Page 76 of Love and Memories

Travis settled in and started the engine. To anyone else, he might seem relaxed, but Bella knew every little sign of his awareness. The way his gaze scanned every area, the way his jaw tightened, the way he stood closer to her.

“Travis,” she whispered.

“Yeah.”

“You don’t have to do this.”

He looked from the road to her in the seat beside him. “Do what?”

“Look out for me. Now that we both know the dangers, you don’t have to watch over me. You’re not–”

“Hold up. Forgive me for cutting you off, but we’ve been over this before. I want to be with you. I want to protect you. That’s as simple as it gets, Bella.”

Why would anyone want to put up with this burden she carried? She drained the life out of everyone around her, and she hated it.

Travis reached for her hand and lifted it to his lips, pressing a soft kiss to her knuckles. “You won’t hear me complaining about spending more time with you, that’s for sure.”

All the cold fear from the day seeped out of her. Surrounded by her new coat and Travis’s affection, it was possible to hope things would turn out okay.

Maybe Gunner and the club wouldn’t ever find out she was still alive. They’d have no reason to look for her. Surely, they’d have already come if they thought she was still breathing.

Travis pulled up at Anna’s house and shut off the truck.

“Are you coming in?” Bella asked.

“I’d like to.”

Bella squeezed his hand before letting it go. He rounded the front of the truck to her side, scanning the area as he went. He opened her door and kept her close as they went inside.

Dishes clinked in the kitchen between raised voices.

“Mom, please. I can handle this.”

“You have to do something. He’s going to get tired of your nagging and leave you before the wedding.”

Travis closed the door with a little too much force, and the conversation in the kitchen quieted.

Seconds later, Anna appeared in the doorway. Her long blonde hair was pulled back into a ponytail, and her usual smile was absent.

“Hey, I was getting worried.”

Bella had texted Anna earlier saying she was going to Camille’s for an emergency meeting. The details of the day had been too much to send over a text.

Anna’s mother stepped out of the kitchen and didn’t bother to hide her scowl. It wasn’t abnormal for the two to butt heads. Anna’s mom was a picture of sophistication and old money, and despite her insistence that she did everything to help Anna, Catherine Harris never seemed to be satisfied with her daughter.

Travis took Bella’s coat and hung it on the hook by the door. The closer Anna came, the more Bella noticed the signs of a problem. Anna didn’t wear any makeup, but her cheeks and eyes were pink and raw.

“Are you okay? What’s wrong?” Bella asked.

Anna waved a hand in the air. “It’s nothing.” Her short answer said she didn’t want to discuss whatever was bothering her while her mom was still around. Probably because her momwasthe problem.

Catherine smoothed the sleeves of her cashmere sweater and lifted her chin. “I’d better go. Your father will be worried.”

Anna pasted on a shy smile. “Good night.”

Catherine echoed the farewell and tugged her coat tighter around her as she stepped out the front door.

Anna inhaled a deep breath and let it out in a whoosh. “Sorry about that. What happened that made you need an emergency meeting with Camille?”

---