VINA IN VENICE (THE 5 SISTERS) (11 page)

“I think the question you need to ask yourself is
why
you did it.  Was it simple curiosity, a moment of insanity, or were you hoping it would lead to something more?”

Vina couldn’t even pretend she didn’t know why she’d kissed
Travis
.
  The instant his arms went around her, something stirred deep inside
that seemed to have a life of its own. 
She’d felt l
ike a
Spring
seedling soaking up the sun’s warmth after
lying
dormant for months under a blanket of snow.
  And when his mouth settled over hers
,
his tongue entic
ing
her lips to part and welcome him
, Vina couldn’t have resisted if she’d wanted to.

After the endless weeks of searching for their parents and the devastating grief that followed when they
were
pronounced dead, she’d been little more than a hollow shell.  Travis had breathed life back into her with that kiss, and she’d clung to him
,
greedy for more
.  The emotional impact
had been overwhelming enough, but the physical affect drop
-
kicked every logical thought
clean
out of her head.

Now that she’d had time to consider the possible consequences of her actions, Vina knew she couldn’t allow any weaknesses she had for Travis out in the open. 
It wouldn’t do to let her sisters believe she harbored romantic ideas where he was concerned either.  All of them adored Travis and would be elated if a more intimate relationship developed, so it was best if she curtailed any notions they had about it right now.

“It doesn’t matter why I kissed him,” Vina said
firmly
.  “The point is, it was a huge mistake; one that I don’t intend to make again.”

“If you say so,” Sophia sighed
.

***

Travis redialed Vina’s number; the third time he’d done so in the past hour.  He lost track of how many times he’d tried to call her over the past two days.  It was fruitless, he knew, and every unanswered call only escalated his sense of helplessness and mounting frustration. 
He’d spoken to Maria the day before, who informed him in a clipped voice that Vina wasn’t feeling well and couldn’t come to the phone.

“Can’t or
won’t
?” he’d asked.

“I’m sorry, Travis, I don’t mean to sound rude, but I really can’t answer that.”

“
Can you at least tell me if she’s going to keep our date for
tomorrow’s game
, or if she’s planning on standing me up?”

“I’m afraid you’ll have to ask Vina about that.”

“I’d love to,” he ground out, “but that’s a little difficult to do when she won’t answer her damn phone.”

“I’ll tell Vina you called,” Maria said apologetically and hung up.

With less than two hours until kick-off, and still no word from Vina, there were only a few options open to him.  He could give the tickets away or take someone else, but neither choice was very appealing.  Travis stood up and grabbed his jacket
, his chin set
determinedly as left his office and headed for the parking lot.  If Vina wouldn’t take or return his calls, then he’d just have to go see her in person.

Twenty minutes later, he was shown into the sitting room by
one of the maids
,
who was apparently unaware that Vina was avoiding him.
  She offered him something to drink, which he declined, then hurried off to inform Vina he was here. 
Travis didn’t bother to sit down.  As he suspected, the maid returned alone several minutes later to offer an apology.

“Miss Vina as
ked me to tell you she still isn’t feeling well and will have to cancel your date today as well as this evening.  Is there a message you’d like me to take to her?”

“No, I believe I’ll deliver it myself,” Travis said as he strode past her.

“Mr. Malone, wait!  You can’t…”

“It’s okay,” he called over his shoulder, “I know the way.”

“But…”

“
Don’t worry,” Travis started up the massive staircase, “I’ll make sure to tell her I bullied my way past you.”
  He’d ju
st reached the top landing when a familiar voice called out his name.  Travis turned to find Sophia peering up at him from the bottom step.

“She doesn’t want to see you,” Sophia said, her tone surprisingly sympathetic.

“Because I kissed her?”

She shook her head.  “Because she kissed you
back
.”

“And now she’s too embarrassed to face me?”

“You got it.  She said it was a mistake
that
won’t ever happen again.”

Travis returned Sophia’s broad grin.  “We’ll see about that.”

At least he had one ally, Travis thought as he made his way down the hall to his left.  He’d been in Vina’s bedroom several time
s
; once to help hang a picture she’d purchased at an art show they’d attended, and a handful of times when he’d been enlisted to carry boxes and bags from shopping sprees.
  At the last door on the right, Travis rapped twice before letting himself in.

Vina was perched on the window seat, looking incredibly lost and vulnerable as she stared out the window.  “What did he say?” she asked without turning around.

“He said…I have never been stood up in my life and don’t intend to start now.”

“Travis!”  Vina nearly fell off the window seat in her haste to stand up.  “Wh-what are you doing here?”

Ignoring her question, Travis closed the door and casually strolled across the room to plant himself in front of her.  “You disappoint me, Vina.  In all the years we’ve been friend
s
, I’ve never known you to behave like a coward.”

Color stained her cheeks, but she made no attempt to avert his accusing eyes.  “I don’t know what you’re talking about.  I’ve come down with a bug and didn’t want you to catch it.”

“How considerate,” he said dryly.  “What are your symptoms?  Have you been to see a doctor?”

“It’s not that serious…just a sore throat and a bit of a fever.”

