeatedly to Travis. She took in the little details
of his appearance, like the pinky finger on his right hand that looked a little
crooked and didn’t seem to bend quite right. When had he broken it?

She glanced at his tanned, clean-shaven face when he wasn’t
looking at her, surreptitiously studying his strong features. She could be
friends with him. Probably. The twisting heat in her belly reminded her just
how much she wanted to kiss him again. What were the chances that she could do
that, spend time kissing him and still keep herself from absorbing the pain she
knew lurked inside him? If she could just keep her heart from engaging…

She rose, taking her plate to the sink. The sudden silence
caught her attention and as she mentally backtracked, she realized she’d exited
a spirited conversation without warning.

Three pairs of eyes studied her as she turned around. “Um,
great steak, Ian. Sorry, don’t mind me. I’m just going to step out and get some
air.” She smiled as brightly as she could, then escaped through the back door.

She dropped onto the porch swing, propped her elbow on the
wood arm, leaned her head against her hand. Andri closed her eyes and drew a
deep breath, letting the cool pine-scented air flow through her, easing her
pounding heart. Soon, she heard the back door open, and footsteps crossing the
deck. A floorboard in the middle of the deck creaked when stepped on. She
recalled it being the same when she spent time here during college. Rachel’s
dad must have never gotten around to fixing it before he retired and moved to
Florida.

“Mind if I join you?”

Her eyes flew open at the low, smooth sound of Travis’s
voice. “Be my guest.”

Travis lowered himself beside her, seeming careful not to
touch her. He pushed off slightly with his feet, putting the swing into gentle
motion. “It’s nice out here. I always liked this swing.”

“Did you have one at your home, growing up?”

He shook his head. “Uh, no. Not my mother’s style. She’s an
elegant woman. Something this quaint wouldn’t work with her decorating schemes.
She has an amazing garden, though. She lets the plants do as they will. It’s as
wild and loose as she gets.”

“She sounds like an interesting woman, but I think she
missed out. Every house should have a porch swing.”

“Did you, growing up?”

“Oh, yeah. We had a tiny front porch, just big enough for a
swing beside the door. It was always one of my favorite spots. I did more
serious thinking, and more daydreaming, there than anywhere else.”

His voice softened. “And which are you doing now?”

Andri turned her head and found Travis studying her, concern
shadowing his eyes in the golden evening light. “Neither. I’ve been thinking
all day. Time for a break.”

He nudged her foot with his own when he gave the swing
another push, but she couldn’t be sure if he’d touched her intentionally or
not. “So what were you thinking about all day while playing with the fish?”

The question jolted her a bit, signaling a more serious turn
in the conversation. “Life.”

“Major subject. Come to any earth-shattering conclusions?”

“Yeah. I’m not going back to Phoenix. I’m going to settle
here in Utah, assuming the job hunt is successful.”

“Oh, really?” He looked a little stunned, then smiled at her
in that slow, sexy way that made her stomach flip.

“Really. And, you know, if I’m going to stay, I could use a
social circle. Want to be my friend?”

His expression brightened. “Sure.”

That was easier than she’d expected. “Good. I’ll need help
moving.”

Travis groaned. “Figures. There’s always a catch to the
friend thing.”

“What are friends for?”

He appraised her for a moment. “Here’s a topic for you,
friend. Rachel said the roses inside were from your ex.”

She sobered. Still a little twinge of inadequacy, but she’d
gone a long way in getting it out of her system today. “Yeah. They were to say
thank you. Things are working out for him. His life is going in a far better
direction since I backed out of his little scheme. I’m really happy for him.”

He shook his head, chuckled softly. “I think you’re the only
woman I’ve ever known who would say such a thing, given the situation. God
knows I can’t be that charitable about my ex.”

“Tell me about her.” The words came out before she could
stop them, followed by a moment of sheer panic. Did she really want to know?
Especially if that was the source of the misery locked inside him. Maybe it
wasn’t too late to retract the question.

Travis looked at her for a moment, an edge of old pain
etched in his expression as he seemed to weigh his words. Finally, he drew a
deep breath and slowly released it. “I met Melody at a party, a barbecue a
friend of a friend held, the summer after I finished my MBA program. I’d dated when
I had time, but suddenly I was out of school, just working, and I really had
the time to pursue a relationship. She was someone new. I thought she was hot
and she found me interesting, for whatever reason. I think that was the biggest
appeal. She came on strong, and I was only too happy to go along for the ride.”

Okay, so far so good. Maybe this wasn’t too deep a subject.
Plus, friends knew things about each other. She wasn’t getting too close to him
yet. “When did you get married?”

Travis ran his fingers down the swing chain, the thick metal
links stark against the red and pink splashes of sunset coloring the clouds
over the mountains. “I asked her to marry me just before Christmas, trying to
be perfectly romantic, you know? To make it even more disgustingly sweet, we
married on Valentine’s Day.”

“That’s one way to ruin a holiday. Happened to me, too.
Peter and I got engaged on Valentine’s Day.”

He cracked a smile. “So you’re with me on boycotting the
holiday.”

“Oh, yes.” She suddenly pictured herself and Travis next
Valentine’s Day, gleefully burning sappy greeting cards, then challenging each
other on some video game filled with over-the-top violence and lots of blood.
Perfect.

