“Then you can see why she scares me to death. I don’t do the hearts and flowers, forever stuff.”
“Bull,” Tom said. “Ever since you hit your teens, you’ve been using the excuse that you’re just like your daddy to avoid making a commitment. But down deep you want exactly what I have with Jeanette. I know you do.”
“I might want it,” Travis conceded, “but I’m bound to screw it up.”
“How will you ever know that unless you try?”
“Come on,” Travis scoffed. “I can’t imagine a day without flirting with every woman who crosses my path. It’s who I am. Wives, even girlfriends, tend to frown on that kind of thing.”
“Not if you’ve made them feel secure. Not if they know there’s a difference between all that casual talk and the real thing that you save only for them.”
“I want to believe that,” Travis said. “I really do. But Sarah’s not that woman. She has just about zero self-confidence, thanks to her ex-husband. If I say boo to another woman, it’ll freak her out. It’s already happened. When I joked around with Mariah Litchfield at the station, Sarah overheard me and got a little bit crazy.”
“Only because she doesn’t know yet where
she
stands with you,” Tom insisted.
Travis sighed. “Maybe that’s the real problem.
I
don’t know where she stands with me. Until I figure that out, I need to keep my distance.”
Unfortunately, he feared he’d be constitutionally incapable of keeping his distance for long. Teasing Sarah, putting a flush on her cheeks, keeping her off-kilter was all more fun than he’d had in ages.
“You just stop that right this second,” Sarah said to Travis after he’d taunted her with yet another flirtatious remark suggesting that he found her attractive.
The station had been on the air for two weeks now. There had been glitches behind the scenes and on-air flubs, but for the most part WSER was a hit with the residents of Serenity. Grace kept it tuned in all day long at Wharton’s.
Sarah’s working relationship with Travis, uneasy in the first days after
the kiss,
had returned to something that passed for normal. He bantered. She tried to ignore it. Mostly, it was innocent, but the flirting had started to creep back in, and her nerves were once again jittery every time they were in the same room. She really had to get a grip. The only way to do that was to set boundaries.
“If I were of a mind to, Travis, I could sue you for sexual harassment if you keep saying things like that,” she told him, even though she was struggling to keep a straight face. A part of her liked the teasing that made her feel like a desirable woman. She was trying hard to tame that part of her.
“But you won’t,” he said confidently.
“Oh, and why is that?”
“Because you love it when I tease you.”
“At least you admit you’re teasing,” she said, fighting to hide the disappointment she felt at the acknowledgment.
He gave her a long, considering look that made her pulse jump. “You so sure about that, sugar?”
“Of course, I am.” Because every time she allowed
herself to think for a single second that he might not be, she heard Walter’s critical voice in her head telling her she was too fat, a lousy mother or whatever other hurtful thing he could think of to say. Not that he’d said anything remotely like that recently, but the old wounds were still there. Until she underwent some magical extreme makeover in her own head, she’d continue to see herself that way.
Up until that moment, Travis had been lazing back in an old office chair that he’d apparently found in some thrift shop. He rose as if he had all the time in the world, his gaze locked on her face. On her mouth, if she wasn’t mistaken. She trembled as he took a step closer, and then another.
“What are you doing?” she asked, trying to slide her own chair backwards in the cramped space of the studio.
“Just a little experiment,” he said.
Sarah scrambled around behind her desk. “Don’t even think about it. We’ve already done a whole lot more experimenting than we should have.”
His eyes flashed at the challenge. “Are you talking about that nothing little kiss on the Fourth of July?” he inquired.
“It was
not
a nothing little kiss,” she said, then could have yanked her tongue out for making such a revealing statement.
“I’m thinking I can improve on it,” he said with quiet intensity, already reaching for her. “Like this, maybe.” His lips grazed her cheek. “Or this?” He found her mouth, then settled there for just a beat. He sighed.
“I haven’t been able to think about anything but this for two weeks now,” he said, sounding exasperated
with himself. “I think I need to make sure I’m remembering right.”
His lips found hers again.
It was the kind of sweet, heady kiss that women dreamed of, wove entire fantasies around. It was confident and tender, demanding yet gentle, possessive and intriguing. Just enough to lure, not so much that it set off warnings. It was the kind of kiss Sarah had forgotten was possible. The kiss in the car had been good. This one was amazing!
As her blood heated and her body swayed, she lost all sense of indignation and most of her common sense. The only thing that mattered was this man’s mouth on hers, reminding her that she was all woman. For a few fleeting seconds, she was even able to imagine that she was beautiful.
