Travis's Gift, page 7
“Oh, that’s a no no. Gotta have the coffee,” Travis teased, closing the door behind her.
“Yes, coffee is life.”
“And if I wasn’t making coffee?” Travis asked.
“I was going to insist we test the flavored coffees we bought last night,” Libby admitted.
Travis laughed. “Let me guess. You wanted to test the peppermint and dark chocolate flavor?” he asked.
“Yes! But at this point, any coffee is good.”
“I just put on a pot of the peppermint and dark chocolate coffee.”
“You’re kidding!” Libby said, trailing Travis back into the kitchen. Once there her eyes fell on the coffee cup he’d been planning to use this morning, already sitting beside the coffee pot waiting for it to finish. Libby smiled and reached out a finger to run over the handle of the Satan Clause coffee cup. “You kept it,” she said.
“I did. I’ve kept everything you ever gave me, or planned on giving me,” he confessed.
“Here, how about this one for your coffee?” he asked, opening a cabinet and handing her a mug with a picture of an elf hanging from a limb of a Christmas tree by his trousers that were pulled down and showing the crack of his ass. The saying across it was, “Have a half-assed Christmas.”
Libby reached out and accepted the mug from him. “Why did we ever think this was funny?” she asked. “Inappropriate Christmas gag gifts,” she said.
“Because it is!” Travis insisted, chuckling.
Libby smiled then, before she started laughing. “Yeah, it is. But, there’s a chance we could be a bit warped.”
“It’s all good. I’ll take warped with you at my side any day,” Travis answered, as the coffee pot finished making its first pot.
“Ahhh, it’s ready,” he said, taking the pot in hand and reaching for her mug.
Libby handed Travis her mug and he poured coffee into it, but before handing it back, he walked over to the refrigerator and took out half and half, topping it off before stopping at the sugar bowl and putting in two teaspoons of sugar.
“Here. Exactly the way you like it,” he said, holding it out to her.
Libby didn’t take it right away. She just looked at him.
“What? Don’t tell me you’re on one of those stupid diets and don’t want the half and half and sugar,” he said.
“No,” she answered.
“Good, ‘cause you’re perfect,” Travis said, holding the mug out to her again.
“Thank you,” Libby said, taking the mug from him and watching as he made his. Black with one sugar, just like always. “You remembered how I take my coffee,” she said.
“Of course, I do,” Travis said. “I remember everything, Libby.” Travis looked around before looking back at her. “I know you don’t eat this early, so, want to sit on the porch for a little bit while we have our coffee before getting to work on the decorations?”
“Yeah, that’d be nice.”
Libby followed Travis, pausing right behind him when he stopped beside the recliner to pick up the very same Goodwin Weavers throw blanket she used to cover with while napping in the recliner when Travis had been overseas, and she’d been watching over Scotty.
Travis winked at her and walked to the door, holding it open for her to walk through. Once on the porch he set his coffee down on the railing and lifted the throw blanket to wrap around Libby’s shoulders. He kept her wrapped tight until she was seated, then arranged the blanket around her legs to keep her warm.
“You don’t want a blanket for you?” she asked.
“Nah, feels good to me. Shifter blood,” he said, taking his coffee from the railing and sitting in the rocker beside hers. “Is it too cold for you?” Travis asked.
“No, I love it. Warm, soft blanket, hot coffee, and cold December morning. Nothing more perfect,” Libby said, sipping her coffee as she looked off in the distance.
“It was your favorite blanket, I think,” Travis said.
“It is. It’s hard to find anything by Goodwin Weavers anymore. I’ve looked and looked and can only find used ones,” Libby said. “Well, I should say, I can’t afford the new ones. I can only afford the used ones.”
“They were my mom’s favorite, too,” Travis said.
“I remember,” Libby answered.
The front door opened and Scotty stuck his head out. His eyes widened at finding Travis and Libby sitting on the front porch having coffee in the early morning. “Wow. I think I’m dreaming,” he said.
Travis chuckled.
