Page 59 of Good Girls Don't Date Rock Stars (Rock Canyon, Idaho 2)

“Sure, he can read to you,” she said, trying not to feel slighted.

“Yes!” Charlie said.

As he ran upstairs, silence stretched between her and Travis. Gemma went to grab her laptop bag and set up her computer at the table.

“So, what are you reading to him?” Travis asked from behind her.

She stood up from plugging in the laptop cord before answering. “The first Harry Potter book.”

“Oh, cool. I saw part of one of the movies, but that was a few years ago,” Travis said.

“They’re great books. We’re reading that series, and he likes to read Goosebumps books on his own,” she said.

“What are those?”

“Creepy monster and ghost books for kids.”

“Those don’t freak him out?”

“Only the ones about the dummy that comes alive. He can’t read those without having a nightmare,” Gemma said, opening her computer and sitting down.

He sat next to her at the table, trying to catch her eye. “I think you should come with us tomorrow.”

“I told you I can’t—”

“Charlie would be more comfortable, and if I’m ever going to forgive you for all of this, then we’re going to have to start over. Just think about it. It wouldn’t kill you to take a few weeks off for your son’s sake,” he said.

His criticism hurt. “I don’t need you to lecture me on what’s best for my son.”

“It’s not a lecture. I just know how I felt every time I had to switch foster homes and I was left with virtual strangers all the time. It’s scary as hell.”

Gemma felt like a giant ass. She should have realized that Charlie would be nervous about being alone with Travis all day, even if he was his dad, but she was so worried about her own reactions to him that she hadn’t thought.

“You’re right. I’ll go to the bookshop in the morning, record a new away message, and close down shop while you’re here,” she said before adding, “but I don’t need your money.”

“You sure? I don’t mind being your sugar daddy for a few weeks.”

Lips twitching with humor, she said, “Actually, since I’m your wife, what’s yours is mine, I think.”

“So it is.” Travis reached out to tug on a strand of her hair. “But most wives do something to earn their keep.”

Pulling her hair away, she said, “Let’s not get ahead of ourselves, big boy.”

His hand grabbed hers, quick as lightning, keeping her close to him. “What game are we playing here?”

Gemma’s cheeks flamed. “I’m not playing any games. I just thought we were joking around.”

“Dad, are you ready?” Charlie called from upstairs.

“Coming, bud,” Travis said, dropping Gemma’s hand and moving past her to the stairs. He caught her gaze on the first step and added, “I’ll see you tomorrow, Gemma.”

Gemma nodded, and he climbed upstairs and out of sight. Going to the cupboard, she grabbed a glass and filled it with ice. All the mixed signals, high emotions, and sexual tension were making her crazy. One minute she was filled with guilt and remorse, and the next Travis was saying or doing something outrageous, as if nothing had happened.

Suddenly, she didn’t feel like writing and closed her laptop. Her emotions were too jumbled, and honestly, she wasn’t sure she wanted to be there when Travis finished reading. She just couldn’t seem to control herself around him.

She poured water into her glass and started to head upstairs to her room but paused when she heard Travis reading. Sneaking to stand just outside Charlie’s door, she listened to the deep voice change to a high-pitched falsetto as he said Hermione’s lines. Gemma leaned her head against the wall as tears filled her eyes. For so long she’d imagined what it would be like having Travis with them, and now that it was happening, it was so surreal. It was scary to think how easy it would be to get used to having him around.

Wiping her eyes, she peeked around the corner. “I just wanted to say good night.”

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