Page 84 of Love and Memories

“Hey, Travis. I think Dean and I were just going to go out for dinner. Would the two of you like to join us?”

Dean appeared behind Anna wearing a scowl that said he clearly hadn’t approved the invitation she’d just extended.

“Thanks, but I was going to make spaghetti tonight. I was planning to make enough for all of us if the two of you would rather stay in,” Bella said.

Dean rested a hand on Anna’s back, corralling her toward the door. “Thanks for the offer, but we’ll pass.”

Anna grabbed her coat from the hook by the door. “Are you sure you don’t want to come along?”

Was that a cry for help, or was she just trying to be friendly? “It’s okay. I’ll save you some, and you can take it to work for lunch tomorrow.”

With that, Anna wiped a hand over her cheeks and forced a smile. “Okay. We’ll be back soon. Call me if you need anything.”

As soon as the door closed behind the feuding couple Travis leaned close to Bella’s ear and whispered, “We are not calling them for anything.”

“I know,” Bella whispered back. A second later, Dean’s car started, and the tightness in her shoulders eased.

“Have they been doing that all day?” Travis asked.

Bella moved into the living room and sat on the couch. She’d been helping Anna clean out her closets to donate to charities, and the aches in her feet pounded up into her calves. “Since Asa left about half an hour ago.”

“Sorry you had to put up with yelling all day. Dean shouldn’t talk to Anna like that.”

Bella rubbed the back of her neck. Gunner had said and done much worse to her on a regular basis, so much so that she’d come to expect it.

The difference was Bella hadn’t stood up to Gunner. He was ruthless and violent, and she didn’t need to do or say anything to set him off.

Dean was harmless. Heartless, but harmless.

“Anna doesn’t deserve that. She’s so nice, and Dean doesn’t seem to care about her at all.” Bella sighed and patted the couch beside her. “Let’s talk about something else.”

Travis sat and draped his arm over the back of the couch, resting his hand behind her head. “What did you do today?”

Missed you.

Wished you’d come back.

Thought about calling you.

“I helped Anna get clothes ready to donate to charities. She has atonof clothes.”

“I’ve heard stories,” Travis said with a chuckle.

“What about you? Did you go home and shower like Anna demanded?”

“I did.” Travis gave her a quick wink that made her glad she was sitting down.

“Anything else, or did you shower all day?” Bella asked.

“I worked at Beau’s garage, then I took a shower.”

“You went to work? You haven’t had a day off in weeks, and your shift starts in the morning. You should have rested.”

Bella’s phone rang, and she leaned up to grab it from the coffee table. “It’s Tammy,” she said before lifting the phone to her ear. “Hello.”

“Hey. I’m sorry to bother you on your day off, but I have some good news. The cabin we’ve been working on is move-in ready.”

“That’s great. Does that mean you can hire a ranch hand now?” Bella asked.

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