He kissed her again and would have continued doing so if they weren’t interrupted by a knock on the door.
Beatrice stuck her head in the room. “Is it safe to come in?”
“Come on in, Bee.”
“It sounded so quiet in here,” Beatrice said. “Didn’t want to burn my eyes, just in case you two were up to something.”
Travis rolled his eyes. “Jesus, Bee, I’m not a fucking caveman.”
The two women looked at each other and burst out laughing. Caitlin grimaced as the shaking jarred her back.
“Damn it, fuck, are you all right?” Travis muttered. Caitlin opened her eyes and saw the panic in both Beatrice and Travis’s faces.
“It stung.” Caitlin coughed, and then took a deep breath. “It’s fading.”
“I should limit your visitors.” Travis glared at Beatrice who had the grace to look embarrassed.
The redhead recovered quickly. “Well, instead of bringing you another fruit basket or flower arrangement, I have a message to deliver.”
“If it’s from your dad, you can forget it,” Travis stepped in front of Beatrice. The scowl on her husband’s face was enough to put the fear in anyone, but the redhead was determined.
“He said it would clear up a lot of questions.”
“He’s made enough mess of things,” Travis snapped. “Caitlin nearly died, goddamnit,” he roared. “Because of him!”
“Travis!” Caitlin called out in a censuring tone. “Don’t take out your anger on Bee.”
“Thank you,” Beatrice sniffed and defiantly sidestepped him to hand Caitlin an envelope. She recognized the lettering script with her nameCaitlin.
“Jase,” Caitlin whispered.
“What’s the meaning of this?” Travis’s hand grasped Beatrice arm. “Is this another one of Porter’s mind games?” Heheld out his hand to Caitlin. “Give that to me, Cat, I’ll burn it if I have to.”
Caitlin’s fingers held on to the letter. “I think I need to read it, Travis.”
“Why?” he growled. “We decided nothing else matters, remember? You told me if I got on that plane, you’re done. How is this any different?”
“But I told you today, I’ll never leave you.”
Shifting her gaze to Beatrice. “Did you read it?”
“No. But Dad did. He said it explained a lot of things, including that night you disappeared, Caitlin. He said it would be good for both of you.” Beatrice walked to the door. “I’ll leave you to it.”
Travis grunted.
“Travis?”
He turned to look at her.
“Can you go get lunch?”
He gazed at her for a beat, indecision written all over his face. Finally, he nodded and walked out of the room, closing the door softly behind him.
Travis foldedthe letter and sat back on the sofa that was facing the hospital bed. Caitlin handed him the letter telling him he could read it if he wanted to because she didn’t want to hide anything. He asked her how she knew Porter hadn’t forged it. She said one word—buttercup. A familiar sensation of jealousy ghosted over his skin. Damn it, Caitlin was right. He needed to get a grip.
He had also wondered how Porter ended up with the letter. Had he been in contact with John Cooper this entire time? It would take a while before Travis trusted the admiral again, but he realized he didn’t care any longer as long as Porter left them alone.
Whatever was in the letter made Caitlin sad in a good way, if that made sense. Bittersweet was the better word. A heaviness he hadn’t realized was in her, finally lifted. And in the ever-changing intensity of the way they kissed, it felt like she was totally, unequivocally his. And it felt fucking great.
