Sweet Tea at Sunrise

by Sherryl Woods

  Travis got a sinking sensation in the pit of his stomach. “Who is it?”

  “Walter Price,” Bill said, and immediately held up his hand to forestall Travis’s objections. “Before you say no, just hear me out. He’s experienced. His kids are here in town, so he’s not going to take off for a better opportunity.”

  “He’s also Sarah’s ex-husband and he treated her like dirt. Still does, from what I saw just this weekend.” Travis shook his head. “I’m not hiring him. Right now, we have a good team running this place. We all get along.” He grinned, thinking of the regular on-air and private spats he had with Sarah. “Mostly, anyway. Adding Walter to the mix would be a disaster. I’d kill him inside of a month.” He paused. “Or Sarah would.”

  “Maybe you should ask her what she thinks,” Bill suggested.

  Travis shook his head. “No way. Have you already talked to him about this? Did he plant the idea so he could get close to Sarah again?”

  Bill shook his head adamantly. “Absolutely not. It was nothing like that. We just ran into each other at Wharton’s and had a cup of coffee together. He didn’t even know I worked here or that we might be thinking about hiring someone. I didn’t even know if you’d be interested in adding to the staff.”

  “Hiring a salesperson makes sense. Hiring Walter Price is out of the question.”

  “Your station. Your decision,” Bill said, letting it go.

  Travis nodded. “Thanks for understanding.”

  The next day he posted the job on the station’s Web site and mentioned it to Grace Wharton and Ronnie Sullivan. He figured that would be enough to get the word out. With any luck, though, it wouldn’t reach Walter Price.

  To Sarah’s relief, Tommy’s T-ball game on Saturday morning was uneventful, especially compared to the week before. After hearing about the commotion while she’d been in Atlanta with Ty, Annie took up a protective position at Sarah’s side this week, but Walter stayed away.

  “Are you taking Tommy for pizza after the game?” Annie asked curiously.

  “Sure,” Sarah said. “He really loves it. Why?”

  “I thought maybe you were avoiding Travis.”

  Sarah grinned. “It’s hard to avoid Travis. He’s in my face just about every single day. I’m sure you’ve heard that he’s been joining me on the air. It seems our conversations are sparking listener interest. The switchboard goes wild the second people know he’s in the studio.”

  “If he bothers you, kick him out,” Annie said, as if it were a simple matter.

  “His station,” Sarah reminded her, as he’d told her often enough. “Besides, we do have fun, even if he does make me a little crazy.”

  “Crazy, or hot?” Annie inquired.

  Sarah flushed. “Okay, that, too.”

  Annie’s expression turned thoughtful. “You know I’ve been worried all along about him playing games with you, but now I have to wonder.”

  “Wonder what?”

  “Are you playing games with him just to stroke your battered ego?”

  “Don’t tell me you’d feel sorry for him if I were,” Sarah said.

  “No, but I would warn you that you’re playing with fire. When it comes to games, I imagine Travis McDonald plays by different rules.”

  Sarah made an elaborate show of fanning herself. “Don’t I know it!”

  Annie’s mouth gaped. “Sarah Price, what’s happened to you?”

  “Maybe I’m just figuring out that I’m a sexy, desirable woman, after all.”

  “Well, hallelujah for that!” Annie said sincerely. “Just be careful, okay?”

  “Hey, careful’s my middle name,” Sarah said, though lately she was beginning to wonder if maybe it shouldn’t be changed to reckless, because when it came to Travis, good sense seemed to have flown out the window.

  The T-ball players along with their coach and several moms and dads had barely been seated at Rosalina’s when the door opened and Rory Sue walked in. Just as her mother might have a few years back, she was dressed to get attention in short shorts that showed off her endless legs and a halter top that emphasized the rest of her assets. Sarah regarded her with dismay.

  “What’s she doing here?” Annie asked Sarah in an undertone.

  “Watch and learn,” Sarah replied.

