The thought scared and excited her. His frown deepened as if he’d read her thoughts. She looked around, trying to spot her brother in the crowd. Time to go before that idea led her on.
“I’ll be right back,” she said in a rush. She spun faster than a figure skater in the Olympics and headed in the direction she’d last seen Byron.
She couldn’t have Travis. Even if she wasn’t a dutiful daughter, she was a loyal sister. Then there was the question of whether or not Elaina still cared about Travis in some way. India couldn’t break her sister’s heart by entertaining these thoughts. She looked over her shoulder. Travis still watched her. She couldn’t...could she?
* * *
“BEFORE I GET off this stage, I’d like to thank the one person I wouldn’t have made it this far without. Yolanda, sweetheart, will you come forward?”
India’s gaze flew from her brother to his “girlfriend” standing next to Aunt Liz with the rest of the family on the stage. Byron’s speech had been perfect. He’d talked about his plans to boost the economy, represent the underserved and fight to lower taxes. The crowd had cheered, clapped and yelled “amen” as if he were the greatest pastor they’d ever heard preach. She had to admit Byron sometimes sounded like a pastor when giving speeches. Once again, she’d been swept into his sincerity and enthusiasm as she stood behind him with the rest of the family. All of them beaming with pride—well, except Elaina. She never beamed but she had looked pleased as Byron promised to be the best senator their area had ever seen.
India watched anxiously as Yolanda crossed over to Byron. A sick feeling swelled in her gut. She’d spoken to Yolanda twice since Byron’s campaign manager mentioned his plans to marry her. She and Byron looked like the perfect power couple, but there was no warmth, no swelling of emotion when the two of them were together. Yolanda was a nice person, but she wasn’t who India would have expected Byron to marry. Enough time had passed since he’d mentioned getting engaged that she’d hoped Byron would change his mind. Now, as he turned to Yolanda with a grin on his face and reached into his pocket, India knew what was up.
“Yolanda,” Byron said. He slipped a small black box out of his pocket. “You have been there for me from the moment I decided to begin this journey.”
India shook her head. The sick feeling in her stomach increased. No. No. No. He couldn’t be doing this. Not just to win an election. India looked at their dad. He needed to do something. Stop this charade.
But Grant just watched Byron and Yolanda with pride and satisfaction. Elaina’s beautiful face was impassive except for a slight quirk to her brow. Her aunt, cousin and the rest of their family and friends invited onstage all smiled warmly at the couple. She had to stop this. She couldn’t sit there and watch her brother make a huge mistake.
She took a step forward. A warm hand wrapped around her elbow. Travis stood behind her. He gently squeezed her elbow.
“Not now,” he said in an almost imperceptible voice.
India clenched her teeth. If not now, when? If she didn’t speak up, it would be too late. Byron couldn’t rescind a public engagement. Had he lost his mind? She looked at her brother and opened her mouth to speak but the words died. Byron’s politician’s grin was wide and warm. Satisfaction apparent in his face, relaxed shoulders, and the way he confidently took Yolanda’s left hand in his.
India leaned back toward Travis. He slid to her side and gave her a quick comforting squeeze to her shoulder. Movement to her left caught her attention. Elaina watched her. A frown on her face. She should move away from Travis. Instead, she gave Elaina a weak smile. Elaina darted her eyes at Byron, then lifted her shoulders in a what-ya-gonna-do way before rolling her eyes and turning back to the happy couple.
India knew exactly what she should do. Stop Byron in the middle of his stupid proposal. Tell him he deserved more than an arranged political wedding. Like a dutiful Robidoux, she remained quiet and absorbed the heat of Travis’s body as he stood beside her. Their shoulders touched innocently, but India leaned into it as if it were an embrace. She forced herself to grin with the rest of her family as Byron asked a woman he didn’t love to marry him.
