Okay, so maybe believing things would be easier if Travis moved on to someone else had been wishful thinking. “Who’s that?”
Aunt Liz moved closer to India. “A daughter of one of your dad’s friends, I think. Her family makes craft beer and they’re the newest toast of the town. I can’t remember her name.”
The woman ran her hand over Travis’s chest. He wrapped his hand around her wrist. Before India could be relieved he’d stopped her from groping him, he brought her hand to his mouth and kissed the back of it.
India’s stomach twisted. “Are they dating?”
“I don’t know. Sure looks like they’re doing something. I hope this doesn’t cause any problems tonight.”
“Why would it cause problems?”
“Because your sister doesn’t have a date, and her ex-husband is here with a beautiful woman. Elaina doesn’t like being humiliated.”
No, she didn’t. Reluctantly, India dragged her gaze away from Travis and the beauty to Elaina. Her sister watched them with cool eyes, but then her chin lifted and she turned her back to Travis.
“Go over there and talk to him. Try to lure him away from her.” Liz pushed India forward.
“What? Why?” The tempo of her heartbeat skyrocketed. She couldn’t talk to Travis after making a big deal about them keeping their distance. Seeing him up close and personal with another woman on his arm was the last thing she wanted.
“Because, if you go over there, it’ll look like you’re helping Elaina welcome new people.” Aunt Liz placed a hand on India’s shoulder and turned her in Travis’s direction. “You can also remind him he doesn’t need to poke the hornet’s nest that is Elaina Robidoux at your brother’s campaign party,” she said under her breath as she gave the people passing them a pleasant smile.
India held stiff against her aunt’s attempts to push her forward. “He knows that.”
“He also knows how to press your sister’s buttons. Remind him. This is for the family.” Liz gave India a quick shove.
India stumbled a few steps, then glared at her aunt.
Liz’s eyes sparkled with humor. “Welcome home, baby girl.”
“Yeah, some welcome,” she mumbled. She took a fortifying breath and turned toward Travis.
Her legs shook as she made her way over to him. A few people recognized her and stopped her. India took the time to say hello. She caught Liz’s eye. Liz raised a brow and waved her hand in a go ahead motion. India swallowed the nervousness in her throat and stopped talking to walk on shaky legs toward Travis.
Travis leaned in and said something to the woman that made her swat at his chest. Raw jealousy had India’s hand clenched into a fist. She shook out her hand and rolled her shoulders. God, this wasn’t her. This jealous, shaky, uncertain person. She was smart and accomplished. She’d traveled the world, dated men she’d met on her travels who were sophisticated, assertive and handsome. She should not be thrown off her game by a guy from eastern North Carolina whom she’d had a silly crush on when she was younger.
The time to get over Travis was now, and dammit, she was going to force herself to stop loving him if it killed her. Her stride lengthened and her shoulders straightened.
“India!” a female’s voice called.
India jerked in the direction of the voice and grinned. “Ashiya!”
Aunt Liz’s only daughter hurried over. Of all the people she’d seen today, she was most excited to see Ashiya, who was closer in age to India than her sister. She and Ashiya had been inseparable growing up.
“Oh, my God, Elaina said you were back.” Ashiya wrapped India in a huge hug, then stepped back. “You don’t know how happy I am that you’re home.”
Ashiya’s hazel eyes, more green than brown, were bright with happiness and excitement. Her cousin was shorter than her by a few inches, her chestnut hair cut in a stylish chin-length bob, and a dark blue sheath dress accented her hourglass figure perfectly. Diamond studs sparkled in her ears almost as brightly as her smile.
“Why are you so happy?”
Ashiya linked her arm through India’s. “Because now I have someone to make rude remarks under my breath to during your brother’s campaign. You know it’s going to be nothing but the family on parade, sporting our best behavior while this is going on.”
