Promises to a Stallion (Kimani Romance) (3 page)

T
ravis was still rubbing at his sore stomach muscles. Had he been expecting the slam into his solar plexus, it probably wouldn’t have bothered him at all. But Tierra’s punch had caught him completely off guard, and truth be told, for a little woman she packed one heck of a punch.

He still didn’t have a clue what he had done to deserve being punched but figured by the way Tierra had run back down the length of stairs and out the front door that it had to have something to do with the letter he delivered.

Eden had only shrugged her shoulders before turning an about-face to go after the woman. The expression on her face was as shocked as his.

Making his way downstairs, Travis’s curiosity was piqued. He was even more interested in knowing how Tierra had even known to find him there. Question after question raced through his thoughts as he stepped out onto the large porch.

The two women stood in front of the porch swing, Tierra sobbing uncontrollably. Her tears unnerved Travis and his usual steady and calm demeanor was suddenly anxious. Pushing both hands into the deep pockets of his jeans, Travis’s steps forward were tentative, the man not wanting to intrude where he might not be wanted.

Eden acknowledged him first, her head shaking with concern. She patted Tierra gently on the shoulder, leaning to give her friend a quick hug before making a polite exit. As Eden moved past Travis, she leaned up to whisper into his ear.

“Go easy on her. She just had her heart broken.”

Travis nodded ever so slightly. He took a quick glance over his shoulder as Eden stepped through the home’s front door. The woman’s stare back was equally curious as she looked from him to Tierra and back. She tossed him a quick smile of encouragement before disappearing inside. Turning his gaze toward Tierra, Travis didn’t have a clue what to say or do. The woman’s distress had knocked him completely off center.

Consumed with grief, Tierra didn’t bother to acknowledge him. Dropping down onto the swing’s cushioned seat, she dropped her head into her hands, swiping at the tears that didn’t look like they’d be stopping anytime soon.

Travis took a deep breath, blowing warm air back out slowly. He moved to Tierra’s side and took the seat beside her. Neither one said a word as they settled shoulder to shoulder against each other. Travis fought the urge to wrap his arms around her torso, sensing the gesture wouldn’t be appreciated. He heaved another deep sigh.

Staring out over the landscape, Travis watched the comings and goings of the ranch hands as they went about their morning chores. Having forgotten his wristwatch in his room, he had no idea how long they’d been sitting there, but when the horses were being corralled to another pasture and his stomach was rumbling loudly for a morning meal, he figured it was as good a time as any to initiate a conversation. Tierra’s sobs had finally slowed to a low sniffle, then suddenly she had a bad case of the hiccups.

Travis smiled sweetly. “Hold your breath. That might help.”

Tierra cut a quick glance in his direction. “That never—”
hic
“—works,” she muttered harshly.

There was a moment of pause before Travis said anything else. “Would you like me to get you a large glass of water?” he asked.

“I just want—”
hic
“—you to—”
hic
“—leave me alone,” Tierra answered.

Travis moved to get up from his seat, but Tierra’s next comment stopped him cold.

“I thought you—”
hic
“—were nice. Why—”
hic
“—would you do that—”
hic
“—to me? How—”
hic
“—could you?”

A look of confusion dropped over the man. Gripping her by her shoulders, Travis moved Tierra to face him. “How could I do what? I don’t know what it is you’re talking about, Tierra.”

He felt her tense beneath his touch, her hands balling once again into tight fists, as she rose from the swing.

“At least tell me what it is you’re mad about before you throw another punch,” Travis said, “and don’t take it personally if I punch back,” he added, an amused smile pulling at his mouth.

Tierra met his deep gaze evenly, unsure if she wanted to laugh or start crying all over again. Feeling completely defeated, she collapsed back against the swing’s cushions.

Travis was still eyeing her intensely. Tierra liked his eyes. She imagined a woman could easily lose herself in his eyes, if she were so inclined. Lost in his eyes a woman might imagine herself wrapped in his arms. In his arms, the possibilities that could be fathomed were endless. Tierra felt her breath catch deep in her chest as a flutter of something she didn’t recognize flitted through the pit of her stomach. She shook the sensation away as quickly as it had risen.

