“I had a great time, too. Thanks for making me go,” Tess said with a grin, relishing the feel of Travis’ arm around her. Although it was a gesture he’d done since they were kids, each time his skin made contact with hers, she felt sparks flashing between them.
“That’s what I’m here for. To push you out of your comfort zone into new experiences,” Travis said, smiling at her in the dusk.
“You’ve always been good about pushing me around,” she said, giving him a playful shove, but not hard enough to push him away. She enjoyed his closeness too much to break the contact. “I appreciated you not making fun of me today.”
Travis stopped walking and turned Tess so they were facing each other.
“Why in the world would I make fun of you, other than for obvious reasons?”
“You know,” Tess said, still embarrassed. “The whole swimming ordeal.”
“Swimming ordeal? There was an ordeal and I missed it? Why didn’t someone tell me?” Travis teased. The smile left his face and his eyes grew hot and tender as he raised his hand to her face and brushed gently across her soft cheek with his thumb. “I thought you were the most beautiful girl at the river today, Tess. That’s a fact you can bank on. You’re gorgeous so don’t forget it.”
Travis moved toward her, watching as her eyes fluttered closed and her lips parted, anticipating his kiss. The spell was broken when Ben leaned out of the truck and hollered at them. “Tess, time to go!”
“Thanks again, Travis,” Tess squeezed his hand before running to the pickup and climbing over the top of Ben to sit in the middle.
“Later, dude,” Ben waved as Brice started down the driveway.
“Later,” Travis said, waving. He didn’t know how he’d ever get to sleep with visions of Tess in that swimsuit filling his head. Tess wasn’t fighting fair when she withheld ammunition like that from him. When he looked down at her on the bank of the river, he had to struggle to keep his jaw from dropping to the sandy beach. Never in his wildest dreams had he imagined she’d look so feminine and alluring. He was glad they went swimming right after the initial shock of the discovery because it camouflaged the drool dripping down his chin.
Travis would crawl across hot coals for the opportunity to see Tess wear that suit again, preferably when they were alone so he could fully appreciate the way it highlighted every full and wonderful curve of her body.
Raking his hands through his hair, he decided to go find some work that needed done before attempting to go to bed.
Sleep would be a long, long time in coming.
Chapter Six
Love is a spy who is plotting treason,
in league with that warm, red rebel, the Heart.
Ella Wheeler Wilcox
Giving his gloves another yank, Travis adjusted his helmet and centered his focus on the race ahead. It was a beautiful June day and he was looking forward to the thrill of racing his motorbike along the Oregon Raceway Park course.
Travis looked over at Ben Morgan who was fiddling with his new bike. This would be Ben’s first time to race and Travis hoped his friend would do fine. He didn’t want to forfeit another race to rescue one of the Morgan boys, but would do it in a heartbeat if he needed to.
Turning his focus to the race ahead, Travis visualized the course, mentally went through the turns and pictured himself coming in first. As he crossed the finish line, he could see Tess, dark curls bouncing around her rosy cheeks, as she cheered him on. She’d open her arms to him and give him a huge hug, drawing him into her softness and warmth.
Shaking his head, Travis took a deep breath and narrowed his gaze so that all he could see was the asphalt of the track ahead.
At the signal it was time for the race to begin, Travis leaned over and thumped Ben on the shoulder with a grin.
“Good luck, man,” Travis said, flipping down the visor on his helmet and starting his bike. Travis kept his attention centered on the race, on the next turn, on winning. Going around one blind turn, he nearly lost control when the guy in front of him swerved and veered off the course, but Travis recovered and kept going, adrenaline pumping through him.
Tess didn’t know why she let Brice talk her into coming to watch Travis and Ben race. She was afraid either one or both of them might crash. She had all she could do to not cover her eyes instead of watch them ride.
As the racers entered the final stretch, Tess watched Travis lean so far into the curve his knee was brushing the pavement, but he came out of it like a shot and zoomed across the finish line. Ben safely finished in fourth place.