Being snarky with Ashiya did sound like a lot of fun. Even though India was delighted to see her cousin and wanted to fall back into their old habits, the parade Ashiya mentioned was exactly why she didn’t want to stick around for it. “I know. Daddy is already telling me I have to do my part.”
“Most of the time I’d disagree with what Uncle Grant tells you, but this time I’m with him. Please tell me you’re sticking around.” Ashiya’s voice went from lighthearted to serious.
“I only plan to stay in town for a few days.” Her voice held the apology she didn’t speak. The part of her that was happy to be back around family urged her to stay, but the idea of being swept into a political drama pushed her toward the nearest airport.
Ashiya shook her head. “No, ma’am. You’ve been gone way too long to say you’re only sticking around for a few days. Video chats and text messages do not make up for having you here in person. You owe me weeks if not months of stories about all the fine men you seduced while traveling.”
India laughed and placed her hand over Ashiya’s. “I didn’t seduce a lot of fine men.”
“Oh well, make it up. How the hell will I know the difference anyway?” Ashiya said with an eye roll. “Just promise me you’ll think about staying longer?”
The weight of her father’s guilt trip was nothing compared to the wave that Ashiya’s pleading eyes inspired. India sighed and smiled. “I’ll think about it.”
Ashiya beamed and squeezed India tighter to her side. “Good, now where were you going looking like you’re ready for battle?”
India glanced over her shoulder. Aunt Liz’s nudging look from earlier was now outright annoyed. “Your mama wants me to separate Travis from the woman on his arm.”
“Who? Camille Ferguson?” Ashiya said with a laugh. “You’d have better luck prying your teeth out with a spoon. That woman is crazy about Travis.”
“So, they are dating?” Disappointment entered her voice. Ashiya raised a brow. “Aunt Liz wasn’t sure,” India said in a rush.
“Not officially, but Uncle Grant’s encouraging Camille’s crush. Though I would agree with Mama that tonight isn’t the night to get your sister riled up.”
More speculation Elaina was holding out because of Travis. Why? That was a mystery she’d have to solve another day. Right now, Aunt Liz was giving her the evil eye and Elaina was glaring at Travis again.
“Then grab your proverbial spoon and help me.” She pulled on her arm linked with Ashiya’s and headed toward Travis.
“Why do I have to help?” Ashiya said in an exaggerated whine.
“Because I want you to,” India said, realizing she sounded a lot like her mother used to when giving them rules they didn’t want to follow.
“You’re as demanding as your daddy,” Ashiya said, but her voice held no malice. She grinned at India. “Watch this. I bet you Camille will find a way to mention her family’s brewery or their beer in the first five seconds of our conversation.”
Travis turned in their direction as they walked up the steps onto the large circular patio. Despite her brush-off earlier, his lips tilted up in a small smile and his dark gaze latched on to hers. Sweat slicked India’s palms and her pulse matched tempo with the jazz beat from the band. The man had too much of an effect on her. She wanted to turn and run, and she hated that.
“Camille, I love that dress,” Ashiya said with false cheer.
Camille must not have heard the insincerity in Ashiya’s voice because she beamed and ran a hand over the front of the dress. “Thank you. I got it last week in New York. I was up
there introducing some of our craft beers to several interested restaurants.”
Ashiya gave India a told-you-so look. “Oh really? How nice.”
India suppressed a laugh and unlinked her arm from Ashiya. “I’m India Robidoux.” She held out her hand.
Camille let go of Travis and shook India’s hand. “The long-lost daughter. Travis has told me so much about you.”
India’s gaze jumped to Travis. “Really?”
Travis shrugged. “You’re talented on the violin. The entire family is proud of you.”
Camille moved closer to Travis. “He brags as if he’s still a part of the family.” Camille said the words as if Travis claimed he could jump to the moon.
India met Camille’s eyes. “He is still a part of the family.” India softened her hard tone with a reproachful smile.
Camille’s lips pressed together in a thin line. “Of course.”
