Page 50 of Finding Happily Ever After
Travis dropped the hammer on the pile of boards and crossed his arms over his chest. Despite the chill in the air, he didn’t wear a coat. His flannel shirt was rolled up, exposing his strong forearms.
How would it feel to be wrapped in those arms?
The thought popped into her head so quickly, it sent a flush through her body. She quickly shook it off.
“You sure?”
She forced herself to swallow her laughter. “So youwerewatching me earlier, weren’t you?”
“You can’t answer a question with another question.” His eyes sparked and challenged her.
She tipped her head and her long red hair fell over one shoulder. “I don’t know if you know this about me, but I can do whatever I want.”
It was meant to be flirty, but Travis snorted, shook his head and picked up his hammer again.
“Yeah. I got that about you.” He resumed work on the boards.
Something about his dismissive reply sparked her anger. As a redhead, Steph definitely had a fiery temper. It was something she’d worked hard to keep under control when she was younger, especially when she became a celebrity. The last thing she needed was her temper flaring on set or worse, when the paparazzi was watching and could sell a twisted version of the truth. She’d resolved early on not to give them any ammunition, and over time it got easier and easier to keep her temper under control.
But something about Travis Bishop pushed every single one of her buttons, and not all of them were good. She crossed her arms tightly and spread her feet almost to brace herself against the feelings crashing through her as she stared at him. “You don’t know anything about me.”
He must have heard the change in her voice, because he slowly looked up and examined her. “You don’t think so?”
“No.” She gritted her teeth.
“I think that I know you and your type better than you think.”
Her type?
Rage bubbled just below the surface. Stephanie tried to control it. She tried to push it back down. She couldn’t let him get to her. She couldn’t let him be the cause for an explosion. It had been so long; she’d done such a good job pushing it down. She took a deep breath the way she’d been taught. In through the nose, out through the mouth.
“You think just because you have money that you can—”
“Stop right there.” She held a finger out and was instantly annoyed with herself for how it shook. “Don’t say anything that will cause you to lose your job.”
He pressed his lips together and took a step back. “Got it,boss.”
“Because I don’t know who you think you are all of a sudden.” Her words were clipped, only barely under control. “But I think it’s important that we remember who exactly is writing the check.”
What was she saying?
She sounded exactly like the type of person she hated. Exactly like the type of person that no doubt Travis hadjustbeen referring to. She wasn’t that person. She was nowhere near that person.What were these words coming out of her mouth?
Disgusted with herself, Steph snapped her mouth shut.
“Like I said. Got it.” Travis’s words were rough, but she’d be dammed if she didn’t see his eyes twinkle when he said it.
Was he taking pleasure in getting her riled up?Was he provoking her onpurpose?
She couldn’t stick around to find out.
With a deep breath in, Steph turned to go but before she did, she said one more thing over her shoulder. “And I know you were watching me, so you can drop the act.” With a sharp exhale, she moved to walk back to her cabin as quickly as she could. She needed space before she erupted completely.
But a hand on her arm stopped her in her tracks. It was tight, but not dangerously so. But when Travis spun her around so she was only inches from him, close enough that she could smell the mix of wood and coffee and peppermint that was distinctly his, she saw the danger in his eyes. The way his nostrils flared. Unwillingly, she trembled, but he didn’t release her.
But he didn’t speak, either.
They stared at each other. Their breathing came quickly. Their chests rose and fell almost in time, while something, some kind of electricity, zinged in the air between them.