Reaching into the pocket of her khaki slacks, Tierra pulled the dreaded letter from inside. Unfolding the tear-stained paper, she barely glanced down at it as she passed it over to Travis.

“Read it out loud,” she said, her tone commanding.

Travis’s gaze moved from her face to the notepaper in his hand. The soiled paper had begun to weather from handling, and the damp moisture of saline had begun to fade away the neatly printed writing. He pulled the document closer and began to read. As he did, moisture puddled in Tierra’s dark gaze, threatening to spill over her cheeks again.

When he finished reading, Travis let the paper drop into his lap. Beside him, Tierra forced herself not to start crying all over again. She choked back a deep sob as she picked the letter up from where it had fallen and slowly tore it into shreds.

You could have warned me,” she whispered softly. “What? Did you and Damien have a good laugh planning how you’d do it? I bet you can’t wait to rush back and tell him how torn up I was so you two can bust a gut making a joke out of it all.”

Travis was flabbergasted, astonishment registering on his face. He leaned forward, grasping both of Tierra’s hands beneath his own. The torn shreds of paper fluttered down to the planked floor and across the perfectly manicured lawn.

“Tierra, I knew nothing about this. Private Porter never told me what he had written or what his plans were. The only thing he ever said was that it had to do with your wedding plans and that it was important it get to you as soon as possible. That’s all. I swear. If I had known…” Travis hesitated. He couldn’t begin to tell her what he would have done had he known. Suffice it to say, it would not have turned out well for Damien Porter.

Travis had been too nice, Tierra thought as she peered out the window to the landscape outside. She’d believed him when he’d said he didn’t know anything about Damien’s letter. She also sensed he would never have delivered news like that if he had been aware. Clearly the man was a gentleman who cared about her feelings.

Tierra blew a soft sigh past her glossed lips. In the distance she could see Travis interacting with his family as they all stood watching the horses being exercised in the corral. Tierra had been at the window watching him and the other men for some time.

He liked to laugh she noted, observing him as he threw back his head, chuckling heartily. The wealth of it seemed to rise from deep in his midsection, and Tierra imagined that with his deep baritone voice Travis’s laugh could be a balm to a woman’s ears. She couldn’t help but hope that one day the two of them might find something to laugh about together.

She had left him sitting alone on the porch hours earlier, excusing herself to go wash her tear-streaked face and lie down for a nap. The man had still been holding both of her hands tightly beneath his own. Tierra caressed the back of her hand where his skin had touched hers. Her fingers and palm still tingled from the heat of his touch.

“This is ridiculous,” Tierra suddenly spoke aloud, tearing herself from where she stood. She threw herself down against the bed, blowing a heavy sigh. She needed to be plotting revenge on Damien for hurting her, not thinking about some other man’s touch. She desperately wanted to be fishing in her bag of tricks for some way to pay Damien back for the hurt of it all. But for whatever reason, Tierra couldn’t stop thinking about Travis Stallion.

From where she stood in the front foyer, Tierra could see Marla, Eden and their kinfolk cutting up in the family room. The family was having themselves a good time, and Tierra didn’t want to interrupt and spoil the fun with her bad mood.

Trying to escape without being seen or heard, she tiptoed across the polished wood floors toward the front door. Her name being called stopped her dead in her tracks before she could wrap her hand around the doorknob.

“Tierra?” Travis called a second time, coming up behind her. “Is everything okay?”

The young woman winced with frustration before turning around to face the man. “I’m fine, thank you,” she said as she forced a slight smile. “I just have some errands I need to run.” Tierra turned back to the door, opening it widely as she hurried to make an exit.

Still moving close behind her, Travis followed her outside. “Do you mind if I tag along with you? I would really like to see some of Dallas if I can.”

