“It wasn’t Roy’s idea.”
Travis bit back a curse. “Was it your dad?” Grant Robidoux liked to manipulate things to work out in his favor. If he thought something needed to change to get the outcome he wanted, then he’d do everything in his power to make that change. Travis bet the man thought he could change the Earth’s rotation if he concentrated hard enough.
“Believe it or not, it was my idea,” Byron said.
Travis searched his friend’s face. There was no trace of deceit. Travis leaned forward, stunned. “Why would you choose her?”
“For all the reasons my dad mentioned. Don’t worry, she knows the deal. She doesn’t love me any more than I love her, but she’s got her own political aspirations. She knew what my intentions were when I first mentioned the possibility of us getting married. She’s smart, and she knows how to run a campaign. With her by my side, I’ll win.”
Travis shook his head. Byron made a marriage of convenience sound so simple and easy. If only that were true. “Did you not witness me in a bad marriage for years? Elaina and I weren’t right together.”
Byron shrugged off his warning. “That was after the miscarriage. Before...before, you two were okay.”
Travis’s throat tightened. The reminder like a punch in the chest. He looked away from Byron, not wanting his friend to see the pain that still crept up whenever he thought of the miscarriage. They’d tried to make their marriage work, even though they both knew they’d been forced into the situation. The idea of a baby had brought hope to them both. Hope that was snuffed out at fourteen weeks.
“Even before...” He let his voice trail off. He’d never told Byron that Grant had insisted he marry Elaina. Byron looked up to his father. Travis didn’t have that with his dad. As Byron’s friend, Travis hadn’t wanted to take away his respect for the man he admired most in his life.
“Things weren’t always perfect before either,” Travis said. “After we realized we’d rushed into things. The loss didn’t help.”
“Your situation is different from mine. Yolanda and I know what we’re getting into.”
“Still—”
Byron stood and walked around his desk, his shoulders tense and his face set in a stubborn frown. “I’m not budging on this. Love, romance, all that is a bunch of mumbo jumbo anyway. Foolishness that gets people hurt. I don’t need love. Just a perfect wife. We’ll both look the other way if we want a little fun on the side.”
There was a knock on the door before Travis could tell Byron that was the stupidest thing he’d ever heard. Byron could try his love-is-mumbo-jumbo excuse on someone else. He knew his friend had loved once before. Loved hard and sacrificed a bit of himself. After that experience, he hadn’t bothered to get close to another woman.
Byron relaxed and smiled. “Good, she’s here.”
“Who’s here?” Travis turned to the door.
“India. I asked both of you to come by today.” He crossed the room and opened the door.
Travis immediately stood and straightened his clothes. Not that he had to. His black pants and butter-yellow shirt were freshly pressed from the dry cleaner’s. He reached up to smooth the back of his faded haircut, then dropped his hands. There was not going to be anything between him and India. If he thought Grant had nearly skinned him years ago for kissing India, he could imagine the torture he’d plan if he hooked up with her now. He’d kill him faster than his cousin and uncle would.
India walked in, a bright smile on her face as she hugged Byron. She was breathtaking in a soft, mint-green top that hung off one of her shoulders. A long, flowy black skirt draped her curves and brushed the tops of her sandaled feet. Her curly dark hair was pulled away from her face in a high bun. When her eyes spotted him, her smile stiffened before she relaxed.
“Travis, I didn’t expect you to be here.”
There was nothing in her voice to indicate she wasn’t happy to see him, but he got the feeling she’d rather him be somewhere else. “Apparently Byron has summoned us both,” he said, trying to sound carefree. Not like he wanted to cross the room, pull her into his arms and taste the smooth skin bared by the loose neckline of her top.
“Oh really.” She raised a brow at Byron. “What for?”
“I want to hold another campaign fund-raiser dinner, but not at the Robidoux estate,” Byron said. He was back to business and led India over to the chair next to Travis in front of his desk. “I want something a little more informal. To try to draw in voters who aren’t able to pay $500 per plate.”
India settled into the chair. The faint scent of her perfume, soft and feminine, drifted over. Toyed with his sensibilities. “Okay, what does that have to do with us?” Travis asked.
“I’d like you two to put it together.” Byron said it as if Travis and India planned fund-raisers every day in their sleep.
India shifted forward in her seat. “Why in the world would you choose us?”
“Because neither of you think like the rest of the family. Roy may have been a jerk when he said it, but he was right. I can be a little...spoiled.”
“Ya think?” Travis replied. India chuckled.
Byron gave him a warning look, then kept talking. “I wouldn’t know how to plan something simple if I tried. You two, on the other hand, are more...”
“Destitute?” Travis grinned and made air quotes with his fingers. He wasn’t offended by Roy’s position. That was his job, to think of how to play every angle. Besides, it wasn’t as if Travis had grown up in the lap of luxury.
“If you’re destitute,” India said, placing a hand on the arm of his chair. “What does that make me?” Her eyes sparkled with amusement.
He rubbed his chin and pretended to mull over her words. “I think you’re the relatable one. The heart of the family, remember?”
India nodded. “Ahh, yes, that’s right. We make him more human.”
