Page 32 of Love and Memories

Anna ushered Bella toward a hallway. “Let’s find something for you to wear. You can get a shower while Travis and I finish prepping dinner.”

Bella glanced back at Travis. He’d stopped just inside the door and slipped out of his boots. How did he look comfortable in every setting? He owned every room he walked into.

“Travis, can you take the cookies out of the oven in about two minutes?” Anna shouted over her shoulder.

“Yes, ma’am,” he answered as he gave Bella a playful wink.

Turning around quickly, Bella focused on the hallway leading to the promise of clean clothing. She had to ignore the pounding of her heart as she walked away from the man who was slowly building her into a new woman–one who didn’t care about the pain of the past.

12

TRAVIS

Travis pulled the tray of cookies from the oven and placed them on the counter. The warm smell of cinnamon and sweet spices almost calmed his racing nerves.

Would Bella like them? Had Anna asked about her favorites?

Travis tossed the potholder onto the granite countertop. Why did he care about Bella’s cookie preferences? He didn’t want to care, but he couldn’t help wondering. Thinking about it only fueled his curiosity, which triggered the need to not only find out the answer but provide everything she wanted.

Now Anna could do all of those things. He’d basically set Bella up with a friend who would gladly take care of her every need while getting back on her feet.

But he wanted to be the one to help Bella. He needed to know she was okay and not dwelling on everything that was still hanging in the balance.

Anna strode into the kitchen with her shoulders pulled back and her chin held high. She flashed Travis a smile as she leaned over the cookies to inspect them. “Perfect.”

“Thanks. I tried my best.”

Anna chuckled and bent down to check on whatever was in the lower oven. “Chicken piccata is almost ready.” She straightened and pointed at the refrigerator. “Can you grab the bowl of salad and the tomatoes?”

Travis opened the fridge and blinked a few times. Yep, everything inside was stored neatly in clear glass containers with colorful lids. Not a single thing was in its original packaging, and everything was labeled with dates.

He pulled the salad and tomatoes out and set them on the counter. “Is Dean coming?”

Anna continued slicing a cucumber next to the sink. “No, he’s out of town. Guys golfing trip.”

Travis leaned back against the counter and crossed his arms over his chest. Anna’s house wasn’t as massive as her parents’ place, but it had an air of perfection that Travis didn’t want to mess up. “Interesting. I don’t know the first thing about golf,” he admitted.

“Me either. I’m just glad it wasn’t one of those events where significant others were expected to show up. Not that I don’t want to support him. The women are usually catty and unfriendly, and the men make rude comments we pretend not to hear.”

“That’s weird. Why would you hang out with people like that?”

Anna turned to him and made a show of rolling her eyes. “Money is weird. It makes people stupid.”

Travis didn’t know the first thing about money. He had enough, and enough was plenty. The kind of money Anna’s family had was a completely different ball game. Thankfully, her brain hadn’t melted from a lifetime of exposure.

“Noted. Listen, I know you’ll help Bella however she needs, but you can call me–”

Anna raised a hand. “I know. I know. You and I are on the same page. I’ll take good care of her.”

Travis sighed in relief. “Thanks. She needs a friend.”

Anna looked at him with a knowing grin. “She already has friends. I can’t imagine how tough this is for her.”

Travis’s jaw tensed. He knew what it was like to start over someplace new. He knew how to make friends and get to know people, but he hadn’t come to Blackwater penniless. He hadn’t been forced to rely on the kindness of strangers. He was trained to do a job that was in demand.

“You know what else she needs?” Anna asked.

The question pulled Travis out of his thought spiral. “What?”

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