Stacked Up: Worth the Fight Series (10 page)

Travis, who had had a smile on his face, glared at the man, his smile instantly gone. “I’m very familiar with Penny,” Travis growled, his eyes locked on Penny. He pulled her by the arm. “You ready to go, momma?”

“Oh, shit. Sorry, man. Didn’t mean anything by it. I didn’t know you were together.”

Penny began to say, “We’re not—”

But Travis interrupted, saying to the man, “Now you know.”

“Let me go grab my purse.” She walked around the bar just as Olivia was finishing up with some customers.

“You and Travis, huh?” Olivia asked quietly.

“Kind of just friends,” she answered. But her voice reflected the fact that she wasn’t even sure herself what the heck they were to each other.

“Doesn’t look that way to me,” Olivia said, and nodded over to where Travis stood waiting. “The man looks like he wants to show every single man here that you’re taken.”

“Oh, don’t be ridiculous. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

“Bye, honey. You did good today.”

“Olivia.” Travis tipped his hat toward the other bartender. “Gentlemen. See you around.” Then he took Penny’s hand and led her out of Ruby’s, slipping the baseball caps back on both their heads.

When they were out of Ruby’s and by his truck, he turned her around. “Let me look at you, sugar.”

She felt her skin warm as he examined her. “Love this,” he said, lightly touching the torn material of her shirt. “The hair…it’s different, but you look nice. Don’t like that red shit on your lips, though. I told you that you looked sexy and didn’t need to do all this, but damn, you look good.”

She touched her lips and frowned. “You don’t like the lipstick?” She didn’t particularly like it either, but that didn’t mean he needed to tell her.

“You’re too nice for that,” he said, kissing her cheek. “Plus, I want to kiss you, but with that shit on your mouth I can’t without getting it on both of us. Not that I care much, but I don’t think you want to go home with your skin all stained like that.”

That was sort of sweet and sort of not, she thought. But that was Travis: sweet and crass. Once inside the truck, she pulled out a baby wipe from her purse and began to wipe her lips. “How was Belle?”

“Good. We watched two princess movies and then she fell asleep.”

“Oh, good. So, no problems?”

“None. Violet might move in just to spend time with her, though,” Travis said, and Penny laughed. Then he added, “You hungry, momma? You had a long night.”

“Nah, I’m okay.”

“How did it go?”

“Really well. Everyone was very nice and friendly. I hate to think of all the things I missed out on because of my strict upbringing and preconceived beliefs.”

“What do you mean?”

“I was home-schooled, so my friends were all from a world like mine. The books, music, and television I saw and heard had to be approved first. My world was very small until I left it altogether. Now I’m realizing everything isn’t black and white.”

“No, there’s definitely gray.”

She took his hand, the one that held the gearshift, and kissed his wrist where a colorful tattoo ended. “Yes, there’s gray. But more than that, I’m learning that there’s a whole palette of colors out there. Something for everyone’s taste, and none of it is particularly right or wrong, just different.”

“And you’re liking different?”

“I am. I feel like I’m seeing everything for the first time. It’s kind of overwhelming sometimes, and a little scary, but all my experiences have been positive. I’m glad that Belle will be raised with her eyes open. Protected, of course, but open to lots of different experiences. She can make educated decisions when she’s an adult—unlike me, whose life was decided for me.”

He looked out the window for a moment, and then pulled his hand away from her and put it back on the gearshift. “Not all experiences are good, darlin’. It ain’t smart to wear rose-colored glasses. There’s bad people out there.”

“I know that. I’m not stupid. In fact, maybe the bad people are the ones I was living with. Lawrence and whatever it is he and Kip have up their sleeves, that’s scary. You, even with all your tattoos, your cursing—you’re not scary.”

“I’m scary, Penny. You don’t know me well enough to say that yet.”

“You took me and my daughter into your home. You drove me to work, you picked me up. You’re a good man, Travis.”

They sat at a red light in silence. After a moment he turned to her, leaned over, and pressed his lips to hers. She moved toward him and parted her lips, and the kiss became more intense. He fisted her hair and she grabbed at his shirt, his hat falling off at some point. She bit his bottom lip and he squeezed the back of her neck. He pulled away first.

“You’re playing with fire, sugar,” he cautioned as he drove to his house.

“Why’s that?”

