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She heard Travis's deep voice call something to someone inside the house the moment before he opened the door, which gave her a second's warning. Then she was staring into his face, Iris dear, dear face. And he was staring at her, blankly. As though he didn't know who she was. Or as though he didn't want to know who she was? Had he decided to wash his hands of her?
Gathering every ounce of courage, Beth said huskily, "Hello, Travis.' And then she waited.
The blank expression vanished, his voice strangled as he said, ‘Beth. I wasn't sure if my mind was playing tricks. I thought you were in London.' He stared at her, his eyes narrowing.
Harvey had pushed his way into the house, careless of whether he was welcome or not, and a moment later a female voice called, 'Travis? There's another dog in here.'
'You've got company.'
Beth wasn't aware her face had drained of colour but now his hand came out to take her wrist, his voice more normal as he said, 'It's my vet,' before calling, 'Harvey, come here.' Harvey appeared instantly but only so far as Travis's side. Bending and taking his collar, Travis said. 'I'll put him with Sheba in my study,' and he pulled her into the hall before shutting the door. 'Stay there. Don't move. I'll be back.'
Beth stood exactly where she was as Travis led Harvey to his study, her brain trying to compute through the shock which had frozen it when she heard a woman's voice. She had thought... She shook her head. Travis was walking back to her and he finished the thought as he said, 'You thought I had a woman here?'
The words were one thing, the question behind them was another. She stared at him. She had to handle this right. The woman was a vet, which meant something was the matter with Sky. 'You have,' she said steadily. 'What is wrong?'
'You thought I had a date?' he persisted, watching her closely.
Travis being Travis, he wasn't about to be deflected. 'Only for a moment.' She wasn't about to lie. She would never lie to Travis again. 'When you didn't return my phone call and then, hearing a female voice, what was I supposed to think? I... I sent you away. I wouldn't have blamed you if you'd had a date here. You would have had every right, I know that.'
'Phone call?' His brow had wrinkled but the piercing grey eyes were burning into hers. 'What phone call?'
'I phoned your mobile earlier.'
'It's probably in the car.' She watched him take a deep breath. 'Why did you call?' he asked softly.
I 'To tell you I lied to you. I love you. I have done for a long lime but I was too frightened to admit it—' Her words were cut off by his mouth on hers and his arms wrapping themselves round her, whereupon he lifted her right off her feet. His mouth was hungry, bruising, but she didn't mind. She had thought she would have to plead and beg and persuade him to listen to her but it had only taken three words in essence. Three words she should have said days ago. She clung to him, kissing him back with all her heart and feeling giddy with relief and a soaring love that was spiralling higher and higher until she felt faint with the wonder of it.
'Travis?' His name came from beyond the world that was the two of them.
It was a moment before the voice penetrated their hunger and need of each other, and then he lifted his mouth from her, setting her on her feet as he said distractedly, 'It's Sky, I have to help...'
'I'll come,' Beth said breathlessly. To the ends of the earth.
She didn't know what to expect as she followed Travis into the kitchen, but it wasn't the sight of Sky lying in a huge basket with four tiny scrambling puppies in a towel-lined box at the side of her. They were making soft mewing noises.
The vet, an attractive middle-aged woman whom Beth thought she recognised vaguely from the veterinary practice she had visited for Harvey's hedgehog abrasions, looked up as they entered and she was smiling. 'Last one's just popped out now. The problem was the big boy who came first; he was acting like a cork. Once he was out she had no difficult with his sisters.'
'Oh, they're gorgeous.' Beth gazed entranced at the sight. "You didn't tell me,' she added softly to Travis.
'He didn't know.' The vet grinned at her. 'I got a frantic call earlier to say Sky seemed to be in a great deal of pain and acting strangely. It was a relief to find she was whelping.'
'It's all that fur.' For the first time since she had known him. Travis was embarrassed. 'They're both like great bears; now aren't they?' He appealed to both women. 'I thought she was getting fatter but they both eat like horses anyway.'
'Bears, horses...' The vet was laughing as she rose to her feet, flexing her back. 'Well, Travis, you've got an addition of four healthy pups to the family. Who's the lucky father Do I know him, by any chance?'
Travis looked at Beth. And then he smiled.
For a minute she didn't understand. Then, her hand going to her mouth, she murmured, 'He isn't? Not Harvey?'
