Chapter 5
“Hiking? He’s taking you hiking?” May wrinkled her nose in distaste as she watched me get ready that Sunday morning.
“I like the idea,” I replied honestly. “It will give us a chance to get to know each other, and he planned it so we could take Able.”
She smiled knowingly. “That boy knows the way to your heart is through that dog.”
“I don’t know about that,” I muttered as I assessed my outfit. Since we were hiking, I had limited options, which I actually appreciated. The weather was a bit cool, so I’d chosen a cute green pullover, leggings, and tennis shoes. I braided my hair, draping it over one shoulder, and put on a bit of makeup.
“You look beautiful as always,” Mabel assured me with a wink. “I’ve always loved you in green.”
“Thanks, May. What are you up to today?”
“The girls and I are going to get our hair done,” she replied, referring to the feisty group of women she hung out with. “I’ll leave you to it. Can’t wait to hear all about it.” She grinned.
“I think you’re more excited about this than I am.”
She looked at me knowingly. “Somehow I doubt that.”
She had me there.
I walked her out and returned to finish up. A knock on the door sounded just as I was dabbing a bit of perfume behind my ears.
When I opened the door to find him dressed in a black Henley and jeans with a ball cap pulled low over his brow, I wondered how he got more handsome every time I saw him.
Suddenly I was a bundle of nerves. How should we greet each other? A hug? A kiss? I was rooted in place, frozen with indecision.
His gaze swept appreciatively over my frame as he stepped into my space without hesitation and took my mouth in a tender kiss.
“Hi,” he greeted with a smile, his lips a breath from mine.
“Hi,” I breathed, hoping my knees were still in place, because at the moment it felt as though I’d lost them altogether.
He pulled back, smiling down at me. “You look beautiful. Ready to go?”
I nodded. “I just need to grab Able’s leash and some water.”
Able was jumping excitedly around our legs, and Travis knelt to greet him.
“You sure it’s okay that we bring him?” I asked.
“Absolutely.” He nodded. “It’ll be fun.”
“Where are we going, anyway?” I asked as I locked the door behind us.
“I thought we’d do the Griffith Observatory trail,” he shared as we walked side by side out to where his Jeep was parked. “It’s a relatively easy hike but the views are amazing. Have you been?”
“No, I’ve been meaning to,” I replied, excited by the idea. I’d heard it was one of the most scenic spots in all of Los Angeles.
“Well, today’s your chance.” He smiled, opening up the hatch for Able to jump in the back.
We pulled away from the curb, hitting the freeway where traffic was uncharacteristically light. He drove as he seemed to do everything, with a graceful confidence that if I had to guess, he was largely unaware of.
“Damn, I think some of our view might get blocked by these clouds,” he muttered, peering out at the gloomy sky.
“That’s okay.” I waved a hand. “It’s kind of a nice change. Back home we had real weather, and I kind of miss it sometimes.”
He glanced over at me. “Oh yeah?”
“The weather turns on a dime. I’d be scraping ice off my windshield in the morning and wearing a tank top by the afternoon. It’s beautiful.” I looked out the window, watching the overcast sky fly by overhead. “The people are nice, but very serious about their food.”
He chuckled, but I gave him a serious look. “Don’t get in the way of an Iowan and anything that involves corn, has been fried, or involves a scotcheroo. Just some tips for survival if you ever visit.”
He eyed me with a playful twinkle in his eye. “Scotcheroo?”
“Only the best dessert known to man.” I retorted. “Peanut butter, Rice Krispies, and chocolate.”
“Sounds good. Though I have to admit, I don’t have much of a sweet tooth,” he shared, as though he was divulging some deep dark secret.
“Might as well turn this car around then, this will never work.” I sighed dramatically.
He pulled off the freeway, and I assumed we were getting close to the trailhead. “I would think that would mean we’d work perfectly. All the more for you,” he pointed out with a grin.
“You have a point,” I mused. “Are we here?”
“Just about.” He pulled into a parking lot. “Doesn’t look like there are many people here today, good,” he commented as he killed the engine.
“Does it get crowded?” I asked, hopping out of the passenger seat and shutting the door.
“It can.” He let a very excited Able out of the back. “Are you going to let him off leash?” he asked as he strapped a backpack on his back.
“Yeah.” I nodded. “I’ll only leash him if there are problematic dogs around. He’ll stay close.”
We walked side by side toward the path with Able bounding ahead.
“Did you grow up in the area?” I asked curiously.
“Nearby. Then I enlisted, toured the world, but ultimately ended up coming back. It was a central location for my business, and Sam was here. I didn’t want to be too far from her.”
“What a good big brother.” I smiled warmly.
I could have sworn he blushed under his ball cap. “Yeah well, I have a lot to make up for. I should have been there more for her growing up.”
I knew the feeling of sibling guilt all too well. “I’m sure you did your best. It’s all any of us can do.”
“You’re speaking from experience.” It wasn’t a question.