“The first year was okay. After that, we fought all the
time. Things fell apart.” He shifted beside her, and she felt the gradual
change in his mood as he spoke. “Nothing major was wrong, you know, but
everything was wrong at the same time. Next thing you know, it’s
‘irreconcilable differences’ in legal papers. After we divorced, she moved to
California. I haven’t seen or heard from her since. I’m sure she’s equally
grateful for that.”

There was more. She could see the tension in the way he held
himself, in his fingers drumming against his thighs. His jaw tightened and in
that moment, he seemed a million miles away.

She couldn’t stop herself, needing to bring him back from
the obviously painful place he’d gone. She laid a hand on his forearm. The
contact sparked in a bolt of light zipping across her skin.

He covered her hand with his, cascading warmth through her.
Then his gaze locked onto hers and her breath caught. The storm clouds swirling
behind the dark blue before the gates slammed shut pained her.

His expression cleared and he squeezed her hand. She
squeezed back, her inherent need to shoulder his burdens ebbing. “Well, aren’t
we a pair of walking relationship disasters?”

He shrugged. “Not exactly walking. Swinging, at the moment.”

She giggled and he laughed with her, further lightening the
load on her heart. She could do this. She could manage her responses to his
pain, avoid sacrificing herself on the altar of the darkness locked up inside
him. Avoid turning into her dad.

They sat in silence for a moment, watching the brilliance of
the sky fade until a strong breeze kicked up from behind them. Tendrils of her
hair lifted, blowing across his shoulder and into her face. She turned toward
him as he reached up with his free hand. He smoothed her hair away from her
face, scooping a handful of wavy strands into his palm and caressing it with
his thumb.

Andri swallowed hard, her heart tripping at the gentle
pressure of his hand in her hair.

He looked at the strands for a moment. “Your hair is so
pretty,” he said softly, a huskiness edging his words. His gaze flicked up to
hers, the deep blue even darker in the growing twilight. His focus dropped to
her mouth and she didn’t dare breathe as he tucked her hair back over her
shoulder. His fingertips traced along her neck, where he surely saw her pulse
beating like a hummingbird’s wings. Up, to her jaw, to her chin.

She gasped as he leaned down, his fingers nudging her face
up, his warm breath against her lips.
Yes, oh, yes.

A staccato burst of noise from the neighboring yard jolted her
and she pulled back as he threw a sharp glare next door. “Firecrackers.”

Andri concentrated on calming her pulse, relishing the
connection of his hand holding hers, but mourning the kiss she’d lost. “I
recall those being illegal.”

“Yep. Sounds like someone made a trip to Evanston already to
prep for the Fourth. As long as they don’t shoot off any aerials, they probably
won’t get caught.” His gaze returned to hers, but the heat, the moment they’d
nearly had, was gone.

She should be grateful. Wouldn’t this all go much smoother
if they stayed in the friend zone for a while before playing with the potential
benefits?

Travis gave her hand another gentle squeeze, then released
her. He set his feet against the floorboards, stopping the swing, and stood.
“I’d better go. I have some bids to look over tonight.”

She rose to walk him out. “Taking work home with you?”

He stretched, grimacing as if a muscle twinged when he
moved. “It’s what I get for spending so much time out on site lately. Have to
pay the price eventually.”

Travis opened the door and ushered her through into the
kitchen. Rachel had apparently cleaned up without their help. Andri felt a tiny
prick of guilt at that, but hey, this whole evening had been Rach’s idea, so
perhaps cleaning was her just punishment.

Andri followed him down the entry hall to the front door.
Craving one last connection before he left, she brushed her fingertips across
the back of his hand.

A thrill jogged her heart when he grabbed her fingers and
gave them a light squeeze before stepping through the doorway.

He turned back to face her. “Tell Rach thanks for dinner. I
owe her one.”

“You do?”

“Yeah. She gave me a chance to talk to you. Do you think
you’ll answer my texts now?”

She enjoyed the tingle of excitement for two seconds before
pushing it away. “I might even answer your calls. Goodnight, Travis.”

He smiled, just enough to crease his dimples. “Goodnight.”

She closed the door, then watched him through the sidelight
as he walked to his truck, illuminated by the solar pathway lights. He looked
so good, his shoulders just the right amount of broad, his hips just the right
amount of narrow. He had a really great butt. And his taste…her mind jumped
back to that evening in his truck, wrapped in his arms. She couldn’t help
craving more. She dropped the curtain and pressed her forehead against the
heavy wood door, still warm from the heat of the day.

He would haunt her dreams tonight. She knew it, and there
wasn’t a single thing she could do to prevent it.

Andri turned away from the door and nearly leapt out of her
skin when the doorbell rang. When she opened the door again, Travis stood
there, a sheepish grin on his face.

Her heart kicked into high gear again as she hoped for one
crazy moment that he’d decided to kiss her again before he left. “Hi. Welcome
back.”

He shook his head. “It’s just for a minute. I wanted to ask
you—my mother holds an annual fundraiser for the children’s hospital. It’s
coming up at the end of July. If you’re planning on sticking around, would you
like to go with me?”