CHAPTER 19
Travis paced the kitchen like a caged lion, alternately checking on the burgers he was prepping for dinner and on Elaine, who sat at the table with her back to him. How many times in the past month had he wanted to quit their stupid charade and kiss her? She belonged with him. They just fit. He couldn’t explain it any other way. The house felt like a home with her here at the table and Dax running around in the yard. He no longer felt uncomfortable with the way the front door stood open, so they could keep an eye on Dax. The election would be over in three weeks’ time. Then what? He couldn’t go back to the way things were. Wouldn’t.
“What do you think of this ad?” Elaine called from the table.
Travis stopped behind her and braced an arm on the table beside her. Heat licked up his spine as he caught a whiff of her shampoo. He shut his eyes against the zing of awareness that had his cock doing a happy dance.
He slid a glance her way. She sat perfectly still, jaw tight. He itched to trace a finger down the line of her jaw, melt her cool facade. See her drop her head and expose the creamy curve of her neck. His cock jerked against his jeans as he stared hungrily at the pout of her mouth. How many restless nights had he endured over the last month? How many of his dreams had she haunted? He’d lost count. What he longed for, hell, needed, was to feel what they’d felt that first night in the kitchen at the beginning of the summer. A world of possibility had opened up for him in that moment, and he’d been too much of a chickenshit to seize it. This distance was his fault.
She glanced over, her eyes widening, mouth parting. Could she hear his heart pounding? “Elaine,” he rasped, dipping his head.
Weston burst in the door. “Did I interrupt something?” he asked with a smirk.
Asshole.
Travis stepped back with a growl. “Yes,” he snarled, done with the bullshit.
“No,” Elaine answered at the same time.
“You two will have to work out whatever’s going on between you another time. Right now we have to talk about the First Responder’s Ball in two weeks.”
“Not going,” he gritted out, crossing his arms. He hated those damned events. He’d happily give them his money, but he wasn’t going to stuff himself into a suit and stand around making small talk with a bunch of young responders who only wanted to get drunk and dirty dance with their girlfriends.
“Not going to what?” Dottie poked her head in the door behind Weston.
Jesus Christ on a pogo stick. Were they all conspiring against him today? “First Responder’s Ball.”
Dottie stepped around Weston, holding an envelope and skewering him with a pointed look. “Considering the funds raised this year are going to defray my future son-in-law’s medical bills, I hope that’s not the case.”
Shit. Parker had recently been injured in a burnover out in Colorado and had barely escaped with his life. “I’ll write a check. Double it. But I’m not going to that thing. You know how I hate them.”
Weston crossed his arms. “I know you’ve refused in years past, but this time, Mr. Candidate, you’re going. Half the town is going this year. First responders are your people. You need to go shake hands. I guarandamntee you that Lawson will be there, so you’re going, too.” He narrowed his gaze, eyes snapping. “Unless this candidacy is pure BS. In which case, quit wasting Elaine’s and my time.” Weston’s tone brooked no argument.
Elaine stood. “Maybe I should check on Dax?”
Dottie shook her head. “He’s riding his bike in the yard. And I need to talk to you.” She waved the envelope and held it out. “This came in the mail.”
Travis didn’t miss the way Elaine’s shoulders tightened. She pushed her chair back. “Do you think?”
Dottie nodded expectantly. “Open it.”
She shook her head. “I can’t. I’m too nervous.”
“Don’t be, sweetie pie. You were ready for that test.” Dottie pressed the envelope into Elaine’s hands.
Even from across the room, Travis could see how her hands shook, pulling apart the paper. But her smile had him crossing the room before she squeaked, “I passed.”
With a shout, he pulled her into a hug and spun her around, kissing her forehead. “I knew you could do it! I’m so proud of you.”
She laughed, eyes shiny with unshed tears, and hugged him back. He knew the exact moment when she caught herself because she stiffened in his arms. Biting back a groan of frustration, he let her slide down his body, not releasing her until her feet touched the floor.
“We all knew you could do it, sweetie pie,” Dottie stepped over and wrapped her in another hug.
Weston caught his eye and arched a brow. God, he wanted to fucking punch something. Why shouldn’t it be the most natural thing in the world for him to swing her around? He loved her. The realization pulled him up short. Weston was right, maybe he’d loved her from the start. There was no denying she’d crawled under his skin day one and taken up residence. But the transformation had been so subtle. Like he’d been walking north without a compass and ended up facing south. And everyone had seen it but him. It shouldn’t surprise him, he loved Dax. Would do anything for the boy. And how could you love one without the other?
The problem was, what to do about it? This changed everything. For starters, their self-imposed distance needed to end, pronto. They could figure out the rest later.
“I only popped in for a minute,” Dottie said as she moved to the door. “And Travis, I better see you at the First Responder’s Ball.” She gave him a no-nonsense glare that had him squirming down to his toes.
