Authors: Cerian Hebert
Daphne, whose face had darkened to a lovely shade of wine, kept her glare on Rio for several seconds before switching it to Travis. “It’s about time you got home. It’s a disgrace for you leave your daughter in the care of this . . . this
vagrant.
”
“Rio is not a vagrant and I did not leave Jessa in her care. Jessa is fifteen now. Old enough not to need a babysitter.”
No way would he mention his current behavioral issues with his daughter. Daphne didn’t need to know about that. It would make things worse.
“Bad influence. God only knows what she’s been teaching Jessa.”
“She’s not teaching her anything. I trust her.”
Daphne made a sound of disgust.
Travis pointed toward the door. “In the other room. Now.”
Daphne gave Rio one more withering glare and then strode by Travis. She waited in the living room for him to follow.
“I want her out of here.” Daphne certainly had never been one to mince her words, and this was no exception.
“This is my home. I make the decisions as to who is welcome here.”
Daphne’s eyes blazed with anger. “She’s a disgraceful influence on my granddaughter. She’ll lead her into trouble, you mark my words. I will
not
stand by and let it happen.”
“You have no choice. And if you think I would allow a troublemaker into my home, you are mistaken. I’ve done a background check and she hasn’t been so much as arrested for jaywalking. I’m an excellent judge of character and I trust Rio. Aunt Sadie will vouch for her as well.”
Daphne dismissed his words with a wave of a slim hand. “Your Sadie has a habit of taking in the unwanted. This time we’re not talking about a horse or a cat. We’re talking about someone who’s been homeless for the better part of twelve years. I won’t stand for it. Jessa would be better off with her mother than here with some kind of hobo.”
Travis had managed to rein in his anger during this conversation. Daphne’s claim pushed him too far. How dare this woman insinuate that Laura, who’d walked out on her child, would make a better parent?
“I think it’s time for you leave. Now,” he said coldly. “There are no problems here. Rio is a good person, I don’t care what you’ve heard.”
“I’ll leave, but you make no mistake, Travis Lithgow, this is not over. I would suggest you decide if you’d rather have that woman here, or your daughter.”
“Are you threatening me?”
Daphne pursed her lips into a tight line and didn’t reply. Instead she strode toward to the door. With a punctuating slam, she was gone.
“Damn,” he muttered and ran a hand through his hair. He should’ve seen this coming. Should’ve prepared Rio, or at least warned her.
“Everything okay?”
Rio stood in the doorway to the kitchen, a bowl of salad in her hands.
“Yeah. I’m sorry about her. I should’ve known she’d hear about this.”
“I should go. I don’t want to cause trouble for you or Jessa.”
“No, you’re not going anywhere. Don’t let her chase you away. You’re fine here. She’s full of hot air.”
Rio sighed. Though hurt and worry shadowed her face, she didn’t argue. “We’ll see. Dinner is ready. Why don’t you go and, um, change? Jessa and I will take care of everything.”
Travis nodded and headed upstairs to his room, stunned by what just happened. Two weeks ago he had been ready to throw this woman out if she made one misstep, yet today he defended her to his ex-mother-in-law. Truth be told, he would’ve defended Satan himself to that woman.
He had to admit in the time Rio had been there, he’d grown to like her. Most of the time she moved around the place as if she wasn’t there, and spent much of her day over at Cobble Creek. When she was here she always helped out.
What’s more, Jessa seemed perfectly comfortable around her. She hadn’t yet come out of her funk with him; continued to give the cold shoulder. Despite the fact driving her to and from school annoyed her, she worked at Sadie’s place, and according to Sadie, she worked hard.
At least she hadn’t tried to sneak out again. Regardless, he kept his guard up. He had a sneaking suspicion those days weren’t over.
After a strained dinner, Jessa mumbled something about her room and homework, which left Rio and him alone. Quietly, she gathered the dishes, something she insisted doing from the first day. Tonight he joined her and they worked side by side. He needed to keep busy. Daphne’s visit bothered him more than it should have.
“Do you remember how you mentioned I should take some driving lessons?” Rio asked as she closed the dishwasher and switched it on.
“Yeah.”
“I’d like to give it a try. I have money saved up. I think it would be a big help if I could drive. Legally.” She shot him a wry grin, the first of the night.
He chuckled. “As the chief of police, I appreciate it. But you don’t have to enroll in Drivers’ Ed classes.”
“Oh, what a relief. I wasn’t psyched about sitting in a class with a bunch of sixteen-year-olds. I’d feel rather foolish. Besides, I have driven before. I could probably stand a refresher.”
“Not with Sadie.” As much as he loved his aunt dearly, Sadie behind the wheel didn’t garner confidence. A bold driver, Sadie unfortunately tended to be distracted by conversation.
