The front door opened and Scotty stuck his head out. His eyes widened at finding Travis and Libby sitting on the front porch having coffee in the early morning. “Wow. I think I’m dreaming,” he said.
Travis chuckled.
“You’re not dreaming. I came over to help get all the decorations done and the baking started,” Libby said.
“Yeah, but you’re both sitting there — being nice to each other,” Scotty teased.
“We can be nice,” Libby said defensively, but with a smile on her face.
“Yes, we can,” Travis answered, standing up and being careful to get his balance on his prosthetic. “ I need another coffee. You?” he asked Libby, holding out his hand for her mug.
“That’d be great,” she said, handing him her cup.
“I’m gonna grab something to eat, then I have to get to school,” Scotty said, disappearing back inside the house.
Moments later Travis was back with their second cups of coffee, and had taken his seat next to Libby again. “This is nice, isn’t it?” he asked.
“It is. I could get used to this being a morning ritual,” Libby said.
Travis smiled, but made a mental note to have coffee ready for her and her favorite blanket ready for her to snuggle in every time she was at his house.
About ten minutes later the front door opened again and Scotty walked out of it with his book bag slung over his shoulder. “Okay. Who’s bringing me to school?” he asked.
“You can take the truck,” Travis said on impulse.
“Really?! I can?!” he asked, getting excited.
“Yep,” Travis answered.
“It doesn’t have a heater. Here,” she said, fishing in the pocket of her jeans. “Take my jeep. I’ll be here all day long anyway. At least this way you’ll be warm.”
“Libby, you don’t have to loan me your jeep,” Scotty said.
“Of course I do. Can’t have you driving around like a Popsicle when there’s a jeep with a perfectly good heater just sitting here all day not being used.”
Scotty glanced over to Travis who grinned at him and nodded.
“Thanks, Libs!” Scotty said, hugging her and kissing her cheek.
“You’re welcome. Be careful,” she said.
“I’ll text when I get to school so you won’t worry,” he said.
“Alright. See ya later,” Libby said, smiling at his exuberance as he rushed toward her jeep.
After they watched Scotty drive away, Libby turned and watched Travis as he sat beside her looking out over his property. He was a beautiful male. Dark, wavy brown hair with streaks of auburn in it that fell loosely to just below his shoulders. A strong, square jaw, long lashes that matched his hair and high cheekbones. He had a natural olive complexion that gave him the appearance of always having been in the sun. His shoulders were wide and body and limbs muscular and thick.
Travis felt her watching him and turned to look at her.
The minute his bright green eyes met hers, Libby felt her insides quiver. He was so beautiful, so powerful, and yet so fragile at the same time. He’d been through hell to find himself, but it seemed, that maybe, just maybe, he had.
“You okay?” he asked her.
“Yeah. You?” Libby asked.
“Better every day. So, want to cut the shapes out of wood first? We’ll do the arches first, then you can get them painted and let them start drying. I’ll keep cutting as you keep painting. Before you know it, it’ll all be done and we can run the lights and put up the decorations.”
“Sounds like a plan,” Libby said, standing up. “I’ll put the blanket back in the house, then we can go.”
“Alright. Give me your cup and I’ll top it off for you. We’ll take them with us,” Travis said.
“Thanks,” Libby answered, handing him the cup and then following him inside.
Travis watched through the opening where the breakfast bar separated the kitchen from the living room, as she folded the blanket she’d been using and placed it on the back of the recliner, then looked around the living room. “Nothing’s really changed,” she said.
Travis forced his eyes from admiring her body to look around the room. “No, it’s the same. I haven’t even noticed until now.”
Libby wandered here and there, touching pieces that she remembered from all the time she’d spent there as she grew up. “I always loved all the little things your mother collected.”
“She liked showing them to you, too,” Travis said.
Libby nodded.
“Okay,” Travis said, walking out of the kitchen, “we ready to go to the workshop?” he asked.
“You mind if I use your restroom first?” Libby asked, turning to face him.
“Libby, this place is as much yours as it is mine or Scotty’s. You don’t have to ask to use the restroom. You know where it is,” Travis said.
Libby didn’t say anything, but she offered him a shaky smile as she walked toward the hallway on the far side of the living room.
“You know what? You might want to use mine. I haven’t been in Scotty’s in a while and I can’t be sure he’s cleaned it lately,” Travis said.
Libby laughed then. “You know? I think I’ll take you up on it. I’ll use yours,” she said, changing direction and going into the master bedroom and then into the master bath.
Travis stood where he was, both coffee mugs in hand, watching his mate enter his bedroom. It did something to a male to allow his female unfettered access to his sanctuary. Made him realize that it felt right. That she was exactly where she belonged. He thought about her long dark hair, pulled up in a messy bun, and her big, chocolate brown eyes framed with lashes so long they curled. He thought about her soft, curved body, and the way it felt beneath him. He loved looking down into her eyes as she leaned against him and looked up at him. She wasn’t short. She was 5’6”, but he was 6’2” tall, so she was shorter than he was.
Travis felt himself begin to become aroused at the thought of touching her. He remembered every touch, every scent, every taste. And he tortured himself with those memories nightly. He walked back into the kitchen and set the mugs on the counter top. “Fuck me,” he said quietly, scrubbing a hand down his face, before shaking his head vigorously to try to get himself under control.
A couple of minutes later Libby was back, slipping her arms back into her coat. “You ready?” she asked.
“Yep. Here’s your coffee,” he said. “You feel like a bite to eat yet?”
“No, but if you do…” she answered.
“Nah, I’d rather wait for lunch,” Travis said.
“Let’s go then,” she said, walking out on the porch. Libby faced away from the door, taking a deep breath. She’d given in to her curiosity and poked around the bathroom while she was in there. She’d found her favorite body wash and shampoo in his shower. Though they weren’t together anymore, he still bought the same brand of body wash and shampoo that she used. It had made her tear up, and gave her the warm fuzzies as she called those feelings you got when you realized someone was hanging onto you in any way they could.
Travis came to a standstill beside her. “You ready?”