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Travis doesn’t call the next day. Or the next. Or the next. And I tell myself I am glad. After I take the time to wallow in the nagging idea that I did something wrong.
It takes the what-if out of the equation and it makes all the doubts I had that night not matter. After all, if he doesn’t call, there’s nothing to get tied up in knots about, is there?
No. Nothing except the nagging feeling I can’t get rid of that I’m an idiot. Or maybe it’s just because I’m on the night shift—something I prefer, anyway. It keeps the nightmares at bay. That is, if I can manage to stay up late enough for the sun to rise and chase any lingering demons away.
Crickets chirp on the cloudless night, the sliver of moon shining overhead as I make my way out of the building, having taken my time in signing out and getting ready to go home. I don’t have a reason to rush out after shift. There isn’t anything waiting for me except the emptiness.
What I need is to get it together and deal. Travis rejecting me had one good unexpected side effect.
He forced me to face the fact that I’ve been running from everything I went through. Running away from the only home I’ve ever known. Running away from the demons and darkness that go bump in the night. Running for the first time in my life, when I grew up on the streets, fighting for every single thing I’d ever been lucky enough to get.
I stop in shock, my gaze catching on the man in the parking lot.
Travis.
Waiting for me. He leans up against his personal vehicle, a lifted gun-metal gray F-250 with black composite rims. The lift kit means that I’ll have to grab the ‘oh-shit stick’ and pull myself up into it if I ever rode in it, and that’s not even mentioning the fact that there’s no sign of any sort of running board. I swallow hard at the thought, because a month ago thinking about riding with him wouldn’t have crossed my mind.
“Hey, Brandi.” Travis smiles at me. “I thought you could use a ride.” He’s wearing a pair of faded jeans and a black T-shirt that says SHSD in gold lettering on it.
He looks so good it’s a wonder I’m not standing there with my mouth hanging open. But all at once my stomach pulls tight. Travis? Here now?
All the other doubts and questions I’d felt before came rushing back, with a brand-new mix blended in, just to mess with my anxiety.
“Why are you up?” I ask. “It’s four in the morning. Why are you here?”
He lifts his shoulders in a shrug. “Let’s just say a little redheaded bird told me you were procrastinating leaving at night.” His blue eyes are bright with warmth the stupid part of her wants to melt into. And he half smiles.
“I don’t need a chauffeur.”
“Not even if he’s willing?”
My breath catches in my throat. There’s no reason to beat around the bush or hide my hurt feelings. “You didn’t call.”
“I’m sorry.” He comes right out and says it without hesitation. “I’m sorry that I didn’t call.”
I raise an eyebrow, propping a hand on my hip. “You are?”
“Yeah, I said I’d call, but… work.” He looks at me, and I almost shiver from the want that moves through my veins like syrup pouring onto pancakes.
“That’s okay. It’s not like there’s a law that says you have to call.” I look away. “That you have towantto call.”
“Hey?” He waits until I lift my eyes once more to meet his. “Work didn’t stop me. Truth this, Brian’s shit got to me.”
I frown, taking a step toward him. “What do you mean?”
Maya hasn’t said a word to me about Travis, and we had coffee together yesterday. I haven’t brought him up, either. But Brian?
I know about the call when I was in Travis’ bed. And his anger at Brian for issuing a warning to stay away from me, but… I’m a grown-ass woman.
Travis couldn’t have been that scared away by what Brian said.
“He’s very protective of you. And I know this thing between you and me is new and different to him. Different than how he’s seen me with other people.” He breathes out heavily. “I’m making a mess of this. Brandi, I went to call you so many times these past few days and every time I stopped myself, like an idiot. You deserve so much more than anything I can give you. More than lust, or late-night sex after work. But I figured I’d let it settle and see how I feel.”
Lust. Shit, I love sex, but the way he says it, like I’m someone that he fantasizes over, well… it sounds insane and makes my mouth dry and my body throb, all at the same time.
“And how do you feel, Travis?”
He shifts from foot to foot, clearly caught off guard. “Like I still want to take you on that date I told you about. See where this goes, like I said. Right now.”
