“Of course,” she replied then led us over to a table.
CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
Daphne
Iinstantly liked Portia’s friend, who was also Travis’s friend. What was it with the island and its residents? Except for Dr. Eisenhorn the Third and that jerk in Nightmare Alley, though technically that guy didn’t live here, they were all so nice. It felt as if I’d found my people even though I wasn’t actuallyoneof them.
Travis took a sip from his wineglass and set it down next to mine, brushing my pinkie finger in the process. “I have a confession to make.”
“Do I look like a priest to you?”
He lifted a dark brow. “Very funny. But first I want to talk about Date-A-Wolf.”
His face was all hard lines and angles, and I steeled myself for what he was about to say. Was tonight all about gently breaking the news that I wouldn’t be getting a charm at the next ceremony? It was against the rules of the contest for him to share his intentions, so was that why he didn’t let the cameras film any of this? He hadn’t told Sarah ahead of time, but maybebecause of what happened in the cabin, he felt he owed me something more?
Despite telling myself not to, I had developed real feelings for this man. I was actually falling for him. Not only was he incredibly patient, even when people didn’t deserve it, he was sweet and thoughtful. He made me laugh, and he gave me strength without taking away my agency to handle things on my own terms.
“Okay,” I said slowly.
He took my hands in his, and my body stiffened. It was better to find out now than to be blindsided at the very public charm ceremony, I told myself, recalling a similar unpleasant memory when Gavin left me high and dry in Hawaii. Having had that happen once in my life was one time too many.
His expression darkened. “Daphne, you look like you’re about to get an enema.”
I’d rather get an enema than this, I thought, biting back the stupid tears that were threatening to fall. I warned myself not to get attached to this man and what did I do? I stupidly got attached to him!
Fine. I’m just going to say it. “Aren’t you about to tell me this is the end of the line for me?”
He lifted my chin with a finger, forcing me to look him straight in the eye. The hurt I saw in them mirrored what I was feeling, like he couldn’t believe I’d just said that. “Quite the opposite, my little skeptic.”
I frowned, not sure what he meant.
“This contest was my sister’s idea,” he continued. “And I thought it was a ridiculous waste of time.” His broad hand came down to possessively cover my throat, and he caressed the side of my neck with his thumb. “Until I met you.”
I blinked a few times, not trusting myself to hope. “So, you’re not sending me packing?”
His hand slid to my nape, pulling me close to him, and hekissed the tiny, sensitive spot under my ear, making my entire body quiver. “Not unless you want me to.”
A tidal wave of relief rushed over me that he wasn’t letting me down gently, that things weren’t ending tonight. “Heaven’s, no.”
“Good. Because I’m choosing you at the end.”
His words slid through me, spearing the center of my pounding heart.
I pulled away from him and looked him square in the eye to see if he was shitting me. The man was really breaking all the rules now. Normally I wasn’t a rule-breaker, but not all rules were meant to be followed. “You mean I’m going all the way?” When a naughty smile tugged at the corner of his lips, I realized I could’ve phrased that differently.
“Yes.” He twirled a lock of my hair around his finger. “With me. But only if you want to. After all, someone once told me I’m bad boyfriend material.”
I had the sudden urge to climb this man like a tree and kiss the hell out of him, but the sound of someone clearing their throat next to our little booth stopped me from making a fool of myself in public. What was with this man that made me want to do naughty things?
“Would you like me to come back later?” Cassie asked, brows raised, sleek black hair skimming her shoulders.
Travis’s eyes were more wolfish yellow than brown as he stared at me, not bothering to look over at her. “No.”
My gaze bounced between them. “What’s going on?”
Travis inclined his head to Cassie, and she set a small wooden box on the table. I couldn’t help but notice that it had an ornate clasp not unlike the one on the evil spell book back in my hotel room.
His hand slid from my neck to rest on my knee, shooting warmth straight to my core. “My confession is that I tooksomething from you, Daphne. And I want to give it back—with a few modifications, thanks to Cassie.”
