Seren extended her arms, wrapping him in a welcoming hug, which he accepted with another grin. “It’s nice to meet you all.”
Levi stepped forward, shaking Travis’s hand firmly before ducking and dropping a kiss to the top of Roxy’s head. “Welcome home, kiddo.”
Seren threaded her fingers together, holding them just below her chin as she turned from one person to the next, addressing them all at once. “We’ll let you two get settled in; Travis, I do assume you’re staying for a while?” Without waiting for confirmation or denial, she continued, “We’re having a little welcome bonfire tonight, but feel free to relax for a bit. Levi’s brother Micah—Roxy, you remember Micah and my sister, Summer—are grilling up some steaks and burgers. We’ll have lots of food and drinks.” She pointed toward the back of the big house. “Come on out when you’re ready.” Seren dug a key out of her pocket, handing it over to Roxy with a smile. “Welcome home.”
Free tugged Jodi along with him, calling over his shoulder, “See you in a bit.”
Once left alone again, Roxy turned to Travis. “Is it bad that I just want to take a nap?”
He chuckled, wrapping her in his arms again. They swayed that way for a long moment, and Roxy just breathed him in, that now familiar scent of him filling her, calming her. “Let’s get these bags carried in, and then we’ll nap.”
It only took two trips to carry everything up the external flight of stairs that led to the door of the loft above the barn. They merely set everything down by the door and then fell onto the queen-sized bed that took up most of the floor space in the tiny open concept bedroom. An older looking, though surprisingly comfortable sofa sat along one wall with a coffee table in front of it, and a small, flat screen tv was attached to the opposite wall. There was a full, though small, kitchenette with a tiny table and two chairs. The kitchenette was stocked with everything she could need; all the small appliances, a full refrigerator, a smallstove and oven, a microwave. The bathroom was much smaller than she was used to, just a narrow standing shower, a toilet, and a sink, but everything was clean and well maintained. A compact, stacked washer and dryer were tucked into a closet.
It was small, and not at all what she would have chosen for herself, but it was homey and smelled like lemon Pine-Sol. And, she was safe here.
Tucked against Travis’s side, her head on his chest, it didn’t take long for them both to drift off into sleep.
Thirty-Seven
When Travis woke, the sky outside the small window across the room was darkening, dusk filtering into the small apartment, casting everything in hues of blue. Stretching, he smiled, pulling Roxy closer against him. She groaned, stretching too, and then sighed, remaining where she was, as if she was just as content as he was to continue holding each other.
Out the window that they had left propped open to allow a breeze to come through the apartment, the sounds of country music on a speaker, laughing voices, and chatter drifted to them. The scent of bonfire smoke was just beginning to make its way toward them.
“I suppose we should probably go out and mingle with my new landlords,” she mumbled around a yawn, tightening her arm around his waist.
Travis swallowed hard, running his hands up and down her arms, her back. “Our new landlords.”
She propped herself up on her elbow, looking up at him with wide eyes. “You mean you actually want to stay?”
He nodded slowly, letting his fingers drift through the curls that were a flyaway mess around her head. “Wherever you are, that’s where I want to be, Red.”
“But you have a life in Texas—”
Travis braced his hand on the back of her neck, his thumb beneath her jaw. His chest felt like an elephant was sitting on it, emotion tightening it. Or maybe that was anxiety, as he whispered, “I have a job, one that my buddy will understand if I have to leave it. I have a house that sits mostly empty, because it’s never felt like home. I have spent the last twenty years just going through the motions of life. I don’t want that anymore, Roxy. You came into that gym and rocked my entire being. I’m so fucking tired of fighting it, baby girl. I want whatever this is, with you. For however long we can have it. I can lay my head anywhere, as long as it’s next to you. You asked me to stay… I’m saying yes, if that’s what you still want.”
“You’d move, just like that? For me?” she asked, her brows furrowing over her eyes in wonder. He swept his thumb over her bottom lip.
“Just like that,” he whispered earnestly, staring at her. He continued to sweep his thumb over her lips, her mouth parting slightly.
“We’re going to need to find somewhere else to live,” she laughed, shaking her head. “This is just temporary, anyway.”
“And we will, but we can take our time, too. I’m in no rush.”
She scoffed, rolling her eyes. “What about any of thisisn’trushing, Travis?”
He shrugged, sweeping her hair over her shoulder and down her back. “Does it feel rushed?”
“No,” Roxy admitted, her eyes dancing in the deepening twilight that seeped into the room.
“To me either,” he said, then sat up, taking her with him. “If we stay in this bed any longer, I’m going to fuck you until neither one of us can move, and that would be rude considering we have a party we’re missing.”
She groaned, pouting, and he laughed as he stood from the bed, bending down to kiss her smackingly on the mouth. “Come on, Red. They’re waiting for us. You’re going to want to change into some pants before we go out. You’ll probably be cold out by the fire.”
“Hardy-har,” she deadpanned. “Big guy thinks he knows me.”
“I do know you. You’ll be a popsicle in ten minutes if you go out in shorts and a tank top, even if it is seventy degrees out.” He was rifling through his duffel bag, then pulled the hoodie out of it, throwing it at her.
She shivered in revulsion. “It’s only seventy out?”
