The Cowboy's Summer Love (36 page)

“I do what I can,” Tess said, giving Travis a flirty sideways glance. “I hear you have a multitude of talents including everything from riding bulls in the rodeo, race care driving, rock climbing, and wind surfing to designing storybooks for little girls, and developing tactical plans of romance to help your brother win the heart of his dream girl.”

“Trent was hopeless and clueless when it came to Lindsay,” Travis said, remembering how much the pretty blond disliked Trent before he romanced his way into her heart. “He just needed a little help getting started. Once the ball was rolling, he did fine on his own.”

“I think it’s very sweet you helped him out,” Tess said, knowing what a good heart beat inside Travis’ broad, muscled chest. “You must be close to your brothers.”

“Yeah, I guess I am. All four of them.”

Tess looked at him, confused. “Four of them, you only have two.”

“I have two biological brothers, and then I have two friends who are as close as brothers. They have a sister who used to tag along with them when all of us boys would try to play. She’d get in the way and pout, acting like a little princess, trying to spoil all our fun.”

“She sounds like a brat,” Tess said, thinking about how she was a pest to the boys on numerous occasions.

“Oh, I wouldn’t go that far.  Funny thing was, she was like a little sister to my two brothers, but she never was to me,” Travis said, watching the bewildered look flit across Tess’ face.

“I knew I loved her from the time I was old enough to notice that girls were different than boys even though I was terrified of getting cooties from her.”

“Are you still afraid of girl cooties?” Tess asked, sliding her hand across the seat and swiping her fingers on his shirt sleeve, like she was wiping something disgusting on him.

“Not so much,” Travis chuckled, catching her hand and kissing it. “They have a certain charm all their own.”

Tess laughed. They continued their silly conversation all the way to the restaurant. Pulling up at the door, Tess started to get out and help Travis, but he assured her he could handle it on his own. Reaching for his crutches, he deftly maneuvered himself out of the truck and waited at the door while Tess parked and hurried back to him.

“You didn’t have to stand out here in the heat,” she said, holding the restaurant door open for him.

“I know, but if I went inside I’d miss out on watching you walk across the parking lot,” Travis said with a wicked grin.

“And why, exactly, would you want to watch me walk across the parking lot?”

“Cause that little wiggle you’ve got going on is killer, honeybee. The only thing better than watching you coming, is watching you going. In that dress, smelling as luscious as you do, you are positively making my mouth water,” Travis whispered in her ear as they stood at the hostess station.

Tess felt a shiver of pleasure race up her spine while her cheeks flushed in embarrassment. She turned to Travis with plans of giving him a disapproving glare, but she couldn’t get past the smile that refused to leave her face.

Seated at their table, they placed their orders and enjoyed the excellent view of the river from their table. Tess was surprised to see their waitress approach with a gorgeous bouquet of pink and white roses.

“Tess Morgan?” the waitress asked.

“Yes, that’s me,” Tess said, her eyes wide in surprise.

“These are for you,” the waitress said, setting them on the table.

Tess removed the card. It read:

For my beautiful honeybee -

Thank you for loving me.

I love you,

Tee

“Oh, Travis,” Tess said, forcing herself not to cry. The flowers were beautiful, but the fact that Travis ordered the bouquet and had it delivered to their table because he couldn’t get flowers himself made the thoughtful gesture even more special. Tess didn’t know when she had ever felt as cherished as she did right at that moment with Travis holding her hand and looking at her with warmth and love in his eyes. “I’ve never seen such beautiful roses. Thank you for thinking of them.”

“They don’t hold a candle to you, honeybee, but since this is our first official date, I wanted you to have flowers. I’d serve you the world on a platter if I could, but dinner and flowers will have to do for now,” Travis said, rubbing his thumb along her wrist and making her blood stir at his touch.

“Have I mentioned before that you say the nicest things?” Tess asked with her face and voice both soft and warm.

“You might have mentioned it once or twice, but I don’t mind hearing at again,” Travis said, smiling in a way he hoped furthered his cause of wooing Tess. She might already love him, but he had a lot of courting he planned to do to make up for lost time.

Once their order arrived, they enjoyed the delicious meal and each other. Travis tried to talk Tess into dessert, but she had other plans.

Leaving the restaurant, she drove them to Denni’s house. His mom was overjoyed to see Travis out and about, especially with Tess.

Denni’s mother, a feisty little woman everyone called Nana, was there and Travis appreciated the opportunity to visit with his grandmother for a while. Denni offered them some cookies and lemonade, which they refused. Standing on the front step both Denni and Nana grinned broadly as they watched Tess and Travis leave.

“Looks like you’ve got another wedding coming up,” Nana said, her hand around Denni’s arm.

“I sure hope so, Mama. That boy of mine has been in love with her since he was old enough to notice girls. It took him long enough to realize it.”

“He’s a Thompson. What did you expect?” Nana teased, remembering how hard Denni had to work to convince Drew Thompson that he was head over heels in love with her. “You of all people should know they fight falling in love tooth and nail but when they finally do fall, they fall hard.”