“Because I don’t want to give you the wrong idea. I want you, not gonna lie. But I ain’t cut out to be much more than that—than sex. Maybe a boyfriend. But not a daddy and not a husband. You’re too good for this shit, sugar. And then you do that—you kiss like you want to kiss me. Really kiss me and just me. And it doesn’t fade. All your kisses seem to get more intense. Like you could spend hours exploring my mouth.”

“I could.”

“We’re supposed to be taking it slow. I need to figure shit out and so do you.”

“You’re right.”

He parked, jumped out, and went around to help her out. From behind her, he whispered, “Except sometimes slow is good, I reckon. You, all drowsy from sleep, your hair all over the place, naked, in my bed. And then I just slide on home and fuck you nice and slow. You wouldn’t know if you’re dreaming.”

She closed her eyes and groaned. “Travis, you really have to stop talking like this.”

He adjusted his jeans. “You see what I mean? I’m fucked up in the head. Stay away from me, because I sure as shit don’t know how I’m gonna stay away from you.”

The next morning, Travis woke up to a strange sound coming from his normally quiet house.

Laughter.

Giggles, actually.

Since he normally slept naked, he grabbed a pair of gym shorts and padded out of his room and toward the noise.

It was like a punch in the solar plexus. His home life growing up had been rough, to put it mildly. He couldn’t think of a single good memory of his mother. Therefore the sight in front of him was completely unusual to him. Penny stood in his kitchen, wearing big black-rimmed glasses and an ugly T-shirt, with her brown hair in a big knot on top of her head. She looked so young with a spatula in her hand, flipping pancakes while singing softly to her daughter. He couldn’t help but find it kind of funny too. The woman couldn’t sing “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star” to save her life.

“Momma, you might just be the worst singer ever,” he said teasingly. She stopped dead and shifted to look at him, pushing her glasses up her nose.

“Did we wake you? I am so sorry. The house is so big, I didn’t think you could hear—”

“Relax,” he said, reaching into the refrigerator. “Orange juice?”

“No, we’re good, thanks. I’m making pancakes, and there are some eggs already ready in the oven. Also, I saw those tubes of biscuits, and I baked them. I hope that’s okay.”

He laughed. “Yeah, that’s okay. I think it’s a safe bet that anything you cook will be okay.”

“That’s what I figured. Eating is, after all, your favorite pastime.”

He popped an entire biscuit into his mouth. “You and I both know that eating isn’t my favorite pastime. Well, maybe eating. But not food.” He raised an eyebrow flirtatiously.

Her cheeks turned bright red, and he realized he’d crossed a line. “Shit. Sorry.” Then he winced and covered his mouth. “Damn it. Sorry about the cursing too.”

“This is your house, Travis. You’re being nice enough to let us stay the night. Don’t feel censored. Say whatever you want. I’m used to it—you’ve been inappropriate since we met.” She reached into the oven, took out a cast-iron pan, and began to portion out the eggs. “Is it weird that I never found your inappropriateness uncomfortable? I know I would’ve with anyone else.” She looked up at the ceiling as if she was thinking.

“That’s ’cause you liked me and were hoping to get all sorts of inappropriate and naked with me.” He winked.

“Maybe. But now it’s a little weird since…well…you know.”

“Since we’ve actually been naked together and aren’t for the time being? Yes, I know. I’ll try to control my mouth.” He took another biscuit and turned to her daughter, who was sitting in her new car seat on top of the table. “So, little girl, where you going so early?”

Penny looked over her shoulder. “I didn’t have a place to put her. Didn’t want to open the stroller and didn’t want her crawling all over the house.”

“Why not?”

“She likes to touch everything.”

“So? It’s not like I’ve got fine china lying around. Let her out. Poor kid’s stuck in a car seat.” He grabbed one of the little girl’s toes, causing her to giggle. “Oh, look, she likes that.”

“She’s really ticklish,” Penny said as she placed a plate piled high with food in front of him, then took her daughter out of the car seat and sat her on her lap. “Okay, Belle, open up,” she coaxed, holding a spoonful of eggs.

He probably should’ve bought her a high chair, he realized, but it hadn’t occurred to him.

“So what’s the plan today?” he asked.

“After breakfast, if it’s okay with you, may I borrow your phone or computer or something? I want to check things online. Then, depending on what I find, I’ll take it from there.”

“So the plan is no plan.”

“Something like that. I guess it depends on what I find online.”

“The only thing you need to worry about is your safety.”

“And Belle’s,” she added.

“Yeah, and the kid’s.” He looked down at the little girl, who had finished eating and was now pulling her mother’s hair. “I have an iPad docked in the living room. Have at it.”

