by Mary Leo
“Are you all right? You near about scared me to an early grave,” Travis said, as she squirmed on top of him.
“Certainly I’m all right. I would have been fine if you hadn’t grabbed me like that. You could’ve killed me.”
“I just saved your life, and that’s how you’re going to react?”
She rolled off of him, and tried to get up, but then fell back on the snow. She looked almost comical.
Travis leaned over her, abruptly serious. “Baby, are you all right? Did you break something? Are you dizzy? Should I call an ambulance?”
She laughed. “You should see the look on your face. If I didn’t know better, I’d say you were genuinely concerned about my wellbeing.”
“What the heck does that mean? Obviously I’m concerned. I couldn’t handle it if anything happened to you.”
“You’re serious, aren’t you?”
“Damn straight I’m serious.”
And he kissed her. Right there in the snow, under the mulberry bush he’d helped Nick plant two summers ago.
Chapter Six
Having a truckload of snow almost come tumbling down on a person’s body might give that person a reason to act irrationally. Might cause them momentary blindness, rash behavior, or at the very least, it might prompt them to do something that they couldn’t undo.
Kissing Travis Granger was one of those moments. It wouldn’t have been so bad had Bella not kissed him back, not touched his tongue with hers, not moaned when his kiss grew deeper, and certainly not kissed him again when he tried to move away from her. She would have been able to face him had she not done all of that.
But she had.
Not to mention her reaction to said kiss. Not only did she cry like a baby, but she ran from the scene before Travis had a chance to utter one word. Then she locked herself in her room and contemplated packing her bag and driving away without the signed paperwork she needed to close the biggest real-estate deal of her career.
All because of a simple kiss.
Not that his kiss was the least bit simple. It more or less fell into the realm of intoxicating and delicious, which she had always known it would be from the second she saw him dangling from the inn’s roof strapped in that stupid harness. Travis, the boy, would cause her toes to curl, and Travis, the man, made her want to curl up next to him in a bed somewhere for the next week or month or year.
The entire incident gave her a headache, and if she kissed him again—a thought that made her heart race—he could get her to do anything, including giving up the real-estate deal.
Four hours, three cups of cold coffee and one dozen fudgy cookies later she was ready to face the day, and the remainder of the disgruntled occupants of the inn according to Janet, everyone had relocated except the occupant of room two-ten which was assigned to Travis Granger. Apparently, he liked to stay in town as Christmas approached and her dad’s inn had always been his first choice.
She’d given him an eviction notice that morning along with everyone else, but the man had a stubborn streak as wide as Nebraska and refused to leave even after Janet had tried to convince him it was for the best.
“He simply won’t go,” Janet told Bella on the room phone.
“Did you tell him he has no choice?”
“Yes, ma’am, but he insists that he’s not going anywhere until the front door is locked and Nick drives away. I don’t know what else to do.”
“I’ll take care of it. You’ve been a huge help and did more than your share today. You can go home if you want to.”
“I’ve got another couple of hours to go on my shift and there’s still some paperwork I’d like to finish before I leave, if that’s all right with you.” She sounded sincere and a little emotional, but Bella refused to let it get to her.
“Do what you think is best.”
“Thank you, ma’am. Will you be coming down soon?”
“I’ll be up in room two-ten trying to get Travis Granger to vacate the premises.”
Janet chuckled. “Good luck with that, ma’am. He can be a bit mule-headed like the rest of those Grangers. Are you sure you don’t want me to come along with you?”
Bella knew that Janet would be great at smoothing over things with Travis, but this was something Bella had to face on her own. Travis had to be dealt with no matter how much she dreaded seeing him again.
“Thanks, but I’ll be fine.”
Janet chuckled again, said her farewells and disconnected, leaving Bella with the ominous task. She squared her shoulders, took a deep breath, opened the door to her room and proceeded down the hall to face a man she both disliked and loved all at the same time.
* * *
TRAVIS KNEW BELLA would eventually come to his room to ask him to leave the inn, but fortunately his dad had stopped by since he was in town and his very presence had derailed Bella in her eviction-happy tracks. She’d tried several times to tell Travis to please vacate the premises, and each time Dodge had brought the conversation back around to his dinner invitation for Bella and Nick.
He was the master of avoidance when it suited him to do so, and Bella’s eviction notice apparently was one of those times.
“I don’t see how that’s possible, Dodge,” Bella told him while still standing in the doorway looking amazing in one of the outfits she’d bought the night before. Her face glowed like a new moon on a cloudless night, and her hair looked like black silk. He wondered if it still smelled sweet like it had out in the snow. “My dad and I still have a lot to do to get ready to close this place down in the next couple of days.”
Dodge had told Travis that he’d come into town to pick up a present for his wife, Edith, and decided to stop in at the inn to see what was happening. Then Travis had convinced him to invite Nick and Bella over to the main house for dinner. The way he had it worked out, a home-cooked meal might be exactly what Bella needed.
“Well, don’t stand out in the hallway. Come on inside. Travis here has the fireplace going,” Dodge urged.
