“Trav.” She rolled so they were face-to-face,and shook his shoulder. “Travis.”
He pinched open an eyelid. Then,even half awake,he turned on the magnetism and gave her a grin that would’ve had her dropping her panties—if she’d been wearing any.
“We fell asleep,” she said, already peeling herself from his arms and searching the bedding for her clothes.
“You were really tired.” He smiled. “Seemed like you needed to catch some sleep.” The just-awake timbre of his voice was so inviting,she nearly found herself jumping him again.
Her stomach soured. The kids could be home any minute.
“You had a conference call.” She rubbed her hands over her face, pinching at her cheeks to wake herself up. “I have clients.”
“I rescheduled.” He moved his hand to hold hers. “Your clients can survive a couple of hours without you.” He squeezed her hand.
“You have no idea what my clients can survive.” She started to get out of bed, but Travis’s arm snaked around her waist.
His spoke against her bare neck. “Even you get to take a nap sometimes.”
“We don’tallget to pick and choose what work we do.” Okay, so that came out way harsher than she meant.
He clenched his jaw, tight.
“What I mean is we need a plan,” Rachel said because, first of all, they needed a plan. Second of all, they couldn’t continue without some kind of direction.
“Rach—”
“I have kids,” she continued.
“I know you have kids. We’ve talked about your kids. I love your kids.”
“I can’t confuse them.” Blurgh. She hoped her tone transmitted the sincerity of those words and how desperate she was to ensure that she didn’t mess up her boys. Finding Mom in bed with Uncle Travis was not something she wanted to try to explain.
“No one needs to know anything yet.” Travis rolled and sat, the sheet bunching at his waist. She’d grown really fond that afternoon of what lay under his clothes.
And him. And his dimples. And his humor. And his voice.
“Everyone’s going to find out.” She fidgeted with the bedspread. “I am horrible at keeping secrets.”
“Who is going to find out?” he asked. “Mama? Dad? Gavin?”
“Brady, Kellan,” she continued listing in the same tone he had.
“Then don’t make it a secret.” He moved his palms to her face, stroking her neck. “In your head, while we figure things out, don’t make it a secret. It’s just somethin’ we’re not ready to share. There’s a difference.”
“Your mom is going to be so mad,” she said against his lips because, dammit, his lips were right there.
“My mother has no say in this.”
“Your mom has a say in everything,” Rachel whispered. “She’s the Puffle Yum Momster.”
“No.” Travis shifted, not even bothering to realize that she was still totally naked. Apparently, he was cool with naked. Good to know.
“Mamathinksshe has a say in everything. The only two people this involves are you and me.” He paused, looking lost in a moment of thought. “Eventually, it’ll involve your kids, because they’re a huge part of who you are.”
His fingers met her chin, holding her face up to his. He pressed a kiss to her lips, gentle, with a soft quality that wrapped around her and reassured that everything was going to be fine.
She let out a long breath.
“Are you with me on this?” he asked.
