“Why didn’t it work out?”she asked.
Travis shrugged and told her something he hadn’t even divulged to his brothers.“Went to a bar trying to meet someone.Seemed like everyone was on their phones, swiping right or left or whatever as they looked for someone to be with.Not the type of person I am.Wanted to meet someone organically.Just didn’t happen.”He exhaled heavily, remembering feeling like the oldest soul in that place.Travis hated technology almost as much as he hated most people, only using it out of absolute necessity.“I’m a simple man.Just want to work the land, make a life on it.Asking someone to spend all their time in my little corner of the world is...a lot.Don’t think I realized until that moment in the bar just how much sacrifice it takes to be with me.”
Parker shifted, her head resting closer to his as they leaned against the tree.“I don’t know if that’s true,” she said quietly.“I haven’t been around the whole world, but I’ve seen enough of it to know that this place is pretty damn special.Staying here with you wouldn’t be much of a sacrifice at all.”
Travis smiled at her words.“Think so?”The fact that Parker saw his favorite place, his home as somewhere special, spoke to his heart in a way that nothing else ever had.
Parker nodded, a soft smile on her face.“I really do.”She looked over the expanse of trees, tendrils of brown hair falling out of her ponytail to frame her beautiful face.“Maybe I’m simple too, but this town, this farm where people actually care about others might as well be Heaven as far as I’m concerned.”Her eyes met his again, sadness shining behind the soulful brown.“Not everywhere is like this.Not everywhere feels as safe.”
Lacing their fingers together, he held onto her as tightly as he dared so as to not scare her off.Even knowing that he should tread carefully, touching her and deepening their connection was impossible not to do.“Your turn now?”
Travis didn’t want to force her to talk about anything that might make her sad or uncomfortable, but he’d be lying if he said the curiosity about her hadn’t been eating away at him for weeks.
Parker blew a breath out from her lips.“I suppose so.”She looked up in through the same leaves that had always captured his attention, yet hisyesnever left her face.She was probably trying to think of where to start, but Travis didn’t care if she went all the way back to the time of her birth.He wanted to learn everything about her.“There used to be this old cherry tree in my neighbor’s yard.”Travis looked confused for a moment, unsure of where she was going.“Just stick with me for a minute.I promise it will make sense soon enough.”
Travis held up his free hand in supplication.“Your tale to tell however you like.”
Parker smiled sadly.“Thanks.”Shifting on the ground, she moved a little closer to him.Whether intentionally or not, she was now practically on top of him, and he didn’t mind in the least.“It was the most constant thing in my life.My mom was always working a job or chasing after some guy, never around except to tell me not to end up like her, pregnant at sixteen and without a way to support herself.My dad was non-existent as far as I knew, never really being in the picture, but that cherry tree was something I could always count on.”She sniffed and looked over at him, her expression sadder than before.“Sorry.This is so dumb.”
Travis let go of her hand long enough to wrap his arm around her shoulder.“Not dumb,” he growled, upset she was being mean to herself.“If anyone understands an affinity for a fruit tree, it’s me.”
Parker’s watery laugh was music to his ears.“I knew you’d get it.”She wiped under her eyes with the sleeve of her shirt.“Anyway, the neighbor who’d owned the house with the tree moved and the new family that came in chopped it down.I loved that goddamn tree and once it was gone I felt like I had nothing.”She swallowed and wiped away more tears as he held onto her.This was obviously about more than the tree, but he knew better than anyone the importance of letting people go at their own pace.“I think that’s why I let myself believe Trent actually liked me.He was so popular and good-looking.”She looked over at Travis and blushed.“Well, I thought so at the time anyway.”
The confession made Travis smile a little even as his heart broke for her.She’d been through so much and survived it.He may have the muscles needed to haul barrels of apples around all day, but she was the strong one, and his chest swelled with pride for the woman he would capture the moon for, if she wished it.Travis was falling hard and fast, but he couldn’t help it.She was incredible.
Travis stared at her another minute before shaking his head, wanting to get back to hearing the story of her life.“That Kit’s father?”
Parker huffed.“Sperm donor is more like it.”She blinked away her tears.“He used me and then acted like he didn’t even know me once I was pregnant, knowing that no one would believe that a guy like him would slum it with a girl like me.”
Travis’s hands balled into fists.Whoever this Trent was better hope he never showed his face anywhere near there or Travis would make sure to bury him so deep beneath the trees no one would ever find him.“People are assholes.”
Parker nodded.“Some people, yes, and him more than most, but not all people are like that.”She looked up at him again, her eyes still mesmerizing even with the red rimming the underside and edges.“Some people are caring and generous.”She licked her lips, her eyes flicking down to his.Her hand traveled from his up the side of his arm until it was gripping his bicep.“Resilient and strong.”Her head leaned toward his, and like a magnet pulled toward its opposite, Travis’s did the same.
Their lips were damn near touching when he heard the footsteps coming their way.Backing away quickly, he put some space between them in case it was Kit or someone from his family.Travis wanted that kiss so damn badly, but he wasn’t ready for the explanation they would have demanded had they witnessed it.Parker looked hurt, confused, and slightly ashamed.Travis hated seeing that expression, but when a short-haired little girl came barreling around to the front of them, that shame seemed to lighten a bit as understanding dawned on her face.
“Mom.Can I go with Cora to the fabric store?”Kit bounced on her feet, her whole body vibrating with excitement.“She said she’s going to show me how to make a pillowcase.”
Parker smiled and nodded.“That’s fine with me.Let me give you some mon—” Kit had run off back toward the house by the time Parker shoved her hand into her pocket for some cash.“Well, okay then.I guess I’ll pay her back.”
Travis wanted to tell Parker not to worry about it, but didn’t want to sting her pride at all.She’d only agreed to accept their help in exchange for work and an education.“Shit,” Travis muttered.Wiping his face, he let the shame that came after realizing he’d neglected his end of the bargain sink in.
“Is everything okay?”Parker asked, her face concerned.The fact that she was worried about him in the slightest when she had much more pressing things to deal with made him feel even guiltier while also warming his heart just a little bit.
“Fine,” he said, standing.Reaching down, Travis took her hand and pulled Parker to her feet.“I realized I’ve been remiss in teaching you more about the farm.”
A knowing smile was painted across her face, but Parker lifted one of her slender shoulders as if it were no big deal.“That’s okay.I know you’re a busy guy.”
Travis nodded.He was busy, but he also liked to think he was a man of his word and he’d not lived up to it these last couple of weeks.“Not too busy to hold up my end of the deal.”Realizing he was still holding her hand, he ran his thumb over it one last time to memorize the feel of it before releasing it gently.“Let’s go.I can take you on a market delivery.”
Parker smiled and walked alongside him toward the storage shed.“I’d like that.”
Travis returned her smile, hoping that the blush on his cheeks was hidden well enough by the thick hair of his beard.He would like it too.A little too much, but that was a problem for another day.
