Page 26 of Ice, Ice… Maybe?

“Sure,” he said simply, seeing Becca’s stunned expression. Even at the hospital, the dentist, the grocery store, or the gas station – he was frequently stopped. This is part of the reason he wanted land, space, and room to feel like he wasn’t being crowded – plus it was a gated community with a guard shack.

Found that out the hard way too,he mused, signing the woman’s cell phone case with a Sharpie marker that she yanked out of the pocket of her scrubs, obviously having planned on asking him for the autograph already. His uncle took off out the door, and the nurse angled her head, listening to an announcement on the intercom system.

“That’s me,” the nurse volunteered, looking at him and completely ignoring Becca.

Man, this was getting awkward quickly.

“Thanks for the help,” Travis muttered, moving to take Becca’s hand pointedly. “We’ll be fine from here.”

“If you need anything, I could give you my number…”

“He’s fine,” Becca said bluntly – and his lip gave a quick burning sensation as the stitches pulled, and his face exploded in a painful grin that he couldn’t contain. He couldn’t help it and saw her move in front of him almost protectively.Oh man, I might actually bust a stitch if she keeps this up,he thought, feeling gloriously happy to see this side of her personality. Instead, he put his arm around Becca’s shoulders and neck in an affectionate hug from behind.

“My girl has this handled. Thanks though,” he said simply and felt Becca stiffen slightly under the sudden contact between them. Maybe he crossed a line, but he was trying to get rid of the woman as gently as possible without pushing away an obvious fan.

The nurse sighed, nodded, and walked away.

“Sorry,” he whispered, releasing her. “I just didn’t want her to get the wrong impression that I was available or something… because I’m certainly not.”

“It’s fine. I just wasn’t expecting you to hug me.”

“I’d like to do it again – but when we have a little privacy.”

“Agreed.”

That was it. A simple statement tossed between them – and her agreement. Travis looked at her, his eyes searching, and saw her shy smile as she met his eyes boldly. There was a recognition, a feeling between them that he would never be able to explain in a million years and couldn’t ignore either.

“Boyfriends and girlfriends hug,” Becca said simply in a hushed voice. “They celebrate things they have in common, find joy in the differences, and… and I like this, what we have beginning.”

“Don’t ever stop,” he uttered quietly, not holding back. “If something ever feels ‘off’ or ‘wrong,’ feel free to club me upside the head – just avoid the nose and my lip.”

And he felt a flutter in his chest as she giggled softly, laying a hand on his chest like it was something they had always done. He picked her hand up off his chest and laid it on his cheek before chuckling.

“That’s the one spot that doesn’t hurt.”

“It’s my favorite spot so far,” she offered, smiling gently as her eyes melted, meeting his.

“Stop that,” he whispered longingly. “I want our first kiss to be free of stitches or rancid morning breath.”

“Guess you need to get better soon, then.”

“No kidding.”

Travis jumped slightly as he heard a muffled honk. Without a word, he grabbed Becca’s hand, and they hurried out the doorway – only to see a news station’s van coming around the corner.

“Geez, they are relentless,” she growled as he tugged her forward, opening the door and ordering her in the back seat of his Blazer. The moment that the door was shut, his uncle was putting the SUV into reverse to try to get away from them.

“Duck your head,” Becca ordered, pushing his head downward – and he put it directly in her lap, using her leg for a pillow as gingerly as possible… only to marvel as she leaned over him, protectively.

“GET AWAY FROM THE CAR!” Davy was hollering, refusing to roll down the tinted windows as a few aggressive people came right up to the vehicle, banging on the glass. “GET BACK!”

“Just go,” Travis muttered. “Ease up slowly, and they’ll back away.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yup. Happens all the time when I’m downtown and trying to leave the parking garage.”

“You need a bodyguard, boy…”

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