“You’re not dreaming. I came over to help get all the decorations done and the baking started,” Libby said.
“Yeah, but you’re both sitting there — being nice to each other,” Scotty teased.
“We can be nice,” Libby said defensively, but with a smile on her face.
“Yes, we can,” Travis answered, standing up and being careful to get his balance on his prosthetic. “ I need another coffee. You?” he asked Libby, holding out his hand for her mug.
“That’d be great,” she said, handing him her cup.
“I’m gonna grab something to eat, then I have to get to school,” Scotty said, disappearing back inside the house.
Moments later Travis was back with their second cups of coffee, and had taken his seat next to Libby again. “This is nice, isn’t it?” he asked.
“It is. I could get used to this being a morning ritual,” Libby said.
Travis smiled, but made a mental note to have coffee ready for her and her favorite blanket ready for her to snuggle in every time she was at his house.
About ten minutes later the front door opened again and Scotty walked out of it with his book bag slung over his shoulder. “Okay. Who’s bringing me to school?” he asked.
“You can take the truck,” Travis said on impulse.
“Really?! I can?!” he asked, getting excited.
“Yep,” Travis answered.
“It doesn’t have a heater. Here,” she said, fishing in the pocket of her jeans. “Take my jeep. I’ll be here all day long anyway. At least this way you’ll be warm.”
“Libby, you don’t have to loan me your jeep,” Scotty said.
“Of course I do. Can’t have you driving around like a Popsicle when there’s a jeep with a perfectly good heater just sitting here all day not being used.”
Scotty glanced over to Travis who grinned at him and nodded.
“Thanks, Libs!” Scotty said, hugging her and kissing her cheek.
“You’re welcome. Be careful,” she said.
“I’ll text when I get to school so you won’t worry,” he said.
“Alright. See ya later,” Libby said, smiling at his exuberance as he rushed toward her jeep.
After they watched Scotty drive away, Libby turned and watched Travis as he sat beside her looking out over his property. He was a beautiful male. Dark, wavy brown hair with streaks of auburn in it that fell loosely to just below his shoulders. A strong, square jaw, long lashes that matched his hair and high cheekbones. He had a natural olive complexion that gave him the appearance of always having been in the sun. His shoulders were wide and body and limbs muscular and thick.
Travis felt her watching him and turned to look at her.
The minute his bright green eyes met hers, Libby felt her insides quiver. He was so beautiful, so powerful, and yet so fragile at the same time. He’d been through hell to find himself, but it seemed, that maybe, just maybe, he had.
“You okay?” he asked her.
“Yeah. You?” Libby asked.
“Better every day. So, want to cut the shapes out of wood first? We’ll do the arches first, then you can get them painted and let them start drying. I’ll keep cutting as you keep painting. Before you know it, it’ll all be done and we can run the lights and put up the decorations.”
“Sounds like a plan,” Libby said, standing up. “I’ll put the blanket back in the house, then we can go.”
“Alright. Give me your cup and I’ll top it off for you. We’ll take them with us,” Travis said.
“Thanks,” Libby answered, handing him the cup and then following him inside.
Travis watched through the opening where the breakfast bar separated the kitchen from the living room, as she folded the blanket she’d been using and placed it on the back of the recliner, then looked around the living room. “Nothing’s really changed,” she said.
Travis forced his eyes from admiring her body to look around the room. “No, it’s the same. I haven’t even noticed until now.”
Libby wandered here and there, touching pieces that she remembered from all the time she’d spent there as she grew up. “I always loved all the little things your mother collected.”
“She liked showing them to you, too,” Travis said.
Libby nodded.
“Okay,” Travis said, walking out of the kitchen, “we ready to go to the workshop?” he asked.
“You mind if I use your restroom first?” Libby asked, turning to face him.
“Libby, this place is as much yours as it is mine or Scotty’s. You don’t have to ask to use the restroom. You know where it is,” Travis said.
Libby didn’t say anything, but she offered him a shaky smile as she walked toward the hallway on the far side of the living room.
