CHAPTER 30
Hope flamed to life in Travis’s chest as he pulled away from the Grace home. There were only four places Elaine was likely to be, and she wasn’t at the first three. It was unreasonable for him under any circumstance to hope that Elaine would be home, waiting for him. But as he made the turn onto his own drive, hope was there, burning inside him. And when he saw her sitting on the front porch with Dottie, who bristled like a prairie chicken defending its turf, it spread like a grass fire down to his toes.
The urge to race to the porch and sweep her in his arms was powerful. But instinctively he knew that would only make it worse. What had Weston said about unprecedented groveling? Worry niggled at him, but he brushed it away. He was a man on a mission and defeat was not an option. His heart slammed into his chest as he kept his pace unhurried and stopped a few feet from the bottom step.
He kept his eyes laser-focused on Elaine, even though the mistrustful look in her eyes gutted him. With a jolt, he recognized her expression. She looked just like that in her early days at the diner. Scared yet determined. What an idiot. Beating was too good for him. He alone was responsible for putting the hurt there, the mistrust.
“Where’s Dax?”
“Over at Hansen’s with Hope and Gunnar. They’ll bring him home after dinner.” Dottie answered with a note of accusation in her voice.
Still keeping his gaze riveted on Elaine, he opened his hands. “It’s okay Dottie. I’ve been an ass. I know. I reacted and I couldn’t listen.”
Something flickered in Elaine’s eyes, feeding his hope. “I took care of Lawson.”
“I don’t understand.”
He rolled his fingers, flexing his hand. “Let’s just say he’s not gonna look too pretty in his election day victory photo.”
Dottie snorted and threw up her hands. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
“I can’t serve as sheriff if I’m not currently holding a law enforcement position.”
“Talk plain, Travis.” Dottie snapped, having clearly run out of patience.
“Fine, you want plain talk?” He stayed focused on Elaine, watching for any signs that she might be softening. He’d work with any opening she gave him “I read your file.”
She winced and looked down, two bright spots slashing her cheeks.
“All of it. I also read up on Lawson and put two and two together. I paid him a visit and took action that cost me my job as police chief.”
She gasped, covering her mouth, eyebrows at her hairline. “Oh no, Travis. You shouldn’t have. He’ll come after you.” Fear filled her beautiful blue eyes.
That was a good sign, wasn’t it? That she was worried about his safety?
“Nope. He won’t. Weston has put his source in touch with the attorney general. I think we’ll see an investigation opened.” He hooked his thumbs in his belt loops. “But I resigned. It wouldn’t be right for me to stay police chief after what I did. Especially because it felt damned good to punch his lights out.”
Elaine let out a strangled noise tinged with hysteria.
“On the drive back, I realized what’s most important in my life is right here. You and Dax. That is if you can forgive me.” He offered his hand, hope pounding in his chest. “I also remembered that the night of the First Responder’s Ball I told you that you didn’t have to tell me anything about your past until you were ready.” He took a deep breath. “And obviously from my behavior, you were justified. I failed you and I’m sorry.”
Her eyes darted to his outstretched hand then back to his face. Once. Twice. She worried her bottom lip between her teeth, clearly distressed. He couldn’t breathe in or out. Like bailing wire had been wrapped too tight around his chest.
“I’m so sorry I didn’t trust you enough to tell you. Dottie was the only person who knew, and she promised to keep it to herself.”
Everything in him itched to go to her, wrap her in his arms and kiss the pain from her face, but he couldn’t. Not until she met him halfway. He’d laid everything out for her, and if he’d blown it because he’d been an assfuck, then so be it. He’d have to live with the consequences.
She took a ragged breath, eyes searching his. “I wanted to start over here. To give Dax a safe and stable place to grow up. And Dottie gave me that chance. I didn’t want to blow it.”
“You didn’t, I did,” he murmured.
She looked at him sharply, but continued. “I know how small towns can be. I was afraid that if word got out, people would treat us differently – would treat Dax differently – if they knew that my past was… less than pristine. And you…” Her cheeks turned the prettiest shade of pink as her voice turned husky. “Always made me feel like a lady. I didn’t want that to go away. I didn’t want to disappoint you, and I’m so sorry I did.”
His feet disobeyed a direct order from his brain to stay put. He was on the porch in three steps, clasping her shoulders. “You didn’t, sweetheart. I’m the disappointment. I’m not happy you didn’t confide in me, but I understand why, and I’ll do better, every day, to earn your trust. To show you how much I love and value you.” His mouth was on board with his feet too, completely ignoring his brain’s command to stop talking before he ruined things again. “Your strength, your kindness, your patience, your–”
“Travis,” Dottie interjected. “If you don’t ask this girl to marry you right now, I am never serving you coffee again.”
Elaine laughed, tears spilling out of her eyes.
He kissed her wet cheeks, salt from her tears sharp on his tongue. “I’m stubborn and set in my ways.”
“I break rules,” she spoke barely above a whisper.
“Break them all, I don’t care. As long as I can come home to you and Dax every night.”
Her eyes filled with worry. “What are you going to do now that you don’t have a job?”
“I’ll figure it out. Right now, I don’t care. All I care about is right here.”
Dottie sighed loudly. “Well, you two kids are gonna be just fine.” She gave them both a quick embrace. “I’m gonna get on home and check in on Cassidy. She’s been helping Parker with his physical therapy. I think they’re about to set a wedding date. You kids these days, not a one of you has had a decent engagement. And now Carolina’s making noise about getting married by Christmas. Expect us all to make a celebration overnight.”
Dottie reached up and clasped his chin. “You’re a good man, Travis. I’m real proud of you.”
Warmth spread across his chest. His voice grew rough. “Thanks. For always being there.” The remaining words stuck somewhere in the back of his throat.
She patted his cheek. “Love you too, sweetie pie. See you two tomorrow night.”
When her truck disappeared down the drive, Travis turned to Elaine. “Well?” Her eyes turned to dark pools and he held her gaze for a long moment. He could lose himself in her. Hell, he was already lost. “Will you make a life with me? Here?” He couldn’t keep the gravel out of his voice. Or the hope.
A thousand emotions crossed her face while his stomach did jumping jacks. “I want to…” Her voice was full of hesitation. Not the enthusiastic response he’d hoped for. He tried to tamp down the feelings of despair. “But?” He wasn’t going to give up easily. Not if there was an outside chance for them.
“I think we need to ask Dax what he thinks.”
“Done.”
“And I don’t want to commit to anything permanent until I’m free and clear.”
“I can’t say I like that, but I get it.”
“With any luck, all of this will be behind us on Wednesday. Would you ask me again?”
He’d keep asking. But a man could only live with so much uncertainty “Only if I already know the answer.”
She tilted her chin, eyes glowing. “If you haven’t figured out that I’m crazy about you, I don’t know what else to do.”
“You can kiss me for starters.”