Memories: A Husband to Remember\New Year's Daddy (Hqn) (37 page)

“Because it’s been a long time since I wanted to be with a woman,” he said, walking slowly up to her. “Maybe too long.” Stopping just inches from her, he wound his finger in the long braid that had flipped over her shoulder to curl around her breast. “You know, Ronni, I just don’t know what to do with you.”

“No?” she asked, the barn suddenly seeming to close, the air hard to breathe. “Why not?”

“You’re not like any woman I’ve ever met.”

“Is that bad?”

“Maybe...maybe not.” She licked her lips nervously and a muscle worked his jaw. “I don’t want this,” he said.

“Want what?” But she knew. They both knew. Desire, new and frightening, yet as old as time, hung in the air.

Resting his forehead against hers, he whispered, “I don’t know what it is about you, woman. Can’t put my finger on it, but there’s something damned irresistible.” His arms circled her waist. “I just can’t fight it,” he said, “though God knows I’ve tried.”

His lips brushed over hers and though she knew she was wading in dangerous waters, she couldn’t stop. Wouldn’t. It had been too long and Travis touched her like no other man. Ronni’s breathing was already shallow, her heartbeat fluttering like the wings of a frightened bird. She gave herself without hesitation, kissing him, holding him, feeling his weight drag them both to the straw-strewn floor.

His lips were warm, the air cool and the quiet nicker of the horses in counterpoint to the soft hoot of an owl. Ronni closed her eyes and reveled in the feel of him, the way his lips touched the shell of her ear, the pressure of his hands as his fingers found the zipper of her jacket. She sensed the cold whisper of air caress her skin as he lifted her sweater over her head, and then, with weak moonlight filtering through the windows, unhooked her bra, letting her breasts spill into the night.

He kissed the deep cleft, breathed fire across the goose bumps that raised on her skin and touched a nipple that puckered and strained until his tongue encircled the taut point.

Writhing in sweet agony, she arched upward, her blood on fire, a dark need unfolding deep within. His hands reached behind her, pressing intimately on the naked small of her back, tracing the long depression of her spine as his lips surrounded one nipple and he began to suckle, creating a whirlpool of desire deep in the most feminine part of her.

“Travis,” she cried when he delved beneath her jeans, his fingers grazing her buttocks, his hands hot and ready. The buttons of her fly opened in a sharp series of pops and soon, still making love to her breasts with his mouth, he skimmed the jeans down her legs, discarded her shoes and socks and she was suddenly naked in the dark barn. Burning and anxious and naked.

When he lifted his head, she cried out, but then he moved lower, his tongue tracing a path along the center of her abdomen. She bucked, her hips rising off the floor with the want of him and he whispered, “Slow down, honey. Just slow down and enjoy.”

She knew she should stop, that she was crossing an invisible and dangerous line, but she couldn’t find the words and her voice was dry and hoarse as he continued kissing her and stroking her, spreading her legs gently, slowly finding that sensitive part of her that she’d sworn no man would ever discover again.

But she didn’t stop him and as he touched her, slowly at first and then more rapidly, she found his rhythm and moved furiously with each magic stroke, inviting more, wanting more, gritting her teeth with the need of him, all of him. His hands and mouth were exquisite and she felt herself soaring ever higher like a shooting star careering across the sky until the release, when it came, rocked her so hard she would have sworn the heavens split and the world shattered.

Only when it was over, when he was holding her in his arms and kissing away the tears of relief, was she able to slow the beating of her heart and hear the soft sigh of the wind over her own ragged, desperate breaths. How could one man affect her so? How could she ever let him touch her again—how could she not? In a few short weeks, she’d come to rely on and trust him as she had trusted no one since Hank.

“Travis, I—”

“Shh, honey. No need for words.” But his eyes had darkened as if there were unspoken gestures hanging between them.

She nestled in his arms for a minute before becoming aware of the sharp tensile strength of his muscles, the hard planes of his face and the very noticeable bulge in the front of his jeans.