“You do a look a little flushed.”  Travis reached up and let his hand rest on her forehead.  “No fever, though.  The sore throat couldn’t be from talking too much, since I know for a fact you haven’t answered your phone in days.”

“I’m sorry
,” she sounded genuinely contrite.  “It was rude of me not to answer or call you back.  And I should have told you earlier that I couldn’t go out
so you would have
time to…to find someone else to take my place.”

“You’re right, it was rude.  Luckily, I have a forgiving heart and won’t hold a grudge.  Provided you can be ready to leave in…” he glanced at his watch, “ten minutes, that is.”

“Travis, I told you…”

“I know what you told me,” he cut in.  “I also know you’re not sick
.  You’ve taken the coward’s way out and a
void
ed
my cal
ls because you’re embarrassed about kissing me.  And before you deny it, I think you should know that you’re a horrible liar and always have been.”

Vina stared at him for a moment, no doubt attempting to find a way out of the hole she’d dug herself into.  “All right,” she finally said, “everything you said is true.  I’m not sick.  I’ve been
dodging your calls because I…I may have given you the wrong impression the other night, and I didn’t know how to handle it.”

“What impression was that?”

“You know,” she wrung her hands nervously, “that I…liked it, and…and that I wanted us to be
more than friends.”

“Is that all?” Travis feigned indifference.

“Well…yes.”

“Great!  Now that we’ve got that settled, let’s get going so
we
have time to grab a bite to eat before the game.”

Looking utterly confused, Vina
seemed at a loss for words.  “I don’t…I mean…we haven’t settled anything…have we?”

“Of course, we have.”  Travis took her hand and headed for the door, tugging her along behind him.  “You’re not attracted to me and found my kisses lacking
.  You’re also uncomfortable because you kissed me back and didn’t know how to tell me it didn’t mean anything to you.”

“That’s not…”

“No, I’m fine with it, really.”  Travis shot her a sheepish grin before they started down the stairs.  “My ego is a little bruised, but I have to agree that our friendship is much too important to risk losing.
  I’m not going to lie and say kissing you didn’t invite a few fantasies, because it did.”

“It…did?” Vina rasped.

“
Sure, why wouldn’t it?  I didn’t
get much
sleep because of it.  I kept thinking about how soft your skin was and how I would have loved to spend the entire night exploring every inch of it.  With my hands first, and then with my mouth and tongue.” 

They reached the bottom of the stairs, but Travis didn’t stop.  He didn’t want to give Vina the opportunity to change her mind about going with him.  Once they were outside, he continued his psychological assault on her mind and body.

“
I imagined lying with you in a tangle of sheets, our bodies damp from making wild, passionate love.  Being exhausted after the first couple of rounds, naturally we’d fall asleep in each other’s arms
.  Sometime during the night, we’d wake up wanting each other and make love again, except that time would be slow and incredibly sensual.”

Travis stopped and opened the car door, his smile one of pure innocence.  “It was a nice dream, but don’t worry; now that I know you have no desire to be anything but friends, I’ve completely erased it from my mind.”

Chapter 6

Vina slid into the seat, mutely staring out of the windshield while Travis eased out of the driveway.  She was too stunned to say anything
, and more confused now than ever
.
  It was a joke, it had to be.  He was only teasing her so she
would
see how silly she was being. 
I imagined
lying with you in a tangle of sheets, our bodies damp from making wild, passionate love. 
It was perfectly ridiculous to believe Travis was serious
, that he’d actually lay awake thinking about making love to her.

“Ridiculous,” she muttered under her breath. 

With my h
ands first, and then with my mouth and tongue. 
Damn him for making her feel as if hot coals had been implanted in her belly! 
If only
she could erase
it
from her mind
as eas
il
y
as he had apparently
erase
d it from his
.
 
Because up until now, Vina
had done a fairly decent job of avoiding any memories that could potentially lead back to
the kiss
.  And now she had to contend with erotic images of his hands
roaming over her body?  The man was rotten to the core!

“I should have reminded you to grab a jacket,” Travis said.

Vina looked at him as if he’d lost his mind. 
“I don’t need one.  I’m not cold.”  Understatement of the year; she was burning up.

“You will be.  There’s a nip in the air, and it’s only going to get colder.  Don’t worry,” he said with a flash of white teeth, “I have an extra jacket in the trunk and a stadium blanket.  If we snuggle together, we’ll be warm enough.”

Snuggle together?
 
Vina’s spine went rigid. 
Breathe
, she told herself
,
there is no reason to panic
.  They’d shared a blanket plenty of times
, huddling together for warmth, and she’d never thought anything of it
.
  So why
was the idea of sitting that close to Travis
giving her a case of
the
nervous jitters?
  What made it even worse was that he truly seemed to have dismissed what he’d told her
and obviously expected her to do the same.

“Maybe we should go back for my jacket,” she squeaked out.

“And miss kick-off?”

“
Well, I…I’ll look silly wearing your jacket.”

“You’ll look adorable,” Travis countered.

Great!  How could she argue with that?  Besides, she didn’t want to miss kick-off either.  Vina loved football, and she always had fun with Travis
.  Why spoil things just because she’d suddenly become aware of him as a man? 
Surely, i
f he could overlook a moment of insanity when they’d let their hormones take control, she could too.