“I made it into law school.”
“Oh my gosh. Really? You always were smart.”
“Thanks.” He blushes. “That’s about it. I’ve been eyeballs deep in school forever now. Besides, you have the exciting life. Tell me everything about it.”
“It’s a lot, I can tell you that.”
“Do you not enjoy it?” he asks.
“Do I enjoy it? That’s a very good question, counselor. Some days.” I shrug.
“Not a counselor yet. I still have to pass the bar. What’s going on with you, though?” Damn, he’s not going to let me steer the conversation to something safer.
“I think I’m just getting burned out. We have a break for the holidays that I was hoping to spend with Mom and Dad, but they’re on a cruise. The idea of going back to Nashville for Christmas just doesn’t appeal to me right now. I think if I could just get away for a while without anyone around, I could reset.”
“Like a silent retreat,” he says.
“Exactly. Only I don’t want to go to some spa and be pampered. I don’t know if I really know what I want.”
The server appears with our dinner. Travis wasn’t lying. The first bite of relleno melts in my mouth, then it lights it on fire. It’s the perfect combination. I power through my meal like I haven’t eaten in weeks.
When I’m done, the server replaces my plate with one containing flan. I haven’t had flan in years. Come to think of it, I can’t remember the last time I dared to eat dessert. Not all of us can be Reba thin naturally.
“What would happen if I had the perfect place for you to unwind?” Travis asks as I’m debating licking the plate clean. “Basic living, quiet, no one flitting around you.”
“I’d be alone for Christmas?”
“Not exactly, but it would be as close as you can get. I’ll be there.”
“I don’t know,” I say, scrunching my eyebrows at him. “This isn’t some weird sex thing, is it?” Travis laughs. Okay, so he’s obviously no more into me now than he was in high school. “Okay, okay, you don’t have to act like I was suggesting we adopt five kids together.”
“I think my boyfriend would have something to say about that,” he says. Oh. Ooooh! He grins at me as it sinks in.
“How did I not know this in school? Is he going to join us for Christmas?”
“Maybe. Anyway, I think you should come home with me. When was the last time you ate chicken fried steak at The Hungry Heifer? Or attended the Christmas parade on a horse lit with lights?”
“You have a valid point. I do love a good lit horse.” I seriously debate his crazy idea. Do I really want to go home with a man I haven’t seen in years? Yeah, I kind of do. “Okay, I say we throw caution to the wind and do it.”
“That’s how you got famous in the first place.”
“I’ll try not to let you video me singing on a park bench this time,” I quip. “Unless the mood strikes me. Ooh, I could do Kelly Clarkson sings Christmas stuff. That might get me noticed.” I wink at him. He sort of is the reason I got a recording contract. My performance was all over the internet the next day. “You should represent me someday.”
“I’m not really planning on contract law.”
“Yeah, but you know us celebrities, we get into all sorts of mischief.”
“Then you’ll be the first to get my business card. If I pass the bar.”
“Pfft,” I snort with a wave of my hand. “Piece of cake.”
We leave the restaurant and drive back to the hotel. Travis sits on the couch in the living room of my suite while I pack some of my stuff. I’ll let Robin get the rest of it later. I don’t see any reason to take everything for a short stay.
He helps me haul my suitcase down to his car. I debate calling Robin to let her know what I’m doing, but opt for a text instead. After I send it, I turn off my phone so she can’t start an argument about staying here.
“An hour and a half, I’ll have you at your new accommodations, my lady,” he teases.
“I can’t wait.” I drift off for most of the drive. Did I mention how totally exhausted I am? Even visiting with Travis can’t keep me awake. He rousts me when we pull up in front of a small home in the middle of nowhere. I forgot he grew up on a ranch outside of our hometown.