When Travis finally stepped away—way too soon and not nearly soon enough—she was dazed. And maybe just a little bit enchanted.
When he gave her a cocky grin and left her standing there, with at least a half-dozen passersby on Azalea Drive staring in the studio window, she covered her face in her hands.
Enchanted, she thought to herself. That had to be it, because otherwise what had just happened here was totally insane. They could not keep kissing and calling it an experiment or a mistake or anything else. Kissing this good, however it started out, was pretty much bound to lead to a whole lot more.
S
arah was sitting at the kitchen table, staring glumly into space, when Annie walked in, looking suspiciously like some sort of avenging angel. Sarah’s gaze immediately narrowed. Annie on a mission was never good.
“Did I know you were coming over?” she asked her friend.
“You should have,” Annie said, her expression grim. “Where’s Raylene?”
“Playing a game with the kids in the living room,” Sarah said distractedly, then glanced at the clock. “Or maybe getting them into bed.” She shrugged. “I’m not sure.”
Annie just shook her head. “I’ll get her. My mom, Maddie, Helen and Jeanette will be here any minute. You could start making margaritas.”
Sarah regarded her with confusion. “What’s going on?”
“We’re having an intervention,” Annie replied.
“With Raylene?”
“No, with you.”
Annie walked away before Sarah could think of a
single thing to say. She didn’t need an intervention. She hadn’t done anything of which she was ashamed, wasn’t engaging in any irrational behavior…. Oh, sweet heaven, they were coming here because of the kissing!
“Are the kids asleep?” she asked when Raylene followed Annie into the kitchen, her expression as bewildered as Sarah’s had probably been earlier.
“Out like little angels,” Raylene confirmed.
Sarah whirled on Annie. “In that case, just so you know, I resent this. I do not need an intervention,” she said fiercely.
“Tell that to someone who didn’t catch you kissing the daylights out of Travis McDonald in plain view of anyone who happened to be on the Town Square this afternoon,” Annie said. “There I was, walking down the street with my husband, who was in town for about fifteen minutes because of the All-Star break, and what did we see but the two of you locking lips. Even Ty was shocked.”
Sarah rolled her eyes. “I doubt that. I’m sure he’s seen people kissing before and, assuming you were overjoyed about him being in town, he’s probably even been doing a fair amount of kissing himself.”
“Not the point,” Annie said, blushing.
Raylene’s eyes lit up as she listened to the exchange. She immediately turned to Sarah. “You kissed Travis?”
“He kissed me, if you want to be technical,” Sarah admitted. “But, yes, there was kissing.”
“In the studio?” Raylene asked, turning back to grin at Annie. “With that humongous window?”
Annie nodded. “See why somebody needs to straighten her out in a big fat hurry? I swear if Ty hadn’t
had to go right back to Atlanta, I would have insisted he have a talk with Travis.”
Raylene once again faced Sarah, her eyes twinkling merrily. “Maybe you should have drawn the blinds.”
“That is so not the point,” Annie said.
“If it ever happens again, I’ll be sure to do that,” Sarah promised Raylene, her tone wry. “But I’m pretty sure this was a one-time thing.” Since they obviously hadn’t heard anything about the other kiss, it was best to keep quiet about that. It might suggest a pattern, and Annie was already pretty worked up as it was.
“You haven’t made the margaritas,” Annie said, already opening cupboards to find the glasses.
“I don’t even know if there’s tequila,” Sarah responded, not budging. This was Annie’s impromptu show. She didn’t intend to help her out one little bit.
“How can a Sweet Magnolia not have tequila?” Annie said, rummaging in the pantry and then emerging victoriously with a half-f bottle. “Found it.”
“There’s probably no frozen limeade,” Sarah said. Maybe without margaritas everyone would have their say and leave. She could just sit stoically and listen, perhaps nod from time to time.
“Of course there’s limeade,” Raylene said, plucking a container from the freezer. “I put it on the grocery list myself. Walter picked it up when he shopped last weekend.”
Annie whirled in Raylene’s direction, openmouthed with shock, her attention at least momentarily diverted from Sarah and Travis and their very public kiss. “Walter’s doing your grocery shopping? What’s that about?”
Raylene shrugged. “Ask Sarah. He belongs to her.”
Sarah frowned. “Walter does not belong to me, not anymore. The short version is that he quit his job in Alabama and is looking for something nearby, so he can spend more time with the kids. He’s staying at the Serenity Inn full-time now.”
