The Best Bride (29 page)

“Are you sure?” he asked.

Mandy nodded vigorously, her blond pigtails bouncing against her shoulders. “I talked to her last night. I'm going to be a fairy princess.”

A phone call was one thing, a visit quite another. If they were coming out, Elizabeth would have to tell them the truth. Maybe she already had.

Hope threatened again. Travis did his best to ignore it. So what? They were her parents. She still hadn't contacted him in any way. This morning, when he'd driven up to get Mandy, she'd sent the girl outside without giving him more than a brief, impersonal wave.

Mandy put her fork down and looked at him. Something in her big blue eyes made him give her his full attention. “What's wrong?” he asked.

“Are you and Mommy fighting?”

He didn't have an answer for that one. They weren't angry at each other, but they sure weren't getting along. “Why do you ask?”

Mandy shrugged. “Mommy was crying last night. I heard her after I went to bed.”

His gut clenched into a hard knot. Rather than give in to the impulse to jump up and find Elizabeth, he gripped the table. It wasn't his fault she was crying. If she wanted his
comfort, she knew where to find him. He'd already told her he loved her. What else was there to say?

“We're not fighting,” he told the little girl. Although he wasn't sure he hadn't made her cry.

Mandy seemed relieved. He changed the subject. “I told you I can't stay for the whole game,” he reminded her. “I have to work this afternoon.”

“I know,” she said, nodding. “I'll score my goal early, okay?”

He leaned across the table and ruffled her bangs. “You do that, kid.”

They left the restaurant and he drove them to the park. Most of the parents and children were already there. Mandy ran off to join her team. Travis walked to the edge of the field and stared at the players. He didn't want to look around and see Elizabeth. If there was any lingering trace of her tears, he would feel obligated to ask what was wrong. Maybe it was weak of him, but he couldn't face her shutting him down again. He needed a little time to let the wounds heal.

Apparently she didn't share his feelings. He'd barely been there a minute when he inhaled the soft scent of a familiar perfume. His body reacted instantly. His groin flooded with heat and his chest tightened.

“Hi, Travis.”

“Elizabeth.” He forced himself to look at her. She wore an oversize blue sweater over jeans. Her hair was loose and shiny in the autumn morning. All traces of tears were long gone. Her brown eyes glowed with something, but it wasn't pain or unhappiness. He wanted to believe it had something to do with him, or at the very least, was the result of talking to her parents, but his luck wasn't that good. He glanced around the field. There were several single men here. Any one of them could have put that special light in her eyes.

He wanted to ask about her parents and what had prompted her to call. He wanted to tell her how much he loved her and beg her to come back to him. He wanted to hold her in his arms until he convinced her that they belonged together. He did none of those things. He couldn't move, couldn't breathe, couldn't do anything but endure the heartache of knowing what could have been.

“Mandy mentioned you'll be leaving early,” she said. “Yes.

Can you take her home?”

“Of course.” Her gaze met and held his own. He tried to read her emotions, but he couldn't. Just as well, he thought, turning away. What was there to see?

“I've got to go,” he said abruptly and walked away.

“Travis?”

He kept on going. If he moved fast enough, maybe the pain wouldn't be able to catch up with him.

Elizabeth stared at Travis's retreating back. The hurt and hunger in his eyes had left her with tangible wounds. She could feel the ache pouring through her body. Every part of her screamed at her to take a chance. One small risk. He wasn't Sam. He wasn't lying about anything in his life. He'd told her the unvarnished truth about himself, his past and his family. She'd seen his shame when he'd talked about his father. Travis had even risked telling her he loved her. He had no secrets left.

She took a step after him, then paused. Could she risk it? What about the mistakes she'd made?

“Take a chance.”

Elizabeth spun on her heel and found Rebecca standing behind her. “What are you doing here?” she asked.

“One of the kids from the children's home is playing. I thought I'd come watch and show support.” Rebecca stared at her. “Elizabeth, this may be your last opportunity. Don't be a fool.”

