Page 53 of Tied to You

“—last night?” She cuts me off, her eyes flitting to the man sat at the table. “Last night, my prayers were answered.”

Travis stands, his chair scraping across the floor.

My eyes are still firmly locked on Janette, my back to him.

Feeling his presence loom closer, I go to turn, but Travis places his mug on the side, effectively trapping me. He leans in to kiss Janette’s cheek, his front brushing against my arm, his big palm splaying at the small of my back. I can’t breathe. Can’t even move a muscle for fear of Janette seeing right through me. His touch is electric. Tiny volts shoot up my spine forcing my skin to stand on end. I give a nervous smile when he steps back, seeing me flustered.

He smirks, and I know him well enough now to know he did that on purpose. Bastard.

“Will you be back tonight?” Janette asks him.

I can’t help the way my eyes go to him, wondering the same. He might have slept in my bed last night, but we have so much to talk about.

Grabbing his keys from the table, he slides them and his phone into his pocket. “Maybe.” He looks at me.

Maybe?

“Got a busy few days with the club and the business.” He’s talking to Janette but letting me know I won’t see him. Did I miss something?

My shoulders slump, and his eyes narrow slightly, seeing my displeasure.

“The business?” Janette sings, his words obviously making her day.

“Yeah,” he says with a laugh when he’s hugged all of a sudden. His eyes lock on mine as his arm wraps around his aunt. I can tell he’s made her morning just by being here. Which beggars the question, why hasn’t he been here? “You gonna let me get to it?”

“Sorry.” Janette laughs, stepping back, her hands brushing her sides.

“I’ll call you later.”

In silence, both Janette and I watch him slip on his boots and walk outthe door. Then she turns, and we exchange a look.Fuck. She knows. I quickly turn, moving slowly to the pot to pour myself some tea.

“I guess I should be thanking you, honey.”

“Pardon?” I say nonchalant, but feeling so fucking confused. I add some milk and one sugar, slowly stirring the spoon. When I turn, Janette is positively glowing.

“I’ve not seen him like this before.”

My mug pauses against my lips. I blow into the tea, feigning that I’m cooling it down, when in fact, the only thing that needs to cool down is me. “Like what?” I ask. I take a sip from my mug.

Her head tilts. Is that amusement in her eyes? “I’ll say this.” She steps closer to me, and my body tightens. “Keep doing whatever you’re doing. I like seeing him happy.”

Jesus. The weight of her happiness lands heavy on my shoulders, but I can’t deny seeing her face light up beats seeing her so upset last night. I’ll take seeing her happiness over her sadness any day.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I say lightly. And so obviously knowing. But he seemed quick to leave. Maybe it’s nothing. Maybe he really is just busy?

Her eyes lift.

I lift mine right back at her.

My phone vibrating from my back pocket has me breaking our eye contact. I look down at the screen, frowning, but also smiling at his audacity.

Biker boy: Come outside

He put his number in my phone? I smile when I look up. Janette’s still standing there. Still looking at me. I need to think. “What needs doing first this morning?” I ask. I ignore the dull ache in my foot from my accident as I place my phone in the back pocket of my jeans.

“Oh,” she walks to the stove, turning various knobs on and off, reaching for a plate and a serving spoon. “Mick’s sorting things with the vet, but the foal and the new mare will need seeing to. You happy to do that?”

I smile. “More than happy.”