A Winter Sabbatical (Books We Love holiday romance)

by Cheryl Wright

  “Well, how about it?”

  She blinked self-consciously. What had he been saying?

  Travis sighed. “Did you hear anything I said?” The question was rhetorical, and Marissa knew it. “Dinner at my place? If we stay here, you’ll just want to keep working. And you look worn out.”

  He was right. She would want to keep working. Travis was such a nice person. He barely knew her, and yet, here he was helping her out.

  Before she knew what was happening, Travis had squatted down before her, taking her hand. She felt the warmth travel through her.

  She looked at him and their eyes met. She could see sincerity in those beautiful blue eyes, but wasn’t sure what to do.

  Should she refuse his invitation? After all, she hardly knew this guy. Still, he was a friend of Daniel’s.

  She was being stupid, of course she was.

  Daniel had obviously known Travis for years. And he would have warned her if he had any reservations about him. She felt foolish even thinking there could be a problem. “Pizza does sound good,” she said, suddenly feeling hungry.

  The drive into town gave Marissa a chance to look around, albeit in near darkness.

  She stared out the window at the silhouetted trees dancing gently in the breeze, the puffs of clouds as they floated by, and the full, brilliant moon. It was relaxing to sit and watch.

  From the little she saw, it was too bad she would only be here for a short time. Melbourne had nothing to compare with this.

  “It would be nice to see all this in daylight.” She sighed. If it’s this beautiful at night, what would it be like during the day?

  Travis glanced at Marissa, then turned back to the road. “Haven’t you seen it before?” he asked. “Surely you came up here to check out the house?”

  Marissa stared hard at him. He’d think her a fool. “Actually, no. I didn’t. I’m here for a kind of sabbatical. You know, to get over, er... things, have a bit of a rest and get my life back in order. And hopefully, get some work done at the same time.”

  She stared into her lap self-consciously. “Daniel will be gone at least six months, probably longer. He needed his house looked after; I needed somewhere to sort, um, things out. It… it all made perfect sense.”

  Travis looked thoughtful. “Are you a researcher, too?”

  Marissa wasn’t sure how much Daniel had told him; very little, by the sounds of things. “I’m an author. I’ve had one novel published, and I’m about to start another one. I also write current affairs, human interest and the like; whenever the opportunity arises.”

  Travis’s eyes left the road momentarily. “What sort of novels do you write?”

  Marissa lowered her eyes nervously. Would telling him change his opinion of her? Most people she told just laughed, thought it a huge joke. But it wasn’t – it was serious, and it was her livelihood.

  She mentally shook herself. Travis wasn’t like that at all. Was he?

  “Romance.”

  Travis grinned knowingly.

  Perhaps she was wrong about him after all.

  ***

  “Well, here we are. Welcome to Maldon.”

  Daniel had told her Maldon was a ‘quaint’ town, but she wasn’t prepared for what she found. It was as though she’d stepped into a scene from the 1850’s. The town was still in its original state, Travis explained, and had been preserved for future generations.

  Maldon felt like home. Oh, she knew she’d just arrived, and had only seen it for a short time, but it felt right, comfortable. And what she’d seen so far she loved.

  They stepped inside the pizza shop. It was tiny; there were only four tables in the entire shop. Travis placed the order, then took Marissa by the hand. They were going to explore.

  A river of excitement ran through her.

  “Oh – it’s lovely! I didn’t realize it was an Olde Worlde village here. Daniel told me it was a nice place, but nothing like this!” Marissa ran across the road when she spotted an old fashioned sweet-shop. She put her face against the glass and peered inside. “Oooohh, there’s a craft shop too,” she said, looking around again. “And a pet shop. Look kittens! I think I’m going to like it here.” She laughed, and it felt good. Really good.

  “I sure hope so, Marissa. I sure hope so.”

  Travis put a friendly arm around Marissa, and warmth flooded her. She felt her world light up.

  Then he leaned forward, and she knew he was about to kiss her. Trepidation and excitement invaded her.

  He moved slowly, as though he understood she couldn’t be rushed. She looked up at him, and he brushed the hair back from her face. Then he kissed her gently on the forehead.

