Chapter Thirteen
Travis
Two weeks had passed since the start of school, which meant that it had been just over three since he and Parker had almost kissed, which was apparently how Travis was measuring time these days.Every time they interacted lately, whether it was at work while he explained how to check the soil temperature and moisture levels to prevent rot from growing or at night when he found himself coming up with just about any excuse he could to pop over and visit the pair of ladies who were slowly capturing his heart, Travis found himself getting more and more worked up where Parker was concerned.Each brush of their hands felt loaded with meaning, and each longing look she gave him was an exercise in restraint.He was so ready to go off for the woman that even the frostier nights and mornings weren’t enough to cool off his desire for her.
For the umpteenth time since she showed up on the farm, Travis adjusted himself at the thought of getting his hands on her slight curves.Parker was filling out her clothes well these days, not that he didn’t love her body before, but seeing her rested and well fed had also brought a lightness to her demeanor that was always there, but not quite as bright as it was now.She was practically lit up from the inside whenever she looked around the orchard or at her daughter.Travis could swear that it was there whenever Parker looked his way too, but maybe that was just wishful thinking.He did a lot of thinking about that woman, most of it at night when he was alone in his bed.
Travis lost count of the number of times he’d taken his dick in his hand and stroked himself raw to thoughts of Parker in all kinds of compromising positions.It was completely inappropriate of him to be thinking of an employee that way, but technically he wasn’t the owner of the farm, just the one who was showing her the ropes.So every night when he came harder than he had in a long time, Parker’s face on his mind and her name passing over his lips, Travis felt that he was justified in his behavior.There was only so much resistance he had in himself, especially in the face of someone who was essentially his dream girl come to life.
Travis sighed, wishing he was with Parker like he wanted to be instead of dealing with the nightmare that was the orchard opening up to tourists and anyone else wanting to go on an apple picking adventure.He’d already spied a group of college-aged kids snapping selfies and plucking honeycrisps off the stems with next to no care before taking a single bite and then tossing the rest.The sight had gotten his blood up so quickly that Travis had to retreat to Felix’s cider house.There was absolutely fuck all for him to do in there, especially since most of Felix’s operation had been moved to the space next to his bar, but it was located far back on the property near the crabapple trees that no one would be going near it today.
Fiddling with an empty bottle, Travis stared out the only window in the place over to the area next to their farm.In the distance was a derelict house and a good chunk of land that was just going to waste.It was a shame since he knew the soil was nutrient rich, but with so many farms going corporate and a lot of family farms struggling, it seemed that everyone was content to let it remain unoccupied.Maybe in another life Travis would try to buy it himself, but it seemed silly to have his own farm when he worked on one he’d loved his whole life.It also sounded lonely as hell and the life he lived now was already about as lonesome as you could get, though less so now that Parker was there.
“I thought I’d find you hiding out here somewhere.”Travis turned, smiling shyly when Parker walked into the cider house as if he’d conjured her with his thoughts.While she gazed around the building, he took a moment to admire her.
The clothes she wore were in only slightly better shape than the ones she’d arrived in, but she still looked beautiful.During their downtown shopping trip, Parker insisted on using nearly all the gift cards she’d gotten on Kit and getting only a single new outfit for herself before getting the rest at the thrift store.Travis earned a good living at the farm, and living rent-free his entire life had afforded him the ability to build up a decent nest egg.At the moment, it just sat in the bank earning interest, but as he watched Parker walk around the room, her jeans more worn than not, he wondered if he shouldn’t take her out shopping just for herself.She’d never accept that from him, but that didn’t change the fact that he wanted to give it to her.
Parker joined Travis at the window, narrowing her eyes at him as he stood there looking at her like she was the best thing to ever walk the Earth.As far as he could tell, she absolutely was and it was a shame he didn’t have the courage to tell her so.“You really don’t like people, do you?”
Travis huffed and put the bottle back down with the rest.“Really don’t.”At least not the kind of people she was talking about.There were a few notable exceptions, and that now included Parker and her daughter.He reached up and tucked one of her rogue curls back behind her ear, smiling when it bounced right back to where it had been.“Every now and then, I find myself enjoying someone else’s company.”
Parker’s eyes shone.“Is now one of those times?”She licked her lips and Travis’s eyes clocked the move, but he wouldn’t be able to take advantage of it just yet.
Groaning with frustration when he heard heavy footsteps outside the barn, he shifted a step away from Parker, smiling apologetically.“Would have been if not for this asshole.”Travis picked up one of the stray bottle caps and flicked it at his brother just as he appeared in the open doorway.
Felix caught it instantly, shooting a glare at his older brother.“What was that for, dickhead?”
Travis subtly nodded at Parker as Autumn came into view.“Hi, Travis,” she said amicably.It still took Travis getting used to being around someone who he’d known almost her whole life but who had almost no memory of him beyond the last six months, but Autumn had always been a great person and she loved his little brother, so any weirdness about that was something he would deal with for the two of them.“Who’s this?”Her eyes widened, the same slightly panicked look on her face that Autumn always got when she met someone new that she may or may not have actually already known before the car accident that gave her amnesia.
Travis placed his hand at the small of Parker’s back, trying not to grin like an idiot when he felt her lean back into it.“Autumn, Parker.Parker, Autumn.”He looked down at Parker with a soft smile.“Autumn makes pottery and for some reason we’re not sure of, dates Felix.”
The two women shook hands as Felix joined the small group, punching Travis on the shoulder before shaking Parker’s hand as well.“And I am Felix.Travis’s younger, better in every way possible, brother.”He smiled at Parker and shot Travis a knowing look.“You must be the seasonal worker we’re all hearing about.”
Parker chuckled.“I guess so.I apologize if your parents are talking your ears off about me and my daughter, but my little girl loves spending time with them.”
Felix’s smile turned mischievous.“Oh, it wasn’t my parents—”
Travis stepped on his brother’s toes to stop him from confessing that he was actually the one going on and on about Parker and Kit.His parents probably did as well, but anytime Travis texted one of his brothers, he was always espousing the virtues of the two people who’d come to live with them.“Sorry, I don’t know what I was saying.”
Parker looked up at Travis suspiciously, but she nodded.“No worries.I should probably get back to work anyway.”
Before she could leave, Autumn stopped Parker with a bright smile.“Actually, I have been meaning to meet you and invite you out with me and the girls.Lottie is having us all over next Friday for an evening of pampering.”Parker’s eyebrows shot up as she stared at the other woman, but Autumn just shrugged and rolled her eyes.“That’s what she called it anyway.If you’ve met Lottie, you know that she’s a little unique, but she’s also the best.And I don’t know about you, but I need a manicure after sticking my hands in clay all day.”
Parker looked down at her own blunt nails and grimaced.“I don’t think I’ve ever had a manicure.”She’d said it to herself more than the group, but Travis heard it and while he didn’t know shit about spa days or pampering, he could tell that Parker hadn’t done something just for herself in a long time if ever.She turned back to Autumn with a sad smile on her face.“I’d love to, but I don’t have a sitter.”
“I’ll watch Kit.”The words were out of his mouth before he even had time to think about it, but once he had it seemed like the best idea ever.Travis could help Parker take part in a little self-care and meet some of the people that were close to his family.The more she liked about Applewood and the farm, the more likely she would be to stay if he decided to make his move, something that was becoming increasingly important to him with each passing minute.“She can come over, hang out at the big house.We’ll get pizza.There wouldn’t be school the next day, so her staying up a little past bedtime wouldn’t be too big an issue, right?”
Parker looked at him like he was a lunatic.“You’re really offering to spend a Friday night babysitting my eight-year-old?”
