Christmas with My Cowboy by Diana Palmer

Author:Diana Palmer
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Kensington
Published: 2017-08-02T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter Four

Travis turned, sensing Kass coming across the living room. She had tried to clean up, her black hair, once mussed, now in soft waves around her pale face and shoulders. Each step she took was slow and measured. He could see she still didn’t have her balance back. Kass would reach out and trail her fingers across the back of a chair or the couch, keeping them available should she start to fall.

Why hadn’t she asked him for help? That hurt, but Travis thought he knew why: He’d made it clear that she wasn’t wanted in his world at all. Was it possible for a heart to hurt so much as it did right now in his chest? Sorrow ate at him. He quickly dried off his hands, dropped the towel on the counter, and walked toward the rectangular hickory dining room table and four chairs that surrounded it.

“I’ll get there,” Kass promised, grit in her tone, forcing a tight, wan smile.

“Let me help.” He came to her side, slipping his hand beneath her right elbow. “You should have asked me for help, Kass.”

She gave him a slanted look. “Hey, after being dumped on the step of the fire department shortly after birth, I got it, Travis.”

“You’re very independent,” he agreed gently, cutting his steps to half his stride. She leaned into his hand and he felt gratified that even now, Kass trusted him. She should. But he didn’t deserve her trust because he’d broken it too many times already. “And that’s not a bad way for a woman to be today,” he added.

“You’re right.”

Reaching the table, he pulled out the chair for her. “Have a seat. I’ll get the coffee in a minute. Do you like cream or sugar?”

“No, just black, thanks.” She slowly sat down in the chair. “I guess I’m not as spunky feeling as I thought I should be.”

He helped her slide the chair closer to the table and forced himself to remove his hand from it. “A good night’s sleep will make you feel a lot better tomorrow morning,” he promised, going to the kitchen.

Kass’s face was pale. Her eyes were still filled with darkness. Her steps had been hesitant and unsure. How much he wanted to hold her, cradle her gently in his arms and allow her to lean on him. Travis knew he could make her feel better. But to what end? To do it after he’d informed her she wasn’t needed in his life any longer would be cruel. And uncaring. No, he had to keep his hands to himself and be the model gentleman to her. That was all.

As he poured the coffee into two turquoise-colored ceramic mugs, he wanted to spoil her. Care for her. Make her smile. Needing, once again, to hear her laughter. She had a musical laugh and her eyes sparkled at such times. Travis wanted all of that to be shared with him. But he’d seen the shadows in her eyes and sensed that she was trying to be a good guest in this terribly awkward circumstance they found themselves in.

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