“You know what? You might want to use mine. I haven’t been in Scotty’s in a while and I can’t be sure he’s cleaned it lately,” Travis said.
Libby laughed then. “You know? I think I’ll take you up on it. I’ll use yours,” she said, changing direction and going into the master bedroom and then into the master bath.
Travis stood where he was, both coffee mugs in hand, watching his mate enter his bedroom. It did something to a male to allow his female unfettered access to his sanctuary. Made him realize that it felt right. That she was exactly where she belonged. He thought about her long dark hair, pulled up in a messy bun, and her big, chocolate brown eyes framed with lashes so long they curled. He thought about her soft, curved body, and the way it felt beneath him. He loved looking down into her eyes as she leaned against him and looked up at him. She wasn’t short. She was 5’6”, but he was 6’2” tall, so she was shorter than he was.
Travis felt himself begin to become aroused at the thought of touching her. He remembered every touch, every scent, every taste. And he tortured himself with those memories nightly. He walked back into the kitchen and set the mugs on the counter top. “Fuck me,” he said quietly, scrubbing a hand down his face, before shaking his head vigorously to try to get himself under control.
A couple of minutes later Libby was back, slipping her arms back into her coat. “You ready?” she asked.
“Yep. Here’s your coffee,” he said. “You feel like a bite to eat yet?”
“No, but if you do…” she answered.
“Nah, I’d rather wait for lunch,” Travis said.
“Let’s go then,” she said, walking out on the porch. Libby faced away from the door, taking a deep breath. She’d given in to her curiosity and poked around the bathroom while she was in there. She’d found her favorite body wash and shampoo in his shower. Though they weren’t together anymore, he still bought the same brand of body wash and shampoo that she used. It had made her tear up, and gave her the warm fuzzies as she called those feelings you got when you realized someone was hanging onto you in any way they could.
Travis came to a standstill beside her. “You ready?”
Libby looked up at him. “Why do you still have my favorite body wash and shampoo in your shower?”
Travis looked down at the woman who had always owned his heart. “Because they smell like you. And I find that most days I need that just to get through the day. So, until I can have the real thing, your scent from you lying beside me, I’ll use your body wash to at least give me some sense of peace.”
Libby looked up at him while he spoke. When he was finished, she didn’t hesitate. She lifted up on tiptoe while pulling his head down to her level and pressed her lips against his. He pulled back and looked down at her with a surprised, but happy expression. Then she kissed him again. “Come on, we have a lot to get done,” she said, releasing him and walking down the front steps.
Travis was beaming. Libby had kissed him — on her own, without any pressure from him to do so. His heart was singing and in his mind his Tiger was roaring out his pleasure at finally being near their female and her being accepting of them. “It’s going to be a great day,” he said.
“You know? I think you’re right,” Libby answered.
Chapter 9
A few hours later and Travis was stacking up wooden cutouts for Libby to paint. He’d completed the archway for arriving customers to walk under and the large wooden candy canes to stand on either side of it. After Libby had sketched the outline for the frames, he’d cut those out, too, and had placed them in the growing stack of things she needed to paint. And from the scraps of wood from the archway and the big candy canes, he’d begun to cut out the smaller shapes that would become ornaments for the kids to paint.
Travis turned off his saw and took off his safety goggles, before walking over to the table where Libby sat, diligently painting, and apparently enjoying herself to no end.
“You’re really talented,” he said, looking down at the archway Libby had finished and was trying to set aside to dry. “It’s beautiful.”
“Thanks,” Libby said, looking at the arch. She’d painted it white with a red trim and yet another green trim at the very perimeter of the arch. She’d painted the words, ‘Vitrano’s Christmas Memories Tree Farm’ in red in the center of it and surrounded it with yellow stars and blue Christmas angels. On either end she’d painted several holly leaves with three red holly berries at their bottom. “I thought we could drape it with some pine boughs, or maybe some lights to give it some extra zing.”
“It’s beautiful, Libby. And the name… it’s perfect,” Travis said.
