“And yourself.” Kacey nudged him then grabbed his hand. “Admit it, your heart was beating like crazy. You were sweating.”
“I hate bears.” Travis felt like he was ten all over again. Kacey had asked him why he was crying, and he’d told her it was because Care Bears were on TV again.
That Christmas she’d bought him a Care Bear.
He’d cried.
Again.
He blamed his parents for taking him camping too often as a child. When he was three, a bear wandered into their campground and he never got over it. His mom said he’d cried for the entire day when he found out the bear ate his graham crackers.
“Look.” Kacey pointed at the large menacing bear. “He’s just playing.”
What she probably saw was the bear happily playing with a piece of wood. What Travis saw was a bear ripping things apart with its ten-inch claws.
“Do you still have Mr. Happy?”
“I hate you just a little bit right now. How did this go from me cheering you up to discussing my phobias?”
“Do you?” she teased.
“No, Mr. Happy, my Care Bear, suffered a very tragic accident the same year you got him for me. Something about the bonfire and no firewood.”
“See if I ever get you a present again.”
He’d probably accept a damn bear from her at this point if she just kept holding his hand.
Travis looked at his watch. “Well, as much as I loved our quick one-hour trip, we’ve got to head back. Grandma really did say something about wedding plans, but I’m pretty sure that was code for Go rescue Kacey so I don’t have to drive without a license.”
“Really?” Kacey squinted her eyes in disbelief.
“Yes, she does believe you’re getting married, and my parents are literally planning the ceremony as we speak. You better hope Grandma reigns them in. Otherwise you’re getting married Sunday.”
“Very funny.” Kacey shivered. She knew Grandma was just pulling the wool over everyone’s eyes, but it was still irritating that his parents didn’t know. “And we are not getting married. It was an arrangement, though…” she trailed off.
“What?” His heart dropped to his stomach. “Though what?”
Was she having second thoughts? Did she really want to marry him?
“Though, it seems weird that all of a sudden Grandma’s doing great, don’t you think?” She hoped the hint would be enough.
“I guess.” Travis scratched his head. “I haven’t really been by the house much. It was weird, because one day she seemed totally fine, and the next it was as if she was taking her last breath or something. She was putting in all sorts of weird orders. Arranging her funeral, figuring out where the shares in the company went, wanting to marry all of us off.”
He stopped and looked up. “You don’t think Grandma’s faking her illness, do you?”
“Now, why would she have any reason to do that? Maybe she’s just trying to act healthy since I’m around?” Kacey broke eye contact and began playing with her purse.
“Right.” Travis waited for her to say something else, but she quickly changed the subject.
“So, wedding plans. I hope this means I get to look at more scrapbooks.” She nudged him.
“Yes, remind me to burn those later. I want no paper trail leading to my role as a dog.”
“You were a cute dog.”
“I had no tail.”
Kacey closed her eyes and laughed. “But you did have a really cute patch right here.” She touched his stomach, her hand lingered, then pressed against his abs. His breath hitched, and he looked at her lips. The pull was incredible.