Page 87 of Love and Memories

“You’ll need furniture. My shift at the fire station starts tomorrow, but we can go to Blackwater Restoration later this week and load up on things like that.”

Bella let her forehead fall against his chest. “I still don’t have the money for that.”

“We’ll start with the essentials first, and I’ll get you anything you need.”

Her head popped up. “Okay, there’s a difference in paying for a meal on a date and paying to furnish a house.”

“Actually, I have an idea. I’ll run it by Anna when she gets back.”

“What are you talking about?”

“We can ask around at church if anyone has furniture they want to get rid of. Everyone knows you now, and I bet they’ll be happy to donate some things or even some funds.”

“That’s outrageous! I can’t ask for that.”

Travis rubbed his hands up and down her arms. “That’s how a church works. We should be generous and help out when someone needs it. Sure, missions in foreign countries are important, but we’re also supposed to take care of the people in our community and within the church. If we’re not doing that, then we’re not being Christlike.”

She let out a deep exhale, and her shoulders ached. “I know that, but it’s hard to be the one on the receiving end.”

“You won’t always be.” He motioned for her to sit down on the couch. “Let’s make a list of things you need.”

Bella lowered to the couch and sank into the soft cushion. “Yeah, that’s a good idea.”

Travis grabbed a notepad and pen from the kitchen and sat on the couch beside her. “Must haves.”

“Bed. That’s about it.”

Travis scribbled on the page. “Bed and couch.”

“Couch? I probably need a kitchen table before I need a couch.”

“I can sleep on the floor, but I’m getting a couch. I don’t want you staying out on the ranch alone.”

“Travis, I can’t just take you away from your home.”

“And I can’t let something happen to you. I don’t take the threats you told me lightly. If there’s a person in this world who means you harm, they’ll have to go through me first,” he countered.

Bella swallowed hard. Travis wasn’t like her dad and Gunner. He didn’t make empty promises just to win her over. He showed her how much his words meant with his actions.

He moved to stand right in front of her and clasped their hands together. “I’ll always protect you and your baby. No one will ever hurt you as long as I’m around.”

33

TRAVIS

Travis parked at Anna’s house beside a black truck. Anna’s call for extra security was the only thing that allowed him to go to work without worrying about Bella.

Nathan Fox stood from where he’d been sitting in a rocking chair on the porch. His tall, broad build said he wasn’t a man anyone wanted to mess with. It would be tough for Travis not to like the guy. He took his job seriously and never slacked.

Nathan’s company, Field, Inc., was based in Cleveland, Ohio, but he had some friends in Blackwater and visited often. Travis had heard plenty about him before Anna hired him.

Travis extended a hand to Nathan as he stepped onto the porch. “Everything okay?”

“Quiet as a mouse,” Nathan said as he shook Travis’s hand.

“Thanks, man. I’ll take over from here. Any update on the security system?”

“Everything I need was delivered an hour ago. I’m headed to the new location to install it.”

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