There were a few rooms at the inn that came equipped with a gas fireplace, and his room happened to be one of them. As he watched Bella step inside, Travis was mighty pleased he’d settled on this room instead of a smaller one down the hall. The fireplace now acted as her lure.
She strode inside and Dodge closed the door behind her. The room was more of a suite than merely a bedroom. An antique mahogany desk sat in the corner with a matching mahogany chair, and a loveseat and an armless chair lived in front of the three windows that overlooked the street. The fireplace burned a bright range of reds, blues and whites on the far wall, while the king-size four-poster bed—that had already been made up by what was left of the staff—sat across from it.
Bella stood in front of the bed while Dodge stood next to her, and Travis sat on the desk chair. He’d been answering some email and taking care of ranch business. A small decorated tree sat on the desk complete with a bright shining star perched on the very top. From Bella’s reaction to the Dyson family tree, he guessed she must be seething on the inside over his tabletop Christmas spruce.
As he watched Bella’s arms fold across her ample chest, he wasn’t so sure even Dodge could help out here. Bella seemed determined to destroy any scrap of Christmas cheer that might still remain somewhere in her memory.
“If you’re packin’ and workin’ hard it’s all the more reason for a good hearty meal. You look positively pale from lack of good home cookin’. If I remember right, your mama, God rest her weary soul, never was one for cookin’. Unless she changed her nature over the years, I bet you ain’t had somethin’ that can stick to your ribs since you and she done left this here town.”
Dodge liked to appeal to a person’s stomach more than his or her mind. He insisted that once a person had a full belly, he or she was more likely to agree to just about an
ything you proposed. Travis hoped that philosophy would work with Bella who seemed impervious to bribery of any kind.
Until now.
She smiled and her arms fell to her sides.
“I do remember that you made the absolute best chicken and waffles I’ve ever tasted. I’ve tried to make that meal myself and it didn’t compare. I’ve even tried them at a couple restaurants and they never matched up. If you’re inviting me over for your chicken and waffles you’ve got yourself a dinner guest.”
Travis felt suddenly hopeful. His dad loved to get a request for one of his specialties, and he did, in fact, make the best chicken and waffles this side of the Rockies.
“For you I’ll even pick up a fresh chicken from the organic chicken farm on up the road and make sure the griddle is extra hot to make them waffles crispy.”
Her face lit up. “Will seven-thirty be all right?”
“It couldn’t be better if I’d picked that time myself.”
“I can drive you over,” Travis said, his enthusiasm clear in his voice.
She turned to him. “Thanks, but I can drive myself.”
“Then I should catch a ride with you. The main road in has been closed since the blizzard, so it might be tricky finding the alternate road. You’ll need me to show you the best route.”
“I have GPS on my phone.”
“It doesn’t work on these back roads.”
“He’s right,” Dodge said. “There’s already been three rescues this season ’cause of those dang GPS routes takin’ folks out on roads that don’t get you nowhere. I’d feel a whole lot better knowin’ my son was leadin’ the charge instead of some misguided beam shootin’ down from a satellite in space.”
Travis could tell by her temporary silence that she wanted no part of it, but if he knew this new Bella, logic would dictate her response and not emotions.
“Fine. You can hitch a ride there. But you’re on your own getting home. I don’t want to get stuck on some private Granger road.”
Travis smirked. “I’ll be coming right back here.”
“Dream Weaver Inn is officially closed. You can’t stay here.”
“Until Nick throws me out, I’m staying put.”
“Don’t you have your own house to go to?”
“Sure do and I’d love for you to see it sometime. Thing is, this time of year, there’s too much going on in town so I always stay at the inn. Besides, it’s too much trouble to bring my sleigh home when I’ll be needing it during the next couple of days.”
“You have your horses boarded in our corral?”
He nodded and smiled. “Only place left in town and the boys are enjoying the change of scenery.”
“You’re exasperating.”
“He’s been called worse,” Dodge piped in.
“Is that what you felt out in the snow today?” Travis asked, stepping in closer, almost whispering his words so Dodge wouldn’t hear.
They stared at each other for a moment. That kiss still lingered on his lips and he knew she was thinking the same thing.
“I didn’t feel anything. It was merely a kiss.”
Dodge turned to Travis. “Maybe I should leave.”
“No. Please, Dodge. Stay. I was just going,” Bella said still looking all riled up. She turned to Travis. “Be ready at seven. I don’t do late.”
He saluted. “Yes, ma’am.”
He caught the smile prick her lips, but she stifled it and spoke to Dodge. “Thanks for inviting my dad and me, Dodge. I’m looking forward to this evening. Now if you’ll excuse me I have some business to attend to in my room.”
And she walked away with Travis watching her leave. She always did have a fabulous walk: hips shifting with each step. He was enjoying the scene when his dad interrupted his appreciation.
“You owe me, son,” he said. “That’s one fine woman and if for some stroke of luck on your part, you’re able to catch her love, never take her for granted or she’ll fly the coop faster than a bull can throw a rider.”
