Second Chance Baby (Crescent Cove #18)

Chapter 18

EIGHTEEN

I didn’t know what had changed the mood with me and Travis, but I had a feeling I’d done something again. Judging from his abrupt silence, I suspected it had to do with me not telling him about the boy with Carrington when I’d picked her up the other day.

“They weren’t doing anything,” I said softly as he drove us to the gazebo at the lake where his agent had told us to meet her.

Travis glanced at me, his fingers tight on the wheel.

Okay, it was definitely about the boy. “It freaked me out, but I figured it was just one more thing I’d missed. He split after I showed up and Carrington ran to me. I’ll admit to having some uncharitable thoughts about males right then.”

“Probably led by me running off post-shoot. You must’ve assumed I intended to duck and run.”

“I honestly didn’t know. We went from no contact to… So much intense contact.” Even now, the shock of Travis’s letting me back into his life was far beyond what I expected from this trip. I’d hoped to crack open the door, and now it felt as if we were on an entirely new plane.

“I didn’t know what I was doing. I even got pulled over by my cop brother while I was freaking out.” He held up his phone. “Who apparently changed his phone number and neglected to tell our cousins. Cam has been texting me all damn morning, and now he’s calling me trying to get a hold of Christian.”

“I don’t think you ever mentioned these cousins to me. Or maybe I don’t remember them.”

He blew out a breath. “This one lives in Turnbull and him and his annoying brother, Sam, apparently got in some pissing match about whether the Cove really can get a dude hooked up and married with a kid that quick.”

“I really must have missed a lot about town while I was gone.”

“It’s an ongoing joke around here. Hell, we were definitely one of the poster children early on. We hadn’t been trying to have a kid—not that I’d change it for the world.”

“I know,” I said softly.

It had been a surprise when Bridget had gotten pregnant. Not that we’d ever been overly careful. Heat between the sheets had never been part of our problems, that was for sure.

“Then Cam asked what happened to me.”

Understanding dissipated some of the ball of anxiety I hadn’t even realized I was creating. “Because we broke up.”

“Yeah.” He released a laugh, shaking his head. “When I woke up, I was so fucking happy. Since then, it’s been downhill. My kid has a maybe-boyfriend—she’s not even eleven, for God’s sake—and oh, yeah, the Cove is the perfect couple hive, why are you the fuck up, Trav? Just wondering. Thanks, Cam.” Lightly, he hit his head against his headrest. “Hell, maybe I should change my number and not tell any of my family, either. It worked for Christian since I’m now fielding questions for him for some reason.”

My heart thundered in my head. Was I causing all of this? “Maybe you didn’t pick the right?—”

“Do not say it.” He pulled into a parking spot just past the gazebo, near the park, then turned to me. “We have been right since day one. Fucking day one.”

I swallowed down the emotion that came up so easily around him. All these careening feelings between us were obviously affecting Travis too.

“If anyone has anything to say about that, they can say it to me. Preferably today since I’m just in the mood to rip someone’s head off and chuck it in the lake.”

My sadness faded after his tirade. Now I had to keep my lips from twitching. “Um, just a tad. But maybe you should hide your attitude behind a smile until we kill this shoot? The shoot , not each other or any bystanders.”

“I was in a great fucking mood after last night.” He reached over to cup my cheek. “But Cam was right about one thing, I did make a huge mistake.”

I covered his hand. “I’m pretty sure most of the mistakes were on my end.”

“That’s not true. The fact that you had any reason to believe we weren’t going to make it forever will always be my greatest mistake. I’m going to marry you, Bridget Sheppard. Any objections?”

My lips trembled open. “Um, no.”

“But I’m going to do it right, which means it will take some time. I’m going to make sure you never doubt again how much you mean to me and Carrington.”

I reached over to grab his hand. “You realize what I want most is just what we’re doing. Making new memories with you and Care and taking advantage of every moment we have. I don’t need any big fuss.”

“Maybe I fucking do. We deserve a big fuss. Carrington deserves to see me shout from the rooftops how much I love you.”

“Do you feel like you missed out there?” I asked quietly, interlocking my fingers together.

“I do, but not because there’s some public scorecard. Just I feel like we deserved those big moments too, including a crazy engagement and wedding. That’s all. Cam just made me realize how much I missed out on.”