“Yep.” I nodded, admiring the hills surrounding us as we crested a small rise. “When you have shitty parents, being a sibling takes on a whole new meaning.”
“I know exactly what you mean.”
I looked over at him and felt the connection that had been building between us grow that much stronger. I offered an easy smile, feeling lighter than I had in a long time for having shared something so simple and yet so foundational to who I was.
Able loped off into the trees, and I grimaced at seeing him return with muddy paws.
Travis chuckled. “Someone’s getting a bath later.”
“Oh God, giving him a bath is a nightmare.” I groaned. “It’s like every commercial for detergent or paper towels on steroids.”
He threw his head back and laughed, the sound ricocheting off the canyon.
I shot him a droll look. “You think it’s funny because it won’t be you covered in mud and dealing with a wet dog who needs constant comfort since he’s afraid of water.” I sent Able an incredulous look, still surprised that my dog became a shivering, whining wuss anytime the faucet turned on.
Travis grinned. “Maybe if you’re lucky I’ll stick around and help.”
I looked down at the ground, grinning at my feet—all too excited by the idea of spending more time with him.
When the observatory came into view, I stared in awe at the iconic building jetting toward the gray sky.
“I thought we could stop here—I brought some lunch.” He gestured toward a bench and the backpack he wore.
“Wow, I’m impressed. And starving,” I replied gratefully as we plopped side by side on a bench that overlooked the observatory. I pulled out Able’s water pack, setting it on the ground for him as Travis began pulling out items from his pack.
“Sandwiches, apples, and water. Nothing fancy,” he reported, laying out our lunch.
“It’s perfect,” I argued, reaching for a sandwich and eagerly diving in.
He watched me with a hint of amusement.
I covered my mouth, which was full of food. “What?”
“I just like that you aren’t afraid to eat.”
I wrinkled my nose. “Afraid to eat? Is that like a phobia around here or something?”
He chuckled, shaking his head. “You’re not far off,” he muttered, taking a bite of his own sandwich.
We sat eating in comfortable silence as Able lay at our feet.
“I’m glad it’s not crowded today, but I wish you could see more of the view,” he commented, looking out at the cloudy sky.
“Another time.” I shrugged easily. “I’m actually glad it’s not blazing hot. No one wants to sweat their tits off on a first date.” I clapped my hand over my mouth, groaning behind it. “Dammit.”
He looked over at me with a dimpled grin. “You and your filter almost made it. Almost.”
I hung my head in defeat. He reached over, tipping my chin up to look at him. “I’ve told you. I like that you say what you want around me. It’s refreshing.”
“Oh good. We’ll pretend it’s intentional,” I replied dryly.
He wrapped an arm around me, pulling me into his side, and I relaxed into him, my embarrassment forgotten. He had a way of putting me at ease that very few people had ever been able to do. Although, I supposed no one had ever really tried.
After a while he kissed the top of my head. “Ready to head back?”
No.
“Sure.” I nodded, rising and helping him gather our garbage. We headed back toward his Jeep, the weather turning gloomier until a drop or two of rain hit my shoulder.
He looked at me in dismay. “We might get a little wet.”
I looked back at him, confused by his reaction. “It’s just water. You were a SEAL, you can’t tell me you’re afraid of water?”
He laughed. “No, baby. I’m not afraid of water,” he assured me, the term of endearment seeming to slide off his tongue effortlessly. “Most girls don’t like to get caught in the rain.”
I lifted a brow. “Who the hell are these women who are afraid of food and water?”
He slung an arm around me as it began to rain. “Apparently, I’ve been missing out.”
I looked up at him. “Maybe we both have.”
****
“Don’t let him get into the living room!” I shrieked from the bathroom as Travis frantically grabbed for an escaping Able. He’d carried him into the house, where we’d attempted to put him in the bath.
For such a big dog, he was freakishly nimble.
“Shit!” I heard Travis exclaim from the living room, quickly followed by “Got him.”
A moment later, he reappeared, covered in mud and a very unhappy Able as he carried him back into the bathroom. “Let’s shut the door this time, hmm?” he muttered.
I couldn’t help it, I lost it. I had to bend over, such was the force of my laughter. We were both covered in mud, wet from the rain, and jammed into my tiny bathroom with a dog who wanted to be anywhere but near a bath.
“She thinks this is funny,” Travis muttered to Able, setting him back into the bath.
“No, I think it’s hilarious,” I corrected him. “And hey, you volunteered to stay.”
“I did, didn’t I?” he replied, his face splitting into a grin. “Guess I’m a glutton for punishment.” He turned to Able, who was shaking like a leaf as I soaped him up. “Bud, you’re a big dog. You’re acting like a Chihuahua. And trust me, my sister has one, I know this for a fact.”
I tried to hide my grin at his earnest lecture to my dog.
“He has baggage,” I defended. “We all do.”
“True,” Travis muttered as I shut the water off and toweled Able off.