“Thank you.” She walked to the living room to get it and then sat back down in the kitchen with him as she turned it on.

“I’m going to the Academy when I’m done eating. You think you’ll be good here while I’m gone?”

“Yes.” She looked up at him. “I guess I’ll just watch television or something. I haven’t had nothing to do in a long time.”

“There’s a pool. Use it.”

“Really?” Her face lit up.

“Of course. Let the kid out of the house. Fresh air will do you both some good,” he said. He took a last bite and pushed the empty plate away. “This was really good.”

“I’m glad you liked it.” She smiled, then turned her attention to the iPad. “Oh no!”

Travis read over her shoulder.

M
ISSING
P
REACHER’S
D
AUGHTER
S
EEN
M
AKING
O
UT IN THE
M
IDDLE OF THE
N
IGHT WITH
C
AGE
F
IGHTER AND
B
AD
B
OY
T
RAVIS
C
ALHOUN

Local celebrity Travis “Texas” Calhoun has been spotted dating Penelope Richards, daughter of renowned preacher Kip Owens. Penelope grew up on television alongside her father as the cameras rolled weekly to film his sermons for over five million weekly followers. Penelope is dearly beloved by her father’s community, and the community as well as her father are finally at peace that she has been found. There’s speculation about drug use or cult activity. More information as to where she’s—

Travis turned off the iPad. “We already knew this, right? Nothing to get upset about.”

“Kip will be here any minute now, and I’m worried that Lawrence will come back for Belle and—”

“Darlin’, stop. You’re spiraling. Don’t think about it until we have to think about it. You’re in my home, and there’s a big gate out front. No one will get in here. Kip hasn’t even called. If you see Lawrence again, you’re going to pick up the phone and call me. For today, just hang out here, okay? Try not to think about shit.”

It was as if the world was moving all around her at hyperspeed and she was slogging through molasses. The words he said were making it into her ears but were not being processed.

“Momma, you with me? You want me to stay home with you today? I can stay. Don’t mind.”

She shook her head in order to get her brain moving again. “No. No! I’m okay. I’m fine.”

“You sure? How about if you call Violet and ask her to come over? I’m sure you and the kid could use a friend.”

“Her name is Belle. And thank you, Travis, but I’ll be fine.”

While Travis finished up in the kitchen, Penny’s phone rang. “Hello?”

“Hi, Penny, it’s Olivia.”

Olivia? From work?
Penny thought. “Uh…hi, Olivia. How are you?”

“I’m good, actually. Joe just gave me the day off. It’s been a while since I’ve had the day off, but my husband has to work. And anyway, you seemed in need of friends, since you’re new to town and all. So I thought maybe you’d like to come over with your daughter. Maybe get in the pool.”

“Oh…uh. Wow. That’s…” She was so surprised. “That’s very sweet of you, Olivia. Does everyone in this town have a pool?” she said with a nervous laugh.

“It’s the pool here at the apartment complex, and it’s so refreshing.”

Travis was standing next to Penny trying to listen in on the conversation, and he was gesturing something. “Olivia, can you hold on for a second?” Penny muted the phone. “What?”

“With all the shit that’s been going on, I’d feel better if you didn’t leave. Why don’t you have her come over? You can hang out in the pool.”

“I hardly know her. Plus, you don’t want more kids in your house,” she whispered.

“I’ve known Olivia for years. This is a small town. And I don’t care about having more kids here.”

“You sure?”

“I won’t even be here, and I really don’t mind. The company’d be good for you. Plus, it’ll give me peace of mind.”

“Olivia?” she said once the phone was back on her ear. “How about you come over here to Travis’s house instead? I don’t have a car, and it’s hard for me to get around.”

“That works for me. Text me his address,” she said. “This’ll be fun. My daughter could use a little friend. See ya soon.”

After Penny hung up, she flashed him a smile. “You’re a good man, Travis.” She leaned up and kissed his cheek, then took the plate from his hand.

“You keep sayin’ that, I’m going to start believing it.”

“That may just be the point, cowboy. Go get ready. I’ll pick up. Don’t worry.”

“ ’Kay. Thanks. See you later, then.” He gave her a quick kiss on the lips and headed out, feeling oddly domestic. A feeling that he was surprisingly okay with, even though it was combined with a chest-tightening feeling of dread. He wanted to both protect this woman and push her away. He wasn’t good enough for her or her kid, but he didn’t want anyone there in his stead. What if he messed this up somehow and the kid ended up all sorts of fucked up because of him?