Turning to him, she held his face in her hands and began kissing him, slowly at first and then more feverishly until he moaned with pleasure. With fumbling fingers she stripped him of his jacket and sweatshirt, her fingers playing softly in the swirling hair of his chest.

Strong and sinewy, his flesh was hot and firm. She kissed him on his bare skin, rimming one of his nipples with her tongue and letting her fingers explore him, the ridges and planes of his muscles, the slope of his back, the rounded firmness of his buttocks.

When she opened his fly, he didn’t stop her and as she pushed off his jeans, he groaned in some kind of male ecstasy. Her fingers glided over the hard muscles of his thighs and she moved lower, but before she could pleasure him as he had her, he kissed her and his knees parted her legs. Eyes, seeking and dark, stared at her breasts as he poised over her. “You’re sure about this?” he asked, sweat beading his upper lip.

“Yes,” she lied. How could she be sure of anything? But she wanted him...maybe even loved him....

“No regrets?”

“None,” she promised.

Biting his lower lip, he fumbled in the dark, found his jeans and shook out his wallet. Deep within the leather he found the foil packet and opened it quickly.

Ronni was still breathing hard, her abdomen rising and falling, her breasts full and wanting as he kissed first one nipple, then the other. He lifted her hips with his hands. Eyes locked with hers, he entered her, so slowly she thought she would die in ecstasy, and then he withdrew just as lazily, as if he had all the willpower in the world. She would never have thought she could be ready so soon after being satiated, but her need was great and she moved with him, accepting his thrusts, yearning for more, wanting all of him.

His tempo increased. She moaned and cried out as he fell to his elbows and joined her in a fierce, ancient dance that caused the earth to shatter and the seas to part.

“Travis,” she whispered, his name familiar and right. “Travis, oh, please—” And then it came, that sweet spasm of delight that caused him to collapse against her, crushing her breasts and jarring her to her very soul. This was how it was supposed to be.

She held him close, her heart pounding wildly, and a new sensation akin to love surrounded her in its gentle blanket. The horses snorted as if in disapproval, but she didn’t care. For the first time in nearly four years, she felt like a woman, a full, complete woman.

“You’re beautiful, Veronica,” he said, his voice rough with emotion. He brushed a strand of hair from her face and when he stared at her, she saw deeper emotions in his eyes, as if he too felt the change in their relationship, he too realized there was no turning back, he too knew their lives would never be the same.

Levering up on one elbow, he stared down at her and touched the hill of her cheek with one long finger. “I...I...” He stopped, took in a deep breath and shook his head. “Look what you’ve reduced me to, woman.”

A tightness was forming in her throat as she realized how serious he’d become. How sober. How intense.

A heartbeat, then his gaze locked with hers. Her throat turned to sand. Oh, God, she knew what he was going to ask before the words, those beautiful, frightening words whispered through the barn.

He took her hand in his as if afraid she might pull away, “I want you to marry me.”

Chapter Ten

“I...I
DON
’
T
KNOW
what to say,” Ronni whispered as Travis plucked a piece of straw from her hair.

A smile split his jaw and some of the tension drained from his face. “How about, ‘Oh, Travis, I never thought you’d ask, I’ll marry you and bear your children, clean your house, wash your clothes, kiss the ground you walk on and be devoted to you for the rest of your life?’”

Ronni, close to tears a moment before, laughed. “Oh, sure, that’s what was on the tip of my tongue.” Kissing him, she saw the merriment in his eyes and she hugged him closer. Marriage. To Travis. “I—I want to be sure,” she said as the reality hit her.

“You aren’t now?”

“For the moment, yes, but for the rest of our lives...? I barely know you.”

He smiled, his teeth flashing white in the darkness as he stared at her. “I feel like I’ve been looking for you all my life.”

“Really?” she asked and he laughed. “Be serious for a minute.”

“I am. Dead serious. I want you to be my wife.”

