Chapter 4
I opened the door to an immediately dumbfounded Mabel when she caught sight of Travis sitting on the couch. “You have company,” she stated in shock.
“I know. The pigs flying by are calling your bluff,” I replied dryly as she stepped in, eyeing Travis with blatant appreciation and curiosity.
“He’s a handsome one, honey.” She winked.
“He also has ears, May.” I sighed as she plopped on the couch, clearly planning on staying a while.
“Mabel Anderson,” she introduced, holding a hand out to Travis.
“Travis McAllister. Pleased to meet you. I’ve heard good things,” he replied as he shook her hand.
“Lies.” She waved a hand, eliciting a laugh from both of us.
“Would you like a glass of wine? I was just going to open another bottle,” I offered.
She pinched her fingers together. “I’ll have a smidge, honey.”
I laughed to myself. She always said that and almost always had far more than that.
“So how do you know my girl?” I heard her ask Travis as I poured her wine.
“She’s my nephew’s teacher,” he replied.
“Were you out with Charlie?” I asked as I handed her a glass of wine and pulled a chair over to sit in.
She shook her head. “Harry.”
I shot an incredulous look at Travis before looking back at Mabel. “Are you two-timing Charlie?”
She scoffed. “We aren’t exclusive.”
Travis let out a chortle that he tried to muffle by taking a sip of wine.
“Okay, fair enough,” I replied. “Where did he take you?”
“Bingo. Can you believe that? What does he think, that I’m just ready to wither up and die?” she demanded.
“I’m sure he thought it would be fun,” I put in, unsure why I was defending an old man I didn’t know.
“That man wouldn’t know fun if it bit him in the ass.” She snorted.
Travis barked out an unrestrained laugh, and she shot him a look. “Sorry.” He waved a hand with a grin.
“Don’t be sorry. As long as you take my girl here on a proper date, you have nothing to be sorry for.”
“May,” I groaned.
“Will do, Mabel,” he agreed easily.
I tried to hide my response. Until now I hadn’t been sure if tonight was a fluke, despite desperately hoping it wasn’t.
“Were you in the service?” she asked, her gaze on Travis as she sipped her wine.
“SEALs, ma’am.” He nodded.
“My Benny was in the Army.” She sighed with the same blissful tone she always had when she spoke of her late husband. “We traveled the world. It was so exciting.”
“I’m sure,” Travis agreed. “Was he a career man?”
“Goodness, no.” She laughed. “Sometimes I think that would have been more exciting. He was enlisted for eight years, and that was more than enough. He went into investment banking after that. He was gone just as much, but we didn’t have to move. It was more secure for the children.”
“Are your children local?”
I braced myself for the look of pain that would inevitably cross her face. “My son, Roy, he lives here in Los Angeles. Initially he took after his father and was a very successful investment banker. I’ll never be sure exactly what went wrong.” She sighed sadly.
I wanted to reach out and grasp her hand but knew she wanted to hold her head high in moments like this. I’d only met Roy once, when I’d first moved in, and it had been immediately clear he’d been drinking heavily despite it being just after breakfast time. When we’d talked about it, May hadn’t been sure if alcoholism was the main issue or if it was mental illness that had developed later in life. He didn’t let her get close enough to help.
“My daughter lives overseas.” She continued, her expression brightening some.
“You don’t see them much,” Travis deduced gently.
She shook her head and visibly forced a smile. “That’s why my girl here has been such a blessing.” She offered a smile. “Keeps me company. Tries to fatten me up.” She shot me a mock glare. “Friendship knows no age, it would seem. This one here is the truest friend I’ve ever had.”
I swallowed hard, blinking back tears. It was by far the sweetest thing she’d ever said to me. Hell, it might have been the sweetest thing anyone had ever said to me.
“Back at ya, sister,” I managed.
She winked, setting her wine glass down. “I’ll let you two get back to it.”
“Let me walk you back,” I offered.
“I’ll do it,” Travis interjected, rising and offering a hand to May. I was floored by the gesture.
“Well thank you,” she tittered, taking his hand in hers. I watched the two of them walk out together and had one thought and one thought only.
The man was going to go and make me fall for him.
When he returned only a few minutes later, I was in the middle of cleaning up. “I should get going,” he said regrettably. “I have PT at six tomorrow morning. “
“PT?” I asked confused.
“Physical training,” he explained. “Though we’re not in the service anymore, the guys and I train regularly. Our job demands that we be in shape.”
“It’s clearly working,” I muttered, then groaned.
“Filter?” he asked with a grin.
“Filter.” I nodded.
“I like that you lose it,” he murmured as I realized how close he suddenly was. I was backed up against the kitchen counter as he leaned down toward me, his eyes searching. “You smell like cookies,” he whispered.
A soft “Mm-hmm” was all I could manage before his lips found mine.
I thought it would be soft and sweet, but the second his lips met mine it was as though a spark that had been burning between us exploded. His tongue sought entrance, stroking mine as our lips met in a passionate caress. With a throaty groan, he grasped my hips, pulling me up onto the counter and moving in between my legs.
I moaned into his mouth at the feeling of his body pressed to mine.
I’d never experienced a kiss like this. It was as though my entire body was a living spark, like I’d combust in the flame and willingly ask for more.
I don’t know how long we stayed like that, wrapped up in each other’s arms, before his phone pinged. His lips broke from mine, his forehead pressing to mine as we both fought for breath.
“Holy… Christ,” he gasped.
“Yeah,” I agreed wholeheartedly.
“If I don’t leave now, I’ll have you naked and under me, and I want that date,” he murmured, his lips a breath from mine.
“Do we really need it?” I demanded breathlessly, surprising myself. I’d never wanted a man the way I wanted him. I was willing to forgo just about anything to have him.
“We really need it,” he replied regretfully, pulling out his phone. “Give me your number, I’ll call you right now so you have mine.”
I rattled off the number, and a moment later heard my phone buzz from somewhere in the cottage.
“Can I take you out this week?” he asked.
“I’d like that, but unfortunately the weekdays are tough for me,” I explained.
“All right, how’s Saturday or Sunday?” he replied easily.
“Sunday.” I nodded, forcing myself not to jump up and down and clap my hands with glee.
His face lit with an easy smile. “Sunday it is.”
“Thanks for coming to my rescue today,” I added softly.
“I was glad to come to your rescue, Em. Not that you really needed it,” he replied seriously. “Despite your propensity to fall on your ass,” he added with a cheeky grin. “One thing I know for sure about you, you can handle yourself just fine.”
Yep. Definitely falling for him.