“But . . . Who? She’s the only one I know.”
“You know me.”
Rio paused and studied him, her slim brows slightly puckered. She didn’t smile. “Travis, I can’t impose on you more than I already am. I don’t feel comfortable—”
Travis held up a hand. “Stop it. I wouldn’t have offered if I thought it was an imposition. Really. Aunt Sadie is, well, she’s the best riding instructor I know. As far as driving goes? She’s hell on wheels. I don’t think I’d put anyone in her care in such a situation.”
Rio paled. “She took us shopping today. Jessa and me. I’m sorry. Had I known how you feel about her driving, I would’ve come up with an excuse not to put Jessa in that situation.”
“Shopping.” Travis grinned. “How many stores did she empty? No, it’s okay. She tends to be more careful when Jessa is in the car. I can see her with you, carried away with horse talk and completely forgetting what she’s there for.”
“Can’t argue. Okay, then I guess I’ll have to accept your offer. Again. Seriously, only when you can. I don’t want to impose.”
“Don’t worry, I’ll make sure you won’t. Now relax. How is it over there?”
Rio shrugged. Her lips curved into a smile that told him she enjoyed it. “Different than what I’d expected. Your aunt is a tyrant, but I’m loving it.”
“Glad to hear it. Her horses and farm mean the world to her. Anyone she takes under her wing she expects to work as hard, be as dedicated.”
A coolness replaced the smile that had been on Rio’s face. “I work hard for her. I never slack off, no matter what I’m doing.”
He didn’t mean to put her on the defensive. Maybe he had in the beginning, when he had cause to be suspicious of her. Although he still wasn’t one hundred percent sure of who she was and how she’d spent the past twelve years, he knew enough not to hang on to his initial distrust.
“Easy.” He laid his hand on her shoulder.
Instantly her body went rigid, so he withdrew his touch. “I didn’t mean to imply you were a slacker. Sadie tells me on a daily basis what a gem you are. I’m only saying the farm is her world and she expects her employees to feel the same.”
Rio leveled a gaze at him. “I promised Sadie the winter and into next summer, unless I’m a complete disaster as a rider, then all bets are off. I’ll keep my word to her, Travis. I don’t want to let her down. She means too much to me.”
Rio turned away quickly, but not before he saw her eyes glitter with unshed tears. He’d never seen that side of her and apparently she meant to keep it that way.
“I’m going to my room to read. Goodnight, Travis.”
Chapter 9
Damn that man anyway
.
Rio slid under the covers and glared at the clock. It was barely seven-thirty, but she couldn’t go back out there now. Not after she’d nearly made a fool of herself by crying in front of Travis. What possessed her? And when did she let herself become all emotional over a job or an employer?
As soon as she started working for Sadie Kerr, that’s when. As soon as Sadie had taken her under her wing and made her want to stop running.
If it hadn’t been for Sadie and her marvelous horses, Rio would probably be working her way down south now, stopping along the way to earn a few bucks. Always traveling. Always searching for something without figuring out what. She wouldn’t admit she searched for anything. Dreamed for anything. She’d never allowed herself to do either since escaping her mother’s hellhole.
The dreams she used to have had been a lot different. Those dreams had centered around being anywhere else, as long as she was far away from her mother.
She’d become too used to living one day at a time, too comfortable. Over the years it had been so much a part of who she was,
who she’d been.
Even being here, in this pleasant little New Hampshire town, felt like she was trying to fit herself into another body, another mind.
Square peg, round hole.
Slowly, those edges had begun to wear so they weren’t so sharp and angular.
Maybe someday I’ll fit.
And that’s why she’d felt like crying, because no one on this earth, until Sadie came along, had been interested in wanting her to fit. She loved the woman more than she had ever allowed herself to love anyone. Even her brother, Storm, whom she’d lost long ago.
Thinking of him hurt so much. Rio curled into a tight ball and wrapped her arms around her body. If only she had taken him with her. If only they’d left before that horrible night.
No, I refuse to think about it.
She shoved him forcefully from her thoughts because if she didn’t she’d be a wreck over something she couldn’t control.
She could almost feel Travis’s hand on her shoulder again. Why had it sent flames through her?
That kind of attraction was not something she wanted.
For the next week, Rio did everything she could to avoid Travis’s company. She thought over and over about how his ex-mother-in-law had reacted to finding her there. The last thing she wanted to do was to make trouble for him. She left for work before he woke in the morning and made an effort to stay late and have dinner with Sadie.
Now that tensions were easing a bit and Travis trusted her more, she considered breaching the subject of moving in with Sadie instead of staying with him.
Living at Cobble Creek would be so much more convenient, easier on everyone. She couldn’t imagine Travis wanted her under his roof forever. Still, he hadn’t made any moves for her to leave yet, hadn’t been bugging her about finding a place of her own.
