“I’ve known your Aunt Margaret my entire life. Your mother, my father, and your aunt all went to school together—grade school through high school.” He flashed her a wicked grin. “Yep. I’ve heard all about you, girl.”
“Like what?” Has the family scandal followed me here?
Travis smirked. “Like you’re from West Palm Beach and live on the Island. You spend your time playing tennis and waltzing at dances. Hoity-toity, rich-city-kid stuff like that.”
Was he trying to get her dander up? If so, he succeeded.
“Travis Baxter, if I knew you better,” she spouted, “I’d tell you exactly what I thought about you. But seeing as I don’t know you better, and after this I don’t plan to, you’ll just have to go on in ignorance of my opinion of you.”
“Well, Miss Harte, that sure would be a shame, seeing as how I really like you in spite of what you think or don’t think of me.” With that Travis tilted his Stetson, grabbed his reins, swung back up into the saddle, and rode away.
What a frustrating jerk! What a handsome, hot, tanned…with a great butt…frustrating jerk.
Rachael climbed over the back fence and headed into the house by way of the back porch. When she opened the screened door, her mother and Aunt Margaret were sitting there sipping coffee. They’d certainly been witness to the whole conversation but thank goodness were too far away to have heard any of it.
“So I see you met Travis.” Her aunt smiled. “Such a sweet, gentle-natured boy.”
Was she talking about the same guy? No way. The guy who purposefully rode right past her clothes, intentionally cutting her off from them at the creek? He just wanted to sneak a peek. Then he acted all gentlemanly and rode back to get them. A true gentleman would have brought them in the first place, then politely turned his back while she dressed. Sweet? Gentle-natured? Pfff. Creep was more like it.
“Yep, he’s nice, Aunt Margaret,” Rachael lied through her teeth.
“Good. I’m glad you liked him, because I asked him last week if he could come over tomorrow and give you a tour around here.”
OMG… “That’s sweet, Aunt Margaret, but I have a boyfriend already and wouldn’t want to make him jealous,” Rachael replied nonchalantly.
“Don’t be silly. Travis knows you have a serious boyfriend. I already told him. As always, he will be the perfect gentleman.”
“Thanks, Aunt Margaret, that’s really sweet.” Fearful her face would betray her true feelings, Rachael hurried inside. She went straight to her room and closed her door gently.
Who can I call to talk to about this? Colten? No that might go badly. Brittany or Ellery? No, they might tell Colten and really make a mess of things. Dad?…I’ll call Dad. He understands guys, even if he is a really old one.
Rachael picked up her cell and checked for bars. TGFT. At least I have bars out here to be able to stay in touch with the rest of the modern world. She dialed her father.
He picked up on the first ring. “Hey, baby girl. I’m so glad to hear from you. How was the drive over?”
“Great, Dad. We got here a few hours ago. The movers arrived with the truck right after we got here. I’m sitting on my bed now. It’s wall-to-wall boxes. I think it’s going to take me forever to unpack.”
“You’d be surprised. It’s like unpacking a suitcase from a long trip, except with all your favorite shoes along. I didn’t even check your room. Did you take all of your shoe collection?”
“Sure did. And that’s the best part of it all. Aunt Margaret surprised me by redoing an entire room for me, but of course you probably knew that.”
He chuckled. “Yes, I did. But it was your mother and Aunt Margaret who did all of the planning and brainstorming about what you’d want. What do you think about the closet? Aunt Margaret emailed us pictures a few weeks back. I thought it looked pretty nice.”
“Definitely. The shoe rack is amazing! I was totally psyched when I saw it! I love the new laptop and stereo too.”
“Aw, those were my suggestions. Wanted to make sure you had internet access. Can’t have you cut off from all civilized society.”
“Yeah, well, that’s kind of why I called. I needed to talk,” Rachael confided in a whisper.
“Go on,” her father urged.
“It’s nothing major, but I went for a long hike today and trespassed onto someone’s land.”
“Trespassed? Are you in legal trouble?” Her father sounded very worried.