“I don’t think I’ll have to worry about that, Dad. She hates me.”
“Only when you’re tryin’ to tell her what to do. Didn’t you learn nothin’ from your brothers and me? A woman don’t need no man to tell her what she already knows.”
“Then what does she need a man for?”
“Son, you’re too old to be asking me that kind of loaded question.”
“You know what I mean.”
“I know it’s time for me to get going if I’m puttin’ on a dinner tonight.” He grabbed his son’s shoulder and Travis could feel the warmth emanating from his father’s touch. “A man’s gotta figure these things out for himself. I only hope you don’t take too long with the figurin’ ’cause that there filly’s got her mind made up, and right now it don’t include you.”
* * *
BELLA HAD DRIVEN almost the entire route over to the Granger ranch in silence, listening to her dad and Travis chitchat about everything from the weather to Milo Gump playing Santa in the town-square gazebo tomorrow night.
She’d actually like to see that, if she could do it without Travis knowing about it. If he found out, she was sure he’d think she was softening her attitude towards Christmas and she most certainly was not. She was simply curious to see if Milo made an authentic looking Santa.
Her father still refused to sign the documents even though she’d taken all the necessary steps to empty out the inn. And if he stalled much longer, she would simply have no choice but to insist.
After all, it was for his own good. Her dad never could grab the gold ring when it was right in front of him. He always seemed to opt for the brass ring and it never brought him anything but tough times and heartache. Her mom had always been right about her dad. It was Bella she had misunderstood.
“You can pull up here,” Travis said, yanking her out of her private thoughts.
The full moon combined with all the white Christmas lights that were strung from every surface and tree made her feel as though she’d just stepped into a Christmas card.
“The place is bigger than I remember it,” she said as she beeped her truck locked and headed toward the Granger ranch house.
“My brother Doc Blake added on his dental office, and his wife, Maggie, added on her offices last year.”
“They both work from home? Don’t they get tired of each other?”
Bella couldn’t imagine what it would be like to spend that much time with the same person every day, no matter how much you might love them.
Travis threw her an odd look as they walked up the front wooden steps with Nick following close behind. “Those two are as thick as feathers in a pillow. Plus, ever since Dodge moved on up the road, and they lost their babysitter, it makes it easier for them to take care of their kids. And now that there’s another one on the way, Maggie loves the fact that she doesn’t have to get into a car in the snow to get to her job. All she has to do is walk down the stairs and work in her pajamas if she’s so inclined. It’s about as perfect as red paint on a barn.”
The front door opened and a rush of boisterous children, barking dogs and adults trying to keep the kids and dogs from overpowering the guests greeted them.
Fortunately the dogs didn’t jump up on Bella or she’d have to turn around and leave. Dogs scared her ever since a crazed Chihuahua, that looked more like a rat with legs than a dog, bit her ankle.
“Uncle Travis. Uncle Travis. Is this the girl? The one who threw the snowball at me in town?” a young girl asked. She wore cowgirl boots, a lavender skirt and a pink cotton sweater. Her strawberry blond hair was pulled back in a long ponytail, and she had a sly little grin on her young face. She couldn’t have been more than seven or eight years old, but Bella couldn’t be sure. She was never good with guessing a child’s age.
“Yes, Scout, this is Bella Biondi, Nick’s daughter.”
Scout looked up at her as she took her hand and guided her to the open doorway. “You sure can throw a snowball. We’ve been talking about it ever since you hit my cousin on the noggin. Nobody ever lands a snowball on Gavin. He’s too quick. How’d you do that?”
An immediate rush of concern flowed over Bella. She had no idea she’d actually made contact with one of her snowballs. She’d simply lobbed them over to the group without aiming at anyone.
“I didn’t realize I—”
“Yeah, you’re the best shot we ever saw. Better than Uncle Travis or my dad or even Uncle Blake,” a young boy said. He looked a lot like a miniature Colt.
“Are you Gavin?” Bella asked.
He nodded.
“I hope I didn’t hurt you. If I did, I’m so sorry. I didn’t—”
Another boy came up to her, and this one she recognized from the first day when she’d arrived, Colt’s son, Joey. “It would take a lot more than a snowball to hurt Gavin. He’s made out of steel. Besides, he’s been chompin’ at the bit waiting for you to get here so you can show him how to throw like that.”
“C’mon, guys, give her a break,” Colt said, making himself known. “She hasn’t even gotten inside yet and you’re pouncing on her with questions. Let’s get her warmed up first.”
An older woman put her arm around Bella. Normally, Bella would have tensed up and moved away from the woman’s touch. She tended not to like overly friendly people, but she welcomed this woman’s heartfelt warmth and moved in closer to her as she guided Bella through the wide doorway. “Sweetheart, I’ve got some mulled cider on the stove and a brand new bottle of brandy just waitin’ to spread some Christmas cheer. I got a feeling you’d like nothing better than a warm mug right about now.”