Page 82 of Tied to You

“But—”

“But nothing.” I’m rolled to my back, and he lies on top of me, his thighssettling between my legs.

“How will it get done if I’m not there?”

He brushes the hair from my face.

“Janette can’t help. Her hands were bad when I saw them yesterday.”

Travis frowns. He didn’t know. “I’m going to do it.”

My head presses back into the pillow. “You?” My voice is so disbelieving, I see him frown again.

His hand on my head, stills. “Yes,me. I told Mick I was covering you today. I got it.”

“You’regoing to cover me?”

“Jesus, are you deaf? Yes. Me. I will take you to the farm and do your day’s work for you. Mick was fine with it.”

I try to contain the smile, but it cracks, my face now beaming at him. “Why would you do that?”

He looks deep into my eyes. “Because.” He shrugs his shoulders like it’s no big deal.

But it is a big deal. “You know why he was fine with it, don’t you?”

He eye rolls me, then moves to his back, bending one arm behind his head.

I move with him, hooking my leg over his naked body. I lay my palm flat on his chest then rest my chin on it, looking up at him. I honestly can say I never thought I would find a man like Travis. The butterflies in my stomach whenever I look at him are testament to what he does to me. “They love you.”

He looks down at me. His eyes hold my gaze, but he remains silent.

“Did they raise you?”

His lips pinch. “I thought you were about to tell me you love me too.”

I slap his chest. “I’m serious. I want to know.”

“What do you want to know, baby?”

Everything. “Where are your parents?” After seeing my dad yesterday, I know I’ll have to tell him my story. But right now, I like that he’s about to share his with me.

Watching him, his face falters slightly. “Honestly? I don’t know.”

A strange feeling washes over me. “They’re alive?”

He nods.

“I assumed they were…”

“Dead?”

I grimace, hating the thought.

He rests his other hand at the small of my back, his thumb running over my tattoo. “I think it would be easier if they were. But unfortunately they’re not.”

“Unfortunately?”

His voice sounds clipped as he says, “Look, I don’t have some compelling sob story. My parents had me. They didn’t want me. They left me with my mum’s brother and gave him no choice but to raise me. He could have put me into care, but he didn’t. So, here we are.”