As Travis got off the bike, he was swarmed by family, friends and well-wishers alike. Tess couldn’t help but notice the college-age girls circling around him and felt a pang of jealousy stab through her. Travis viewed her as a buddy, nothing more. Why shouldn’t he enjoy the attention of a bunch of young, pretty girls? At 26, the girls hanging around Travis made Tess feel old.
Having watched Travis race and also compete in a few regional rodeos, she was aware he was gaining a group of followers of the female persuasion. She noticed it was the same half-dozen girls who showed up at everything wearing too much perfume, too much makeup and not nearly enough clothes with their low-cut tops and cut-off shorts or miniskirts.
Disgusted, Tess turned away and started walking back toward her car. She had plans to go shopping with a friend in Portland this afternoon, spend the night and come back tomorrow. Stopping to give Ben a hug and offer congratulations for finishing the race, she was anxious to leave behind Travis and his entourage.
Tess was nearly to her car when she felt a hand grasp her elbow. Spinning around, she was surprised to see Travis smiling down at her, the brilliant blue sky providing the perfect backdrop to his tan face, white teeth and twinkling eyes.
“Aren’t you even going to say congratulations?” he asked, keeping a grip on her elbow as she turned around and continued walking to her car.
“Congratulations,” Tess said, fumbling in her purse to find her keys. “Good job. Way to go. Well done.”
“That doesn’t sound very sincere,” Travis said, releasing her arm and leaning against her car door. “I thought we were friends, Tess.”
Her head snapped up. He had her there.
“We are, Travis, and I’m sorry. I really am proud of you,” she said, finding her keys and holding them tightly in her hand. “I thought you were going to bite it on that last curve. How can you lean over so far and not crash?”
“It’s all about balance and gravity,” Travis said, bouncing on the balls of his feet. Still riding his adrenaline high, he felt on top of the world. He was, however, getting tired of the girls who seemed to have started a Travis Thompson fan club and wouldn’t leave him alone. He couldn’t believe they’d found out he was riding today and shown up at the race track. He wondered how, exactly, they were keeping such close tabs on his activities, but would worry about that another day.
Right now, he was most worried about Tess leaving in such a hurry. When he won the race, he hoped to see her smiling face at the finish line. Instead, he saw her frowning in his direction before she stalked off. If he didn’t know better, he might think she was jealous of the attention the other girls were giving him.
“Well, I’m glad you won and didn’t get hurt,” Tess said, needing to leave, yet wanting to stay. “Now if you’ll excuse me…”
“Where are you rushing off to?” Travis asked, settling his hands on her arms and looking into her face. Something was bothering Tess, but he couldn’t put a finger on what it was exactly. The soft fabric of her blouse beneath his hands didn’t keep the warmth of her skin from sinking into his palms and soul. “We have a big barbecue planned tonight. Want to come?”
“Thanks for the invite, but I won’t be home,” Tess said, stepping back so his hands dropped from her arms. Nudging Travis aside, she opened her car door and made ready to escape. Before she could climb in, he stepped in front of her again.
“You have a hot date? Is that the r
eason for the cold shoulder and the rush to leave?” Travis tried to keep his tone teasing, but there was a hard edge to it. He didn’t like the idea of Tess going out with anyone.
“Something like that,” Tess said, using one of Travis’ favorite noncommittal phrases while offering a smile that didn’t reach her eyes. Patting his cheek, Tess climbed in the car and shut her door. Rolling down the window, she mustered up a real smile for him. “I’m really happy you won, Trav. Enjoy your day. It doesn’t look like you’ll be spending it alone.”
With that, Tess pointed behind him and drove off. Travis turned to see a couple of his unwanted groupies walking his direction.
Great. Just great.
If he didn’t have enough problems, now he had a bunch of college girls following his every move.
Plastering on a fake smile, Travis draped his arms around the two closest girls and walked back to the gathered crowd. Maybe he could get Ben and Brice to take his fan club off his hands.