She knew he had a lot on his mind too. Even if Jessa had been behaving herself, she still hadn’t said more than ten words to her father and avoided him whenever possible. Jessa, however, had finally began to bond with her.
Maybe the girl felt they had suffered similar parental problems. Sisters in teenage angst. Surely Jessa had no clue about Rio’s past. She didn’t think Travis would fill the girl in.
Twice that week Sadie had suggested Jessa show Rio some of the local trails. The second time, they saddled up Fleur and Barnaby and headed out for some girl time.
“Well, isn’t this better than being cooped up in school?” Rio commented when they reined the horses down a dirt road.
Jessa shrugged. “At least I have a social life at school. Better than cleaning stalls and doing homework.”
“Could be worse. We’re out here, aren’t we?” Rio inhaled deeply. She absolutely loved the scent of the woods in autumn.
“Dad is going hunting this weekend. I have to stay at my aunt’s house. Banished again. Why can’t he trust me and let me stay home?”
Interesting.
Travis hadn’t mentioned anything about hunting. Then again she hadn’t exactly made herself available for conversation lately.
“Because he cares about you, Jessa.”
Jessa made a snorting sound. “Sure has a funny way of showing it. I’ve done exactly what he wants for the last three weeks and I’m still grounded forever.”
No, she refused to stick her nose in and tell Jessa her opinion. She didn’t want to alienate the girl, which would happen if she opened her mouth.
“Your aunt might have something fun planned for you.”
“Yeah, so Dad and his friend, Lenny, can go beat their chests and shoot at things.”
Despite the sour tone in Jessa’s voice, Rio laughed at the image the words invoked. Travis wouldn’t do anything of the sort. She believed he would be a careful hunter, not one of those yahoos who headed out into the woods for the beer and guy talk and not the hunting. The image in her brain was funny nonetheless.
“And he’s letting you stay by yourself. Why can’t you and I stay together?”
Rio hadn’t considered that. Would he really expect her to stay by herself? Did he trust her enough to leave her alone? “He probably thinks I’ll stay with Sadie.”
“Hasn’t said.”
“I’m sure he will.”
If I make myself available to him.
After work she made an effort to be around, arriving at Shadow Oak before dinner. On the day shift again, Travis had already returned home by the time she came in. He was making dinner while Jessa did her homework at the computer in the living room. Rio slipped by him with a quick hello and went to clean up and change. When she finished, she silently set the table.
She didn’t want to outright ask him about the hunting trip or her accommodations, but didn’t want to assume anything either.
Doubtful Jessa wouldn’t say anything, too determined to give her father the silent treatment, no matter what. So Rio had to wait through a wordless dinner until Jessa left. Rio picked up her plate and Jessa’s and carried them to the kitchen.
“I’ll be hunting this weekend with a buddy of mine. Down to the cabin. We’ll spend the night,” Travis finally announced as he came into the kitchen, carrying his own plate and glass.
“Oh, okay.” Rio tried to sound nonchalant, as if she hadn’t heard about the plans before.
“Jessa will stay at my sister’s house.”
“I suppose I can stay with Sadie.” She might as well suggest it herself. Might make things easier.
“No need. Really.”
Rio put the last dish away and glanced at him. She hadn’t allowed herself to really study him closely.
He was handsome, disturbingly so. Not in a flashy, Hollywood, dashing sort of way. No, instead he appeared approachable, friendly. He kept his brown hair short and there was a definite wave to it. He had a high forehead, steady blue eyes, a straight, narrow nose and a mouth that . . .
No, she didn’t want to think about his mouth. In fact, by studying his face she remembered her body’s reaction to his touch the other night.
Stupid.
So stupid to even feel this way.
But she couldn’t help it.
Over the years, when she wandered from place to place, she made it her most important rule not to become involved with anyone. On the rare occasion she broke her cardinal rule, it had never been for a guy like Travis. It was always for some biker dude in a leather jacket, and she always ended it before it could go further than a kiss or two.
Now, standing in the kitchen with Travis, she realized why she gave those kinds of guys her attention. They were safe. She’d never go further than a kiss with them because they didn’t attract her. They wouldn’t hold her in one place for long. She never regretted leaving. She refused to look back.
Not like this cop, this good guy who opened up his home to her. Maybe he only did that because he didn’t trust her around his aunt. Yet he trusted her enough to invite her into his home. He had made her a part of their lives.
“Are you sure? I don’t want any problems.”
Meaning Daphne Montague.
She didn’t say it aloud.
He seemed to know what she meant. “Don’t worry about my ex-mother-in-law. I can deal with anything coming from her.”
Rio formed a frown. The time had come to bring up a move. She drew in her breath.
What the heck.