“I can't.” Elizabeth closed her eyes. “I can't risk—” Her eyes flew open. She clasped her hand over her mouth, then dropped her arm to her side. “I can't risk losing him, can I? What have I been thinking? Travis Haynes is the best thing that ever happened to me.”

Rebecca grinned. “Finally. He went that away.” She raised one finger and pointed.

Elizabeth hurried off in that direction. She scanned the growing crowd but there was no tall man in a Stetson anywhere. She stopped and looked toward the parking lot. Her heart sank. The sheriff's car was gone. Travis had left.

Disappointment dragged at her. Now what? Should she wait until he came off his shift? She shook her head. No, she couldn't wait another minute. They'd both suffered for too long.

She ran to a phone on the edge of the park. Dialing quickly, she shifted her weight from foot to foot. Finally the phone rang.

“Sheriff's Office.”

It wasn't Travis, but the voice was familiar. “Kyle?”

“Yes.”

“Hi, it's Elizabeth Abbott. I'm looking for Travis. Is he around?”

There was a pause. She bit her lower lip. Maybe Travis had told his brother about her behavior. If so, Kyle might not want to help her. Oh, but he had to.

“He's subbing for one of the deputies. He's out on patrol, giving out tickets.”

“Oh, then I'll never find him.”

“I don't know about that. Is this good news?”

She clutched the metal cord. “Very good news, Kyle. The best news.”

“He's been walking around here like a kicked dog.”

“I know. I'm sorry about that.”

“He deserves something wonderful, Elizabeth.” Kyle's voice got husky. “He's a good man.”

“I know. Believe me, I know. I need to find him before it's too late.”

There was a pause; then Kyle said, “Do you remember where he stopped you that first day?”

“Yes.”

“He always parks in the same place. The locals know to avoid him. If you go now you'll be able to find him.”

She thought for a second. “I have to wait until the soccer game is over. I can't leave Mandy alone.”

“I'll be by in five minutes to get her.”

“You'd do that for me?”

“I'm doing it for Travis.”

She had to fight against the tears burning in her eyes. To think she might have lost the man she loved because of her own fears. “Thank you, Kyle. I really appreciate this.”

“Yeah, well, don't make me regret it.”

“I won't. I just hope it's not too late. By.”

“Elizabeth?”

“Yes?”

“It's not too late.”

She hung up and prayed he was right. She started toward the parking lot. At the sight of her car, she paused. Travis knew her car. She didn't want to give him time to get away from her or start to think up reasons why it wouldn't work. Not now. She glanced around the playing field and saw one of the coach's wives standing close to her. She rushed over.

“Mary, can I borrow your car for a few minutes?”

The young woman looked startled. “Didn't you bring your car?”

“Yes, but—oh, it's difficult to explain. I need to find someone and I don't want him to know it's me until it's too late and please, I promise I'll be careful.”

Mary looked at her for several seconds, then grinned. “Sounds like man trouble to me.”

“It is.”

The blonde reached into her jeans pocket and pulled out a set of keys. “It's the red station wagon right there.”

Impulsively, Elizabeth gave the other woman a hug. “Thanks. I'll be right back.”

“Take your time.”

She ran to the car, slid inside, fastened her seat belt, then started the engine. After drawing in a deep breath for courage, she pulled out of the parking lot and turned onto the main road.

* * *

Travis stared morosely down the highway. Even for a Saturday morning, the traffic was light. He'd only seen half a dozen cars and all of them had been going the speed limit. Not that he was in the mood to stop anyone.

He leaned his head back and groaned. Mandy was going to be upset that he'd left before her game had started. There was no way he could explain to the little girl that he hadn't had a choice in the matter. It had been too hard to stand there staring at Elizabeth and knowing he could never be a part of her life. Just seeing her had been difficult. How was he supposed to get through the torture of being her friend?

Friends. He swore. She might as well just shoot him in the back and get it over with.

He heard a car engine and straightened. A red station wagon barreled around the curve behind him and zoomed past onto the straightaway. Travis checked his radar and raised his eyebrows. Someone was going somewhere in a hurry.