India felt the pressure of Travis’s stare on her. She didn’t meet his gaze. Camille’s sly effort to shove Travis away from their family hit a nerve she hadn’t known was exposed.
Ashiya stepped forward. “You know, Camille, my mom is going to New York in a couple of weeks. I bet she’d love to hear about the restaurants considering your family’s beer. She likes to try new places and why not someplace that will support someone we know?”
“Oh, I’d love to tell her exactly where to go,” Camille said eagerly. She took a step forward, then glanced back at Travis. “Can you excuse me for just a second?”
Travis nodded. “Go ahead. I’m here all night.”
Camille laughed as if Travis was the funniest guy in the world before turning to Ashiya. Camille rambled on about the restaurants she recommended. Ashiya threw India a you owe me glare over her shoulder as she walked away with Camille.
“Let me guess,” Travis said close to her side. “You were told to separate me and Camille.”
A sizzle of awareness made her breath stutter. India quickly faced him. “Why would you say that?”
“Because I saw your aunt practically shove you in my direction,” he said with a quirk of his lip.
“Then you know why,” she said irritably.
Travis shifted his stance and slid a hand in his pocket, mirroring her annoyance. “Elaina and I are divorced. Have been for two years. I can’t keep hiding my dating life from her.”
“You’ve been hiding it from her?” He had been dating? Smiling and flirting with other women? Kissing other women? Sleeping with other women?
He shook his head. “I haven’t had much of a dating life, but the little bit I have I don’t exactly want to talk to her about.”
“Is she still in love with you?” she blurted out. Subtlety was not one of her virtues.
Travis looked genuinely surprised. “In love with me? Doubtful. I don’t know if your sister was ever in love with me.”
Then why did he marry her? The question was on the tip of her tongue. Was it just to get closer to the family? But the regret in his voice brought another thought. Had he loved Elaina and she’d broken his heart?
She swallowed the words. In the end, the whys and hows didn’t matter. He’d married Elaina, and that choice had killed any chance of them ever being together. “Just don’t do anything to intentionally provoke her.”
“I never intentionally provoke her, but you know as well as I do if Elaina wants to be insulted, she will be.”
She couldn’t argue that. “Then my work here is done.” She turned to walk away.
Travis’s hand gently clasped her forearm. The heat of his touch shot through her like a bullet. She pulled away from his touch and took a quick step back, her heart racing in her chest.
“What?” she asked in a breathless rush.
“You look nice. I like the dress.”
Her boring, functional, black dress that wasn’t nearly as fancy or showy as his date’s. She hated it, but the compliment made her chest tighten. “It’s old and practical but it works.”
His dark gaze caressed her face, a look of appreciation in his eye. “I don’t care about any of that. It looks good on you.”
Warmth spread down her cheeks, neck and chest. Now was the time to go before those feelings she didn’t want to acknowledge made her say or do something stupid. “I should go check on...something.” She turned to leave again.
He touched her again. A soft brush of fingertips that had the warmth in her chest drifting farther down to parts that didn’t need heat right now. “No, that’s not all. Have a drink with me.”
She spun and faced him. “Why?”
“Because we need to talk about earlier.” He took a step forward. The scent of his cologne caressed her senses. His dark eyes lured her into their depths. “There’s a few things we need to get straight. Tonight.”
CHAPTER FOUR
TRAVIS HAD NO idea what he wanted to say to India. He just knew he couldn’t go through the next few days, weeks, months or however long she was going to be in town with whatever wall she was trying to erect between them.
India looked left, then right. Reminding him of a kid trying to come up with an excuse to get out of school. She sucked in a corner of her lower lip, a habit she had when thinking or concentrating hard. It gave her mouth a pouty, kissable look. One he wished he’d never noticed.
“Are you afraid to talk to me?” He threw out the taunt intentionally.
The words hit their mark. Her shoulders stiffened, and she met his gaze directly. Her lower lip slipped from between her teeth and her head tilted to the side. “Fine. Let’s talk.”