  The sort of kiss you’d give your sister. Or your mother. Or aunt.

  Marissa felt disappointment. But she wasn’t sure why.

  She looked up at him, and as she did, Jeremy’s image flashed in front of her.

  Was she ready for another relationship? Marissa had to admit, she really didn’t know.

  But she was jumping the gun – Travis wasn’t offering anything but friendship.

  “Come on, our pizzas should be ready,” he said, pulling Marissa out of her private thoughts.

  As they stepped into the pizza shop again, the aroma assaulted Marissa’s senses and she breathed them in. “Mmmmm.... It’s making me hungry.” She smiled and Travis smiled back, watching her, assessing her every move.

  The drive back to Travis’ house was mainly in silence. Marissa looked out the car window, watching the views, wondering whether she should be going to his house.

  Okay, it’s only pizza, she thought, but they were going to Travis’ house. Those doubting thoughts crept slowly into her mind again. What if he wasn’t the gentleman he appeared to be? What if he tried to kiss her lips this time? What if she responded?

  She turned to look at him. Travis and his luscious lips. Travis and his wavy hair, his—

  Whoa! Where did that come from?

  Annoyed with herself, and her inner devil, Marissa turned back to look out the window. She really did need to learn to control her mind better.

  Travis’s voice broke into her reverie. “Nearly there,” he said, as though he knew she needed the distraction.

  Her heart began to beat faster. What if she really was in danger? She was helpless, totally under his control. They were miles from Daniel’s place, and even if she tried, it was too far to walk. Or run. And she would put herself in more danger by walking at this hour of the night anyway.

  Marissa mentally slapped herself. Travis is a friend of Daniel’s. He is no danger to you, she told herself aggressively. If she kept saying or thinking it, it might come true, she decided.

  “Hey, look! A kangaroo!” she said, thrilled by her discovery. She had to get her mind off all this.

  “The first of many, I’m sure.” Travis pulled into the driveway of a large property.

  Marissa sat glued to the seat as she looked about.

  The red brick house was large and rambling, and had a veranda that ran around the building. Marissa was in awe, and slowly got out of the vehicle, where she stood staring at the house.

  “Well, what do you think?”

  “I love it. In fact, I absolutely adore it. Is it yours?” she asked. “I can’t wait to see inside.”

  Travis walked around to her, carrying the pizza. “I can see that. It’s not easy for you to hide your emotions, is it?”

  Marissa stared down at the ground, kicking the dirt around with her shoe.

  “That’s good,” he added hastily. “I like that!”

  “Really?” Marissa smiled, and this time the hesitancy had gone.

  “So tell me about the house,” she said. “It’s not your ordinary run of the mill home. It’s huge. I mean, it’s more like a mansion.”

  Travis looked at Marissa. How much should he tell her? “It was the Eaglehawk Hotel, and was built in 1906 after the original weatherboard one burned down, presumably not long before that. Maldon was a rich gold-min
ing town back in the 1800’s, and the Eaglehawk was the first pub in the area.”

  He suddenly stopped talking. Marissa was probably bored out of her brain by now.

  “Come on – tell me the rest!” she demanded.

  He shrugged his shoulders. Maybe not. “My grandfather bought the building and renovated it to live in after the pub closed down several years earlier. When he died a few years ago, I inherited it.”

  He opened the door, motioning her inside. “Jonah simply loves visitors.”

  Marissa looked quite puzzled. “You share the house?”

  “Oh yes,” Travis laughed, “but this housemate is very lazy, and won’t even help with the chores!”

  Walking through the laundry, Travis looked about. “Jonah, where are you?” Stopping in his tracks, and looking toward the far wall, he spoke again. “Oh, there you are. Come and meet Marissa.”

  He was laughing. Couldn’t help himself. It was so easy to tease Marissa, and she was such a good sport about it. And it wasn’t as though she couldn’t use some fun and laughter.

  Looking around for the mysterious housemate, Marissa finally spotted him. “A cat? Jonah’s a cat!” She had her hands on her hips, but she was laughing. Lucky for him!

