Travis laughed.
“This is so amazing, Travis. I’m so glad I met you! First, you give me a temporary job. Now, you’re helping me findanotherjob that might turn into something permanent. I can’t thank you enough.”
“You don’t have to thank me. And if it works out, I’ll be really happy for you.”
Even although all she had right now was the promise of a conversation with someone who might be interested in hiring her, Courtney couldn’t stop the excitement mounting, couldn’t stop the rush of happiness that flooded her thanks to this unexpected piece of news.
Perhaps it was that mix of excitement and happiness and sheergratitudetowards Travis, without whom this opportunity would never have arisen, that made Courtney forget herself for one mad moment and reach across the bench and pull him into a fierce hug.
“Thank you, Travis,” she whispered, not trusting her voice as emotions raced.
He froze for a long second, his body rigid, before his arms came around her loosely and he patted her back.
“You’re welcome,” he said. “I hope it works out.”
Sensing his discomfort at the sudden physical onslaught of the hug she’d subjected him to, Courtney let go, dropping her arms from around his shoulders. Shifting a little on the bench, she was about to apologise for the outburst and for grabbing him when her gaze caught his and she saw the look on his face.
It was a look filled with longing, his eyes dropping to her mouth and making her breath hitch.
The moment spun on, filled with magic and surprise and utter terror, as Travis looked up from her mouth and deep into her eyes.
The kiss lingered between them, waiting, and Courtney could almost taste it, could feel it flooding her senses and making her head spin, and she longed for his lips to touch hers.
With their gazes locked together, Travis’s head dipped and Courtney moved closer, aching for what was coming next.
And then something snapped in Travis’s eyes, as if he’d woken from a trance, and his expression filled with a mix of realisation and something that looked like horror.
“Uh…” His arms were still looped around her, and he gave her one final friendly pat on the back before pulling away and sliding across the bench. “Uh, er... ”
“Gosh, I’m sorry, I, um…”
They exchanged sheepish glances, neither one daring to look the other in the eye. Travis cleared his throat.
“Er, I hope you chat to Jacquie soon and things work out with the job she mentioned,” he said.
“Yes, me too.”
An awkward moment passed before Travis finally glanced at his watch. “I should probably get back to work.”
“Of course.”
“Thanks again for lunch.”
“I’m glad you enjoyed it.”
They hadn’t eaten the fruit or the bakery treats, but that didn’t matter. The picnic was well and truly over. As Courtney stuffed the leftover items back into the cool bag, she wondered what on earth had just happened.
She’d completely misread the situation; that’s what had happened. She’d hugged Travis and then conjured some mad illusion out of thin air that had made her think he wanted tokissher. When she’d looked into his eyes, she’d imagined something that just wasn’t there. She’d imagined attraction where there was none.
Because if therehadbeen any attraction, he would’ve kissed her, wouldn’t he? She’d practically shoved her mouth into his face and given him every opportunity to do it.
But he hadn’t. Ofcourse, he hadn’t.
Quite what had possessed her to think Travis Stone would feel even a flicker of interest in or attraction towards her was a mystery. She was alone, homeless, broke, and more than eight months pregnant, for God’s sake.
She could barely even get up from the park bench! Awkwardly hauling herself to her feet with a breathless grunt only served to underline how completely improbable it was that anyone could find her anything other than pitiable.
And yet she thought Travis had wanted tokissher?