“No, Dad, it’s not like that. They are good friends of Aunt Margaret’s…and, well, the guy is around my age.”
“Um-hum.” Her father sounded intrigued.
“So anyhow, he was very nice at first and even gave me a ride home on his horse. Then he let me know he knew exactly who I was from Aunt Margaret, and I felt like he kind of insulted me.”
“Insulted you how?”
“He said he’d heard I was from the city and played tennis and a lot of other rich ‘Hoity-toity’ stuff. I’m not even sure I know what ‘Hoity-toity means.”
“Is that all?” Her father started to laugh.
“No. The worst part is, I then went inside, and Aunt Margaret told me he’s a really nice guy. She asked him to show me around tomorrow. I don’t want to go anywhere with him, tomorrow or any other day for that matter, but I didn’t want to offend Aunt Margaret, either.”
“So you kept quiet?” her father inquired.
“Yep.”
“And now you regret it because you really don’t want to go.” Her father said it as more as a statement of fact rather than a question. “Is he cute?”
“Dad,” Rachael said sarcastically, “I have a boyfriend. Remember?”
“Yes, I remember. Was he a real jerk to you? In any other way, I mean.”
Rachael knew exactly what her father meant by “in any other way.” “Dad! Of course not. It’s just that I have a boyfriend and this guy—Travis is his name—is really, really cute, and I don’t want to give him the wrong idea.”
“Does he know you have a boyfriend?”
“Yes.”
“Want to know what I think?”
“Yes. That’s why I called.”
“Well, I think you’ve moved to a very small town. Speaking from experience, it wouldn’t hurt to have a good friend who has probably been born and raised there.”
“He has. So continue…”
“He knows you have a boyfriend and therefore shouldn’t have any real expectations of anything more, but having been a young guy myself, I know he may have. So the question here is whether you think you can have a close friendship with a guy, other than Colten, without it becoming something more. I think you can. I don’t think not going tomorrow is the right choice.”
“So you think I should go?” Rachael asked.
“Yes. I think you should go.”
“Thanks, Dad.”
“But…”
She knew there would have to be a but involved here somewhere.
“You need to tell Colten. Not in an ‘I think I am doing something wrong way.’ Just in an ‘I have made a friend, and it happens to be a guy way.’ Okay? Then there won’t be a problem.”
“Nope. TCO.”
“TCO?” Her father sounded confused.
“All taken care of, Dad. And BTW, we gotta teach you to text properly. I think we will be doing a lot more of it.” Rachael laughed.
“OK. LOL. At least I know that much.”
“’Night, Dad. Thanks again.”
“’Night, baby. Love you.”
“I love you too.” Rachael ended the call. Well, that was new and totally weird, yet awesome too in a weird way.
Next she dialed Colten. I hope this goes well.
He answered immediately. “Hey, my favorite girl. What’s up? How’s the metropolis of Fruitville?”
“Great, actually. Everything has gone smoothly, and my new room is awesome.” Rachael conveyed the events of her afternoon, starting with her drive over and ending with her conversation with Trav
is at the fence and the call to her father.
“Sounds like you’ve had a crazy day. A cattle drive? Really? I wish I’d seen that.”
“Yeah. It was insane.” Then she asked, “So you’re not bothered by me hanging out with Travis tomorrow? Seeing the sights sort of thing?”
“Well, in reference to the creek thing, can you blame him? You have a killer body. He is a guy after all.”
“It doesn’t bother you?”
“Rachael, guys check you out all the time. I’m sure half of Palm Beach has seen you in a bikini. Besides, I trust you. I have girl friends back home. Whoa…that came out wrong.”
She intervened. “No, I know what you meant. Friends who are girls.”
“Precisely. Like I have this friend, Gema, and I’ve known her forever. She’s just a friend, but I love to talk to her, bounce ideas off of her. She knew I liked you before you did. She even helped me plan our first date,” Colten confessed.
“Aww…” Rachael sighed.
“Now if you start telling me he is trying to kiss you and stuff, then that would be different.”
