Page 20 of Good Girls Don't Date Rock Stars (Rock Canyon, Idaho 2)

They’d stood there for what felt like hours, her waiting on pins and needles for him to say something, anything to change her mind, but instead, all he’d said was, “Okay.”

Gemma opened her eyes, staring at her reflection, demons warring inside her as she remembered walking away from him. She had cried all the way back to the airport, praying he would come after her, but he never had. The first few months, she knew he’d asked Mike about her, until she’d told Mike to stop answering him. There had been times over the years when she’d been tempted to call him to tell him about Charlie. But once she’d made a mental list of pros and cons, she’d always changed her mind.

In fact, the day Charlie was born, she’d called his cell from the hospital but hung up when he answered. By that time Travis already had two hit singles and was on his way to the top. It wouldn’t have been fair.

Then she’d kept her eye on his career over the years. The tabloids had adored him for the fodder he gave: new girl every week, raging hotel parties that cost him thousands of dollars, and that was just in his early days. When they began calling him “The Hell-Raiser of Country Music,” she’d known she had made the right decision. Charlie didn’t need to be associated with that type of life.

Taking the towel off her head, she wrapped it around her body and left the bathroom. She found Travis sitting on the edge of the bed, his elbows on his knees. He glanced up when he saw her and smiled.

“You’re running out of time, Cinderella.”

Heart pounding, she opened her mouth to start telling him about her doubts. The reasons why they shouldn’t do this. But his hand snaked out and grabbed her before she could form the words, pulling her into the space between his legs as he looked up at her.

“My Gem.” His glance was so tender it stole her breath and her

heart all over again.

She didn’t argue, couldn’t really. No matter the distance or the obstacles they had faced, Travis had always been on her mind; she had just hoped her feelings would fade with time. They hadn’t, obviously, but it didn’t matter now. There had never been a real future with Travis, and despite her own desires, Charlie was more important. His happiness and normalcy meant more than fleeting desire and an old flame that had never stopped burning.

But while she was here, in this moment, she could take away a little something for herself, couldn’t she?

Her arms slipped over his shoulders and she tried not to think about anything beyond Travis’s hands stroking her back and the kisses raining along the skin above the towel. For just a little while, she didn’t want to be responsible, levelheaded Gemma Carlson. She wanted to be Gem again.

“Gemma, I want you. I want this and more. Do you understand?” he asked, his eyes lifting again to meet hers. Her vision blurred and she tried to turn away, but he caught her chin with his thumb and forefinger.

“Gem, look at me.” When she did, his hand brushed her cheek, wiping away the tears. “This is nothing to cry over. Those SPCA commercials are something to cry over, but us?” She gave a little smile, he kissed her.

They sat there for the longest time, their soft breathing and the meeting of their lips the only sounds in the silence.

When he finally pulled back, he said, “Getting a second chance with you is something I don’t want to just give up on. I didn’t fight for you before, but I’m in this now. I want you. I hope you can keep an open mind and give me a chance.”

“You don’t even know who I am anymore,” she said softly.

“I’d like to remedy that, if you’re willing,” he said, brushing his mouth over hers. “What do you say? One more chance?”

Chapter Four

* * *

TRAVIS WAITED IN the brightly lit lobby at six, anxiously checking his watch. It wasn’t that he was necessarily excited about the charity event; they really were boring. It was the knowledge that he would have Gemma by his side all evening, dancing with her and introducing her to people, that was making it impossible for him to relax and wait patiently.

He’d been thinking a lot since running into her, wondering if this was fate’s idea of a second chance. Maybe he hadn’t been ready ten years ago—they had both been too young to settle down—but now the timing was right.

The elevator dinged, and Gemma stepped out, her hands holding up the crinkly skirt of her creamy gown as she walked. The heart-shaped neckline and halter style of the dress showed a good portion of white skin, and Travis nearly swallowed his tongue. Her hair was pulled back loosely from her face with a rhinestone-studded hair band, and the half updo became a waterfall of brown curls around her shoulders. Her makeup was light and tasteful, but it was the smile that made her truly beautiful. Gemma’s bright, happy smile as she walked toward him, waiting for his reaction, was magical.

Stopping in front of him, she spun around. “What do you think?”

After a moment’s hesitation, he reached out to take her hands in his, bringing them up to kiss her knuckles. Staring into her eyes, he said, “You’re gorgeous, Gem.”

Cheeks turning pink, she protested, “It’s the dress. And the hair and makeup. They did such a good job . . . .”

She stopped talking when he pulled her against him and kissed her, not caring who saw. When he drew back, he held up a black square jewelry box. “Here.”

“What is this?” she asked, taking the box hesitantly.

“A thank-you.”

She gave him an exasperated look as she opened it. “Travis, you already paid for my hair and . . . oh!” She stared down, and he smiled as she pulled the teardrop-shaped diamond necklace from the box.

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