The worst he could say was no.
“I was wondering,” she began slowly, keeping her gaze fixed on him. He leaned against the counter and studied her. “Maybe I can move over to Sadie’s. Permanently. She’s mentioned it a few times. It would be easier on everyone.”
Travis didn’t speak, just continued to stare. His jaw tensed.
“I’m sure you’d like your privacy, and surely you can trust me, Travis.”
“Don’t think I’m ready yet,” he finally replied, not taking his gaze off her. “I know both you and Sadie would like that . . .” He paused and finally looked away. “I’d rather you stay here, at least until the snow starts to fly. Then we’ll revisit it.”
Rio tightened her fists. She wanted to argue with him, tell him to stop being so pigheaded. Ask him why he could trust her here alone but not trust her to stay with Sadie.
Instead she pressed her lips together and nodded curtly. “Fine.”
Wordlessly, she stalked past him and escaped to her room, shutting the door a little too loudly behind her.
Rio lay in bed, staring at the ceiling. The sound of rain pelting the side of the house filled the air in a monotonous flow.
She couldn’t sleep. It wasn’t the noise of the storm outside. She didn’t care for the fact that except for her, the house was empty for the second night.
She wished Jessa and Travis were home. She didn’t have to see them. To know they were somewhere inside the same walls would calm her nerves. Instead, Jessa had been banished to her aunt’s house and Travis was down at his cabin, bonding with his buddy.
God, she wished she could’ve stayed with Sadie.
And since when have you been afraid to be alone?
Rio closed her eyes and willed herself to ignore the clamor around her, told her brain to shut up so she could go back to sleep. Last time she glanced at it, the clock read a few minutes past two.
As sleep began to pull her down, she heard a noise from inside the house this time. She sat up in bed, now wide-awake. The noise repeated, coming from out in the kitchen.
Rio sat still for a long time, listening. Her bedroom door was shut so the sounds were muffled, but constant.
Slowly she climbed out of bed, padded to the door, opening it a crack, enough to peek out. She couldn’t see the entire kitchen from her vantage point, so she stepped out, creeping further down the narrow hall, with only her fists to defend herself.
The sight of Travis standing by the sink surprised her, followed by a flood of relief. So the rain had apparently driven him in and cut his hunting trip short.
Beyond the comfort of having someone home at last, a not-so-new emotion wound its way in. Thick, undeniable attraction came on much stronger, much headier than before.
The fact he stood there bare-chested, in the soft illumination of the light over the stove, did nothing for her resolve to keep those damned lustful thoughts at bay.
I should turn around.
Slip into her bedroom, climb into bed and be glad she wasn’t alone. That was what she
should
do. Instead she couldn’t tear her gaze away from him.
So much about him remained unknown. He’d spent years in the service and she could see it in his build. His tanned skin stretched taut over the muscles of his chest, his abdomen tight.
Rio flexed her fingers and balled them up. The desire to go to him and stroke her hand up the smooth, hard expanse of his back overwhelmed her. She’d struggled with this misplaced attraction for too long, and seeing him this way only made the battle harder to fight.
Damn.
Why couldn’t she leave? Go to bed? Why did she have to be so transfixed by him?
Just a second longer, one more glimpse
. Then she’d have enough to dream about for a good long while.
Finally, she found the will to leave, but she didn’t even take one step before his voice stopped her.
“Rio.”
Too late to escape.
His soft voice startled her. She faced him once again. Instead of sinking into the shadows, which she wanted, she stepped out into the kitchen.
“Hi,” she greeted and wanted to kick herself for how her voice sounded so breathless. “I didn’t mean to disturb you.”
A smile drew across his face, which weakened her knees even more. The sculpted muscles, the handsome face, his warm smile welcomed her. It all beat against the wall she kept erected around her heart.
“No, I should apologize for waking you. I thought I could be quiet.”
“It’s okay. What are you doing here? I wasn’t expecting you until tomorrow.”
“My buddy got an emergency phone call and had to head home. I decided to head back too. Supposed to rain like this all the way through tomorrow. Not ideal hunting conditions.”
“I suppose not.”
“You been okay?” His brows rose as he studied her.
Rio shrugged. “I’ve kept myself busy over at Sadie’s. She’s been making sure I’ve had enough to eat. It’s strange, rattling around this big place alone. Um, not that I’ve been doing much rattling.” God, she hoped he didn’t think she’d been snooping around.
“I love it. After a year of being constantly surrounded by a bunch of people, I can’t think of anything better than a quiet house.”
Rio stepped backward. “Oh, well, then I’ll leave you alone.”
Close enough to be able to take hold of her arm, Travis reached for her. This time she didn’t stiffen or shrink away. The feel of his fingers on her flesh sent a million sparks shooting from the point of contact straight through her body.