“I though that after your divorce you were through with marriage.”

“But I didn’t count on meeting you.”

Sighing, she said, “I don’t know if it would be fair—to you.”

“I know what I want.”

“Do you?” Still reeling from his proposal, she sat up and felt the cold air chill her skin. Never once had he said that he loved her, nor she him. It was just too soon, too early in their relationship. She’d known Hank for years before she’d married him and even now, almost four years after his death, she felt as if she was betraying his memory.

“I’m willing to take a chance.”

“But I don’t know if I can,” she admitted. “There’s Amy—”

“Who’s crazy about me and Bryan.”

“That much is true.” Wrapping her arms around her legs, she stared at this wonderful man. Her first impulse was to say yes and throw herself into his arms and make love to him over and over again, but she had to be practical. She was a mother; he, too, had a child. It wasn’t just the two of them, they weren’t impetuous teenagers.

“How do you feel about my son?”

“Oh, that’s not it,” she said, reading his thoughts. “Bryan’s a little on the surly side sometimes, but that’s just the nature of the beast. A teenager suddenly thrown into a new situation—new home, new school. Then he wracks up his knee and feels like a fool so he covers it with bravado.”

“Thank you, Dr. Freud.”

“You disagree?” She arched a dark eyebrow high.

“Not at all, and I think you’re just what he needs—a no-nonsense woman who likes kids.”

“So that’s what this is all about.”

“No,” he said quietly. “I’m not just looking for a new mother for my son. If that were the case, there are several women in Seattle who would have gladly done the honors.” He looked away from her and she experienced a jab of jealousy for these faceless women who wanted him. “But they were more interested in becoming Mrs. Travis Keegan than being a companion to me or my son. I had the feeling that each of them had the same agenda—their first act as my wife would be to banish Bryan to a boarding school as far away as possible.”

Had they slept with him? Shared his bed? Said they loved him? Had he promised them marriage? Told them he cared? “Then they were fools. Bryan’s a great kid.”

“You really think so?”

“I know so. He just needs some of his rough edges filed down, but it will all come in time.” Reaching in the straw for her jeans, she added, “Look, I’d better go inside. If Amy wakes up—”

“You’re ducking the issue.”

Flinging her sweater over her head, she said, “I just can’t make a quick decision like that. I mean, I never thought I’d marry again....”

“Because you were still married to Saint Hank.”

The accusation stung, but it was true. Years before, she’d believed that she would marry Hank, have his children, experience the joys and worries of parenthood, look forward to their grandchildren and eventually grow old holding each other’s hands. Emotion clogged her throat. “When I took those vows, I was serious.”

“But they ended with the ‘till death do us part’ bit.” There was a trace of anger in his voice and he glared at her with hard, unforgiving eyes.

“I know. I’ve finally accepted it.” She stuffed her bra into the back pocket of her jeans. “But it’s taken a while. A lot longer than it should have.” Only recently had the stones in her heart lightened. Only recently could she think of Hank’s death and not be angry. “Come on,” she said, shaking her hair loose, “I’ll buy you a cup of coffee and you can try and persuade me that becoming the next Mrs. Travis Keegan is the sane, sensible and only path to take.”

She started for the door but he tackled her and drew her down to the floor with him once more. “All right, Ronni, we’ll play this game your way,” he said, his nose touching hers, his eyes, bright and intense as he stared at her. “But I’m warning you, I’m not a patient man.”

“Funny you should bring up your lack of that particular virtue,” she replied with a giggle, “because I’ve been accused of the same thing.”

“See. We’re perfect for each other.”

“Convince me.”

“Gladly,” he whispered and kissed her until the breath was trapped in her lungs and the world began to spin again.

* * *

“You’re kidding!” Bryan said as he walked from one side of the room to the other. He was without crutches now and his gait was even and strong, with no hint of any lingering damage. The doctor had told him to take it easy, no strenuous running or jumping or skiing for a few weeks, but he was healing well and it looked as if he wasn’t going to need surgery. He threw his hat onto a sofa in the living room and glowered at his father. “I’m
not
going to any dumb little Christmas pageant, Dad.”

