Page 68 of Love and Memories

Travis hadn’t been able to believe it either at first. After plenty of time had passed, he realized he’d given Vanessa too much trust when she hadn’t earned it. There had been little red flags, but he’d ignored them. Since then, he’d been afraid to risk making the same mistakes again.

Now, he was free falling for a woman he most certainly couldn’t have. She was unavailable in every way, even if she didn’t know the extent of her prior commitments. She didn’t remember half of who she was, and definitely didn’t remember whose baby she carried.

There had to be some lucky man out there looking for Bella. If it were him, he wouldn’t rest until she was back in his arms.

Bella’s delicate hand reached out and rested on his arm. Her skin was light and soft, but everywhere she touched scorched him to the bone.

He looked up from her hand into the green eyes that held him captive. A lock of her sandy-blonde hair fell in front of her face, and he tightened his hands into fists to keep from reaching for her.

“She missed out on the better brother,” Bella whispered.

His jaw tightened as he swallowed. “You don’t know my brother.”

“I know what he did to you, and I know you would never hurt someone like that.” Her grip on his arm tightened. “I knowyou, and you’re the best man I’ve ever known.”

His breaths came quicker as he fought the urge to lean in. He scrubbed a hand over his face, trying and failing to stop thinking about her. “Bella.”

“I know. I know I shouldn’t care about you like this, but I do,” she said quickly. “I can’t help it. I can’t just tell myself that I don’t want you.”

Travis groaned and stood quickly. Pushing his hands into his hair, he tried to forget her words–tried to tell himself that they would both be sorry they gave in when she remembered her old life and had to leave.

His chest was hollow and cold. The one woman in the world who thought he was better than his brother or worth fighting for was the one woman he couldn’t have.

Straightening his shoulders, he lifted his chin and faced her. “I need to go.”

Bella stood in a rush, and the skirt of her dress swayed around her legs. “I’m sorry. Don’t go. I shouldn’t have said that.”

“No. It’s not that. It’s… I don’t even know. We want the same thing, but we’ll both hate ourselves if you end up remembering you already love someone else.”

“I don’t remember anyone else. I don’t want anyone else.” Her voice shook as she stood her ground, facing him like a warrior determined to rush headlong into battle.

Travis breathed through the turmoil building inside him. “What if we give it a time limit? It’s been two months. If you haven’t remembered anything in two more months and you still want this, we’ll see where things go between us.”

It was a stupid compromise. He wanted her now. Two months would only make him want her more.

She sniffed and tucked her chin. “I understand if this is too much for you. Who would want to raise another man’s baby? Who wants a pregnant girlfriend?”

“Stop.” Travis held up a hand. “That’s not what this is about, and you know it. I don’t take those things lightly, but that’s not why I think we should wait.”

“Because you think I’ll leave?” she asked.

“Because Iknowyou’ll leave if you remember,” Travis corrected. It was the dark cloud looming over all of his days. He never pressured her to remember, but it was what she needed. She needed closure at the very least.

Bella slowly shook her head, leaving her gaze locked on him. “I don’t want to leave.”

Man, she was determined to make this unbearable. She wouldn’t give in, and neither would he. He knew what it was like to lose someone, and Bella had the power to destroy him if she left.

Travis took a step closer and reached for her. She met him in the middle and fell into his arms. Resting her cheek against his chest, she let the tears out. He’d give anything to erase the hurt, but the easy way out for now would only be worse later.

He rubbed big circles over her back, but the sobs continued.

Anna rushed into the room with wide eyes. “What’s wrong?”

Bella lifted her head and wiped her eyes. “Nothing. Just hormones having a party.”

Travis lifted Bella’s chin as she continued to sniff. Brushing his thumbs over her wet cheeks, he smiled through the stabbing in his chest. “Are you okay?”

She nodded and sniffed again. “Yeah.”

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