Retta looked out the kitchen window. “Here he comes.”
Callie grinned. “You should just get it over with and ask him right away. If I know you, you’ll stew on it all day otherwise.”
“Yeah. You’re right.”
Her heart started to pound as she watched Travis get out of his truck. She might be nervous, but she was going to do it. There was nothing else for it. She really didn’t want to go home. She couldn’t stay here with Callie and Kolby for much longer and … and what the heck? She might as well admit it – she liked the idea of staying on Travis’s property. She enjoyed being around him. She was excited about helping him get the cabins ready. There was no reason that she shouldn’t ask him to rent her one until she figured out her next move.
Callie went to get the door to let him in, and then Travis was striding toward her, wearing that big smile that she loved so much.
“Morning, darlin’. You ready to go?”
“I am.”
All her breath caught in her chest when he scooped her up out of the wheelchair. His arms now felt so familiar around her. Something settled inside her as she leaned against him.
His eyes twinkled as he met her gaze. “You ready to get to work?”
“I am.”
As he carried her outside, she realized that Callie wasn’t coming with the wheelchair. She looked over his shoulder.
“It’s all right. I can go back for the chair.”
When she was comfortable in the passenger seat, he went back to the house.
Retta frowned, wondering if Callie had done that deliberately so that she could have a word with him in private – and if so, what she might have to say to him. She hoped that she wasn’t going to ask him about a cabin for her – she’d rather talk to him about it herself.
Whatever it was, it didn’t take long. Travis came back out and loaded the wheelchair before climbing in and starting the engine. He turned his gorgeous smile on her.
“Happy Monday. I’ve missed you.”
“Aww. It is a happy Monday. And …” What the heck? Why not tell him the truth? “I’ve missed you, too.”
He grinned. “I was hoping you might say that.”
“Yeah? Why’s that?”
He waggled his eyebrows at her before backing away from the house. “I have a proposition for you.”
Tingles of desire rippled through her veins. It was ridiculous – he was only joking, he didn’t mean it that way, but the thought of him propositioning her had her imagination running wild.
He chuckled. “Don’t look so worried. I said a proposition – not an indecent proposal.”
She laughed. “Okay, what’s the proposition?”
He glanced over at her. “I’ll tell you over a cup of coffee when we get to my place.”
“I thought we were going to get straight to work.”
“We are.”
“Okay then. Whatever you’re up to, I won’t say no to a cup of your wonderful coffee.”
He laughed. “Note to self – must thank Trip again for the fancy-ass coffee machine he bought me, and for showing me how to use it.”
“Ah! That makes more sense. You surprised me with your fancy-ass coffee. I would’ve had you down as more of a regular, drip-brew coffee pot kind of guy.”
She felt bad when he shot her what could only be described as a hurt look. ‘Yeah, Trip knows all the good stuff.”