  “He’s really beautiful, Travis. In case you hadn’t noticed, I love cats!” Marissa squatted down and patted Jonah.

  Travis stood and watched as Marissa stroked Jonah’s fluffy white fur. The affectionate feline rubbed himself against Marissa’s legs. Leave it to Jonah, he knew a cat person when he met one.

  “Can I hold him? Will he mind?” Sucked in, that’s what she was. Jonah and his big eyes. He could turn his purring on and off as it pleased him. And it usually got him everything he wanted. Lucky guy!

  “Mind? No way, he’ll lap it up; spoilt rotten, that’s what he is. You play with Jonah while I get some plates for the pizza.” Travis sat the box on a nearby counter. “Are you hungry? You seem more interested in my cat than the pizza.”

  Marissa pulled a face as Travis walked away. “Well, he’s beautiful. And I’ll bet you don’t spoil him.”

  “He gets enough attention,” Travis answered. “What’s more, he demands it.”

  Travis reached out to pat Jonah, but got more than he bargained for. His fingers touched Marissa’s. Skin met skin, and they looked up in unison. She pulled her hand back and averted her eyes as though she had no intention of acknowledging what happened.

  So he reached out and touched her again. She felt it too, he was sure she did.

  What was it about this woman? Why did she affect him like this?

  “I—” She began to speak, but he covered her lips with his fingers and leaned in closer.

  He pulled himself up without a moment to spare. This was wrong, totally wrong.

  She’d been hurt, and was still hurting. It was obvious she was running from something or someone.

  Until she sorted it out, Travis needed to keep his distance.

  Marissa barely touched her food, and she reflected, that had been the pattern since that last night with Jeremy.

  “...mainly stocks and bonds – investments. Occasionally, very occasionally, I dish out financial advice.” Her head snapped up – she’d been off in a dream-world again.

  What was it going to take to get her life back on track?

  “Marissa? Are you with me?” He reached across the table, and covered her hand.

  It was warm, comforting, inviting. Why did she feel so damned guilty when she felt this way?

  She looked down at their hands. In some ways it was as though his was burning her skin. Travis quickly pulled it away, apparently aware of what his touch was doing to her. But he had no idea. He couldn’t have.

  “I’m sorry,” she said. “I was a million miles away.”

  She looked around the room as Travis continued to eat. She felt comfortable in this room with its tastefully decorated period furniture. An antique sideboard stood not far from the mahogany table where they now sat; a beautiful jug and bowl taking pride of place on its top.

  The wooden love seat had an oblong coffee table nearby, and a big fluffy white rug that lay in front of the open fire.

  A big fluffy rug where she could easily see herself curling up with Travis by her side.

  Damn it! Why do her thoughts keep wandering where they have no right to go?

  Marissa jumped up from the table. “I’ll rinse off the plates,” she said, heading for the sink.

  Travis caught her by the wrist. His touch was gentle but firm, and warmth spread throughout her entire body.

  “Leave those, I’ll fix them later. Let’s relax a little. You grab the wine and glasses, and I’ll light the fire.”

  This was not good, she decided, slowly placing the dirty plates on the table. What if—.? No, she wouldn’t go there!

  Travis was already in the lounge room and crouched down at the hearth, Jonah right beside him on the rug.

  As he leaned forward into the cavity of the fireplace his muscles contracted under his shirt. Until now, she hadn’t noticed the width of his shoulders. Hadn’t noticed his muscles. Apparently hadn’t noticed much at all.

  As she watched him stacking wood in the grate, getting it just so, she could almost feel his strength. She drew in a breath.

  Why did this man, this Travis Johnston affect her so much?

  Jonah rubbed himself against Travis, trying to get attention as Travis ran his fingers roughly through his hair, then curled up satisfied with the warmth from the burning logs.

  The seemingly insignificant action touched Marissa somewhere deep inside. She wanted to touch him, to run her fingers through his hair.

  He grinned at her, almost as though he read her thoughts. He had a beautiful smile; it warmed her, and made her feel wanted. He made her feel wanted, made her feel safe, protected.