Yep. That’s hitting the nail on the head. It was the “and stuff” Rachael was worried about. She could tell Travis found her attractive, but she didn’t believe he liked her, as in liked her. Hopefully she wasn’t mistaken.
“Okay. So I’ll go.”
“Yes, you should. And see if he has any friends who are girls he can introduce you to.”
“Colten.”
“What? A guy can’t be a little jealous his favorite girl is spending an entire day with a cowboy? I just wish it were me, is all.”
“I wish it were too.” She heard her mother calling her. “Hey, Mom’s looking for me. Gotta run. Talk to you tomorrow?”
“For sure. Miss you already.”
“Me too. Night-night.”
“’Night, baby.”
Out of the frying pan and into the fire! So I’ll be spending the day with Travis tomorrow. What will it be like? Hopefully fun.
Her mother called again, and Rachael hurried in the direction of her voice. It was dinnertime. When she entered the dining room, her stomach growled at the mere sight of the spread. Yum. Yum. Candied yams. Biscuits. And glazed ham. Some of her favorites.
After dinner, Rachael took a long soak in a hot tub. She needed that more than anything to help her relax. Afterwards, she read one of Colten’s messages on her picture frame.
Yep. I still miss you.
Then she slept in her new bed, in her new room, for the first time. She dreamed about Colten, and it was wonderful.
Until…
4
RACHAEL AWOKE TO A BLOOD-CURDLING, STARTLING SCREECH. She shot straight up in bed. What the heck was that?
There it is again…is that a rooster? What time is it anyway?
A glance at the clock on her stereo told her it was a quarter ’til five o’clock in the morning! Rachael grabbed her pillow and covered her entire face and head with it, stifling a groan.
Then there was a knock at her door.
What is going on? Can’t a person get any sleep around here?
“Yessss.” Rachael didn’t even lift the pillow.
“It’s Aunt Margaret. Are you awake?”
“Yes. Come on in.” This better be important.
“Hey, honey, you’re probably not used to getting up this early and all, but I figured you’d want a little time to get ready.”
“For what?” came Rachael’s reluctant question.
“Travis. He’ll be here in about thirty minutes.”
“What!” Rachael shrieked. “Are you kidding me?”
This must be some sort of joke. A really bad one. Who gets up and goes out to see the sights at five o’clock in the morning?
Another glance at the clock and Rachael amended her previous thought: Who gets up and goes out to see the sights at 4:58 in the morning? A jerk like Travis, that’s who.
“He’s taking you fishing.”
“Fishing?”
“Yep. He thought being from the city and all, you’d really like to go fishing. A huge group of kids are going. They like to be on the water before daybreak.” Aunt Margaret paused in the doorway and turned back. “Oh, and don’t forget a swimsuit. This involves swimming too.”
“Okay.” At five o’clock in the morning that was all the enthusiasm Rachael could fake.
Rachael crawled out of bed and started sorting through boxes in search of her bikini. She couldn’t find her newest one. She’d have to settle for the string bikini with the nonexistent bottoms. It was from last season and way too small now, but it would have to suffice.
Great. My butt will be hanging out. On second thought, maybe a pair of board shorts would be a good idea…if I can find them.
A few more minutes of searching produced no board shorts. Only a box of tennis skirts and jean shorts. Jean shorts, it is. That pair is too long. That pair of cutoffs are short. Perfect.
Rachael threw on the bikini and the jean short cutoffs, a Hollister tank top, and a visor with her ponytail hanging out the top. She applied her waterproof, sweat-proof tinted sunscreen that worked like a base. Sweeping her eyes with waterproof mascara, she added some lip gloss and decided she was ready to go.
Rachael walked down the hall and into the kitchen and stopped cold.
“Mornin’, sunshine. Ready to go?” Travis asked by way of greeting from where he sat at the kitchen table.
“Oh, it’s you,” Rachael said curtly.
“Yep.” He shot her a pearly white grin. “Glad to see you too. Your aunt made you coffee and a sausage biscuit for the road.”
