“We need to be quiet,” he warns as we park. “I’ll get your bag.” He unlocks the door and leads me to a tidy bedroom. He’s right, there are no bells and whistles here. I’m too tired to care, though.
He shows me the bathroom in silence and then whispers that he’ll be on the couch. I feel bad about kicking him out of the bedroom for about two seconds after my head hits the pillow.
The next morning I’m woken by noise coming from one of the other rooms. I lay staring at the ceiling for a full minute trying to remember where the heck I am.
Then it hits me, I came here with Travis last night. He promised me a restful Christmas. and without a second thought, I blindly went with him like a lemming. Sitting up, I throw my feet over the edge of the bed and touch the cold floor.
With the fuzziest pair of socks I have on, I slowly open the bedroom door. Someone is in the kitchen moving around. Has to be Travis. No matter what, I appreciate everything he’s trying to do for me. I need to thank him for the effort before explaining I’ll be fine flying back to Nashville for the holidays. The last thing I want to do is butt in on somebody else’s Christmas.
Quietly, I pad down the hallway to the kitchen. Sure enough, he’s standing at the stove with his back to me making breakfast. How he’s surviving the cold house in nothing but a pair of jeans I don’t know. I slide up behind him and throw my arms around his waist.
“Thank you so much for this,” I begin, hugging him tightly. “You really are one of the best. I can’t believe you went out of your way to help me.”
It strikes me that he is as rigid as a board. Yesterday when Travis hugged me, I don’t remember him being this lean. Nor do I remember him being so uptight. I don’t think this is Travis. But if it’s not Travis, who in the hell is it?
“Oh my gosh, you’re not Travis,” I gush turning loose of the stranger. The man turns as I back up across the room. I’m about to run when I realize that he looks very similar to my friend.
“Beau?” How could I forget that Travis has a brother? “I’m so sorry. I thought you were Travis.” His eyebrow raises. “I don’t normally go around grabbing strange men. Well, I guess you’re not really strange, but you’re certainly not Travis.” He continues to stare at me.
“Anyway, do you know where Travis is? He said yesterday that I should come join him for Christmas, but I thought that meant he would be here. Not you. Not that you can’t be here. Imean it’s your home. Isn’t it? I’ll just grab my bag and skedaddle right on back to Austin. My assistant will feel better about that anyway. She likes me close where she can keep an eye on me.” He’s still staring at me.
“Oh my gosh, who is this?” I ask when a big yellow dog rises from a dog bed I missed in the corner. He wags his tail as he approaches me. There’s one thing I can’t hide. I love dogs. Dropping to my knees, I pull him into a hug. “Who’s the best boy?” He licks my face, and I hug him one last time before standing again.
“Okay, well it was nice seeing you. Tell Travis I’ll catch a ride back with someone. I just have to think of someone willing to give me a ride back. No matter, it’s not your problem. So, yeah, take care.”
I don’t know what to do, so I just stand frozen while both Beau and the dog watch me. Who am I kidding, no one can take me back to Austin but Travis. Hopefully, he’s still asleep somewhere in this small house. Finally, my gaze lands on the man standing across from me.
“Eggs?” he says holding the skillet up. I debate my options for a moment.
“Yes, thank you. I’m starving. I think the fresh air is making me hungrier than normal.” He slides the fried eggs onto a plate and sets it on the table. “I can’t remember the last time I had fried eggs.” He adds a couple of pieces of bacon to my plate. “Bacon too. Wow.” Jesus, why do I just keep talking?
“What’s your dog’s name?” Yep, still talking.
“Reacher.”
“Ahh, yes, okay.” I rack my brain for something else, but nothing comes. I really hope my friend shows up soon. “About Travis?—”
He slides a note across the table to me. It explains that Travis had to return to Austin late last night for some sort of emergencymeeting this morning. He says he’ll be back later today and to not let Beau intimidate me. Easy for him to say. Has he met his mute brother?
“Well, at least he’ll be back later today,” I say between bites.
“Doubt it.”
“Why? What’s happened? He promised he would be here too. Did someone get hurt, because that would be horrible—” Panic begins to rise inside me as I babble on.
“Snowed in,” he says cutting me off. I jump up and rush to the window. Sure enough, the landscape is covered in more snow than I remember ever seeing growing up. This part of Texas rarely gets snow, so when it does, everything comes to a screeching stop.
“Shit,” I moan. “Now what do I do?” I turn to look at Beau, but he just shrugs. Great. Stuck in a cabin with a grunting Neanderthal. Christmas doesn’t get much worse than this.
two
BEAU
So.Many. Words. I don’t think I’ve heard someone talk so much in this house since…ever.
Had I known Travis had a guest in tow last night when he showed up, I would have at least put on a shirt this morning. I might have even made more of an effort at breakfast. But when I heard him slip back out early this morning, I figured that was that. I know his schedule keeps him busy. I don’t think twice about him coming and going now.
“So there’s this whole thought that by cutting out the bad carbs from your diet—” I tune her out again. It didn’t go unnoticed that she tucked into her breakfast like she hadn’t been fed in years. A few carbs might do her good.
