Nicole Edwards - Travis

He should’ve given himself that same lecture now. Kylie was right. He didn’t deserve anything from her. Not her time and certainly not her understanding.

“Do you want to walk away?” he asked her. Based on what he could read in her eyes, Kylie hated him with a passion, but there was still some interest there on her part.

After what happened to Zane several months ago, Travis had promised himself he’d look forward in life, not wanting to let another moment pass him by because he wasn’t sure he’d have many more if he did.

This was his moment.

Kylie was the moment he didn’t want to let pass him by.

♀♂

Was he out of his ever lovin’ mind?

Or was she that transparent?

Kylie desperately wanted to convince Travis that she didn’t want to have anything to do with him. She really, really did. She wanted him to believe that she wanted to walk away. No, she wanted him to believe that she wanted to run screaming from him.

Only that wasn’t the case, was it.

Damn it all to hell!

Kylie let some of the tension escape as she stared up into Travis’ familiar face. Familiar, yet different in so many ways. He still had the same angular jaw, his nose was still slightly crooked, and his lashes were still dark and thick and… Why did he have to be so beautiful?

“Tell me you don’t want to walk away from me, Kylie.” His words, although quiet, sounded like a demand, but for some reason, she felt as though there was a plea in there as well.

Did he not want her to walk away? If so, why? What was his intention? Hell, she’d already learned that she knew absolutely nothing about this man. Six brothers?

“I don’t know what I want, Travis,” she told him honestly, reminding herself not to let go of the anger. It was her only defense against him.

“Let’s go talk. There’s a reason we’re standing here today and damn it, I don’t want you to walk away yet. We both deserve closure, Kylie. Can you just give me that?”

She closed her eyes as her heart recognized what he’d said. There wasn’t a reason for hope to flourish because he wanted closure. He wanted to be able to walk away without the guilt. Again, Kylie didn’t know why she would owe him anything. He deserved to feel guilty – if in fact he did.

But no matter how much she wanted to be the stronger person, to tell him to go to hell and not look back, that naive, broken hearted young girl he walked out on all those years ago started jumping up and down inside her, screaming “Give him a chance! Maybe there was a good reason!”

She knew she shouldn’t listen to that stupid girl anymore, but she felt as though she didn’t have a choice. He was right on one thing. At the very least, they did deserve closure.

But she also knew she was way too emotional to deal with it or him right now. Being this close to Travis reminded her of things she’d let go of, desires she had no business harboring. He was irresistible, always had been, and it appeared she was just as affected by him now as she was then.

“Tomorrow,” she told him, putting her hand on his chest and pushing. He didn’t budge.

“Tomorrow, what?” Travis asked, obviously obliging her by taking a small step back.

He was too close. So close she was overwhelmed by the spicy, rich scent of him. A musky combination of clean sweat and that sexy cologne he favored, apparently still the same as it was back then.

“I’ll meet you tomorrow.”

“Where?”

“I haven’t thought that far ahead yet,” she mumbled, trying to figure out whether this was a good idea or not. Surely it wasn’t, but for some reason, she wanted to hear what he had to say.

Kylie stared up into Travis’ face, forcing her eyes to remain on his, refusing to glance down at his perfect lips, resisting the urge to wonder what they’d feel like on hers. She noticed how his features had softened from a few minutes ago. His eyes sparkled with what might be interest, and she knew there was no way she could say no to him. She had never been able to say no to Travis. From the moment she met him, Kylie had fallen head over heels in love with this man, willing to give him anything.

“I’ll pick you up,” he offered.

“Ok,” she finally replied, knowing that arguing with him wasn’t going to get her anywhere.

When Travis turned to go, Kylie watched, her eyes glued to his perfect body. The way his wide shoulders tapered down to a narrow waist. Not to mention, his better than perfect ass. Suddenly it was getting way too hot in her house.

“I’ll be here at ten. That work for you?”

Kylie almost laughed. She wasn’t sure why he even asked the question. His initial statement was more of a command than anything else. But ten would work for her. “Ok.”