Moving forward, Tierra winced again. She wasn’t in the mood for company. “Maybe some other time, Sergeant Stallion. Right now I would just really like to be alone,” she said as she reached her car. “The peace and quiet will be good for me.”

“Maybe so,” Travis stated, pulling open her passenger-side door. “But I think being with friends would be better for you right now,” he said, a wide grin filling his handsome face. “You won’t even know I’m here, friend.”

Before she could respond, Travis stepped into her Saturn roadster and settled down comfortably in the front passenger seat. It was clear that nothing Tierra could say or do would be able to change his mind. She decided not to say anything at all, hoping the look she gave him would be enough to express her displeasure. She slid into the driver’s seat and started the engine.

“So, what kind of music do you like to listen to?” Travis asked as he reached across her dashboard and turned on the car’s stereo system. He began to scroll through the local radio stations.

Tierra cut her eyes in his direction. “How is this quiet?” she spat.

The man laughed, his disposition teasing. “Oh, you thought I was actually paying you some attention!”

A deep frown pulled at Tierra’s mouth, aggravation clouding her expression. The man was hardly moved as he winked in her direction. Still smiling, Travis nodded his head as he settled back against the leather seats. His head bobbed in time with the music playing.

Tierra’s own head shook at the absurdity. Shifting into drive, she pulled her car into the circular driveway and pulled away from the Stallion family home. As she navigated the traffic, the sound of jazz music settled comfortably between them.

The midday sun had settled nicely in the afternoon sky. The air was heated with just the hint of a breeze blowing. With the top down and the seductive tunes billowing from the speakers, the day could have been considered almost perfect.

Tierra suddenly wished she didn’t feel so alone. Even with the gorgeous man seated beside her she was feeling like she didn’t have a friend in the world. Heaving a deep sigh, Tierra stole a glance in Travis’s direction. The man’s gaze was fixed on the highway. His head bobbed and he patted his hand on his knee to the beat of the music.

He looked far more relaxed than he’d appeared the day before, his casual styling suiting him nicely. And just like the day before, the man was exceptionally attractive. His rugged good looks could make a woman lose her mind, Tierra thought, admiring the chiseled line of his features and the lush, full lips that pouted ever so slightly. Tierra couldn’t help but wonder what kissing those lips might feel like.

She shook her head vehemently, appalled that just hours earlier she’d gotten her heart broken and here she was now, wondering what it might be like to kiss another man.

“You shouldn’t have come,” she suddenly said out loud, the words coming out of her mouth in a rush.

“Excuse me?” Travis said as he settled his intense stare on her.

Tierra’s eyes flitted from the road to his face and back again.
Lord, have mercy,
Tierra thought.
Why does he have to look at me that way?

She heaved another deep sigh, the air catching in her chest as she held her breath for a brief moment. She reached for the volume button on the car radio and turned it down until the music was barely audible. “I said you shouldn’t have come. This was a bad idea.”

Travis smiled, not bothering to respond. He turned the radio back up, his gaze still focused on the side of her face. He couldn’t get over how incredibly beautiful she was. The woman was perfection personified. Private Porter had to have been a complete fool to let such an incredible creature get away.

His smile widened as the muscles in her face twitched with frustration. Without giving it any thought, he reached a large hand out and rested it on her shoulder. As he gently caressed the bare flesh, he felt her tense beneath his fingertips.

Tierra sucked in a deep inhale of oxygen. She hadn’t expected the man to touch her, and suddenly the heat from his hand had ignited a fire deep in her midsection. It was all she could do to keep from running her car off the road.

“Hey, we’re in this together now, so go with it. So, what are we doing? What’s our first stop?” Travis asked, his hand still teasing her flesh as his fingertips tap danced against her skin.

Taking a second inhale of air, Tierra shifted her shoulder upward, rotating it away from the man’s touch. “I have to go by the florist and cancel my flower order. In fact, I have to cancel everything I’ve ordered for the wedding. I don’t know what you’re doing.”