Page 78 of Love and Memories

Travis grinned and shook his head. “You don’t get it. Iwantyou to take up all my time. You’re the most important thing in my life.”

“If Dean was in town, I’d ask him to stay too,” Anna said.

Apparently, Anna had forgiven Dean for their earlier disagreement. Bella liked Dean less and less by the day, but Anna seemed to never get fed up with him.

Surely, that wasn’t true love when Bella saw something so different between her and Travis.

“Do you need to run home to get anything?” Anna asked Travis.

Travis rubbed a hand over his short beard. “Do you have an extra toothbrush?”

“Of course. I’ll get that for you. Bella, you want to sleep with me tonight so Travis can have your bed?”

“Oh. Um, yeah. That would be fine.” Had she ever slept in the bed with another woman before?

“Don’t worry, it’s a queen, and we’ll have plenty of room,” Anna said as she disappeared down the hallway to retrieve a toothbrush for Travis.

“Are you sure you’re okay with this?” Bella asked.

“Of course. We can stop by my house on the way to work in the morning so I can change clothes.”

Anna returned with a toothbrush and handed it off to Travis. “When was the last time you two ate?”

“We each had a sandwich at the Bensons’ around four thirty,” Bella said.

Anna headed for the kitchen, waving for them to follow her. “Let’s feed you and that baby. I’ve been rage cooking since I got home from work.”

It was nearly midnight by the time Bella ate and showered. Anna gave Travis a tour of the small house and explained the details of her parents’ expansive estate. Bella hadn’t even seen all of it yet. The outrageous wealth still had her head spinning.

Bella and Travis offered to clean up the kitchen while Anna slipped off to get ready for bed. They’d fallen into a soothing silence as they washed and dried dishes by the kitchen sink.An unbelievable peace had settled over her since deciding that Travis would stay overnight. It was as if her mind knew she was safe when he was around.

Too bad he couldn’t protect her from the memories. She’d stopped trying to push herself to remember more today. Maybe they would come after a good night of rest.

Travis took the last dish from her and the sponge too. “Can you please go to bed now? I know you’re exhausted.”

A huge yawn kept her from responding right away. “I think I’m ready.”

Travis tossed the dish rag onto the counter and bent to sweep Bella into his arms. She was standing on her tired feet one moment and weightless in his arms the next.

“What are you doing?” she asked as she wrapped her arms around his shoulders.

“You need to get off your feet. I’m making sure that happens.”

Bella laughed and rested her head on his shoulder. It was a delirious giggle that warned of irrational tears soon to follow. “You’re right. I’m way too tired.”

Travis stopped in front of Anna’s closed bedroom door and placed Bella back on her feet. “If you need anything, just call out. I’ll hear you. I’m a light sleeper.”

Bella rolled her eyes, and Travis crossed his arms over his chest, looking down at her with an intensity that sent a thrill up her spine.

“I’m serious. I know you won’t want to wake me up, but I’m willingly at your beck and call.”

Bella’s throat tightened. “I promise to call if I need you.”

Travis leaned in, and Bella inhaled a deep breath. Was he going to kiss her? She’d waited months for him to move their relationship forward. Was it going to happen right now?

She wanted him to kiss her, but she didn’t want him to be able to deny her true feelings later, claiming she was too tired.

Instead of pressing his lips to hers, Travis opened the door behind her. His scent tingled in her nose as she settled back into reality and realized what he’d done.

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