A Winter Sabbatical (Books We Love holiday romance) Read Online Free Page B

though it was an inconvenience that she had to
abide.
    He was incredulous! What the hell was she
hiding? What was it that made her life a misery? That was eating her up inside?
    He looked at her, stared her in the face.
Watched her fight her emotions and pull herself together.
    She might fool herself, but she sure wasn’t
fooling him.
    “That’s a cop-out and we both know it.” Travis
reached out and took both her hands in his. He lowered his voice and leaned in
closer. “Why won’t you talk about it? Get it out of your system. You’ll feel
better, I know you will.” As he lifted her hands and kissed them lightly, a
tiny shiver wracked his body. He had to make her feel better, rid her of this curse. The thing
that made her so incredibly unhappy.
    Marissa shook her head and Travis knew it
was fruitless to push her further.
    “Okay, come on then. I’ll drive you home.”
He reached for his car keys. “If you really want to get your office set up,
I’ll come over tomorrow and help you.” She didn’t answer, so he continued. “I
should have done that today. Why didn’t you ask me?”
    She simply stared at him, as though she
didn’t know what to say.
    When she shrugged her shoulders, then
studied the floor, Travis decided to make a joke of it. “Oh, I know, you wanted
an excuse to get me to come back, right?”  
    Marissa punched him lightly on the arm.
“You big lug!” she said as she wrapped her arms around him. “Thanks, Travis.”
    “For what?”
    She looked up into his face. “For just being here.”

 
    ***

 
    Marissa was silent during the drive home. Travis
glanced across and noticed the quiver of her bottom lip. He could see unshed
tears glistening in the limited light, but made no comment. Instead, he held
her hand, and gently squeezed it.
    Marissa glanced at him, but still said
nothing. He watched as she brushed at her cheeks with the back of her hand.
    In his mind, he went over and over the
events of the day; their traumatic meeting, working side-by-side in a
companionable silence, and later, snuggled up together by the fire. That was by
far the best part, until...
    For the first time in his life, Travis had
found someone he cared about. Really cared about.
    It wasn’t about lust, or even togetherness.
Even after one day he knew this was a person he could come to love. Maybe even
spend the rest of his life with.
    But this thing, whatever it was eating her
up, could destroy their relationship before it began.
    He had no intention of losing her now that
fate had finally thrown them together.
    This was going to take some time; probably
a lot of time, and plenty of patience.
    He could do that. He would do that. He wasn’t prepared to lose Marissa. Had no intention of losing her. He would be there for the
long haul.
    Travis silently pulled into her driveway.

 
 

 
 
 
 
    Chapter Two

 
 
    Marissa opened the front door with a sense
of trepidation as Travis approached. She was feeling embarrassed about her
behavior the night before. Travis leaned forward and brushed a light kiss on
her lips, taking her by surprise.
    “Would you like some coffee?” Marissa tried
to ignore his actions.
    Travis shrugged his shoulders and chuckled.
“Coffee would be wonderful.” He followed her into the kitchen and helped
prepare the coffee. “So what’s on the agenda? Just the office, or do you have some little surprises planned?”
    Marissa smiled at him. “No,
just the office. I really appreciate your help, Travis. I was going to
ring someone to come out. Are you sure you can spare the time? I don’t mind
really, if you can’t.”
    Travis frowned. “Of course I don’t mind, I
wouldn’t have offered if I couldn’t. Anyway, you planned it this way, so I’d
come back, remember?” Another chuckle, a broad smile.
    “Oh yes, I forgot. Silly me!” laughed
Marissa, as she began to pour the coffee.
    Cup in hand, Travis followed her into the
office, and they stood in the doorway surveying