  Rory Sue immediately zeroed in on Travis, though she took her time sauntering over to his seat across from Sarah. The better to give everyone a full view of her considerable charm, so to speak. Though there wasn’t a vacant chair, she grabbed one from a nearby table and pulled it up close to his, then leaned against his arm. Travis tried to scoot away from her, but the table was too crowded.

  “Oh, boy,” Annie whispered. “Shades of Mary Vaughn going after my dad.”

  “Exactly,” Sarah said, tamping down the streak of jealousy that made her want to rip the girl’s perfectly highlighted tresses right out of her head.

  “I have to give Travis credit,” Annie said. “He seems immune.”

  “For now,” Sarah said direly. “Come on, though. He’s human. She’s throwing herself at him. Given his past history, how long do you think he’ll resist?”

  At precisely that moment, Travis shoved back his chair, apologizing to the people who’d been sitting on either side of him. Two seconds later, he’d jammed another chair between Sarah and Annie.

  “Save me,” he muttered with heartfelt emotion.

  “You’re a big boy,” Sarah said, though she was relieved to see that he hadn’t yet snapped up the bait. “Surely you’ve handled predatory females before.”

  “I have,” he agreed. “But usually in Boston, I could rest assured I wouldn’t be running into them every five minutes.”

  “That is the downside of a small town,” Annie agreed. “I know how I’d feel if Dee-Dee lived here and Ty was bumping into her every time I turned around. It’s hard enough when she’s here visiting Trevor.”

  Travis regarded her with feigned annoyance. “Focus, ladies. I’m the one with the immediate problem. Her mother’s my real estate agent, I can’t offend Rory Sue.”

  Sarah chuckled. “Sure you can. It won’t stop her, though. She’ll just take it as a challenge.”

  “Then what am I supposed to do?”

  He sounded and looked so genuinely bewildered that Sarah took pity on him. “Here’s a thought,” she said slowly, wondering if maybe she hadn’t gone just a little bit insane with jealousy, after all.

  She twisted in her chair, made sure Tommy was distracted at the next table and Libby asleep in her booster seat, then put her hands on either side of Travis’s face and kissed him with everything she had in her and then some. It was the kind of bone-melting, stolen-breath kiss that pretty much destroyed every last ounce of resolve she had where he was concerned. Obviously whatever this game was between them, she was all in. Judging from Travis’s momentarily stunned response and then the way he took charge of the kiss, he was pretty much leaping in, as well.

  Though she knew almost nothing by the time the kiss ended, not even her own name, she did know that whatever happened from here on out, she could no longer deny how she felt about Travis. She was head-over-heels, pants-on-fire in love with him.

  And if anyone tried to mess with her man—specifically Rory Sue—they’d have a real fight on their hands. Maybe Dana Sue would coach her on getting the best of a predatory female. She’d certainly had plenty of experience with Mary Vaughn.

  Travis was pretty sure it would be a couple of hours before he could stand without embarrassing himself after the kiss Sarah had planted on him. The second they’d surfaced for air, she started scrambling to gather up Tommy and Libby. She barely spared him a glance as she headed for the door.

  He turned what was probably a dazed look on Annie. “What just happened here?”

  Annie grinned at him. “I’d have to say that Sarah was staking her claim.”

  He nodded slowly. “That was the impression I got. Why’d she run off?”

  “Because despite her
very bold move, I’m sure there’s a part of her that’s absolutely scared spitless that you might not return her affections.”

  “I’ve been chasing her since the day I hit town,” he said.

  “Seriously?”

  “Well, no, not at first,” he admitted.

  “Then how’s she supposed to know you’re serious now?” She leveled a hard look into his eyes. “You are, aren’t you?”

  “Very serious,” he said solemnly, knowing he’d have a battle on his hands if he even hinted otherwise.

  “Then you might want to go after her,” Annie said. “Because just about now I imagine she’s having second and third thoughts about what just happened here. Plus she’s probably worrying herself sick that Tommy might have seen the kiss.”

  Travis was on his feet in a heartbeat. He found the waitress, stuffed a bunch of twenties in her hand to pay for everyone’s pizza and headed for the door. To his astonishment, Rory Sue tried to intercept him.

