Page 42 of Country Music Cowboy

“I agree.” His gaze swept over her face. “What sort of concerns?”

“You.”And me. “Me…”Wanting you. “I’m concerned…”

“About you and me performing?” His voice lowered. “Or me and you?”

She nodded.

“Which?” He stepped closer.

“Me and you.” She swallowed. “And since we’re being up front, I’m just going to say it. This tension, between us, is distracting. I…I’m wondering if it wouldn’t be easier for the two of us to sleep together.” She swallowed again. “Not sleep. Sex. Obviously, I mean sex.”

Travis remained silent and still, not so much as an eye blink.

“If we can agree that this is just a one-night sort of thing to clear the air so we can stop fantasizing about each other…and move on.”

He hadn’t so much as twitched.

“Travis?” Her throat felt tight and her mouth dry. “Please tell me you heard what I said so I don’t have to repeat it.”

“Mostly.” He drew in a ragged breath. “I think. But that last bit? What did you say? Stop something? Before moving on?”

“Stop fantasizing about each other?”

He was smiling then. A totally new smile. The sort that brought her heart to a momentary standstill before jump-starting it straight into the speed-of-light range.

“You heard me the first time?” she whispered.

“I heard you.” He closed the gap between them. “But I liked hearing you say it so much I wanted you to say it again.”

She was adrift in those Mediterranean-blue eyes—weightless, yearning, floating, and in no need of rescue. When his fingers ran along her lower lip, she shuddered. Rescue was the last thing she wanted.

Chapter 8

The throat-clearing was almost desperate. A definite signal versus a I-need-to-clear-my-throat sort of thing. Until then, Loretta hadn’t thought her heart could go any faster. She’d been wrong.

Jumping three feet away from Travis probably didn’t make things look any better, but that’s exactly what she did.

“I was…” Sawyer broke off, mumbling, before turning on his heel and heading the opposite direction.

“Those were some lightning-fast reflexes,” Travis said, looking far too amused.

She tried to glare but ended up smiling. “I live alone. All these people around, all the time, have me on edge.” Plus, he’d been touching her. And she’d been reacting. Aching. So much… Surelythiswas something they’d want to keep between them. At least, it was somethingshewanted to keep between them.

“I can imagine.” Travis raked his fingers through his hair, but those mesmerizing eyes of his never left her face.

She was having a hard time bringing her heart rate down. “If you’re expecting me to be able to go back into the kitchen, you’re going to have to not dothat.”

“What?” he asked, his attention wandering to her mouth.

“That.” The word was harsh and broken.

“I say we don’t go back to the kitchen and put all our energy into your plan.” The corner of his mouth ticked up, but it was the slight flare of his nostril that made the hollow ache inside warm.

“I appreciate your dedication—”

“I’m a very dedicated man.” He smiled. “Especially when it’s something I believe in.”

“Travis.” She wasn’t sure what to say, but if he kept going the whole normal heart rate, normal breathing thing wasn’t going to happen.