Even the walk across the tarmac holding Rachel’s hand was not given one iota of side-eye.
“I’m starving and there’s no food at home,” Rachel said, glancing inside the car to give Brady direction on the proper usage of a seat belt before turning her attention back to Travis. “I guess we’ll hit a drive-through on the way.”
Molly and April had dropped April’s SUV off at the airport for her. They’d been ecstatic about the coming home early.
He couldn’t blame them. He’d also grown fond of her company. More than fond. He couldn’t quite put a name on it, but he needed this woman.
“Here.” He handed her a plastic container with his mama’s homemade tarts. “Don’t tell her I sent them with you.”
“Thanks.” She took the container and stuffed it into her bag.
“Do you want me to come by and help you find a toothbrush later?” he asked, because asking if he could stick his tongue down her pants was probably inappropriate.
“Let me get the boys settled first.” Rachel glanced to the back seat of her car.
“I can do that.”
“Two boys, two dogs, suitcases, my purse, and keys.” She went through her checklist, then held the keys up. “Mr. Pretzel.”
She didn’t know how cute she was when she did that. He hoped she never figured it out.
The boys couldn’t have cared less that this was a huge step in their relationship—the going-public-in-front-of-everyone thing.
Rachel said she and Gavin explained to the boys that she and Travis were in a relationship, and they could ask any questions they wanted.
So far, their only question had been if Uncle Travis would bring them gummy bears to replenish the stash that Rachel tossed out before they left for the airport.
Travis hadn’t been able to answer, because Rachel answered for him.
He was fine with this, because he had a feeling no matter what he answered, somebody was going to be pissed off at him.
“You promise you’ll call?” He gave her a sly smile.
She rolled onto her toes and kissed his cheek. “Of course I promise.”
“Bye, Rach.” He pressed a kiss to her forehead. “See you in a bit.”
She gave him a little wave that he felt deep in his bones.
Chapter Twenty-Eight
“Never lie to your kids, there’s always some truth you can tell them at any age that they can either understand or handle.” — Lynda, New York, USA
Travis
Rachel didn’t call. Not like she said she would. And that stuck in his teeth like a broken toothpick.
Travis had called her, but she didn’t pick up.
She had finally texted him that the boys were having a hard time settling, so they’d need to rain check.
He hadn’t wanted to rain check. He wanted time with Rachel.
Gavin propped himself against the doorway of Travis’s office.
Yes, Travis was in his office. He’d even gone to a meeting that morning to discuss his idea to sell mini toaster tarts to his CEO buddy at Integrated Airlines.
“Do you want to talk about it?” Gavin asked.