  “Told you it would work,” she gloated.

  He regarded her with bewilderment. “What are you talking about?”

  “You don’t think that kiss came out of the blue, do you? It was because of me. Sarah figures I’m trying to steal her man, so she made sure I knew to steer clear.”

  “Aren’t you?”

  She laughed. “Well, of course I am, if you’re willing, but I’m not stupid. I figured out which way the wind was blowing back at the station the other day. You made it plain enough. I also knew everybody in this town, Sarah included, would think I was just like my mama was when she was fighting an uphill battle to get Ronnie Sullivan’s attention. There’s a big difference between us, though. I know when to cut my losses. It took my mother a little longer to figure out the man she really belonged with was my dad.”

  “So you turning up here today was some altruistic act to kick things between Sarah and me up a notch?”

  She nodded. “And maybe a little test to be sure I hadn’t gotten it wrong,” she admitted.

  Travis shook his head. “I don’t think I’ll ever understand women.”

  Rory Sue gave him a pitying look. “You’re a man, poor thing. It’s not in the cards that you’ll ever fully understand us. Now run along and catch up with Sarah. Something tells me you can capitalize on that kiss if you hurry.”

  “Thanks. I owe you,” he said and took off.

  He made it to Sarah’s house in less than ten minutes. Her car was back in the driveway, but when he knocked and rang the bell, no one answered. Finally he walked around to the back, where he found Sarah sitting all alone on the patio. She glanced up at his arrival, but her expression was wary.

  He dropped down into the chair next to hers.

  “Kids inside?” he asked.

  “Raylene’s getting them down for their naps.”

  Satisfied that they were alone and likely to be that way for a while, he said, “That was quite a show you put on back at the restaurant.”

  “I thought it might get Rory Sue to back off.” She pinned him with a look. “That is what you wanted, isn’t it?”

  “It’s only part of what I want.”

  “What’s the rest?”

  “You,” he said quietly. “I want you. After that kiss, I’m thinking maybe that’s a possibility, after all. What do you think?”

  “I think maybe we’re both confusing lust with something else,” she told him. “It’s been known to happen.”

  “Sugar, I’ve always been real clear on the difference. I’ve probably been in lust with one woman or another since my teens. You’re the only one with whom I’ve ever wanted more.”

  There was no mistaking the faint spark of hope that lit her eyes before she looked away. “You talk a great game, McDonald.”

  “It’s not just talk, and I’m definitely not playing a game.”

  She didn’t look as if she was buying it.

  Travis tried again. “Come home with me,” he suggested. “Tom and Jeanette have gone to see his folks in Charleston. We’d have the house to ourselves.”

  “Wouldn’t that pretty much be proving my point?” she asked. “All you want is to get into my pants.”

  He had to fight a smile at her determination to act blasé about it. “I’m thinking if we get the lust out of the way, we’ll strip things down to what’s really going on between us.”

  She laughed at that. “A very convenient strategy, if you ask me.”

  “Well, at least it’s a strategy,” he said. “Do you have a better way to figure things out?”

  “Time,” she said at once.

  “In other words, you want me to jump through hoops, proving my intentions are honorable.” If any other woman had suggested putting him to a test, he’d have walked away. With Sarah, he understood why she needed him to prove himself. He met her gaze. “Okay, but you have to play fair with me.”

  “I always play fair,” she said with a touch of indignation.

  “My point is that you have to open your heart to the possibilities. You can’t hide from me. We start doing things together, hanging out like this, whatever.” He grinned. “Maybe even kissing from time to time.”

  She nodded slowly. “That seems reasonable.”

  “We could seal the deal with a kiss,” he suggested. “Nothing too dangerous, of course. Just a little peck on the cheek, maybe.”

  She looked vaguely disappointed by that. “I suppose.”

  “You coming over here, or should I come there?”

  Her lips twitched at that. “Your move, McDonald.”

