Page 85 of Love and Memories

“Not exactly. It means it’s yours if you want it,” Tammy said, high-pitched and excited.

Bella sat up straight. “Mine? What do you mean?”

“I know you’re living with Anna, but you’ll need your own place when the baby comes along. Matt and I thought you might want a place closer to work.”

Bella’s jaw dropped open. They’d spent weeks working on that cabin and a couple of others getting them fixed up, but she’d always assumed they were for future ranch workers.

“Are you serious?” Bella asked.

Travis sat ram-rod straight beside her, waiting for an explanation for her shock.

“Of course, I’m serious. I don’t know your plans, but we’d love it if you could stay. You’ve had such a hard time lately, and this is a little something we can do to hopefully make things easier for you.”

Bella blinked back tears. “I–I don’t know what to say.”

“We know you’ll eventually need something bigger after the baby gets here, but–”

“Tammy, this is amazing. More than I ever expected. It’s perfect.”

Bella knew she’d need to move out when the baby came or even sooner since Anna and Dean were getting married and planned to move into his place closer to Cody. Instead of worrying about it, she’d decided to pray about it. Every night, the Lord gave her a sense of peace before she fell asleep, and now she knew why.

The one-bedroom cabin would be plenty for her and a baby. It wasn’t as if she had anything to put in it. Everything she owned would fit in a few small boxes.

Tammy chuckled. “Well, we’ve been hoping you’d say yes. When can you move in?”

Bella looked up at Travis. “Oh, um. I’m not sure.”

“Just think about it, and we’ll talk later,” Tammy said.

“Okay. Thank you again,” Bella said as she ended the call. Cradling the phone in her hands, she lowered it to her lap.

“Is everything okay?” Travis asked.

Bella looked up at him and swallowed the lump forming in her throat. “They said I can move into the cabin we’ve been renovating.”

Travis got to his feet beside her. “Really? That’s amazing.”

Bella stood, covering her mouth with her hand. Excitement bubbled up her throat, and she let out a laugh. “It is! Travis, this is great!” She wrapped her arms around his neck and giggled.

Travis’s arms wound around her as he looked down at her with a broad smile.

Bella lifted up onto her toes and pressed her lips to his. The warmth of his embrace seeped into her skin at the same moment realization hit her in the chest.

What was she doing?

Bella jerked away from him and tucked her arms to her chest. “I’m–I’m so sorry.”

Travis tightened his hold on her, pulling her back in until she was pressed against him once more. “I’m not.”

He sealed his mouth to hers and kissed her slowly. Each brush of his lips on hers held the promise of carefully controlled desire. His large hand cupped her face as the pad of his calloused thumb swept over her warm cheeks.

This was perfection. She’d never been kissed like this. It was like free-falling. The air was thick, and her heart pounded like the beat of a war drum. The baby inside her kicked in excitement.

Travis kissed her until she couldn’t breathe. When she pulled away, forced by the need to catch her breath, a girlish giggle escaped.

Travis pressed another kiss to her forehead and continued holding her, adoring her with every breath.

“I didn’t mean to just kiss you like that,” she whispered with a chuckle.

---