The crowd ate up the engagement almost as fast as they were eating the free fish. Cheers and claps were everywhere after Byron slipped a sparkling diamond ring on Yolanda’s finger. Even though she was pretty sure Yolanda was aware this was a calculated campaign maneuver, she played the part of surprised girlfriend so well she should have received an Oscar.
Everyone rushed over to congratulate the happy couple. Travis shifted away. She wanted to reach for him but stopped herself. He leaned down and spoke to her over the noise of the crowd. “Let’s go check on the food.” The warm caress of his breath was against her ear.
India didn’t hesitate to turn away from the show. She’d deal with Byron later. Everyone was so excited about the engagement no one noticed as she and Travis slipped off the stage and walked silently to where Frank and his team battered and fried fish.
They went through the motions of making sure everything was still operating smoothly. The music started again. Hits from the late ’90s and early ’00s. Dancing started near the stage, with Byron, Yolanda and their father in the middle of the group. The sun glinted off the huge rock on Yolanda’s finger. Everyone was happy for the future senator and his perfect soon-to-be wife.
“I can’t believe he did it,” India said. Watching as her brother smiled at Yolanda as if she had made him the happiest man alive. Maybe she had. All he wanted was the Senate seat and Yolanda would help him achieve that.
Travis placed a hand on the small of her back, the warmth comforting and frustrating. Casual touches, that was all she’d ever get from him. They couldn’t laugh and dance and look at each other as if they were in love. She couldn’t get what she wanted.
He leaned in close. “Let’s take a walk.”
She nodded and followed him. He took her to the walking trail that circled the perimeter of the park. They didn’t speak as they strolled along the narrow concrete path. They passed the playground, baseball field and man-made pond, eventually reaching the other side of the park. It was a more naturalized area with trees and expanses of grass, but not so natural as to make the area unsafe for joggers and others using the trail. The sounds of the voices and excitement from the campaign event on the other side of the park near the stage became a distant hum in the background.
Travis walked off the trail, stopping near one of the large maple trees. India followed. “Are you going to be okay?” he finally asked.
She crossed her arms and paced. Her agitation hadn’t subsided. She felt restless, angry, frustrated. She didn’t know what to do, but the need to do something clawed at her. “I can’t believe he did it. He doesn’t love her.”
“He cares about her,” Travis said as if caring about Yolanda was all her brother needed to be happy.
“But is that enough?” She slapped the back of one hand into her palm and continued to pace. “He’s only doing this for the campaign. Not because he’s really ready to settle down.”
Travis tilted his head to the side. “I think your brother is ready to settle down.”
She stopped pacing and glared at him with her hands on her hips. “How could you let him do this? You’re his friend. You know he doesn’t want to marry her.”
Maybe Travis could talk some sense into Byron. He might not listen to her, but he’d listen to Travis. Or even Elaina. Byron trusted Elaina’s judgment more than his.
Travis ran a hand over his face. “I tried talking to Byron, but he’s his own man. He knows what he wants, and he wants this. Yolanda isn’t a bad person, and she isn’t going into this with rose-colored glasses. She knows the deal.”
He remained calm in the face of her anger, which only frustrated her more. She wanted to shake him. Was everyone okay now with pretending? “So, you agree with what he’s doing?”
&nb
sp; Travis shook his head. “Not entirely. I know what it’s like to be in a bad marriage.”
India crossed her arms. “But you at least loved Elaina when you asked her. Your marriage didn’t start off badly.”
Irritation flickered over his face. “My marriage never should have happened,” he replied briskly. He pushed away from the tree and rubbed the back of his neck.
India stilled. For a heartbeat she couldn’t think or breathe as she processed his words. Then her pulse jumped. “Why do you say that?”
Travis took two long steps toward her, then froze. His jaw clenched as he looked left and right. His dark eyes seemed conflicted. His shoulders tight as if he were holding something back.
“Travis,” she urged. Her voice sharp and insistent.
He closed his eyes and the tension eased from his body. “Because she wasn’t the person I really wanted.” The words spilled from him like a long-held confession.