They laughed and their eyes met. In that second, they connected like they had before he’d screwed up and almost had sex with her. Back when he and India would poke fun at the pompousness and absurdity that was the Robidoux family sometimes.
“Call it what you want,” Byron cut in, unfazed by their teasing. “You’ll come up with a great idea. And I need it to happen at the end of next month.”
The deadline cut short their laughter. India narrowed her eyes at her brother. “Wait, you want us to plan a fantastic, budget-friendly campaign dinner, and you want it to happen next month? Are you insane?”
Byron sank into the chair behind his desk, his don’t-argue-with-me stare a perfect replica of Grant’s. “No, I’m determined. There’s a difference. Can you do it?”
“Byron, in case you don’t remember,” Travis said, “I’m in the middle of a big case that’s probably going to make my family kill me.” He kept his voice light but the memory of his cousin flashing a gun popped into his mind. They didn’t need to know he was serious.
“You come up with the idea, then delegate the actual planning of the event.” Byron pointed to the door. “I’ve got tons of volunteers. Just tell them what they need to do to make it happen.”
“You really think planning a campaign event is that easy, don’t you?” India asked dryly.
Byron clasped his hands together on top of his desk. His eyes pleading, they passed between India and Travis. “Please, guys, I really need something that isn’t going to cost people an arm and a leg to attend. I know I need to make money and big sponsors are great, but I’m also running to help people who don’t have thousands of dollars to give. I get it, I’m asking a lot, but this would really ease my mind with everything else going on.” He finished by looking at Travis.
Everything else, like an upcoming engagement. Travis didn’t agree with all of Byron’s tactics for getting into office, but his heart was in the right place with this idea. Travis’s caseload was full, but he had other attorneys
in the practice who could help with the work. The King case was his biggest, and helping India do a low-cost event shouldn’t be too much of a distraction.
“Fine, I’ll see what I can move around,” Travis said. He turned and faced India. “If you’ve got the time to help.” Was she still planning to leave for California soon? She’d agreed to help with Byron’s campaign, but that didn’t guarantee she would be in town for a long time. She could decide go to California and fly back to Jackson Falls for important events.
India chewed on the corner of her lip. She eyed Byron, who returned her look with his own please-help-me face. Rolling her eyes, she met Travis’s gaze. “I can help.”
“Are you sure? What about California?”
“You’re not still going? I thought you were helping the campaign,” Byron chimed in.
India held up a hand and stopped Byron before he could ask more questions. “I won’t know about the audition for two months or so. I can help plan this event and still fly out there for the audition.”
Byron sagged in relief. Travis was relieved as well, but held back the joy her answer caused. She wasn’t leaving soon. He’d get to see her more. He wanted more time to repair their relationship. Rebuild the friendship they’d lost. That was all.
“Good, I knew I could count on you two.” The phone on Byron’s desk rang. “Excuse me a second.” He answered the phone.
Travis focused on India. “Thank you for agreeing to help with this. I’m not sure I would know where to start.”
“I don’t know if I’m the best person to tell you,” she replied. “But we’ll think of something.”
“Let’s get together later this week and go over ideas.”
India stilled for a second. He hadn’t meant to make the suggestion sound like a date. It wasn’t a date. There was no way they would ever date.
“You can come by the office,” he said quickly. “Call my receptionist and she’ll let you know when I’m free. I have some appointments on my phone calendar, but she keeps up with everything else.”
India nodded and smiled. He tried not to be offended that she looked relieved. “Sure, of course. I’ll give her a call.” She checked her watch. “You know, I’ve got to go.”
She stood and Travis got up, as well. Byron covered the mouth of his phone. “You’re leaving already?”
“Yeah, I promised Ashiya I’d stop by her store, and I’ve got a few other errands I need to run.”
“Thanks for coming by, India,” Byron said. He dropped his hand on the phone. “Sorry, I was speaking to my sister. Can you repeat that?”
Travis turned to India. “I’ll walk you out.”
She looked as if she wanted to argue, but he had no reason to stick around with Byron’s phone call still going. She must have realized the same because her lips tilted up in a stiff smile. Travis waved at Byron, who threw up two fingers in a peace sign. He opened the door for India and they were silent as they walked through the busy office.
Outside, the sun caught the highlights of India’s hair. She squinted and slipped a pair of large black shades out of her purse and onto her face. They made her look like a sexy Hollywood diva.
“Well, I guess I’ll see you later this week,” she said.
“I’m usually free in the mornings. I also come in early, so feel free to set up a time before eight if that works for you.” He was stalling, and he knew it. Trying to find a reason to keep her around a little longer.
“Cool, I’ll keep that in mind.”
A few seconds passed. There wasn’t much else he could say to prolong their conversation. That didn’t stop him from trying to think of a reason. He couldn’t see her eyes through the dark shades, but he felt her gaze on him. She tugged the corner of her lip in between her teeth. His stomach tightened, and desire stirred farther south.
He looked away first. Staring at her for too long only made his thoughts want to go places they had no business going. “Have a good one.”
