Finding Refuge Read Online Free Page B

cooler against his chest until he
took it from her.
    Travis followed Rachel inside to the open kitchen area,
where Andri knelt on the wood floor, smoothing out an old blue blanket. She
looked up, glanced from him to Rachel, her brows rising in some unspoken
question.
    Rachel hitched her thumb at him. “Company for lunch.” She
took the cooler from him as Andri’s gaze connected with his. For a moment, she
hesitated, her expression unreadable. Then she smiled, and his knees went a
little weak. He grinned back. Damn, she was so pretty. And that smile pulled at
him, hard, making him fight to remember why she was supposed to be off limits.
    Travis lowered himself to the floor across from Andri as
Rachel dug in the cooler, handing him plates and forks. He set one of each in
front of her, then reached out, offering a set to Andri. “I wasn’t expecting to
see you on the job.”
    “I’m becoming quite an efficient little helper.” She took
the plate, her fingertips grazing his knuckles, sending awareness zinging
through his hand, up his arm, coursing through him. Man, he was on really thin
ice if he got a thrill from a tiny touch like that.
    Rachel nodded, handing Andri a bowl of potato salad. “You
are a good helper, and I like bossing you around.”
    Andri giggled, and the rich, textured sound poured through
him, burning into his stomach. Yep, he had it right the first time he saw her.
Kryptonite. This was a woman who could strip him to the core without even trying.
He turned his attention to filling his plate. He needed a change of subject,
had to focus on something, anything besides Andromeda Miller. “Rach, how did
your parents enjoy their anniversary cruise?”
    “Loved it. If they could afford to spend retirement on a
ship full time, they probably would.”
    He laughed. “Sounds like Uncle Mac. I haven’t seen your
brother in months. Is he still working on his degree?”
    She shook her head. “Nah, he didn’t have enough time for it.
I don’t think Ian will go back to school for real until his ski career is over.
He’s been smart with his race winnings, plus he doesn’t pay rent, so he can be
a bum for a few years, even if it all ended tomorrow. He’s such a brat.”
    Andri said, “Doesn’t that drive your parents crazy, watching
Ian play for a living?”
    Rachel reached for chicken leg, a broad smile on her face.
“Oh, it might look like he plays, but he works incredibly hard just to stay in
fighting shape.”
    The three of them talked lightly through lunch, discussing
the weather, sports scores, world news. Finally, Rachel stood up, leaving her
empty plate on the blanket. “Back to work for me, but don’t you two run off on
my account.” She walked away, taking the stairs up to the next floor two at a
time.
    Travis took a deep breath as Rachel left, steadying the
sudden staccato beat of his heart. What was left of his appetite vanished the
moment he found himself alone with Andri. She set her own plate aside as he
watched her. For a moment, she looked down at her hands, pressed against her knees,
then she started cleaning up, stacking the plates and replacing everything in
the cooler.
    He couldn’t stop himself. “How long are you going to be
here, visiting Rachel?”
    She shrugged. “I’m not sure. A few weeks, maybe.” She stood and
waved him off the blanket. When he got to his feet, she picked up the blanket
and folded it. “I’m sort of on vacation. Figuring some things out, you know?”
    The grainy quality in her low voice touched something
primal, deep inside him, hooking him, and for a moment, he wasn’t sure he
remembered why he should be fighting this attraction. “Would you have dinner
with me tonight, Andri?”
    Her eyes met his then, wide, turbulent. He got the distinct
impression she was sifting her thoughts, making a measured decision. Then the
turbulence cleared and she smiled. “I’d love to. What time?”
    Travis broke into a grin. “Great, uh, six-thirty? I’ll pick
you