“Amy’s expecting you,” Travis said and swallowed a smile. Recently Bryan had begun to call him Dad again, though when it had first occurred eluded him.

“Geez!” Bryan flung one hand into the air in disgust. “Why’d she have to invite me?” he wondered aloud.

“Because she likes you.”

“She’s a runty little kid.”

“Doesn’t matter. She thinks you’re great.”

Bryan rolled his eyes and sighed theatrically. “She thinks everyone’s great and I’m tired of her hanging around bothering me. Why is it we spend so much time with them, anyway?”

“Because I like her mother. And I like Amy and Ronni’s going to be over here any minute, so try and paste a smile on your face, okay?”

He’d no sooner said the words than Ronni’s van pulled into the driveway. She’d worked all day at the mountain and her face was still flushed from the cold as she entered the room without her daughter. Travis spun Ronni under the mistletoe, then as she giggled, kissed her lightly on the lips.

Bryan, witnessing his father’s affection, looked out the window and glowered. He was talking about moving to France again and Travis figured he’d have to put up with the boy’s insecurities and worries for a while longer. No doubt Bryan would be upset until he started school and then, hopefully, once he realized that he would be accepted and find friends, all this angst would abate.

“Look at you,” Ronni said a trifle breathlessly when Travis set her on her feet. She was staring at Bryan as she stepped into the living room and tossed her purse onto the hearth. “No more crutches.”

“Nearly a clean bill of health,” Travis said.

“Yeah, but no basketball, skateboarding or skiing,” Bryan grumbled.

“All in good time.”

He made a sound of disgust as if he believed he’d never get to do anything the least bit fun again.

“So how were things on the mountain today?” Travis asked.

“Relatively calm considering it’s Christmas break,” she replied. “A few injuries, but not many, thank heavens.”

Another deprecating noise from Bryan’s direction.

Ronni ignored the boy’s foul mood. “I wanted to make sure you know how to get to the church. The pageant’s at seven, but I have to be there earlier since I’m in charge of the angel choir and getting the twins into their costumes.”

“And Shelly? Vic seems to think she wouldn’t miss this if she were on her death bed.”

“She’s coming. But just for the performance. Supposedly she’s forgoing the party afterward that the parson always throws. She’s even going to avoid the bazaar.” Ronni’s eyes clouded. “I hope she’ll be all right.” Forcing a smile, she attempted to hide the fact that she was worried sick. Shelly was still spotting lightly and Dr. Sprick was considering hospitalizing her.

Declining a soda or cup of coffee, Ronni explained that she had to pick up Amy who was playing over at her friend Katie’s house this afternoon. “I’ll see you at the church,” she said as the doorbell rang and she ducked around the edge of the fireplace to retrieve her bag.

Travis opened the door and found Taffy LeMar, dressed in a business suit and high heels, smiling brightly as she stood on the porch. “Hi,” she said to Travis and handed him a basket filled with sprigs of holly, two fluted glasses and a bottle of expensive champagne decorated with a wide gold ribbon. “From the firm. Just a thank-you for doing business with Mountain West Realty.” A dimple creased her cheek. “And from me, too, I guess. I’m sorry I didn’t deliver this earlier, but I’ve been out of town on business and...well, now I’m back.” She forced the basket into Travis’s hand.

“Thanks. This wasn’t necessary.”

“Of course it was,” she said, touching his arm familiarly while her gaze, all blue and shiny, stared up at him. She walked into the entry hall without an invitation, and whether she realized it or not, stopped beneath the chandelier decorated with ribboned pieces of mistletoe. “This is a small town, Travis, and we’re glad for new neighbors—especially someone who might bring his business here and revive a town that was so timber-dependent. Dear God, this house is so beautiful. I knew you could—” Her words clipped off when her gaze slid around the room to land squarely on Ronni still standing near the fireplace. “Veronica!”

