Coming Home to Texas. Victoria Chancellor
been in a town without several hotels and motels—and had certainly never thought about staying in one for a couple of days while Travis digested the fact that he was going to be a father.
“Jodie?”
She swung her legs off the bed, feeling a little light-headed when she stood. She steadied herself with a hand on the nightstand just as the door swung open.
“What’s wrong?” Travis’s voice showed his genuine concern and, for a moment, she wanted to once again have him hold her. She heard him stride quickly across the room, but didn’t risk looking up. She didn’t want to make herself any more dizzy than she already felt.
“I got up too quickly. Nothing to worry about.”
“Are you sure? Have you been to the doctor yet?”
“Yes and yes. I’m sure I just need to eat a bite.” She probably had been overdoing it a bit, flying from coast to coast, then stopping in Texas. Not to mention the stress of facing Travis and breaking the news so abruptly.
“Good, because I came to tell you that dinner’s ready. It’s not fancy, but maybe that’s best on your first day here. You can get some more rest after we eat.”
“I’m not that fragile, Travis,” she claimed, rising to her full five-foot-eleven height. Even then, she wasn’t eye level with him. She liked a big, tall man. She didn’t like to think she was superficial, but she didn’t date shorter, slightly built men because they made her look huge in comparison. With her height and generally “sturdy” and athletic build, she preferred a man she could look up to.
“Yes, but you are pregnant. And based on what you told me last month, I’m sure your schedule has been a little hectic lately. A few days in the Texas Hill Country is just what you need to relax.”
What she needed was a husband, but she didn’t say that out loud. She was certain Travis would come to the same conclusion…hopefully very soon.
“I am hungry, and I’m glad we’re not going out. I’ve eaten every meal in a restaurant with my agent, publicist or executives for potential endorsement deals for the past five days, and I could really use a night off.”
“Good. Well, I’ll leave you to freshen up. Come down to the kitchen whenever you’re ready.”
Jodie nodded, then added, “Thanks for understanding about my schedule, Travis, but just so you’re clear, I don’t have days to lie around the Hill Country. I have decisions to make.”
“You’ve already decided to have this baby, right?”
“Yes. That isn’t up for discussion.”
“Good, because I don’t want to argue about that.”
She nodded again. At least Travis wasn’t the type to suggest she make this “little problem” go away.
Within a few minutes she’d splashed water on her face, brushed her hair and dabbed on a little lip gloss. There was no reason to appear glamorous when she didn’t need to pose for the cameras. Besides, Travis had seen her many times over their one weekend together without makeup. Or without clothes, for that matter.
He’d just never seen her pregnant and desperate enough to ask a man she’d known for only three days to marry her.
What if he didn’t say yes?
Chapter Two
“So I hear you have a very attractive lady visitor,” Hank McCauley taunted on the phone line.
Travis ground his teeth and silently wished his friend a slow and painful injury.
“Not that it’s any of your business,” he replied, glancing toward the second-floor hallway that wrapped around the great room like a balcony. He hoped Jodie didn’t walk in on him having this conversation. “She’s my guest, so butt out.”
“Hey, I heard she came into the Four Square Café looking for directions to your ranch. It’s not my fault most of your friends and neighbors were there to gawk.”
“I’ll bet you were gawking most of all.”
“I don’t gawk at other women much since Lady Wendy and I tied the knot.”
“Too bad she didn’t put a zipper on your mouth.”
Hank chuckled. “She likes my mouth way too much to mess with any modifications.”
Travis rolled his eyes. Hank could be completely outrageous. They’d known each other since their freshman year at the University of Texas. Hank had later dropped out to pursue his rodeo career, but Travis had gone on to get his master’s degree in architectural design. They’d lost touch for a few years while Hank was on the circuit. Now they were neighbors and best friends again.
Although, Travis reminded himself, with friends like that, he didn’t need any enemies. The gossip mill at the café would be going full steam for several days.
For at least as long as Jodie stayed in town. Alone with him at his ranch.
“So who else were you jawin’ with downtown?” He glanced at the clock over the wet bar. “It’s too late for lunch.”
“There was another meeting of the Fourth of July committee, which lasted longer than usual. They’re getting an early start this year, planning a big parade and celebration. So yeah, basically everyone was down here and talking about you and Jodie Marsh.”
“I suppose they all know by now who she is.”
“Yep. Very intriguing. Of course, I had to tell them I played a role in getting you two fixed up over in Europe.”
“Prince Alexi did most of the ‘fixing up,’ if I remember correctly.” Travis, Hank and his wife, Lady Gwendolyn, and Carole and Greg Rafferty had visited Prince Alexi and Princess Kerry—a former Ranger Springs native and Carole’s sister—along with the new little prince Alexander, in Belegovia in January. The country was building a new cultural center and wanted Travis to design the facility. That’s where he’d been when the lot of them had arranged a blind date in Monte Carlo with Jodie, whom Alexi knew through their charitable activities.
A date that had quickly turned into a passionate weekend.
“Heck, Travis, you’re the best entertainment we’ve got since most of us are married now. We’re depending on you for a little controversy.”
“Well, just leave it alone, okay? When I’m ready to tell you snoops anything, I’ll give you a call.”
“Tell us anything? Like what? Don’t tell me the blind date got really serious. Not with Travis the Confirmed Bachelor Whitaker!”
“I’m not telling you anything. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’ve got a meal to prepare for a lady.”
“Cooking for her, too. That does sound serious.”
Travis started to hang up the phone, but Hank shouted, “Wait! Wendy wants you and Jodie to come for dinner Wednesday night. Seven o’clock, okay?”
Travis sighed. He supposed the social engagement was necessary, even if he wasn’t ready to share Jodie with his friends and neighbors. “All right. See you tomorrow.”
“Anyone I know?” Jodie’s sexy, husky voice tore his thoughts away from his friends and neighbors and back to the woman who had just complicated his life. Not that she’d done it all alone. No, he’d participated very actively.
“Just Hank McCauley. He’s as nosy as coon dog on the first day of hunting season.”
“I thought he was nice.”
“You just don’t know him well.”
“He’s a good friend of yours, isn’t he?”
“The jury’s still out on that one,”