“Yes ma’am.” He never could say no to Dottie. She’d been like a second mother to him.
As soon as the screen door clicked shut behind her, Weston tossed a thick manila envelope down on the table. “Elaine, you’ll need to go with Travis. He’ll need someone to help him remember everything in this dossier. It’s a list of names and photos of all the police chiefs, assistant chiefs, fire marshals and fire chiefs in the county, as well as any pertinent cases from the last five years.”
Elaine’s eyes grew wide and she backed up, shaking her head. “Oh no. That’s a bad idea. I’m no good at that sort of thing. An-an-and I don’t have a dress.”
Weston crossed his arms, mouth drawing down. “You have time to get one. It’s a week away. Besides…” His mouth twitched. “That’s why Travis pays you the big bucks.”
“I need to check with Dottie, too. You’re not the only person I work for.”
“Don’t you think she’d have said something just now, if it was going to be a problem? Besides, it always looks better when the candidate has a date. Voters want to see Travis as settled and capable. And Lawson is the kind of guy who’d show up with… someone less classy than yourself. It’s an opportunity to point out the difference between the two without saying a word.”
She was grasping at straws. And he knew why she was doing it. Would she change her mind once they’d talked? He didn’t want to put on a penguin suit and parade around shaking hands any more than she did, but he could manage it with her by his side. Hell, it might even be fun.
Weston continued. “There will be other dignitaries there as well, and likely a few people from the unions and the governor’s office. They’ve rented out the ballroom at the Bison & Bull Inn. I’ve already reserved adjoining suites for the two of you. Elaine, you’ll have to find someplace for Dax to spend the night.”
“Oh no. I’m not spending the night away from him. What if he needs me?” The fear radiating off Elaine was palpable, but it wasn’t like Dax was a baby.
“He’ll be fine with Dottie and Teddy,” said Travis. “And we can head back early the next day.”
“Travis never sleeps past zero dark thirty,” added Weston.
“But if Dottie is going who would stay with Dax?”
Damn, the woman was stubborn when she made up her mind. He admired it, even as her refusal to join him irritated the heck out of him. “Dottie won’t be spending the night, she’s got to open up the food truck. My guess is he’d stay with Teddy. Teddy hates these things as much as I do.”
She shook her head firmly. “No. I’m sorry. You can go, but I’m going to stay here.”
“Dax will be fine, and if he’s not at first, he’ll learn to be fine.”
Elaine bristled, voice rising. “Don’t you tell me how to parent my child. I know him better than anyone.”
That got his hackles up. Didn’t she see what she was doing? “You suffocate him,” he countered, voice tight. “You hardly let him be a kid. He needs to fall down. He needs to be scared and know he’s going to come out of it okay.”
“What do you know about parenting?” she yelled. “You just come around like a jolly uncle. All fun and games. None of the worry, none of the anxiety.”
That stung. Especially after his experience with Dax in the storm. “I know I was raised by a single dad and it wasn’t easy, and I turned out fine,” he yelled back. Except Colton hadn’t turned out so fine. And when their dad had died not long after he’d passed his SEAL Tactical Training, Colton had been pretty much left to fend for himself. No wonder he’d made bad choices.
Elaine’s eyes sparked with anger and hurt. “You don’t know what he’s been through. He’s had enough fear to last a lifetime.”
“Then he damn well better learn how to handle it,” he roared. “All you’re teaching him is to be afraid of everything.”
“Stop it, stop it,” cried Dax from the door. “Stop yelling at my mommy.” He stood just inside the door, a look of worry and fear on his face, covering his ears.
Fuck. The fight drained out of him. He was an asshole. How many times had he pleaded with his parents to stop the yelling before his mother had finally abandoned them? How many times had he hidden on the stairs, half covering his ears, terrified of what he’d hear but unable to block it out completely? His stomach churned.
“I should go,” Elaine said quietly. She looked over to Weston. “Can you bring us home, please?”
No. Nononono. Shit. He had to make this right. He crossed the room and squatted down to get eye level with Dax. “I’m sorry you heard me yelling, buddy. I didn’t mean to scare you. Sometimes adults have disagreements. Even–” Even adults who love each other. Voicing that thought scared the shit out of him. “Even adults who are… good friends,” he finished lamely. God, he was making a clusterfuck out of this.
He turned back to Elaine. The look on her face cut him to the core. He had to make this right. Had to. He stood and closed the distance between them, taking her hand between his. “Please don’t go? I’m sorry I lost my temper.” A knot formed at the base of his throat. “I was out of line. But I want you to know…” he swallowed, the words sticking in his mouth. “I-I want you to know how much I care about Dax.” She looked like she was about to cry. Because of him. What an ass. “Please say you’ll stay?”