AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Absolutely,” said Katie.
“Always nice to have markers you can call in.” Travis winked and tipped his beer to his lips.
“Seriously, thank you for intervening. I was afraid I’d have to hurt Kyle.” Jordan sipped her margarita and managed to keep a straight face.
Travis snorted a laugh, and the beer he’d been about to swallow choked him. He sat up, coughed a few times, leaned his arms on the tabletop, and seemed to notice no one else was laughing. His eyes narrowed as he regarded her. “Now I’m intrigued, Ms. Hayes.”
“I as well, Mr. Monroe. Won’t your friend be missing you?” Jordan glanced over her shoulder toward the table where he and his companion had been sitting earlier. A group of girls, barely twenty-one, occupied the seats now. The blond man was gone, and Travis had stayed.Ridiculous to think he hung around because of me.Yet a warm flush enveloped her.What the heck’s the matter with me?
“He had to leave. I’m all yours.” A sexy grin transformed his face as he stressed the last word with a quirky drawl.
Okay, he was out and out flirting with her. A few months ago, she would have flirted right back, danced the night away—even the fast numbers, and hoped he’d ask for her phone number. After her father’s death, she’d sold his feed store because it was empty and meaningless without him and turned into a hermit who was no fun even when hergirlsdid get her out on the town. So, what was she doing? Why was she suddenly attracted to this man? Was it because Travis reminded her of her father? Not in a creepy way, either, but because he made her feel safe, protected, and like she’d finally come home. And his rich mahogany skin, much like her dad’s, was a bonus.
A slow grin curved his lips, and Jordan smiled back as a wave of unfamiliar excitement coursed through her.Maybe he did hang out for me.
Liz looked from Jordan to Travis with a curious expression, then popped to her feet with her drink. “Katie, let's go freshen up. Maybe we’ll run into someone to dance with on the way.” She waved her hand as though trying to hurry up her friend.
“But...” Katie held up her drink.
“Bring it. We might get thirsty. Come on. Travis will keep an eye on Jordan. Whatever happens, you’re not going to spend any more time with your no-good, cheatin’ ex.” Liz was talking a mile a minute again.
Jordan couldn’t help but shake her head as her friends walked away, and she wasn’t surprised to hear Travis chuckle. “You may have noticed Liz is about as subtle as a freight train.”
“I like her. It’s obvious they both care about you. In fact, they seem extremely protective of you.” Travis drained his beer bottle and plunked it on the table.
“Yeah, I guess you could say that.” Jordan didn’t want to get into the wholewhyof the funk she’d been in, especially now, since she felt alive for the first time in months. “Can I buy you another beer?”
“No thanks. I’ve reached my limit for tonight. I’m starting a new job in the morning and need to be able to hold up my head.”
Jordan studied him for a minute. “You’re not from around here, are you?”
Travis laughed and held out his arm. “Did my tan give me away? San Diego, born and raised.”
She nodded. “You’re a long way from home.”
“It’s a temporary job. Until recently, I’d planned to put this town in my rearview the minute it’s over.”
That was a sentiment she could get behind. Jordan remembered how hard and downright scary it’d been when her father moved her mother and their almost-teenage offspring of a mixed-race marriage to Prineville. Population: 10,000, give or take, and 90 percent white. The addition of her father had brought the black percentage to a tenth of one percent. High school had been hell until she learned to stand up for herself.
“What changed your mind?”
Travis’s eyebrow quirked. “Just found something I like about the place.” His intense perusal and faint smile caused a flash of heat and the too-easy blush that always betrayed her in situations like this. His smile widened as amusement sparked in his eyes, and he held out his hand. “Would you dance with me?”
Jordan started to shake her head before she recognized the beginning strains of Billy Currington’sMust be Doin’ Somethin’ Right.She set her hand in his and smiled.A slow dance. He’s paying attention.Why did his thoughtful choice tug at her heart? As she stood and took a step, a wave of dizziness stole her balance, and she grabbed the table to steady herself.
Instantly, he was beside her and placed his arm around her waist. “Are you okay?”
“Yeah, just a little lightheaded.”
He glanced at her drink, still half full. “How many of those have you had tonight?”
She frowned, slightly annoyed by his insinuation. She wasn’t drunk. Was she? She’d ordered three margaritas but wasted one on Kyle, and then Travis bought her the one she’d been sipping. A groan escaped. “Oh, right, I probably should have eaten something.” She’d left work late and didn’t have time before Liz and Katie picked her up.
“Oh, hell, let’s order some food.” He backed her toward her chair.
She cocked her head. “So, no dance then?”
An argument appeared in his eyes as he searched hers before he grinned and threaded their fingers together. He led Jordan through the swaying couples to a quiet spot, then turned and repositioned their hands as he laced his other arm around her, pulling her closer.
