Page 58 of Good Girls Don't Date Rock Stars (Rock Canyon, Idaho 2)

“You aren’t coming with us?” Charlie said, pleading.

“Charlie, I would love to, but I’ve got the store to open. I was just closed for five days. I can’t afford to miss more; it’s our income,” Gemma said, but in her heart she knew that wasn’t the only reason.

Charlie looked disappointed, and Gemma didn’t know why. He would be spending the whole day with his dad, getting to know him, without her tagging along.

“We could go geocaching,” Charlie said quietly.

“What’s that?” Travis asked.

“It’s like a scavenger hunt with GPS units. Uncle Mike takes me. Can we ask him to go?”

Clearing his throat, Travis said, “Well, I’m not sure whether he’ll want to, but we can ask him.”

“I’ll go call him,” Charlie said, starting to jump up.

“Finish your dinner first, please,” Gemma said firmly.

“Mom . . .” Charlie groaned and took a huge bite of pizza.

“Charlie! That bite was way too big. Take smaller ones or you’re going to choke,” Gemma said.

“Mrphgrphdurph,” Charlie mumbled around his full mouth.

“Young man, don’t talk with your mouth full.”

Charlie swallowed and opened his mouth wide to show her it was empty. When she didn’t even crack a smile, he mumbled, “Sorry, Mom, but I’m not a baby.”

Her mood lightening at the familiar argument, she teased, “But you’re my baby.”

“Ugh, Mom.” Charlie looked toward Travis for help.

Gemma turned her attention to Travis also and froze. He was watching them so sadly that it caused a guilty lump to form in her throat. No longer hungry, she stood and picked up her container, tossing it into the trash, before heading over to the sink to clean up the dishes left over from breakfast.

The kitchen grew quiet, with only the sound of dishes clattering.

The silence was finally broken by Charlie. “Okay, I’m done. Can I call him?”

Up to her elbows in a sink full of soapy water, she looked over her shoulder and nodded. “Sure.”

Charlie jumped up, and Gemma saw Travis stand with his paper plate in his hand. Trying to look busy, she loaded the dishwasher, but she couldn’t ignore the warmth of his body when he came up behind her.

“If it’s a money thing, I can give you something to supplement what you’d lose closing down. I owe you ten years of child support anyway.”

“I don’t want your money, Travis,” Gemma said, trying not to be touched by his offer. The last thing she wanted was to add indebted to her laundry list of feelings toward Travis.

“Do you want anything from me, Gem?” he whispered, his breath ruffling her hair.

Gripping the plate in her hand, she tried not to react to the insinuation but failed. Her nipples tightened as the hard planes of his body pressed against her back, his arms coming around her slowly, and her gaze focused on those big hands as they grabbed the dry towel next to her elbow.

“He’s got to work at some new lady’s house.” Charlie’s voice broke into her lust-induced lapse, and she elbowed Travis in the belly by accident.

Sucking in his breath, he said, “I was just going to dry the dishes.”

Liar. Gemma got the feeling he had been deliberately teasing her, but why? Setting the last of the dishes on the rack and turning to Charlie, she said, “That’s okay, honey, maybe next time. Why don’t you go take your shower, put on your pajamas, and I’ll come up to read to you?”

“Can he read to me?” Charlie asked.

Jealousy. It was the first time she’d ever experienced it with Charlie, because she had never really had to share him with anyone. He loved Gracie and Mike, but he’d never asked to have them read him a story if she was there. Even when they visited her mother and family in Nampa, he always wanted his mom.

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