The Best Bride

He laughed and she joined him. It felt good to be with Travis like this. He turned toward her, angling one knee across the bench. His position moved them a little apart, but now she could see his face.

He looked good by porch light, she thought, studying the way stubble darkened the hollows of his cheeks and made his eyes more mysterious. She wanted to lean close and touch him all over, relearning the body she had caressed so intimately the night before. His pleasing scent made her remember other smells and tastes, his laughter made her think of other sounds. The way he’d called her name, his voice husky with disbelief and pleasure. Her breasts grew more sensitive inside her bra; her most secret place dampened in anticipation. Desire filled her, but she kept it firmly in check.

“I had an interesting conversation with Mandy at dinner,” he said, resting his palm on her thigh.

“I thought I saw you two talking. What about?”

“Her father.”

She started to fold her arms over her chest. He grabbed her hands, pulled them down on top of his knee and held her in place. “She was telling me that a boy at school lost his parents. She assumes that they’re physically lost and won’t be able to find their way back to him. She thinks Sam is lost to her, as well.”

Elizabeth tried to ignore the soft denim of Travis’s jeans, the heat of his leg below and the warmth of his hand above hers. She tried to ignore the feeling of panic boiling to life in her belly. She’d known it would come to this with Mandy, but not yet. She wasn’t ready.

“I told her that Sam wouldn’t be able to see her again,” she said. “But I can’t explain the rest of it to her. Not yet. She’s too young.”

She dropped her head so that she could stare at her lap. No doubt Travis would disagree with her decision. She didn’t care. When she’d asked Sam to sign away the rights to see Mandy, he hadn’t even bothered to protest. He’d never been much interested in the girl. Not having him visit every few months would make it less confusing for Mandy.

“I agree,” he said, surprising her. “But I think you should be willing to let her talk about missing her father if she wants to.”

“Thanks for the advice,” she said, surprised she wasn’t irritated with his interfering.