Page 97 of The Cowboy's Unshakeable Love
“Nope. She works for me.”
“Yeah, but …”
“But nothing. I can’t afford to let the personal get in the way of the professional. Of course, I find her attractive, but I’m not looking for a girlfriend. I am, on the other hand, in desperate need of an office manager, and Shelly’s amazing in that respect. You know how long I’ve been struggling to get someone. I’ve gone through so many temps and false starts. Shelly walked in and took over. Now, it’s like she’s been there for years already. She has the office – and if I’m honest, me – running like clockwork. She’s made my life easier. I don’t want to put that at risk just because I find her attractive. It’s not as though it would go anywhere. Given my track record and …”
Travis made a face. “You don’t have a track record anymore. Have you even dated a woman more than a handful of times since the divorce?”
Trip chuckled. “No. Nor do I want to. I’m fine with keeping any relationships I have short and sweet.”
“But …”
“But nothing, bud. Yes, I enjoy spending time with Shelly, but no, I don’t intend to cross that line with her. I value her too much.”
“Okay. I’ll butt out – for now. What do you think, do you want to leave your SUV here and ride over to Deacon’s place with me? I’ll bring you back when we’re summoned to collect the girls.”
“Okay. Is that how you see it – being summoned?”
Travis laughed. “Yeah, but in the best possible way. Last time they all went out like this, Retta was more than a little tipsy when I picked her up. She chattered all the way home.”
Trip grinned at him. “It doesn’t seem like you had a problem with that.”
“Far from it, it was the beginning of her really opening up. You never know, maybe Shelly will be all chatty on the way home later.”
“Even if she is, she’ll have Libby to chat with, won’t she?”
“Yeah. I’m not giving up, though. I like the idea of you and Shelly.”
“You know I hate to disappoint you, but I told you how it is. Come on, let’s get to Deacon’s before it’s time to turn around and come back again.”
Chapter Twenty
The next morning, Retta slowly came to the surface. She’d slept like a log. She must have slept late because the sun was streaming in through the windows.
She tightened her arm around Travis’s waist and snuggled a little closer to him.
She smiled when the feel of his deep rumbly, laugh resonated through his chest.
“Mornin’, darlin’. I thought you might be asleep for a while yet.”
“Mm. I’m not sure that I’m awake.”
He wrapped his arms around her and kissed the top of her head. “Go back to sleep if you want.”
“I don’t want to, but I don’t want to move, either. I’m quite happy here – as long as you don’t need to get up.”
“I’m going nowhere.”
She closed her eyes again and let herself drift. She didn’t fall back to sleep, but she wasn’t quite awake. She was in that warm, wonderful place in between. After a while, she ran her hand over his chest. He was so warm, so solid. She loved the feel of his big body next to hers.
She was tempted to slip her hand inside his boxers, but she didn’t want to spoil the moment. She still hadn’t managed to talk him into making love to her. Now would be the perfect time, but she’d rather stay in this dreamy in-between state than try to convince him and have him turn her down.
It wasn’t as though he was turning her down completely, she understood that. But it was still a disappointment every time she started to hope that they might, and he wouldn’t.
She let out a little sigh when he ran his hand up and down her arm. He might not want to make love to her yet, but just the way he touched her made her melt.
Her eyes popped open when he slid his hand between her arm and her side, running it up and down from her hip to her ribcage. Hot waves of desire coursed through her when his thumb brushed the side of her breast.
She closed her eyes again, determined to enjoy the moment before it was over.