><><
Tess was ready to chew up nails and spit out staples, she was so mad at Travis. She watched him gather the giggling college girls to him in her rearview mirror.
She was done wasting her time, thoughts and energy on Travis Thompson. If he wanted to be friends, that was fine. But from this moment on, she was done having any silly romantic notions about the infuriating man.
When she got to Portland, she was buying a new dress, talking Jenny into going out for dinner and see about meeting someone who would take her mind of that good-looking cowboy who invaded her dreams with disturbing regularity.
Hours later, Tess remembered how much fun it could be to spend an afternoon trying on clothes, getting a manicure and just being a girl. She and Jenny tried on shoes, shorts, blouses and dresses. Tess found a bright blue dress that, like her swimsuit, featured a ruched waist and played up all her assets in a most flattering manner. She had no idea when or where she’d ever wear it, but she knew she had to have it. Jenny found a pair of high black heels that worked well with the dress and Tess added them to her growing pile of new clothes.
Loaded down with purchases, they returned to Jenny’s apartment, showered and changed then went out for a nice dinner. They chose a restaurant with open patio seating around a man-made lake that was gorgeous. Try as she might, Tess couldn’t get the thought of dining there with Travis out of her head. She kept envisioning the two of them strolling around the lake hand in hand. Annoyed with the direction of her thoughts, she wondered why she couldn’t just forget about him and move on.
Now that her mom’s wrist was healed, maybe she should think about moving into The Dalles. She’d miss commuting with Brice, but at least if she stayed in The Dalles, the opportunity to run into Travis was pretty slim.
She was musing over her options when a very handsome man dressed in a navy pin-striped suit approached their table. Tess looked up at his chiseled jaw, bright green eyes and wavy blond hair and caught her breath. She’d have to be comatose not to notice a gorgeous man standing a foot away from her, smiling warmly.
“Tess? Tess Morgan?” he asked, extending a tan hand with long tapered fingers her direction. “I’m Rick Martin. Remember, from college?”
“Rick!” Tess said, getting up and giving the man a hug. He was a good friend to her during her first year of college, even though he was in his second year of medical school while she was a lowly freshman. When he transferred to a school in California, she lost track of him. “You look fantastic. Are you living here in Portland, now? Did you get your medical degree?”
“Yes, I just recently moved back. I’m an orthopedic surgeon, actually, and just started working at Oregon Health and Science University,” Rick said, pulling out a chair when Tess motioned him to join them.
“That’s impressive,” Tess said, turning to Jenny. “Jenny, this is an old friend, Rick Martin. Rick, Jenny Jacobs.”
Rick offered the proper words of greeting to Jenny then turned his attention back to Tess. “So what are you ladies doing out tonight? Enjoying the lovely summer weather?”
“Tess needed a break from the sticks and came into town for the weekend. We’ve had a fun afternoon of shopping and decided to finish off the day with a nice dinner,” Jenny said.
“The sticks? Don’t tell me you moved back to Petticoat Junction,” Rick said with a teasing smile.
“Grass Valley,” Tess corrected him with a playful swat to his arm. “I moved back temporarily. My mom needed therapy for a wrist injury and some help at home so I’m staying there until she is back at one hundred percent.”
“So you’re a physical therapist?” Rick asked, flagging down the waiter to bring him a drink.
“Yes, I am. I work in The Dalles and really enjoy it,” Tess said, sipping her iced tea.
“But isn’t that quite a drive for you?” Rick asked, trying to remember how far out in the middle of no-where Tess grew up.
“About an hour, but my brother Brice and I drive together most days. He works in construction in The Dalles.”
“What about your other brother?” Rick asked, trying to remember Tess’ family history.
“Ben? Oh, he works here in Portland for a barge company. I’m not sure how much he likes it, but it keeps him out of trouble, mostly. What about you, Rick? I know your family moved away years ago. What brought you back to Portland?” Tess asked, noting Rick didn’t wear a gold band on his left ring finger. Maybe he was still unattached.