“Are you sure? It’s okay if you’re mad. You have every right to be. I know I didn’t handle things well. I truly do.” He tightened his hold on my hand, and it grounded me as it always did. “I’m back, and I’m ready to do the work now. No matter how long it takes. I heard you mention therapy to Care.” I swallowed deeply. “Honestly, I’m good with that. I know I could use someone to talk to.”

He glanced at me, studying me carefully. “Yeah?”

“Yeah.” I didn’t want to keep falling back on bad patterns and that meant I needed some help. “I’m willing to do anything. This is important to me, Travis. Whatever it takes.”

He reached over with his other hand to tuck back a lock of my hair. “We’ll do this shoot, then we’ll go see my mom. See what she has to say, other than that Minerva crap.”

I had to laugh. “It really isn’t that bad of a name.”

“Uh, yes, it is. She can go fish on that one. We better get out there before we add more fuel to the grapevine.”

There were quite a few cars about for midmorning in the Cove. Some people were part of the crew, some must’ve just wanted to watch. Maybe others yet wanted to see if we’d turn our respectable outdoor shoot into something…not.

We’d need to walk a couple of blocks to reach the gazebo. The day was breezy and overcast, the wind rising to skitter colorful leaves all over the sidewalk. October was turning out along the lake with trees bursting with fiery reds and soft golds. Travis walked around to my side to open my door and then he took my hand, swinging it between us as we dodged pedestrians and lookie-loos on our way past the park.

“Wow, don’t you two make a picture,” Daphne exclaimed, stopping us in the middle of the sidewalk. “Are you both good with some lifestyle shots? Rita’s rebranding her author name and looking to re-cover her lakeside small town book and when she saw your chemistry, she thought you two would be perfect for it.”

Travis stepped closer to her. “Uh, what about the first shoot?” He lowered his voice. “Wasn’t it necessary for us to reshoot some of that? Since, uh, kinda not family friendly for an autism charity calendar?”

“Actually, the graphic designer said they could work some magic and make it work for the calendar. I’m not sure you’re aware of the author drama surrounding that particular book.”

I nodded. “I’ve seen a little on social media, but I confess I’ve been a little distracted.”

“I just bet.” Daphne gave me a wink.

“ Date with Disaster is getting picked up by a publisher so they want to do their own covers and things for the future. But we have so many great shots we’re going to offer a bonus charity add-on for those who want the more risqué pictures in a blazing hot mini calendar. Just more money to the charity, so it works for us and Rita.” Daphne shrugged. “We didn’t figure you’d be too upset if you didn’t have to do reshoots.”

“Oh, we wouldn’t mind.” Travis shot me a knowing look, and my cheeks started to burn. “But we never break a contract.”

“And we want Rita to be happy with what we did. I mean, as happy as she can be. Our shoot got a bit out of hand.”

“Oh, she loved the shoot. Don’t worry about that. In fact, that was why she wanted more pictures while the weather is good. We had to move on it since you’re not local, Bridget.”

“She will be very soon. We’re going to pick up her clothing and belongings from the city this weekend, actually,” Travis announced, looking too closely at me as if he expected me to argue.

He wouldn’t hear me arguing. I had no desire to return to the city for even one more night, never mind long enough to leave him and Care.

“Yeah, I’m moving back to my hometown.” I smiled. “This is where I’m meant to be.”

“Certainly seemed that way the other day.” Daphne grinned. “Elaine will be thrilled to hear that, I’m sure. We were chatting earlier. Not sure where she’s gotten off to now.” Daphne checked the clipboard in her hand, and then she held it to her chest. “We’re going to start with some party type shots. A summer soiree in the gazebo with light refreshments, then a picnic on the grass, and then we will go from there. That work for you two?”

“Sure does.” I fluffed my hair and flashed a smile at Travis. “You good too?”

“I sure am.” He lifted my hand to his mouth. “Can’t wait to see how these turn out. And hey, maybe Penn and Rita will star in some pictures of their own too.”

“Penn and Rita?” Daphne’s brows lifted. “I saw them together at the shoot, but I didn’t realize anything was afoot. Love sure is blooming in this town, isn’t it?”

I smiled, squeezing Travis’s hand. “The magic of the Cove.”