Page 26 of It’s Always Been You (Always #1)

Travis threw the NY strips on the scorching hot grates and closed the top of the grill. Six-hundred degrees on his dad’s new Webber should sear the steaks nicely. It was the first weekend after Caitlin’s freedom from the sights of the Russian mob.

“Got the steaks going?” Daniel walked up to his son. “How do you like my new grill?”

“Heated up pretty quick,” Travis replied. “I still prefer charcoal.”

“Get off your charcoal horse, son. When you’re as old as I am, you like less cleanup.”

Travis grinned at his dad. Daniel Blake didn’t look his sixty years of age.

He’d put most men in their forties to shame.

Though his father didn’t have a clearly defined six-pack any longer, he kept in shape by working around the house and running regularly.

Travis’s eyes gazed beyond the grill in the direction of the pool in his parents’ backyard.

His heart warmed as it always did whenever his eyes landed on Caitlin.

She was in a one-piece swimsuit, legs dangling in the pool, chatting with Emily as she lazed on an inflatable raft.

Caitlin finally got over her hang-up about exposing the scars that ran along the length of her right leg.

It helped that she wasn’t a vain woman. Her scars never detracted from her beauty, which really came from within her eyes.

He’d seen strangers, both men and women, get mesmerized by their unusual hazel color.

The natural wave of blonde hair that hit right in that delicate arch of her back made him want to wrap his hands around in it, dig his fingers in and pull her head back to—

“I want mine rare,” Nate piped in behind him, thankfully breaking the direction of his lascivious thoughts. The last problem he needed was a hard-on in front of everyone. Travis turned as his friend handed him a beer. Ed Shephard chimed in, “Mine as well, the bloodier the better.”

“I guess all the guys do,” Travis muttered.

“Thought I’d save you from burning the steaks,” Nate murmured beside him. “Seeing that you can’t seem to take your eyes off your wife long enough to cook dinner properly.”

“Shut up,” Travis grunted. “Beatrice here yet?”

“Almost, she’s a few minutes out. I think she likes her steak on the medium-well side.”

“These steaks shouldn’t take too long. Bee always had perfect timing when it came to food. Dad, are the sides ready?”

“Baked potatoes are about done. Just need to toss the salad,” his dad replied.

The men were in charge of dinner tonight.

The women weren’t allowed in the kitchen, and weren’t allowed to lift a finger.

They were ordered to relax and chill by the pool.

Lillian didn’t like being banished from her own kitchen, and even as she was lying on a lounge chair, she continually cast worried glances toward the house.

“Mom’s worried you’re going to burn down her kitchen, Dad,” Travis said with a laugh.

“How hard could it be to bake potatoes?” his dad grumbled .

The men chuckled and knocked their beers together.

Dinner was underway. Beatrice arrived just as everyone was settling into their seats. Travis opened the door to the redhead and gave her a peck on the cheek.

“Do you have a steak radar?” Travis teased. “You seem to be able to smell them when they’re about done and just show up.”

“It’s one of my talents.” Beatrice grinned and swept into the house.

“Hey, sweetie, you missed hanging in the pool with us,” Emily said.

“Emily, how long have you known me?” Beatrice said. “Redhead and laying under the sun? Not a good combination. I’d burn, which is why I hate summer.” She glanced over to Caitlin. “Our lovely blonde over here is sporting a delightful tan. You know I’m hating you right now, Kincaid?”

“You can’t have all the luck, Porter,” Caitlin quipped. “We can’t all be redheaded goddesses.”

Beatrice preened. “You’re so good for my ego. Now why can’t you guys be that way?” She looked pointedly at Nate and Travis.

“See that can of worms you opened, Caitlin?” Nate groaned. “Bee has enough ego to fit the dome of the U.S. Capitol. She’s got enough men drooling all over her. She doesn’t need Travis and me.”

“You were my best friends,” Beatrice sniffed as she sat down beside Caitlin. “But now I have a new best friend.” She tucked her arm into Caitlin’s, who smiled indulgently at her.

Travis sighed, “Fine. You be friends with my wife. But I don’t want you dragging her to some girls’ night out without me.”

“Uh . . . if it’s a girls’ night out”—Caitlin eyed Travis as he sat down on the other side of her— “you’re not supposed to be with us.”

“Babe, this is how it’s gonna be,” Travis said. “You can go have your girls’ table. I’ll be sitting back somewhere—you won’t even know I’m there—I’ll just make sure all the assholes stay away.”

Caitlin turned to Beatrice. “He’s not serious, right?”

