“Umm-hmm?” he murmured against her hair.
“That wasn’t like doing the laundry at all.”
He chuckled, then he kissed the crown of her skull. As she drifted to sleep, he took her hand in his, tethering her to a reality she was pretty sure she didn’t get to keep.
CHAPTER 18
RACHEL
Shit.
She was naked. Travis was there.
Sex. There had been sex. Really good sex. Then she took a nap.
She never took a nap.
Naps were for those who had time to take them. She was not that person.
Travis’s warm breath came in small puffs against her neck as his body cradled hers.
Apparently, he’d fallen asleep, too. He’d gotten dressed first, though.
A sliver of light still shone through the curtains, but barely.
“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’t all get 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.