“I always liked it here and the opportunity to work at OHSU was one I couldn’t pass up. My parents and sister still live in San Diego. I’ve got three little nieces now, can you believe that? Susie keeps telling me I’m missing out by not starting my own family, but I guess I haven’t met the right girl, yet,” Rick said, giving Tess a pointed look.
Tess couldn’t believe the implication Rick left on the table.
“Well, maybe you’ll find her here in Portland,” Tess said with warm smile.
“Or the sticks,” Jenny added under her breath, earning a kick beneath the table from Tess.
Rick smiled and pulled a card from his pocket, jotting something on the back before handing it to Tess.
“I don’t want to further intrude on your evening together, lovely ladies, but Tess, I would love to get together and catch up sometime. Please give me a call. You’ve grown up even more beautifully than I imagined.”
Tess blushed, but stood when Rick did and gave him a hug. Digging in her purse, she fished out her business card and wrote her cell phone number on the back.
“I’d like to catch up, too. Call me anytime,” Tess said then sat back down when Rick gave her a heart-stopping grin and walked off.
“Girl, that man is smokin’ hot and he’s got those gorgeous green eyes on you!” Jenny fanned her napkin Tess’ direction and giggled.
Tess grabbed her hand and smiled. “I don’t know about that, but he has certainly grown up since I last saw him.”
“Mercy,” Jenny said, taking a drink of her lemonade. “Grown up, grown out, whatever you want to call it, he is one fine looking man. Now you better spill the beans on how you know him. And while you’re at it, I want to hear about all the hunky cowboys out in the sticks. I’ve seen pictures of you with some of Ben and Brice’s friends.”
Tess and Jenny laughed and visited for a while longer before starting the short walk back to Jenny’s apartment. They were nearly there when a convertible drove by and two guys in the back turned around and whistled at them, making them both erupt in a fit of giggles and hurry in the door.
“Aren’t you glad I made you buy that dress, too?” Jenny asked as they waited for the elevator. In addition to the blue dress, Jenny talked Tess into buying a red dress with black stripes down the side that came just below her knees. With cap sleeves and a square neckline, the figure-hugging dress exaggerated Tess’s curves while the stripes seemed to make her look two sizes smaller. She loved the way it made her feel and the high black heels she purchased that day matched it perfectly.
&
nbsp; “Yes, I am,” Tess said, stepping into the elevator. “What would I do without your fashion consulting?”
“Run around in boots and jeans and that oversized shirt you had on. Seriously, Tess, you need to show off that amazing figure, not hide it all the time. You get enough of that wearing your scrubs.”
“I know,” Tess said, realizing she could dress a little more on-trend than she currently did.
Tess went with Jenny to church Sunday morning then they enjoyed lunch with Jenny’s mom and sister before Tess decided to head for home. She was just turning off the freeway at Biggs when her cell phone rang. Pulling into the gas station, she didn’t recognize the number but answered the phone anyway.
“This is Tess. May I help you?”
“Hey, Tess. This is Rick.”
Tess felt a little shiver of excitement race up her spine. She thought it was a very good sign Rick was calling her already. His deep voice reached out over the phone line and wrapped around her soothingly.
“Hi, Rick. What’s up?” Tess said, forcing herself to sound casual and friendly.
“I just wanted to call and say how grateful I am I ran into you and your friend last night. I was hoping to eventually find you and it seems like fate that our paths crossed my first weekend back in town. I was wondering if you weren’t busy next weekend if you’d like to do something together,” Rick said. Tess thought he even sounded handsome and debonair over the phone.
“I’d love to, but I’m on call next weekend. If you don’t mind driving to The Dalles, we could spend Saturday together, unless there is an emergency, of course.” Drat. Of all the weekends to be on call, it would be the one Rick wanted to go out on a date.
“That would be perfect, and believe me, I understand being on call,” Rick laughed. “Where should I meet you and what time?”
The Cowboy's Summer Love Page 7