She closed the distance between them. Or maybe he had. All she knew was that in the moments after he spoke, only a couple insignificant inches were between them. Not enough of a buffer when he said things like that and opened his eyes to look at her as if she were one of the greatest wonders of the world.
“I tried to tell your brother that marrying someone out of duty or obligation wasn’t the key to happiness. I know because I tried to do that. I did what I thought was right instead of what I wanted. I don’t want your brother to go through that, but I also won’t turn my back on him, because it’s his decision to make.”
India licked her dry lips. Blood rushed in her ears. She watched him. His eyes begged her to ask. Her soul screamed for her to get answers. She had to know. Today, while everyone else was okay with not speaking the truth and living with delusions.
“Who did you really want?” she whispered hesitantly.
Travis closed the scant distance between them, his heat and scent surrounding her like a favorite familiar coat. “You know who I wanted. Who I still want.”
Clarity made one last-ditch effort to keep her from taking a step she knew she couldn’t come back from. She shook her head. “Don’t say—”
His hand cupped her face tenderly. His thumb traced across her lower lip. “Don’t say what we both know? Your brother is making the wrong decision. I made the wrong decision.”
“What was the right decision?” She had to hear him say it. No guessing. No doubt.
“I shouldn’t have married her. I should have followed my instincts and found my way back to you.”
The words slid inside of her, wrapped around her heart and melted away the chains she’d been using to suppress her feelings for him. A bittersweet joy swept over her. He’d wanted her. She hadn’t been the only one who’d felt the landslide change in their relationship that night. He hadn’t lied.
He lowered his head toward her. She lifted on her toes and met the kiss. Any reasons why they shouldn’t kiss were meaningless when his lips touched hers. He was tall and solid against her. Heat, masculinity and temptation personified. She drank him in. Immersing herself in the fire of his kiss.
The soft touch of his lips quickly hardened into something deeper. His hand traced a hot line down the side of her body. Cupping the side of her breast for the barest of sweet seconds before gliding down to possessively cup her ass. He pulled her against him in a strong embrace. India wrapped her arms tightly around his neck. Indulged in the reckless pleasure of her softness pressed against his hard strength.
He groaned low and deep. The hand on her butt caressed and squeezed. Desire flooded her, washing away her inhibitions until she wanted to rip open his shirt, drag her nails across his chest and kiss every inch of his body.
A bird screeched in the tree above them. Someone yelled in the distance.
Reality snapped her back. She couldn’t rip open his shirt. They were in a public park. She couldn’t kiss every inch of his body. This was Travis. They weren’t supposed to be kissing at all. Regret and guilt stamped out the flames of her desire.
She jerked back. Travis released her. His ragged breaths matched her own.
“India...”
She shook her head. “I can’t. Not again.” But the denial came out like a question. All of the reasons why she was denying this and her fears of being hurt again no longer seemed important as the feel of his body against hers hijacked her brain.
“I’ve got to go.” She turned and hurried back down the trail. She brought a shaky hand to her lips. They still tingled with the imprint of Travis’s kiss. She’d fucked up, and the worst thing was a big part of her didn’t regret what had happened.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
TRAVIS TOSSED HIS overnight bag into the trunk of his car and slammed it down. He couldn’t wait to get out of town. He’d thrown clothes in a bag the night before and spent the morning straightening his house so he wouldn’t return to a mess. When he’d made the last-minute decision to attend the Asheville Arts Festival, he’d done so because he needed to get out of town and think. After yesterday, he needed to do a lot more than think. He needed deep soul-searching.
He shouldn’t have kissed her. Thing was, he didn’t regret kissing her. Nor did he regret telling her the truth about his marriage. The time to clean up the entire blurry mess between them had come. He couldn’t say they were destined to become something serious, but he could say keeping his feelings to himself was like pulling an 18-wheeler up a hill with a jump rope. Maybe he was being selfish, but he wanted her to know everything. Wanted to see what she’d do with the information.