  Hell, he made her feel, period.

  “Come in front of the fire. Get some of this warmth.”

  “I don’t think Jonah will be too pleased if I push him off his rug,” Marissa said, eyeing the sleeping cat.

  “Come on, sit down with me,” Travis said, patting the rug beside him. “Okay Jonah, shove off! You can have the sofa tonight.”

  “Reeeeeeooooooooow!” Jonah protested as he was pushed off the rug.

  “Poor Jonah,” Marissa said, walking toward Jonah and the rug.

  As she slid down toward the rug, Marissa still wasn’t convinced she should do this. It was inviting trouble, and right now she didn’t need her life to be more complicated than it already was.

  But the flames from the fire were inviting, comforting, and she lapped up the heat. They made her feel sleepy, and she lay down.

  Travis lay beside her, and his nearness sent shivers down her spine. The warmth of the fire was nothing compared to his body heat.

  What was she doing? Surely she shouldn’t be here, so close to Travis, feeling so darned happy?

  The memory of Jeremy invaded her mind again, and she tried to force it away.

  She felt Travis move beside her, his fingers playing down her arm.

  “Okay?” he asked, worry etched on his face.

  “Yeah, sure. Just thinking.” And she was. She was thinking about the way his touch ignited a fire inside her, and the way her whole body reacted to his very being. She had an inbuilt need for his presence that she couldn’t fathom.

  She didn’t want this, and sure as heck didn’t need it right now.

  But it was nice, real nice.

  She snuggled closer, wanting to lap up this feeling, even if it was only temporary. She’d be gone again too soon.

  But then again, what right did she have to be happy? How could she be happy? This wasn’t right, couldn’t be right.

  The memories of happy days with Jeremy invaded her thoughts. She tightly squeezed her eyes closed, tried to block out the memories, but they wouldn’t leave her alone. Would never leave her alone!

  She felt his hands skimming along her arms, caressing her lovingly
. She rubbed her face against his, enjoying the moment. She kissed him, and he kissed her back, and they began to cross the road.

  She heard the scream of the brakes, felt herself hit something, or something hit her. But more than anything, she heard Jeremy’s voice. The voice of terror.

  Her heartbeat quickened.

  ***

  Travis lay next to the roaring fire with Marissa in his arms.

  He hadn’t been this happy in ages. Marissa was special, really special. She was so soft and gentle, her hair spread over her shoulder, her perfume wafting into his nostrils.

  Travis sipped his wine. It was sweet and mellow, just like Marissa.

  He’d have to remember to thank Daniel when he came back home.

  He gently nuzzled her neck, and at first she responded, but suddenly Marissa tensed beneath his hands. He heard her indrawn breath.

  “Marissa?” He rolled her toward him, and as he did so, Travis noticed her eyes were tightly closed. Her face was tensed, and her forehead furrowed with worry.

  “Marissa?” As he looked down upon her face, his heart was breaking. This woman, this virtual stranger who he’d become so fond of in such a short space of time, was breaking his heart, making it ache. He felt helpless and forlorn. She’d been hurt, that was obvious, but helping her heal was something she wouldn’t let him do.

  She opened her eyes and looked up at him. Pain was etched all over her face. And she was blinking now. Hard. Trying desperately to fight back tears.

  Travis watched helplessly as tears rolled down Marissa’s face.

  “Don’t cry,” he said, gently wiping the tears away.

  He pulled her against his chest. She was tense, so tense. He stroked her hair in an effort to comfort her, to calm and soothe her. To try and ease her pain.

  But all he managed to do was alert his hormones to her nearness.

  “Talk to me, Marissa. Please?” He spoke quietly, gently, surprising even himself.

  “I’m not crying.” Marissa dried her wet cheeks with her fingers. “I’m not crying! Leave me alone, please? I have no right to be here, or to be happy.”

  Travis rubbed small circles across her back. He was trying to comfort her, but for what reason he had no idea. Why wouldn’t she let him in? “Sshhh,” he said against her sobs. “Let me help you through this.”