“I decided just ‘Vitrano’s Tree Farm’ wasn’t enough. And I have so many wonderful memories of this place. And that’s what we’re really offering people anyway, isn’t it? Happy family holiday memories? So, ‘Vitrano’s Christmas Memories Tree Farm’.”
“It is. And you’re right, it’s all about family and memories,” Travis answered.
“Can you help me move it aside so I can start on the candy canes that’ll go on either side?” she asked.
“Of course,” Travis answered, grabbing a side and waiting for her to get the other side so they could move it out of the way so it would dry while she worked on the rest of the pieces.
“You starting to get a little hungry?” Libby asked.
“Yeah, I am. You?” Travis answered.
“Yep. I could run inside and make us something real quick. If you don’t mind, I mean,” Libby offered.
“I will never mind you being in my home. I’m sorry that I made you feel that way in the past. It will never happen again. You are always welcome here. Okay?” Travis said, looking intently at her.
Libby nodded. “Okay,” she finally agreed.
“I was thinking as long as I’m cutting things out, I’ll do another arch and the bases. We could use them for Halloween,” he said.
“Yeah, that’d be great. And if I get a chance, I’ll paint them; if not, I’ll do it after Christmas.”
“Anything in particular you want, or just like these?” Travis asked.
“Umm, give me a second,” she said, grabbing her pencil and walking over to where his band saw was set up. “This one?” she asked, pointing to one of the leftover sheets of plywood.
“Yeah, that’ll do.” Travis said, watching as she leaned over the plywood and began to sketch, moving down the length of the wood as she went. A few minutes later she was done.
“Can you cut out this shape?” Libby asked.
Travis walked over to see what she’d drawn. “Wow. Just like that,” he said, “an autumn archway is created.”
“It’s not much. The arch will be the same shape as the Christmas one. But instead of candy canes decorating the supports, we’ll cut out a totem of pumpkins. We’ll decorate with some fall leaves painted on and actual leaves strung from the arch itself.”
“I couldn’t do it without you. You have a gift,” he said, moving the board she’d sketched on to the jig saw. “I’ll get the pumpkin totems cut out right now and out of the way so we can keep painting the Christmas stuff,” Travis said.
“Okay, I’ll get something together for lunch,” Libby said, brushing her hands on her jeans.
“See you in a bit,” Travis said, putting his safety goggles back on and firing up his saw.
Libby walked out of the workshop and over to the house. She let herself in and went to the kitchen to wash her hands. Then she opened the refrigerator and dug around a bit. “Ground beef,” she mumbled, taking it out, then she opened the vegetable crisper. She was pleasantly surprised to find bell peppers. She straightened up and looked around the kitchen, spotting what she was looking for in a wicker basket sitting on the counter top. “Hamburger steaks and fries smothered in brown gravy,” she said, grabbing the bell pepper from the refrigerator, then moving triumphantly to the basket holding the yellow onions. She pulled down a large frying pan from the hanging rack above the stove and set it on the burner, turning it on to get it heated. Then she started forming her hamburger steaks. She chopped up the bell pepper, and an onion, then cut the potatoes into large steak fries. She mixed the pepper and the onion and some seasonings into the meat before forming them into large, thick, hamburger steaks and placing them in the skillet to start cooking. Once there was enough beef fat in the skillet, she dropped the potatoes in the skillet with the hamburger steaks, and salted them, too. “Yum,” she said, standing over the pot watching the food cook. “I hope he likes it,” she said on a smile.
~~~
Riley and Lazarus took a right off the highway onto the drive that led to Riley’s house. Riley watched in his rear view as the truck driven by Roman turned off in the opposite direction and drove into the trailer park Riley’s Pride owned. They’d finished the gutters which were the final step of the roof they’d rebuilt for their customer. The customer had paid them, and Riley had cashed the check and paid each of his males before they ever left town and headed home. Now they were planning on some time off before the holidays unless someone called with a job that couldn’t wait. They’d put off two larger jobs until after the first of the new year, but if someone had an emergency, Riley would consider it.