Beatrice was grinning so wide, Travis was afraid she would strain her cheeks. His friend winked at him. “Never thought I’d see this side of you, Travis. Love it. But seriously, girls’ night out means girls’ night out.”

“We’ll see,” Travis muttered. He’d never considered Caitlin having a life that didn’t include him in the plans.

He had no excuse now to keep her on lockdown.

The sooner life got back on an even keel for them, the better it would be for him, too.

Wanting to know where his wife was every second of the day was pure insanity.

He’d have to learn to relax or he’d drive Caitlin away.

“Oh, my God,” Beatrice screeched as she watched Nate slice into the steak. “Is that steak still mooing?”

Everyone at the table laughed. Nate kept Beatrice’s gaze as he popped the slice of beef in his mouth, ignoring the redhead’s disgust.

“How’s yours, sunshine?” Travis asked.

Caitlin sliced into her NY strip revealing a nice pink center. “Perfect. I think I’m in love with you.”

Both of them froze at her words. Caitlin blushed and lowered her eyes. “I mean, anyone who could cook a steak so well—”

“Babe,” Travis lowered his head and whispered into her ear, “You know how I feel. But I’d prefer to show you.”

Caitlin’s breath hitched audibly. Turning her head, their lips almost touched.

“You two need to get a room,” Nate announced, pointing the nose of his beer bottle at them before taking a swig .

Travis looked at his friend. “Shut up, Reece.”

The banter continued around the table. Travis couldn’t believe how content he was with his life right now.

Little did he know that the peace wasn’t going to last.

It was around 11:00 p.m. when they left the Blake residence.

Caitlin was stuffed full of peach pie. Ed declared he made the pies, but Caitlin was certain it was Emily who baked them because she rolled her eyes when her husband boasted of his baking skills.

She leaned back against the seat, stretching her legs out in a sigh as Travis guided the Escalade out of his parents’ neighborhood.

It was a huge subdivision; each house was set on ten acres of land.

Travis told her the development used to be one big farm.

They turned onto Route 7. It was a good fifty minutes back to their house in McLean.

Caitlin felt like she was about to fall asleep—too much sun, too much food, and a good amount of wine.

She must have dozed off for a while, because she felt Travis nudging her awake.

The car was still moving and the scenery had not changed much.

“What?”

“I think we’re being followed.” The grimness in Travis’s tone blasted the sleepiness out of her.

Her chest tightened as she felt a sense of déjà vu, remembering the numerous times she and Jase had escaped assassins sent to kill them.

Travis was keeping his eye on the road as well as checking the rear-view mirror.

“You know how to handle a gun, babe?” Travis’s voice was distant, eerily calm, and devoid of emotion despite the endearment he added in the end.

“Yes.”

“There are two Sigs in the glove compartment. Make sure they’re loaded and ready to go. ”

Caitlin didn’t ask any questions. She just opened the glove box. Taking out the guns, she checked for fully-loaded magazines and racked the slides to load the first cartridge into the chamber. “Done.”

Travis held out his hand. Caitlin handed him a 9mm and extra magazines. It was then that she twisted around and looked out the rear. There was a huge vehicle following them, possibly a full-sized SUV.

She heard Travis curse violently as a beam of light flashed over them.

An oncoming vehicle had turned its high beams on.

A jarring force slammed into them accompanied by the sound of crunching metal.

Airbags deployed. Their vehicle swerved violently to the right.

Caitlin was sure her nails dug half-circles into the door and dashboard; her whole body bracing at the impact.

A car had plowed into them!

Shattered glass rained on her as their vehicle screeched to a halt, tilting precariously on the side of a ditch.

“Fuck!” Travis yelled as he tried to untangle their car from the one that rammed into them. Their tire spun uselessly, the engine revolution straining with the effort.

She must have groaned, because her airbags deflated and hands were suddenly on her, checking her body for injuries and unclipping her seat belt. Travis’s face was dimmed in the cab of the vehicle, but she could feel his warm breath on her.

“Caitlin, you okay?” he asked urgently.

“Y-Yes.”

“Stay here,” he ordered. A car screeched to a halt behind them. Car doors slammed.

“Travis . . . I can help.”

“No, you stay here,” he whispered fiercely.

Before she could reply, an assault rifle sprayed their car with bullets from the rear.

Travis cursed again and kicked out the rest of their shattered windshield. Caitlin immediately heard several gunshots as Travis fired into the car that crashed into them. He dragged her out. “Hide between the two cars.”