“And the hits just keep on coming,” Annie said, looking dazed. “Are you okay with that?”
“It’s going to be great for the kids, so I’ll manage,” Sarah said. “And to be honest, we’re getting along a lot better now than we did when we were married. He’s even helping out around here, which explains the trip to the grocery store. He’s trying to make himself useful, something he never voluntarily did while we were together.”
“Does he want you back?” Annie asked, clearly indignant at the idea.
“Not that he’s mentioned,” Sarah said. “The subject of reconciliation did come up once, but we both dismissed it as an absurd idea.”
“Are you so sure about that?” Annie scoffed. “Men never say what they want, but women always know. Does he want you back?”
Sarah shook her head. “Not an option,” she said flatly.
“Well, thank God for that.” Annie’s gaze narrowed. “Does his presence have anything to do with the kissing between you and Travis? Were you trying to prove something to Walter? Or to yourself?”
“Absolutely not. I’m telling you it was just one of those things that happen.”
The back door swung open again and Dana Sue,
Maddie, Helen and Jeanette walked in carrying bags of chips and a sealed container that doubtless held Dana Sue’s spicy guacamole. With luck, the bags also held some of Dana Sue’s famously tempting appetizers, and Sarah could keep her mouth stuffed with those so she wouldn’t have to answer any more questions.
“I’ll bet I know what this is about,” Jeanette said as soon as they were all settled around the kitchen table with their drinks. “Half the town is talking about the smoldering kiss between Travis and Sarah today.”
“Oh, God,” Sarah whispered, burying her head in her arms for the second time that day.
“How did I miss that?” Helen asked. “I have to stop going to the courthouse. I swear I never hear anything good over there, and I certainly never see anyone kissing.”
Maddie patted Helen’s shoulder sympathetically. “But you do good things. That’s more important than being up-to-date on the local gossip.”
Dana Sue’s worried gaze settled on Sarah. “Do you need to talk about what happened?”
“To be honest, I’d like to forget about it,” Sarah told her, then gestured around the table. “That doesn’t seem likely, at least tonight. And if Jeanette’s right that everyone is talking about this, I may never be able to show my face in town again.”
“Oh, hogwash!” Dana Sue said. “Sweet Magnolias don’t worry about a little talk. We thrive on it. Right, girls?”
“To be honest, I wasn’t so thrilled when Cal and I were at the center of all the gossip,” Maddie contradicted. “And Bill and I before that.”
“But that’s the point,” Dana Sue said. “Gossip comes and goes. Tomorrow it might be all about Sarah and Travis, but by this time next week, it’ll be somebody else. Annie, sweetie, you ought to know that as well as anyone. Nobody mentions a thing about Ty’s tabloid scandals anymore.”
Annie groaned. “Gee, Mom, thanks for reminding me of that joyous time in my life.”
“I’m just saying that this is nothing for Sarah to worry about,” Dana Sue said.
Annie frowned at her mother. “I’m not worrying about the gossip. I’m worried about
Sarah.
She’s obviously being taken advantage of by this player.” She turned to Jeanette. “No offense.”
Jeanette laughed. “Hey, nobody’s trying to deny that Travis has a past. He owns up to it himself.”
“Which makes him absolutely, positively the worst possible choice for Sarah. She’s sweet and naive and vulnerable,” Annie declared.
Sarah scowled at her friend. “Thanks for the vote of confidence. You make it sound like I’m seventeen, and not all that smart to boot.”
“Oh, face it, you
are
an innocent when it comes to this kind of thing,” Annie said. “And you’re ripe for a rebound relationship. Which would be all well and good, if you weren’t destined to get hurt with this particular man.”
“I don’t think a kiss, albeit a very public one, indicates a thing in the world about a relationship,” Sarah said. “We’re coworkers. Actually, he’s my boss. That’s our official relationship. End of story.”
Helen’s eyes lit up, her barracuda attorney instincts
kicking in. “Sexual harassment? I’ll sue him if you want me to.”
“There was a lot of mutual consent in what I saw,” Annie admitted grudgingly.
“Doesn’t matter,” Helen replied. “I can make a case. Sarah, is that what you want? If I even threaten to take him to court, it’ll put a stop to this once and for all.”
Sarah had tired of the discussion. She stood up and looked around the table. After her two margaritas, everyone was starting to look a little fuzzy. “I do not want to sue anyone. I can handle this, whatever it is. I do not want to discuss it to death, either. I’m going to bed. I have to be on the air at the crack of dawn, and I do not want to have a raging headache while I’m trying to be all perky and informative.”