“Now you won’t judge when you notice I don’t bathe my dog a lot,” I added dryly.
“Also true.” He chuckled. “Do you want to grab something to eat?”
I stood up, done drying Able. “You mean you don’t want to run screaming?”
He bit his lower lip and slowly shook his head, eyeing me with what looked a hell of a lot like lust.
And with that, my entire body liquefied. “Um, okay, sure. I just need to shower.” I looked down at his muddy clothes. “And so do you.”
“I have a change of clothes in the Jeep, if you don’t mind my using your shower,” he added.
A naked Travis in my bathroom? I might not be able to concentrate, but I certainly didn’t mind.
“That’s fine,” I managed to squeak out just as he opened the door, letting a very relieved Able out of the bathroom.
“What sounds good?” he asked thirty minutes later as we walked back out to his truck, both freshly showered.
I shrugged. “I could go for anything, but a burger sounds pretty good.”
He grinned. “I know just the spot.”
We ended up at a divey-looking burger joint on Melrose. “I promise, this is the best burger in LA,” he told me as we pulled up the curb.
“I’ll take your word for it.” I laughed, eyeing the dilapidated building skeptically as I slid out of his Jeep.
He came around to my side, and I was something beyond thrilled when he took my hand, leading us inside.
“McAllister! To what do I owe the honor!” a sarcastic voice boomed from the kitchen the moment we walked inside.
“Oh you know, I like to grace you with my presence occasionally.” Travis grinned. “How you doing, Curtis?”
An older man’s face with the biggest smile I’d ever seen appeared through a pocket window. “Ooo-wee, and you brought a sweet little honey with you. Who’s the lucky lady?”
“This is Emerly, and watch it,” Travis tacked on sternly, though there was no malice in his expression.
“Hi.” I offered a wave as Travis led us to a table.
“Your usual?” Curtis hollered.
Travis lifted his brows toward me. “You okay if I order for you?”
I nodded. What the hell?
“Make it two,” he called back.
“So, you come here often?” I surmised.
He chuckled. “I wouldn’t say often. Not exactly a healthy option, but it’s damn good food.”
“How do you two know each other?”
He shrugged. “I helped Curtis out of a scrape once.”
“Did that boy just say a scrape?” Curtis’s incredulous voice moved closer as he walked out of the kitchen to stand beside our table, spatula in hand. “This boy”—he pointed his spatula at Travis— “walked in on me being robbed at gunpoint. He took those knuckleheads out with his bare hands. He eats free for the rest of his life.”
Travis leaned toward me as though sharing a trade secret. “But I always leave a big tip.” He winked.
More than enough to cover the meal, I presumed.
Curtis wandered back to the kitchen, and I stared at Travis, wondering just who was sitting in front of me. “Your bare hands, huh?” I asked.
He shrugged. “I had the advantage, they didn’t see me coming.”
“Is now the part where you say you did what anyone would?” I asked quietly.
He offered a soft smile. “Maybe we have that in common.”
“Maybe.”
Once the food arrived, we lapsed into comfortable silence. I for one was far too busy enjoying the best burger I’d ever had.
As he drove me home, I couldn’t fight my disappointment that the best date of my life was coming to an end.
“Okay?” he asked, glancing over at me before his eyes returned to the road.
“Yeah, I had a great time,” I replied honestly.
“I did, too. If this date could go on longer without me taking things farther than I intended, I’d invite myself in,” he replied, his voice an octave deeper as we pulled to the curb and he cut the engine.
I swallowed hard. “Oh?”
“Yeah, oh.” He nodded, opening his door and coming around to my side, helping me out. “But I think my self-restraint can handle walking you to your door.”
I wasn’t sure mine could.
We walked hand in hand through the dark until my cottage came into view. “You using the flashlight I gave you?” he asked, squeezing my hand.
“I am, thank you.” I smiled as he followed me up onto my little porch, stepping immediately into my space.
His fingers swept the loose hair from my face as he stared at my lips with such intent that I forgot everything but the need coiling deep in my belly.
“You’re so beautiful, Em,” he murmured reverently.
Under his gaze I felt like the most beautiful girl in the world. Until he kissed me and then I ceased to be… anything. I was nothing but sensation.
His soft lips took mine with barely controlled desperation. When his tongue met mine, I had to clutch at his shoulders as my knees gave out.
His arms wrapped around me, pulling me as close as two people could be while fully clothed. I got the sense both of us yearned to ditch the material separating us.
It was on the tip of my tongue to invite him in. I knew instinctively he would accept if I did. Somehow, I found some restraint and pulled back and rested my forehead against his firm chest.
He wrapped me up, pulling me into an embrace so intimate it shocked me that we’d just met. “Night, Em.” He kissed the top of my head.
I pulled back, my fingers lingering on my swollen lips. I knew I’d feel him there for days. “Night, Travis.”
My only consolation as I walked into my cottage alone was that I’d see him again as soon as I closed my eyes.