Morty nodded and pushed to his feet. No problem. I know youve got lots of folks you want to spend some time with so Ill head on out. Welcome home.
Thanks.
Using Mortys departure as a chance to effect his own escape, Travis braced his hand against the back of the couch. He lowered his foot to the floor and pushed himself to a standing position. A pathway cleared instantly, and the roomful of guests turned in his direction.
Hed have laughed at all the unwanted attention if he wasnt so busy gritting his teeth while his left leg adjusted to holding his weight, and the sharp shaft of pain eased to a dull ache.
No show here, folks. He waved aside his father, brother, and a couple other offers of help. Standing at near attention, he fixed a trademark smile on his lips, reassuring everyone enough to return to their conversations. He made an excuse to be dismissed. Im just off to the latrine. I think I can manage that on my own.
Fresh air was the ticket. Night. Solitude.
But if locking himself inside the john was the only way to get some time to himself so he could get his head on straight, then that was exactly what he planned to do.
His careful stride took him past Tess, allowing him to eavesdrop on the plea coming from Nixa Newhavens pruney lips. It would only be for four hours on Monday evening.
Four hours sacrificed for Miss Newhaven and her dowager cronies? What a downer.
A kindred spirit of being forced into something unpleasant made Travis stop there and exchange a few words with his father regarding his sister, Caitlin, her husband, Sean, and how they were going to make Hal a grandpa in the next two weeks. He already knew the facts and was delighted he was about to become an uncle, but at the moment, Travis was only listening to the short list of prospective baby names because it gave him an excuse to linger close enough to hear Tesss response.
I was hoping to check out the festival myself Monday night. Before things get too crazy. Her tone, while polite enough, lacked the conviction to talk Miss Newhaven out of anything. Besides, Im working three other nights at the concession stand already.
Nixa tutted between her teeth. Do you have an escort to go with you?
You mean a date? Well, no, not yet. I thought Amy and I
You girls cant go out by yourself. Nixas silver hair bent closer to Tesss golden brown ponytail to whisper, Therell be sailors in town.
Oh, the shock of it all! Travis twisted his lips to hide his grin. Thered be Marines and soldiers and civilians, too. And hed bet good money that if any one of them was a little too forward with Tess, she could handle herself just fine.
Of course, she might be wanting one of them to be a little forward. Maybe a lot forward. Traviss grin slipped. He hadnt been home to Ashton for a year. Maybe he didnt know Tess as well as he thought he did anymore. Was she seeing someone now? Dating around? Just because hed never thought of her in that way before didnt mean some other guy hadnt noticed what a sweet package shed morphed into.
Was she looking to meet someone? Get married? Have a fling? A one-night stand? And why the hell should her love lifein whatever form it might existget him all curious and itchy inside his skin like this? It wasnt any of his business. She was a grown womanShe could sleep with anyone she damn well liked. As long as the man respected her. Made it good for her.
Hell. Why was it turning him inside out to think about Tess and sex in the same sentence?
No. Tess and sex with some man Travis didnt know. Some jerk who wasnt good enough for her.
Miss Newhaven, Travis heard Tess pipe up, I have a right to a social life.
Of course, you do, dear. Nixa Newhaven was patting Tesss hand now. But youve always been so good about helping out when youre needed. I dont know who else to ask.
A breath of cool-headed logic seeped in to calm the unsettling stab of emotion. Tess had said she was working three nights next week. Nixa Newhaven seemed to think she was available to work a few nights more. And the older woman had asked whether Tess had a date.
Tess was unattached. Safe. Hed gotten himself all worked up over nothing.
Travis shouldnt be breathing any easier, but he was.
He relaxed and savored his next swallow as Tess tried again. Miss Newhaven
I dont claim to understand all these modern mores that you young people follow. But I really could use your help. Doris Mead simply cant tolerate the heat the way she used to and I said Id find a replacement to work her shift at the concession stand. Since you dont have any specific plans
Since there was no date currently in the picture, Travis should do the gallant thing and give Tess the excuse she needed to get out of the assignment by asking her out himself. Yeah. He could just step up, offer Nixa a bit of a flirty smile to knock her off her garters, then chime in with something like, Sorry, she cant be bored to tears for four hours. Tess and I have planssharing a couple of carnival rides, strolling through the historic shops of Ashtons Main Street, sipping margaritas on the dock, and then maybe taking a sailboat out onto the water to do a little canoodling under the moonlight.
Sure, he could do that. An unexpected rightness seemed to lift his mood. Lord knew it wouldnt be the first time hed offered his services to a damsel in distress. He turned to join their conversation. Nixa tipped her chin, waiting expectantly when he smiled down at her. It sounded like a perfect evening. It sounded
Wrong with Tess.
He swung his startled gaze over to lock onto Tesss green-gold eyes, tilted up with curiosity. Trav?
Travis rubbed his knuckles along the newly healed skin at his jaw, frowning at the bitter taste in his mouth. He shouldnt be thinking about canoodling with Tess. Or kissing or huggingor stripping off that lavender T-shirt and whatever sensible thing she wore underneath to get a firsthand look at those perky, provocative breasts in all their naked glory.
Im sorry, he finally ground out between clenched teeth. He turned away from plain, practical Tess and mustered a smile for Nixa. I figured youd be turning in early, and just wanted to say goodnight in case I missed you later.
Thats so considerate of you. Isnt it, Tess?
Yes.
Before he could hear what else either of them had to say, before the intuitive concern shining in Tesss eyes figured out his crazily inappropriate urges, Travis walked away.
No. He limped.
He wasnt in a position to rescue anybodyeven from something as harmless as Nixa Newhavens pushy assumptions.
He had to get out of there. And fast.
TRAVIS HAD ROLLED up the sleeves of his camo shirt and shoved his hands deep into his pockets. He stood in the shadows beneath the log pier and watched the moon rise high into the midnight sky.
The gray-green water of Chesapeake Bay lapped against the Virginia shoreline, throwing up an occasional spray to cool the steamy July night. Tomorrow, hed get to dress in his civvies. Shorts or jeans, and a beat-up top that would be thin enough and cool enough to deal with the summer heat.
But he wasnt looking forward to it.
The Corps actually expected him to shed his uniform for four to six weeks. Forced R and R to get his body back in shape and his head in the right place. Even two weeks was too long to suit him. It felt like quitting. Like throwing in the towel when he knew there was still some fight left in him.