He pulled out onto the highway and hit the gas. His patrol car was gaining, but slowly. He flipped on his blue
light and accelerated, then frowned when he realized the driver in the red car was going faster than he'd thought. He stared ahead, but all he could see was the person wore a baseball cap. At last the driver glanced in the rearview mirror, saw him and turned off onto the shoulder of the road.

Travis parked behind the car and collected his ticket book and Stetson. He stepped out and walked over to the car. The window was already rolled down.

“You were going pretty fast there.” He flipped open his ticket book, then glanced up at the driver. And about dropped his pen. “Elizabeth?”

“Hi.” She jerked off the baseball cap and her brown hair tumbled over her shoulders. “I wondered if you'd see me.”

“You were hard to miss, especially when you hit the straightaway doing eighty.” He glanced at the unfamiliar car and frowned. “Why are you driving this?”

“That's not important.” She opened the car door and got out. “I was speeding. Are you going to give me a ticket?”

He frowned. What kind of game was she playing? There was an odd flickering in her eyes, some suppressed emotion. Her mouth quivered, but he couldn't tell if she was upset or trying not to smile. None of this made sense.

“You
were
over the speed limit,” he said.

“I know. Ask me for my story.”

“What?”

“Travis.” She planted her hands on her hips. “Isn't it a tradition here in Glenwood? If I tell you a story you haven't heard before, don't you have to let me go?”

He shoved the ticket book and pen into his back pocket, then folded his arms over his chest. He could feel his heart thumping. That damn hope flared to life again. This time
he let it burn hot and bright. This time he dared to believe. But he wasn't going to ask. She was going to have to tell him.

“What's the story?” he asked cautiously, wondering if she was about to say something he wanted to hear, or if she would deliver the death blow.

The odd flickering in her beautiful brown eyes turned into something he could have sworn was caring. Her mouth curved up in a smile. When she leaned forward and placed her hands on his chest, it was all he could do not to pull her close.

“I love you,” she said, then touched her lips to his.

Fire exploded through him. His mind echoed with the wonder of her words. He grabbed her arms and held her away from him. “What did you say?”

“Oh, Travis, I've been a fool. I was wrong to judge you by Sam's actions, and wrong to let the past destroy my future.” She shook her head. “Our future. I could have lost you forever.”

“Elizabeth.” He breathed her name. “You would never have lost me. I have nowhere else to go. No one else to love.”

“I love you.”

He wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her hard against his chest. He kissed her once, softly, savoring the reality of knowing they were at last together. Then he angled his head and thrust his tongue into her mouth. They met in a conflagration of sensation. When they came up for air, they were both breathing heavily.

“Does this mean I don't get a ticket?” she asked, and smiled.

He grinned in return. “It's a story I haven't heard before, so I guess not.”

“Good. I would have been a little cranky on our wedding day if you had given me a ticket.”

He stared at her.

Her smile faltered. “You do want to marry me, don't you? I mean I assumed that was the next logical step.” She bit her lower lip and blushed. “Oh, Travis, we don't have to if you don't—”

He grabbed her hands and pulled them to his mouth. After kissing each palm, he stared into her eyes. “I love you, Elizabeth Abbott. Will you marry me?”

A single tear slipped down her cheek. “Yes.”

“We can get married when your parents are here if you'd like.” When he saw her confused frown, he kissed the tip of her nose. “Mandy told me. You'll be a beautiful bride, darlin'.”

He bent his head toward her mouth again. The kiss quickly heated them both. He was thinking about which of their houses was closer when a burst from a siren made them jump apart.

Travis turned and glared at the patrol car rolling toward them. Kyle was driving, with a young girl bouncing at his side. When the car came to a stop, Mandy opened the front door and jumped out. Her smile about split her face in two and her blue eyes were shining.

“Mommy, Mommy, Uncle Kyle says you and Travis are getting married, and we're going to live happily ever after. Is that true?”