Travis turned to go back inside for one last sweep of the house before leaving. He heard a car coming down the road but didn’t turn to look. His hand touched the doorknob just as the car slowed and pulled into his driveway. In the reflection of his glass door, he recognized Camille’s red sedan.
He grimaced and cursed. Camille had been trying to interject herself into his trip with all the finesse of an unwanted houseguest. He forced the frown off his face, put on his best I’m-not-annoyed-with-you lawyer smile and turned. He walked back down the drive to meet Camille at her car. If she came inside, he’d never leave.
She jumped out of the car dressed in trendy torn jeans and an off-the-shoulder gray sweater. He glanced in the vehicle. A red leather overnight bag sat in the passenger seat.
“Travis, good, I’d hoped to catch you.” She grinned from ear to ear. Looking as if she was so clever to have caught him in time.
“I was just about to lock the house and go,” Travis replied. “I want to get there early.”
“Well, I couldn’t let you leave without giving you something to think of while you were away.” She slid close and wrapped her arms around his neck. “Maybe you should rethink this idea of going out of town alone.”
She lifted on her toes to kiss him. Travis pulled his head back. Camille’s brows pulled together. She frowned as if he’d just insulted her family’s beer.
Her arms loosened, and Travis pulled them from around his neck. “I won’t be rethinking anything. Camille, we need to talk.”
Camille’s mouth fell open. She sucked in a breath and took two steps back. Holding up a red-tipped finger, she glared daggers. “Oh no, you are not about to dump me in the middle of your driveway.”
Was there a better location to end a relationship? “I don’t know of an easier way to do this.”
“What happened?”
He and Camille had only been dating for a few months. Not long enough to have warranted any deep conversations about their future, but long enough for them to be more than a casual affair. He owed her an explanation for what had to be coming out of left field for her.
“Before you, long before you, there was someone else. I had the chance to fight for her, but I didn’t. She’s back in town, and I’m ready to fight.”
The truth of the words surprised him. Until that moment he hadn’t be
en sure if he wanted to push for something between him and India. He wanted her to know, but had prepared himself to be ready to step back. Not ask for anything more, and accept they’d never be anything more than friends. That wasn’t the case. He wanted India. He wanted to know what could be between them. He was ready to accept the consequences if it meant finally being happy.
The anger in Camille’s eyes cooled. A look of regret crossed her features. “So if she wouldn’t have come back, you wouldn’t be breaking up with me.”
He considered her statement. Camille was just as compatible with him as Yolanda was to Byron. Grant had introduced them at a dinner party with a hint that it was time for him to get back in the saddle. So, he’d done that. If India hadn’t returned and reminded him in person of everything he’d given up following Grant’s orders before, he may have let his perfectly companionable relationship with Camille develop into something serious.
Or, he may have gotten tired of her tendency to do things like pop up unannounced or ignore the interests of others, and broken up with her eventually. “I don’t know,” he answered truthfully.
She nodded. “Well, I guess I’ll let you go.”
“I’m s—”
She swiped a hand and shushed him. “Don’t, just...don’t.” She jerked open her car door, dropped into the seat and slammed the door shut.
He watched her drive away. Was he a fool for letting her go? No. Camille wasn’t the one for him. He knew that now. Grant had assumed if Travis moved on, Elaina would, too. Grant was too sure of himself to realize Elaina hadn’t moved on because Elaina didn’t want to move on. Travis hoped one day she’d find someone to make her happy. They’d both lost out on happiness in the years they’d tried to make their marriage work.
Grant was right about one thing though. The time had come for Travis to move on, except he wanted to move on with the woman he’d thought about almost daily in the years since he pushed her away. The woman he’d always been able to talk to. The woman who understood his artistic side and his drive to make a name for himself outside of the art world. The woman he’d admired before that night under the stars and craved afterward.
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