  “Okay, then,” he said, rising to his feet and crossing to her chaise longue. Instead of the promised peck on the cheek, however, he nudged her legs to the side and sat down beside her, then leaned forward very, very slowly. He braced his hands on the back of the chaise on either side of her, then paused just a hairsbreadth away from her mouth and waited. Their breath mingled. Her eyes widened. She nervously licked her lips. Only then did he cover her mouth with his. He took his time about it, tasting, savoring, persuading until her lips parted.

  When he finally pulled away, he decided it had been a very satisfactory beginning, but only a beginning. He wanted much, much more, and he intended to have it very, very soon.

  For the second time that day, Sarah ran away right after Travis had kissed her. She needed to catch her breath, needed to be sure he couldn’t see just how desperately she wanted more. He’d take advantage of that, and she wouldn’t be able to stop him…wouldn’t want to stop him. For a woman who wanted guarantees, the only thing these kisses guaranteed was that she was putting her heart at risk.

  Inside, she leaned against the kitchen counter and sucked in great gulps of air, then splashed her overheated face with cool tap water. She was drying her face with a paper towel when she heard the back door open and close.

  “I thought you’d left,” she said, regarding him nervously.

  Travis held her gaze. “Did you really want me to?”

  “No,” she admitted. She swallowed hard, then said, “Why don’t you stick around and have dinner with us? We’re just doing burgers on the grill. Raylene’s made potato salad and cole slaw. It’ll be pretty casual.”

  “You sure?”

  “I may not be sure about a lot right now, but dinner’s fine,” she said. “I think I can control myself for a couple of hours, especially with chaperones.” She hesitated, then said, “We’ll be eating inside.”

  “Even though it promises to be a nice night?”

  She debated hedging about the reason, but too many people knew. Besides, his reaction might give her a clue about whether he was as kind and open-minded as she thought he was.

  “It’s Raylene,” she explained. “You need to know that she gets these panic attacks if she tries to leave the house. It’s why she doesn’t keep the kids for long. She worries they’ll slip outside and she won’t be able to make herself go after them.” She gave him a challenging look. “Don’t make too big a deal out of it, okay? I’m telling you s
o you won’t embarrass her.”

  Travis looked offended. “I’m not an insensitive jerk, you know. I already had some idea there was something going on with her. I’d wondered why she didn’t seem to come to any of the other places I’d seen you with your friends. People have said some things, but I wasn’t sure they were right. Gossip gets a lot of stuff wrong, so I try not to pay too much attention to it.”

  Sarah frowned. “Like what? What do they say about her?” she asked, immediately defensive on Raylene’s behalf. The idea that people might be talking insensitively about Raylene or even making jokes about her situation incensed her.

  “Simmer down. They’re not criticizing. They say that her ex-husband abused her.”

  “True,” she admitted. “Even I don’t know all the details of how bad it was, but it must have been pretty bad. Her husband’s in jail now. He negotiated some kind of plea deal, thanks to his family connections. He got off way too lightly in my opinion.”

  “And you think that’s why she has these panic attacks if she goes out?” Travis concluded. “He’s not out of jail already, is he?”

  “Not yet. Even so, I’m pretty sure her fear of him coming after her one day is what’s keeping her locked up in the house. Annie and I have tried to convince her to get help. Unfortunately, she thinks she can fix the problem on her own.” She shrugged. “I guess she’ll ask for help when she gets tired of being stuck in the house all the time.”

  He regarded her with undisguised admiration. “You’re a terrific friend to have taken her in.”

  “There was never a question about it. She needed a safe place to come to,” Sarah said simply. “But I’m not sure I’m doing her any favors by not pushing her harder to get professional help.”

  “Whatever kind of problem a person has, they need to be ready to solve it. You can’t do it for them.”

  “I suppose.”

  “Will me being here be a problem for her?”

  The question showed exactly the kind of compassion and understanding Sarah had hoped for. “No, Raylene loves having company,” she assured him. “It’s the outside world that seems to scare her. You’ll see. She’s great. I don’t know what I would have done without her, really. She takes care of the house, and the kids absolutely adore her.”