Page 72 of Good Girls Don't Date Rock Stars (Rock Canyon, Idaho 2)

Travis sighed loudly but helped her stand, keeping hold of her hand as they passed the manager. Gemma tugged Travis to a stop and with her other hand squeezed the man’s arm. “Thank you so much for doing this.”

The man’s cheeks reddened. “It was no trouble, ma’am. Your husband was more than generous.”

They walked out of the theater and into the cool summer air. When Travis dropped her hand to wrap his arm around her shoulders, she snuggled in closer, enjoying the warmth and comfort Travis’s arms had always held for her. From the moment they’d met, she’d felt connected to him, like they were kindred spirits. She’d never felt that way about anyone else, ever.

He’d been the first man to ever accept her for the way she was, flaws and all. He’d held her when she’d been hurt and embarrassed, teased her sadness away with his charm. She had never even been tempted by another man, because no one could take the place in her heart that Travis had stolen.

He helped her into the truck, and without a word, she lifted the console, slid over to the middle seat, and buckled herself in. When he hopped behind the wheel, she cuddled into his side and laid her head on his chest.

“So, as far as first dates go, what do you think?”

I think I still love you.

“It was all right.”

His chest shook under her cheek. “How could I have done better?”

She smiled into his shirt. “Ice cream.”

“I’ll remember that.”

TRAVIS PARKED THE truck in the driveway and looked down at Gemma, fast asleep with her head on his shoulder. Her lips were softly parted and deep breaths warmed the front of his shirt as she slept.

Kissing her forehead, he whispered, “Gem, we’re home.”

“Hmmm.” She stirred against him and squinted, a sleepy smile on her face. “You are so hot.”

Chuckling in surprise, he slid his arm down and squeezed her against him. “You’re pretty damn sexy yourself.”

“I bet you say that to all the girls.”

He couldn’t tell if she was kidding by her tone and asked quietly, “Is that what you think? That I’m lying to you?” Will she never trust me?

She pushed herself up to look at him. “No, that’s not what I meant. I was just kidding.”

He tried to relax, to believe her, but he couldn’t help wondering whether, if they reconciled and he went back on the road, she would always wonder and have doubts. Would she always worry about him cheating?

Someone knocked on the window, and Travis looked past Gemma to see Jenny Andrews, the babysitter, shivering outside the truck.

Gemma pulled away from him completely and opened the door. “Jenny, is everything okay?”

“Yeah, sorry, Gemma, it’s just . . . I really need to get home. If I’m out past twelve, my mom has a fit, you know?”

Travis got out and pulled his wallet from his pants. As he came around the front of the truck, he handed Jenny a stack of bills. “Thanks, Jenny.”

Jenny looked at the cash and him with wide eyes. “Mr. Bowers, I only charge four dollars an hour.”

“Put it toward college.” He walked away, leaving Gemma to say good-bye, and headed for the house, a cloud of darkness hanging over his head. Maybe he had reacted so quickly to Gemma’s joke because of her lack of trust ten years ago, but he needed to get a grip. He had been the one to suggest they let go and start over. If that was the case, he couldn’t read something into every little remark or they would never heal.

Chapter Twenty

* * *

TRAVIS SAT IN his room, stroking Stormy’s sleeping form. The tiny cat never moved; the only acknowledgment that she liked what he was doing was the loud purr shaking his hand.

A knock on his door sounded quietly, and Travis called, “Come in.”

Gemma peeked her head in, and her eyes flickered down to his hand. “I just wanted to finish that conversation we started outside.”

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