India had never backed down from a challenge before. She was just as stubborn as the rest of her family, but India had a softer touch when directing things to her advantage. The art of a compromise was her strong suit and one of the things he admired about her. Her ability to always find common ground had helped him whenever he’d argued with his parents about spending too much time with the Robidoux family.
“This way.” In true Robidoux fashion, there were multiple bars set up for the party. Travis held out a hand toward one of the four behind the house.
He placed a hand near the small of India’s back. Not touching her, but that was worse than if he had put his hand on her. India was warmth, happiness and innocence. Things he hadn’t known growing up. Just being near her made him feel as if her aura touched him. No wonder he’d been drawn to her.
“Bourbon neat,” he told the bartender before looking at India. “What about you?”
“Vodka tonic.”
He ordered her drink, then raised a brow. “I thought you preferred brown liquor.”
“I lost my taste for it over the years.” Soft brown eyes met his, then looked away. Tightness framed her full lips.
“Why are you angry with me?” he asked.
The bartender put their drinks on the bar. Over India’s shoulder he saw someone who recognized her, an old classmate if he wasn’t mistaken. Travis picked up their drinks and motioned for India to follow him before they could be interrupted. He picked a table far away from the bar where they were less likely to be interrupted.
He held out her drink and she calmly took it from him. “I’m not mad at you,” India said.
“We’re friends, India,” he said surely, not letting any of his doubts bleed into his voice.
“Were friends,” she corrected in a tight voice. “We were friends. Now we’re just former in-laws.”
The incredulous way she said in-laws told him everything he needed to know. The situation he’d avoided talking about, thinking about and pretending never happened. They’d been friends. Then they’d almost made love that night. But instead of clearing the air with India, he’d been thrown by Elaina saying she was pregnant and keeping it. He’d proposed to Elaina and, under Grant’s order, kept the pregnancy a secret until after the quick wedding. How could he explain
now?
Did India know the reason they got married? Elaina had originally told him no when he’d asked her to marry him. Two weeks later, she’d come back and agreed. Had she told India?
“We never talked about that night,” he stated simply. He didn’t beat around the bush. His mom had punished him enough as a kid when he hinted around instead of getting to the point. If he wanted to know how much India knew, he might as well bring up the subject.
Her eyes snapped to his. In that second when the flash of hurt and denial lit her gaze, he knew he was right. “I’m not mad about that.”
“Then what’s going on?”
India took a small sip of her drink. Licked her lips. Travis’s stomach tightened. He looked away. Attraction or not, anything other than a strictly platonic relationship with India was nothing but trouble.
“I was wrong for seducing you that night,” she said in a rush. “I knew you and Elaina were...” She rotated her hand in a circle.
“Sleeping together,” he finished for her.
She took another sip of her drink. “I shouldn’t have done that.”
The corner of his mouth tilted up. “You seduced me?” He took a sip of his drink. Relished the smooth flavor and hints of caramel in the bourbon.
“I asked you out there because I knew what might happen.”
Travis leaned back in his chair. “Did you, really?” He met her eyes. His voice lowered. “Did you really think there was a chance we’d have sex?” He’d come so close. Only the good Lord and every shred of decency in him had kept him from doing more.
India sucked in a fast breath. Her breasts rose and fell with the movement. She took another swallow of her drink. Even in the dim lights of the party, he could see the faint flush of her sienna skin. Innocence and warmth. After all these years, she still blushed.
“I’d hoped we would. I didn’t expect you to be such a gentleman about things.” Her voice shook slightly, but she didn’t shy away.
Her softly spoken words touched something long forgotten inside of him. The feeling of being a prop for the Robidoux family. Grant’s good deed. Elaina’s rebellious affair. Had he also been India’s walk on the wild side? He didn’t want to believe that. He didn’t want to think he’d romanticized something that didn’t mean as much to her.
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