“Yeah. Got the extra plywood added to the order. Where’s Libby?” Travis asked, looking around.
“She went to go see what other kinds of decorations we might use to decorate the entrance of the village,” Scotty answered.
“I’ll go find her,” Travis said with a smile on his face.
“Don’t hurt her again,” Scotty said.
Travis turned back to Scotty. He could see the apprehension in his brother’s face. “I’ve hurt both of you, for a long time. And that’s on me. There’s no excuse for it. But I can see who I am now. I can see what I’ve lost all this time. I’m so, so, sorry, Scotty. I can’t take it all back, but if I could I would in a heartbeat. But I will make sure that there is never another instance that causes you to doubt me, or to fear me.”
Scotty tried to brush off Travis’s apology. “I never feared you, you never hurt me…” he said.
“Not physically, but sometimes emotional pain is deeper and longer lasting. I’m sorry. I’m so sorry that I was so bitter, so resentful and so lost that I pushed you both away. You are the only two things in my life that matter, and I shoved you away like you didn’t. Give me a chance to show you that I’m not that male anymore. You won’t be sorry. And neither will Libby — if I can get her to look at me without wanting to slap me, I’m going to marry her, mate her, and love her endlessly until the day I die. No, that’s wrong. Even longer than that. I just have to earn her trust enough to prove it to her,” Travis said.
Scotty smiled at Travis. “I don’t know where you’ve been, but welcome home, brother. I missed you.”
Travis grinned and reached out to hug Scotty over the counter at the paint mixing station. They slapped each other on the back before pulling away from one another. “I missed me, too. Just give me a little time. You’ll see. Libby will be with us forever.”
Scotty nodded and grinned as Travis strolled away with his hands in his pockets, whistling Christmas Carols as he looked for Libby.
Travis walked out into the garden center which was where all the larger outdoor Christmas decorations were. He walked up one aisle, knowing from his sense of smell that Libby was on the one next to it. He paused when he heard her voice speaking to another woman.
“It’s so surprising to see you with Travis again. We hadn’t seen you together since he came back from overseas,” the first woman said.
“Yes, well, he needed some help planning his family’s Christmas Village this year,” Libby said.
“Oh, they’re going to do that again? I can’t wait to see it. And him. He hasn’t been around much.”
“No, he hasn’t,” Libby answered, the strain easily detected in her voice.
“I didn’t mean to offend you,” the woman said. “I mean, he is available again, right? Ben and I divorced last year, and it’s not like you and Travis followed through with the engagement. All’s fair in love and all that,” the woman said far too happily. “Thought I’d throw my hat into the ring and let him know he’s been marked as my target.”
Travis could scent Libby’s anger.
“He’s fully capable of doing whatever he chooses. Always has been,” Libby said.
“Libs?” Travis called out, starting to walk toward her again.
Libby didn’t answer, but the moment he turned the corner of the aisle he realized the woman she was speaking with had once been the crown princess of the mean girls of her graduating high school class. He ignored her and went straight for Libby.
“Couldn’t find you,” he said, barging right into her space and taking her into his arms. He didn’t hesitate, he held her tight while he devoured her mouth, kissing her in a way that should only be done in the bedroom. Then he took the kiss down a notch, moving over her lips more slowly before pulling away just enough to drop a couple of pecks on her lips.
“Well!” the woman said. “I thought you two weren’t an item any longer.”
Travis didn’t look away from Libby. He continued looking into her eyes while he answered the little bitch he’d always hated and resented for looking down on everyone. “Always together, even when we’re not. Never loved anyone but Libby, and never will.”
“You ready, my love?” he asked, slipping an arm around her waist and turning to guide her out of the aisle.
Libby looked up at him, stunned completely speechless.
“I see you got a cart full of lights. Planning to decorate the house, too?” he asked.
Libby nodded, still looking up at him.
“Cool. Let’s see what else we can find,” he said, leaving the former mean girl behind them, not even an afterthought.
Chapter 7
Maia was putting away the leftovers after dinner. They’d eaten right away as soon as Riley got home, thinking no one else would be coming, but a voice calling out to her, let her know they’d thought wrong.
“Riley? Maia?”
“In here, Lucas!” Maia answered, pausing in putting the gumbo pot in the refrigerator to place it back on the stove instead. “Riley is upstairs bathing the kids, and getting them tucked in.”
Lucas walked into the kitchen with a look on his face like someone had kicked his puppy.
“You okay?” Maia asked.
“Yeah,” he said, his voice indicating his solemn state of mind.
“You don’t sound okay,” Maia said.
“I’m alright. I’m just a little down,” Lucas said.
“How about some gumbo?” Maia offered.
“Gumbo? Yeah, I could eat. I can wait ‘til ya’ll have dinner though,” he said.
“We ate early. I didn’t think anybody else was coming,” Maia said, walking over to the cabinet to take out a deep soup bowl.
“I can run over to the diner, or have a sandwich at home,” Lucas said hurriedly, not wanting to impose.
“Sit down, Lucas! You know I cook enough for eight of ya’ll each time I cook,” Maia scolded.
“I don’t want to be any trouble, Reigna,” Lucas said.
“Good. Then sit down,” she snapped. Maia filled the bowl with gumbo and rice, then placed it in the microwave before taking several hunks of buttered French bread out of the refrigerator and placing them in the microwave for the last few seconds to warm them, too. She placed the bread and the gumbo in front of Lucas who’d sat in his usual spot. Then she handed him a spoon and took a seat across from him.
“So, what has you so down?” she asked.
Lucas spooned up a bite of gumbo and moaned appreciatively. “Oh, man. This is so good,” he remarked.
“Thanks. Now, why are you so down?” she repeated.
“No reason in particular,” he lied.
Maia called him on it. “Lie,” she said simply.
Lucas’s eyes snapped up to meet her gaze. Slowly a grin formed on his perfect, pouty lips.
“It’s not a big deal. It’ll pass,” he said.
“I’m sure it will. Especially since she’s not your mate,” Maia said.
“Some species don’t know a mate on sight. They choose their mate, and become addicted to them over time,” Lucas said.