“Well, it looks like he’s fallen, but good,” Denni said, watching Tess and Travis drive away. “I always hoped Tess would be my daughter-in-law. She’s been like a daughter to me since she was born.”

“It looks like you might just get your wish if Travis is half as smart as we all think he is.”

Travis and Tess waved as Denni and Nana continued to stand on the step, watching them leave.

“Are your ears burning?” Travis asked with a crooked grin.

“No, why? Should they be?” Tess asked, looking over at him and noticing his goofy smile.

“They should be on fire. Mama and Nana are out there talking about us, you know.”

“How do you know that?”

“Because I know them,” Travis said, settling more comfortably into the pickup seat. “When they get that look, it’s because they are talking about one of their offspring and by the smiles as we left, I’d have to say we were the topic of choice this evening.”

“Is that a good thing or a bad thing?” Tess asked, not sure she liked the idea of being the topic of any discussion.

“A good thing,” Travis said, looking out the window as Tess drove through town and pulled up at the drive-in that was an institution in its own right.

“I’ll be right back,” she said, hurrying inside. She returned a short time later carrying two banana splits with all the trimmings. Walking to Travis’ door, he opened it and she handed him the treats.

“What’s this?” he asked as she climbed back in the driver’s side and started the pickup.

“Surely you remember what one of these tastes like?” she asked as she headed out of town and parked them in a secluded spot by the river.

“I do and I also remember the last time I had one was when you and Brice and I were supposed to be running some errands and you begged us to stop and get one. That was right before I enlisted,” Travis said, looking forward to the treat. Three mounds of hard ice cream, a whole banana, chocolate syrup, whipped cream, nuts and strawberries made the frozen dessert hard to pass up.

Tess rolled down the windows of the truck, unbuckled her seat belt, and took one of the plastic dishes from Travis.

“To old times and old friends,” Tess said, toasting Travis with the dish.

“To new times and new love,” Travis said with a pointed look that made Tess shiver despite the heat.

They enjoyed the cold, creamy sweet as a light breeze blew in the window. The sun was starting its descent and the colors filled both the sky and the water with the intense hues of summertime sunsets.

Mesmerized by the hot pink, bright orange and brilliant gold tones reflected off the water onto Tess, Travis sat watching her as she ate her ice cream. He had to keep reminding himself to behave like a gentleman, to act like this was a first date. It was taking all his effort not to pull her across the seat and wrap his arms around that very tempting body of hers.

“What do you think?” Tess asked as she licked her spoon.

“Think?” Travis said, trying to pull his attention away from her lips and back to the question.

“About the ice cream? Is it as good as you remember?” she asked, taking another bite. Travis wanted more than anything to lean over and taste her lips. They would be cool, sweet, and so soft.

“Yeah, it’s good.” He was still only half-listening to what she was saying. They finished the ice cream and watched the sun sink over the horizon. Finally, Tess rolled up the windows but before she could start the pickup she found herself lost in the heat coming from Travis’ eyes.

“You’re going to make me think I’ve got food on my face if you don’t quit looking at me like that,” Tess said, swiping at her cheek with a paper napkin. Travis leaned over and grabbed her wrist, put a hand around her waist and tugged her across the seat toward him. Tess didn’t resist, but she gave him an odd look. “What are you doing?”

“Something I’ve wanted to do since I was fifteen,” Travis said, taking off his Stetson and setting it on the dash before enfolding Tess in his arms.

“What’s that?” she whispered, her eyes locking with his as sparks danced between them.

“Making out with you until we steam up the windows,” Travis said, capturing her lips in a kiss filled with heat.

Dizzy from the emotions spiraling through her, Tess began to slowly melt into Travis. He continued to rub tantalizing circles across her shoulders and back while his lips plundered hers again and again.

Travis had to force himself to keep his hands only on Tess’ back and shoulders. As he leaned against the door, he could feel the soft fullness of her chest brush against him and the sensations produced by the contact were about to make him lose what little bit of control he had left.

Moving from her lips to her ear, where he worried her earlobe with seductive kisses, he heard Tess moan as she clung to him. She was so soft, so warm and enticing. Feeling like he might overheat as blood thrummed through his veins, Travis realized all the mind-blowing excitement he was ever going to need was right here, in Tess’ arms.

His fingers trailed down the creamy column of her throat and Tess tipped her head back. Thick eyelashes looked like delicate, dark fans against her cheeks and her lips parted slightly, letting out a whoosh of air as his fingertips caressed her skin.

Unable to think of anything but Tess and how much he wanted her, Travis sunk his head down to the neckline of her dress and pressed hot kisses there. Her hands cradled the back of his head and he heard her whisper his name.

A tap on the glass behind him brought Travis skidding back to reality. Tess jerked away and slid across the seat. In the high beam from the flashlight shining through the fogged up window, he could see her cheeks glowing bright red.