He got up, handed them both to her, then headed toward the front door. Rachael stared at his back and then, like a puppy, followed him, gripping her insulated coffee mug and the biscuit wrapped in a napkin.
From behind he’s perfect. It’s when he opens his mouth that I could kill him.
When Rachael stepped outside, she could see the seriously nice truck parked in the driveway up on big tires. Behind it was a gorgeous airboat. She had to admit the truck was sweet, but the tires were a bit much. And an airboat? Were they going to the Everglades? She’d seen them on TV but never in real life.
Travis walked to her side of the vehicle and opened the passenger side door. So he’s a gentleman in actions, she thought skeptically. But when she got in, she saw they weren’t alone. Two gorgeous girls were in the backseat!
So Travis is a player…hmm. Some gentleman.
The cute blonde with high cheekbones and blue eyes cheerfully said, “Hi, Rachael. I’m Maysie, Travis’s twin sister. This is my BFF Shannah.”
“What’s up?” was all the greeting Shannah offered.
“We’re so glad you moved here. We’ll have a blast hanging out on the river today,” Maysie continued, as if not bothered by her best friend’s lack of interest or enthusiasm.
“River?” Rachael asked.
“Yep. The Peace River,” Maysie answered.
“Cool. Thanks for inviting me,” Rachael offered.
“Oh, we didn’t,” Shannah said under her breath.
Maysie elbowed Shannah in the ribs. “It was all Travis’s idea. He figures it would be a great chance for you to meet everyone from the area. You’ll see. It’ll be fun.”
“A total blast,” Shannah said dryly.
This time Maysie kicked her in the shin.
After that, everyone was quiet for the next five minutes of the ride. From his profile Rachael could see Travis was grinning wide.
He’s having fun at my expense. This guy really ticks me off.
Rachael was glad everyone was quiet now. She couldn’t tell if Shannah inherently didn’t like her or if she was just moody. Or maybe she knew something Rachael didn’t know.
“So, Rachael.” Travis broke the silence. “Do you like to fish?”
“Sure. But not usually this early. I’m more of a late riser.”
Travis’s grin got wider. “Well, it’s going to b
e a long day. I hope you put on some sunscreen…though, by the looks of you, you don’t really need any.” Then he added, “But if you do, I know Ty will gladly help you out.”
“Ty?” Rachael asked.
“Yep. He was one of the cowboys helping yesterday. He thought you were real cute.”
“Oh,” was all Rachael said.
“You gotta watch that one,” Maysie chimed in from the backseat.
Shannah snorted. “That’s putting it mildly.”
“He’s known for being a real heartbreaker around here…really hot and smooth,” Maysie warned.
“Thanks for the warning, but I’ve got a boyfriend back home.”
Almost instantly she felt a change in the atmosphere from Shannah’s direction.
“So how long have you been going out?” Shannah asked in a much warmer voice.
“Six months. He’s from England.”
“Oh. I bet he has a neat accent.” Maysie sounded really interested in hearing all about Colten.
“Yikes. Get me out of this truck,” Travis griped.
“What? Did you say something?” Rachael teased.
“Nope.” Travis laughed.
“Good,” Maysie said. “Let’s talk guys.”
“Here we go. I knew I should have driven separately,” Travis chided.
“Oh be quiet. Just close your ears,” Maysie said sweetly.
It was funny. Even when Maysie was being short, she sounded so sweet, sincere, and innocent.
“So, I have a crush on Jason,” Maysie admitted. “He’s a hottie and a junior, the running back for the football team. I’m hoping he’ll ask me out by the end of summer.”
“Yep. And maybe not,” Travis threw in. “I don’t think he’s right for you.”
“Why not? He is a friend of yours,” Maysie grumped.
“Yep, exactly. And I know him better than you do. How about a nice guy like Adam?”
“Too nice.”
Rachael decided to change the subject before brother and sister got into a fight. “So, Shannah, who do you like?”
“Ty,” Maysie said with a teasing voice.
So that’s it. She was afraid I’d be competition. “The player?” Rachael couldn’t help herself.
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