She leaned down and gave Annie a fierce hug. “I love you for caring so much, but let it go. If you can’t do that, then stage an intervention with Travis. I might even enjoy being there for that.”
The diabolical gleam that immediately lit Annie’s eyes was not reassuring.
“I was joking,” Sarah told her flatly. “Really. No more interventions, period, okay?”
“But—”
“None,” Sarah said emphatically, then had another thought. “And don’t send your husbands after him, either.” She waited for the nods of agreement that were awfully slow in coming. “Okay, then. Good night, everyone.”
She hoped her departure would put an end to the discussion of the kiss, if not to the entire gathering. Judging from the low murmur of voices she could hear long after
she’d checked on Tommy and Libby, taken a shower and climbed into bed, the rest of them still had plenty to say.
She wondered if she ought to call Travis and warn him, but decided against it. He was a worldly, macho guy. He could defend himself. Then, again, he’d probably never stirred the wrath of a group of women like the Sweet Magnolias before.
Travis hung up his phone, shook his head in bemusement and went looking for Sarah.
“I just had a call from Annie Townsend,” he told her. “She seems to think I should stay away from you.”
Sarah regarded him with an innocent expression he didn’t quite buy. “Did you put her up to that?” he asked.
“Of course not,” she said, though there was a twinkle in her eyes that suggested she knew more than she was admitting.
“How about…?” He glanced at a message slip. “Helen Decatur-Whitney? You know her, too, right?”
A little of the color drained out of her face then, but she gave him a confirming nod.
He gave her a sour look. “Yeah, she wanted to warn me about sexual harassment at work. She said she’d be happy to talk to me about the law. She’s another friend of yours, right?”
Sarah nodded.
He waved more pink slips in her direction. “I’ve also had calls from Dana Sue Sullivan and Maddie Maddox. Hell, even Tom’s wife called. I haven’t returned any of those calls yet, but since they were all at that barbecue on the Fourth, something tells me all the calls have
something to do with you. What did you do, sic the whole damn town on me?”
Her lips twitched, her expression turned guilty and then she chuckled. “Sorry. Actually I told them all to lay off and leave you alone.”
“Well, obviously they didn’t listen.”
“Not my fault. You’re the one who kissed me in plain view of the whole stupid town. This is the consequence. You’ve created a public uproar.”
He shook his head wearily. “And here I thought I was kissing a mature woman who was capable of saying no if she didn’t want me to.”
“I am. I was,” she said, clearly flustered. “They’re just a little overly protective.”
“Do I need to hire a lawyer?” he asked, not entirely in jest. “Or a bodyguard?”
She laughed, then sobered and shook her head. “I think you’re safe, but you might want to put a lid on the kissing.”
He gave her a belligerent look. “And what if I don’t want to?”
She blinked at that. “You’d risk a lawsuit just to kiss me?”
“The sane part of me would like to think I know better. The part that’s itching to kiss you right this second suggests otherwise.” The admission made his palms sweat. He’d known putting himself within a few feet of temptation every single day wasn’t smart, but he’d done it anyway. “I need to get out of here.”
He was almost out the door when Sarah spoke. He turned and met her gaze.
“Travis, I’m not going to sue you,” she said solemnly.
Heat spiraled through him. It wasn’t just the promise. It was the hint he could swear he heard that she wanted him to do it again. She’d left the damn door open. He could see it on her face.
Travis wanted nothing more than to walk back to her desk, pull her into his arms and test her on that, but he didn’t. He just gave her a jaunty, careless salute. “Good to know, sugar. I’ll keep that in mind the next time I have an urge to play with fire.”
Mary Vaughn had been feeling queasy all morning, but her lunch plans with Rory Sue were too important to cancel. She intended to convince her daughter that she belonged back in Serenity working for her in the real estate business. They’d make an outstanding team. Rory Sue had her gift of gab and her steely determination.
She’d tried out her strategy on Sonny last night and he’d helped her fine-tune it. He wasn’t going to be at lunch because he tended to cave in the second Rory Sue turned her big ole tear-filled eyes on him.
Unfortunately, when Mary Vaughn walked into Sullivan’s, she saw that her daughter was with her granddaddy. She had to fight the desire to yell at Howard for intruding. How could she, though, when she knew how much he and Rory Sue adored each other?
“I wasn’t expecting to see you,” she said, leaning down to give her father-in-law a kiss, then brushing another one across her daughter’s cheek.