India stepped back from him. “Yeah, you, too.” She turned and nearly sprinted to her car parked several spaces over from his.
Travis walked to his own vehicle. India waved as she pulled out of the lot. He stood at his car door and watched her drive away. Watched and wondered if he’d ever drop this longing he had for India.
CHAPTER NINE
INDIA DECIDED TO get started sooner rather than later with planning Byron’s campaign fund-raiser. She called the receptionist and confirmed that Travis came in earlier than the rest of the staff. His receptionist also confirmed he had no morning meetings on Thursday and she could catch him first thing. Which was why India had gotten up early and headed straight for Travis’s office. She’d made the appointment for eight fifteen with his receptionist, but knowing he’d be here long before then pushed her to arrive early. If she put off working on this with him, she was more likely to avoid planning all together.
She wanted to strangle Byron for asking her to work with Travis. Then again, it wasn’t like he knew about their history. Byron wanted to win, and she’d agreed to be officially partnered with Travis during his campaign. Besides, they were “cool” with each other now. Avoiding him wasn’t an option. Not the best option anyway. And it wasn’t as if Travis was burning with desire for her. He still treated her like his good friend. She was the only one still hung up on a night of almost having sex from years ago.
She pulled into his parking lot at seven forty-five and sure enough his Cadillac was already in the parking lot. She expected the door of his office to be locked but it swung open easily even though no one sat behind the desk in the reception area.
The office was decorated tastefully. Leather and wood made the space comfortable and professional. Painted landscapes on the wall created a welcoming feeling. She recognized his work instantly. Travis painted with bold, sweeping strokes that intricately blended light and shadow.
She liked seeing his paintings prominently on display. He was still painting. She’d worried the time with her family might have killed his creativity. Grant Robidoux was a superficial lover of the arts. Great to entertain a person for a few hours, but not something worth cultivating seriously.
“Hello,” she called out into the empty space. No answer.
She waited for a minute before walking down the hall. His car was outside, so he had to be in here somewhere. The thick gray carpet muffled her footsteps as she passed a conference room and several empty offices. In the back corner was a closed door with Travis’s name emblazoned on a gold plate beside the door.
She knocked and waited. The muffled sound of Travis’s voice came from the other side of the door. Taking that as acknowledgment of her knock, she opened the door and walked in.
Her feet froze on the threshold. Travis stopped in the middle of singing and slipping on a shirt. One arm was in the sleeve of his white button-down, the other poised to slip into the other sleeve. Wireless earbuds were in his ear.
She shouldn’t look. She really should keep her eyes up, but since when did eyes follow rules when there was a handsome, half-naked man in a room? She barely breathed as she took in the chiseled chest, defined abs and decadent brown skin. His pants were unzipped, providing a glimpse of red boxer briefs. She swallowed hard. Fire spread through her body, fast and dangerous like an out-of-control forest fire. It consumed her nerves faster than dried leaves on the forest floor.
Travis pulled the earbuds out and music drifted from the devices. He dropped his arms, the shirt still half on his body. “India?”
Her lungs finally decided to function again. She sucked in air. “Travis...sorry. I called out.” She took in his really nice muscles and licked her lips. “You’re not dressed.”
“I came here straight from the gym.” He tapped the screen of his phone and the music stopped before pointing to a door in the corner of his office. “I showered in my bathroom there. What are you doing here?
”
“Your receptionist mentioned you didn’t have meetings this morning. I know our appointment was at eight fifteen, but I came early to catch you before your day started.” Her eyes dipped to his chest again. Then slid lower to the red fabric peeking below his navel. She pulled her lower lip between her teeth. Her pulse jumped to a fast, erratic tempo as she tried not to imagine what lay behind the red.
“You definitely caught me before my day started.”
Her gaze jumped up at the sound of his voice. If he noticed her blatant staring at his body, he didn’t let on. “Give me a second and I’ll get dressed so this won’t be weird.”
“It’s not weird,” she said quickly. His abs rippled as he stretched and slipped his other arm in the shirt. Her gaze dropped again. She bit her lip to stop the goofy, embarrassing, you’re-naked-and-sexy grin trying to take over her mouth.
Travis raised a brow. He put his hands on his hips instead of buttoning the shirt. “Having this conversation without me wearing a shirt wouldn’t be weird?”
The fire in her system roared to life. She fought not to squirm as prickles of desire played hopscotch over her skin while her face burned with embarrassment. Weird was not the word that came to mind. Tempting, distracting, mouthwatering maybe.
I am so pathetic.
Here she was tripping over her words and ogling him like a dog waiting for their owner to drop a morsel from the dinner table when he only wanted to get dressed. Of course this was weird.
“I didn’t mean it that way. Just I’m not weirded out by a man with no shirt. I’ve seen shirtless men before. Tons actually. In fact we visited this nude beach in—”
“I get the picture.” He grinned and buttoned his shirt. “My naked chest is not that big of a deal.”
His tone was casual, but she swore he was disappointed. She bit her lip instead of immediately rushing to reassure him. Telling him how much of a big deal seeing him shirtless actually was would only further her embarrassment. Unless he wanted her to admit she liked his bare chest.
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