Paradise Peak (New Americana 5)

Throat tightening, Travis set the potted plant on the floor and stepped toward her on shaky legs. “Hannah, I—”

She spun around, her eyes closed, and inhaled deeply before blurting, “I think you should move in with me.”

Travis stood motionless, absorbing her words, trying to make sense of them amid the panic surging through his veins.

Hannah opened her eyes and blew out a slow, steadying breath. “What I mean is, I have a spare bedroom in my cabin, and if I had a choice, I’d rather you move into it than someone I don’t know. And if you were to move in with me, this cabin would be available for wildfire refugees. A whole family even—if we were to put an extra cot or two in here.”

Travis studied her face, the uncertainty in her blue eyes, and the way she nibbled nervously on her lower lip.

“Please don’t say no,” she said quietly. “It’s taken me two days and the entire morning to dig up enough courage to ask.”

“You . . .” He glanced at the letters behind her, then re

focused on her earnest expression. “You want me to move into your spare room?”

She nodded, saying quietly, “It’d be nice to have you around more often. To see you first thing in the morning and last thing at night.” Her smile, small and self-conscious, trembled. “I don’t want to pressure you or make this into a big deal. I just wanted you to know that since the fire, I’ve been thinking a lot about the future and what I want out of life. I’m ready for a fresh start, and I’d like for us to get to know each other better so that maybe . . . maybe one day soon, we can both begin again. Together.” Shrugging, she gestured at the potted plant on the floor and laughed nervously. “I mean, you can even plant your lantana in my garden if you’d like. There’s a lot of sunlight there in the spring, and there’ll be plenty of room for it to grow. Like I said”—she spread her hands—“no big deal.”

Travis was afraid to speak. Afraid to move. “But what you’re suggesting—separate rooms or not—it is a big deal.”

Her shoulders slumped. She looked down and picked at her nails. “I know. That’s why I was afraid to ask.”

Travis moved closer, slid his knuckle under her chin, and gently lifted her face until her eyes met his. “Yes.”

She blinked, those beautiful blue eyes of hers fixing on his mouth. “Y-you will?”

“Yes.” He dipped his head and kissed her, parting her soft lips with his, gathering her sweet taste on his tongue, and wrapping her up so tightly in his arms that he could feel the excited pounding of her heart against his chest.

Having her in his arms again was the closest thing to heaven he could imagine.

She smiled against his mouth, her teeth bumping his bottom lip, and whispered, “Let’s move you in.”

Smiling so wide his cheeks hurt, Travis released her and laughed as she grabbed the plant from the floor.

“I know the perfect spot for this.” She spun around, her gaze straying to the desk. “And we can take the desk if you’d like.” Clutching the plant to her chest with one hand, she reached with the other for the papers. “Your papers, t—”

“Wait.” He sprang forward, gathered the letters into a pile, and folded them in half. His hands shook so badly, the papers creased unevenly. “I’ll take care of these.”

Hannah watched his hands, her eyes studying the awkward movements of his fingers as he folded the papers a second, then a third time. “Are those diary entries?”

He stilled, wanting to tell her, but also wanting so much to hold on to the moment. To hold on to Hannah and the joy of being close to her. Because he had no idea how long it would last.

“Of a sort, I suppose,” he answered slowly. “They’re private thoughts. Things I want to say but haven’t been brave enough to voice yet.”

She stared at the papers, then looked up at him, a tender smile appearing. “Will you tell me one day?”

Travis ducked his head, the papers blurring in front of him, and swallowed hard. “Yes.” After he helped revive Paradise Peak Ranch for Margaret. Because this . . . Margaret’s wishes—and Niki’s memory—came first. Before him and everyone else. Even Hannah. “One day soon.”

CHAPTER 11

Travis knelt beside the garden in front of Hannah’s cabin, spread fresh pine straw around the lantana plant, then grabbed a watering can and poured cool water around the plant’s base. The lantana’s lush green leaves and yellow blooms danced in the warm May breeze, and butterflies, feeding on the small clusters of flowers, dispersed at the disturbance, fluttering in different directions.

He grinned. “You look gorgeous, Joyful Judy. Gloria will be proud of your progress when she gets a look at you.”

Travis stood, tilted his head back, and closed his eyes. Sunlight warmed his face and the rustle of leaves mixed with the chirp of birds high in the trees. He inhaled deeply, filling his senses with the earthy scent of pine, lumber, and the sweet scent of wildflowers.

Two months ago, when he’d planted the lantana in Hannah’s garden, it’d been small and unimpressive. But after weeks of sunshine, gradually warming air and plenty of water, the plant had thrived, sprouting new blooms and spreading. Spring, it seemed, had sprung into its full glory, and so had Paradise Peak Ranch.

Bursts of children’s laughter joined the chorus of birds.