“See you in the morning, Kylie.” With that Travis strode out the front door. She was grateful for the glass pane because she was able to watch him until he disappeared around the other side of his truck.

And that’s when it hit her.

What the hell did she just do?

Ten minutes later, as she was walking across the living room like a zombie, Kylie stopped, glanced around her house, just realizing where she was. Pressing her hands to her forehead, she headed toward her bedroom, her brain stuck on Travis. Since the second he walked out the door, she’d been reliving the scene from ten long years ago.

“What do you mean you’re sorry? What the hell does that even mean?”

The look on Travis’ face devastated her long before he even attempted to explain himself. He couldn’t possibly be saying what she thought he was saying.

He was sorry? For what?

Kylie’s heart was thumping painfully hard against her ribs, an ache suddenly so powerful, she had to clutch her chest. Three weeks. They’d only been married for three weeks, and he was sorry?

 “Look,” he started, but before he could continue, Kylie felt the tears begin to stream down her face.

Travis moved closer, pulling her up against him, pressing his lips to her forehead as she breathed in his scent, knowing without even hearing his explanation that this was going to be the last time. She saw the intentions on his face when he blurted out his apology moments ago.

Shaking off the memory, Kylie headed to the bathroom. Maybe a long, hot bath and a good book would do her some good. At this point, she desperately wanted to escape reality if only for a short time.

After all, her own reality seemed to be changing drastically from one day to the next. She wasn’t sure she wanted to know what tomorrow would bring.

♂

“Hey, sugar. What’ll it be?” the waitress asked, but as the familiar voice raked across his raw nerve endings, Travis didn’t even glance her way.

“Scotch neat,” he told her, turning his head to glance toward the back of the small, dingy bar that he’d frequented more times than he could count. Since the day he turned twenty one he’d been coming here, hanging out with friends, then his brothers as they became old enough. Seemed like so long ago, but at the same time it felt like just yesterday.

Two minutes later, the waitress brought his drink and he retrieved it before heading to the back, avoiding the playful sweep of her hand across his back. He wasn’t interested, plain and simple.

“Well, look who showed up to the party,” Zane said, clapping Travis on the back.

He hadn’t expected any of his brothers to be at Moonshiners, but he’d seen Zane’s truck in the parking lot before he came in. He’d like to think that’s why he stopped. He didn’t want to admit that he’d been looking to drown his thoughts in alcohol or anything crazy like that.

“Who’s winning?” he asked just to make conversation.

“Well, it sure as shit ain’t me,” Zane laughed, his eyes tracking the beautiful brunette currently sweeping the pool table clean as she took shot after shot, dropping balls into pockets left and right.

“Hey, V,” Travis greeted Zane’s fiancé once she finished.

“Hey, Trav. You look like hell,” she told him.

Damn, the woman had gotten pretty fucking mouthy in the last few months. Not that he could say anything to her because Zane was an overprotective mother fucker. Travis might enjoy giving his brothers a rash of shit, but he knew better than to pull their women into the fray. Not that he would. Travis liked to think his father had raised him well. He might’ve pulled some stupid stunts in his day, but he always put women first, ensured they were respected and all that.

“Thanks,” he said, tipping his glass toward her before downing what was left.

“You wanna play her?” Zane asked, knowing good and damn well Travis wasn’t going to say no.

“Lady breaks,” he muttered as he set his empty glass on the table, signaled for the waitress and then took the extra pool stick from Zane’s hand.

“Good luck,” his brother whispered loudly.

“Right. Like I’ve got a chance in hell.” Travis knew better than to think he was going to beat Vanessa Carmichael. He’d seen her wipe the table clean one too many times, including against his brother Brendon who, up until V shamed his ass, had been the reigning billiards champ in their neck of the woods.

Ten minutes later, Travis was resuming his position at the table, taking his fresh drink in hand and watching as Zane gave it another shot. Rather than watch a repeat of what just happened, he spent a few minutes just observing others in the place.

“You looking for company tonight?” the sultry drawl came from behind him, but Travis didn’t turn to look. He knew the voice, also knew he wasn’t interested. Just like he wasn’t interested when she came onto him a little while ago.