Ronni experienced a hard pang of jealousy.

Color washed up Taffy’s neck. “I didn’t expect to find you...but then you’re neighbors, aren’t you?” Recovering quickly, she said, “I tried to reach you, you know, to tell you about the impending sale, but with my schedule and yours, we never seemed to connect.”

“It’s all right,” Ronni replied, gritting her teeth. Looking over Taffy’s shoulder, she noticed Travis, still standing in the raised entryway, his expression drawing into a thoughtful frown.

“But I know how much the place meant, er, means to you,” Taffy said, obviously flustered. “And I figured it was impossible for you to come up with a down payment on a place this size...oh, God...” She was digging herself a deeper and deeper grave and seemed to realize it. “Well... Oh! You must be Travis’s son!” Apparently anxious to change the subject, she crossed the living room and clasped Bryan’s hand between both of hers. “Don’t you just love it here?”

“I hate it,” he said simply.

“Oh, well, I don’t see why. It’s so gorgeous by the lake, and inside, well, the decorations are fabulous.”

“Ronni helped,” Travis explained. He crossed the room and stood next to Ronni.

“Did you?” Taffy seemed to notice Ronni with new, calculating eyes. “Been here often?”

“Not as often as I’d like,” Travis said, draping a familiar and possessive arm over Ronni’s shoulders.

“Oh, well, I see...good. Since you’re neighbors and all. How perfect.” She leveled a surprised look at Ronni. “It’s good you’re finally getting out and seeing people. I was concerned, well, we all were, that you’d never snap out of mourning.”

“It just took time,” Ronni said evenly. “It was hard.”

Travis’s arm tightened around her as if offering her silent strength and she resisted the urge to sag against him.

“Well, merry Christmas to you all,” Taffy said, making a hasty exit, her heels clicking loudly on the hardwood floors. “And a happy New Year, as well.”

“And good riddance,” Travis muttered under his breath once she’d closed the door behind her. “That woman’s a barracuda.”

“She seemed to think you liked her.”

“I did business with her. Period.”

“You wanted to buy this place?” Bryan asked, eyeing Ronni suspiciously. “Why?”

“Sentimental reasons.”

“Such as?” Travis prompted, his hand dropping to his side.

“Growing up here in the caretaker’s house, I guess.” She hoisted the strap of her purse to her shoulder. “I always felt at home here and I loved this old house, not that I was in it much, but it seemed special. I...well, it was silly really, because I never could afford it, but I always thought the estate would make a great bed-and-breakfast inn for skiers in the winter and sailboarders or hikers in the summer. Just over the mountain in Hood River, a town on the Columbia River, the sailboarders come by in droves. I thought Shelly and I could run the place and her family could fix up and live in the caretaker’s house. It’s empty now, but wouldn’t take much...” Suddenly embarrassed, she added, “Oh, well, just a pipe dream.”

“That I spoiled.”

“It could never have happened. Really. It’s better that I let it go and deal with reality, which is—” she checked her watch “—that I don’t have much time before I have to pick up Amy. So, I’ll see you at the church and don’t forget there’s a party and bazaar after the pageant.”

“Whoop-de-do,” Bryan muttered.

“We’ll be there.” Travis walked her out to the van and as she started to climb in, he caught hold of her arm. “It’s been a few days, Ronni,” he reminded her. “Have you given any thought to getting married again?”

She laughed. “If it makes you feel any better, it keeps me awake nights.”

His sexy, crooked grin slid into place. “I’d like to think
I
keep you awake nights.” His gaze slid to her lips. “You seem to have that affect on me.”

She grinned and kissed him lightly on the mouth. “Dreamer.”

“Am I?” Gathering her into his arms, he kissed her. Instantly her blood was on fire, and desire, that beast that had slumbered within her for nearly four long years, was restless and ready to be awakened with just a touch, a smile or a sidelong glance.