Chapter 21

Ihole up in the corner of the room and dial my father’s number. I didn’t want to freak Travis out, but I need to make sure I’m not being followed. And if I am, that it’s because my father sent some of his men. In our world, there is no such thing as a coincidence, and I’m not stupid enough to ignore obvious warning signs. Even if they turn out to be nothing. I’d rather play on the side of caution.

“Liliana, you okay?” Dad asks.

“I’m okay,” I tell him.

“How’s Cooperstown?”

“Did you have me followed?”

“No. Your mother only just informed me about your little road trip.”

“Oh.” Shit, I really was hoping those were his men parked out on the street.

“Liliana, what’s going on?”

“It’s probably nothing.” I sigh as I start peering out the closest window.

“Tell me anyway.”

“Travis went to get our bags out of the trunk. He said there was a car in the street that drove off when he saw it. He thought it might have been some of your men.”

There’s a silence on the other end of the line for a moment.

“I’m coming to get you,” Dad says.

“No. Don’t do that. Please, Dad. Like I said, it’s probably nothing,” I tell him.

“I’m not taking the chance.”

“Dad, please don’t. I need this. Please, just… I really want to spend the week here.”

My father lets out a string of expletives in rapid Italian. Things he always told me to never repeat as a kid. “I’m sending your brother and Zia Luca.”

I groan. Maybe I shouldn’t have called him. “I’m fine, honestly.”

“They’ll just scope out the town, Liliana. I’ll tell them to stay out of sight. You won’t even know they’re there.”

“Doubtful,” I huff.

“I love you,” Dad says. “Are you carrying?”

“I am.” I don’t always strap up, but that’s because there’s usually a gun within reach wherever I am. So I packed two, one in my purse and one in my luggage.

“Good. Make sure to keep it close. And remember: shoot first, ask questions later,” he says.

“Thanks, Dad.”

“Your uncle and brother will be there within the hour.”

I look up and down the street as Travis and I walk into the little diner we found. “You okay?” he asks me.

“Uh-huh, fine,” I say, spotting a black sedan like the one he mentioned a block down from us. It’s too far away to see who’s inside it, though. My hand tightens on my purse as I let Travis lead me through the door.

“You seem really on edge, babe. What’s going on?”

“I’m sorry. I just… I’m not used to being alone,” I tell him.

“You’re not alone. I’m here.” He waits for me to slide into the booth before lowering himself down opposite me.

“I know that. Sorry. It’s just going to take a second to get used to.” I smile at him.

“Take all the time you need,” he says.

I pick up the menu and start reading the contents. “What do you feel like having?”

“What I want isn’t on this menu.” Travis smirks, and I feel the blush rise up my chest.

“How about we save that for dessert? Back at the cottage…”

“Or I could lay you across this table, spread your thighs apart, and have your body writhing within seconds of my tongue worshiping that pussy of ours.”

“Ours? When did my body parts become ours?” I laugh while my thighs squeeze together, trying to ease some of the ache the picture he’s painted is causing.

“Since you became mine.”

The waitress comes over to the table, interrupting Travis’s dirty talk. And we both order burgers, fries, and a couple of Cokes.

“So, I got a call from my agent today,” he says.

“What’d he say?”

“I got an offer, a really good one.”

“From?”

“Vancouver.”

My eyes widen and my lips split into a grin. I really am so proud of him. “Travis, that’s fantastic. Why didn’t you tell me sooner? This is what you’ve been waiting for.”

“I haven’t accepted it yet.” He shrugs.

“Why the hell not?”

“Because I wanted to talk to you about it first. This doesn’t just affect me, Lili. I’m not going without you. So if you tell me you can’t leave New York, then that’s where I’ll be staying.”

“Travis, Vancouver is your dream. You are not giving up your dream for me.”

“You are my new dream,” he says.

“We’re going to Vancouver. Call your agent, right now, and tell him you’re accepting that offer.” I cross my arms over my chest. “Or I’m calling Mr. Monroe and telling him myself.”

“Are you sure? You’re really going to come with me?”

I can hear the hope in his voice. I nod. “Yes.”

Travis leans over the table. His hand wraps around the back of my neck as he pulls me closer before his lips slam down on mine. “I fucking love you.”

“I love you too,” I say as excitement over what the future holds for us runs through me.

By the time we return to the cottage, I’m more relaxed. It might have had something to do with the text message I got from Alessandro. He snapped a picture of Travis and me at the diner and sent it through. I honestly thought that coming away without any of my family being around would be easier. I didn’t expect the anxiety it would create. I haven’t told Travis that I called my dad. And I didn’t tell him that my brother and uncle are now in town. I’m hoping that they follow my father’s orders and stay out of sight.

“You wanna jump in the hot tub?” Travis asks me.

I look past him, at the sliding glass doors. There’s a hot tub on the deck that overlooks the yard and the lake at the edge of the property. My nose scrunches up. “How many people do you think have fucked in that thing?”

“Probably a lot. We can add to that number.” Travis waggles his eyebrows up and down.

“Yeah, let’s not.” I shake my head. “That’s disgusting and a UTI waiting to happen.”

“You wanna watch a movie?”

“Sure, but I’m picking it.” I plop down on the sofa, pull the throw blanket from the top, and cover myself.

“I wouldn’t have it any other way,” Travis says, sitting down next to me. He picks me up and places my back against his chest, his legs on each side of my body.

“You know, a girl could get used to this.” I sigh.

“Get used to what?”

“Domesticated bliss with the Travis O’Neil.”

“I hope so, because I don’t plan on letting you go.”

I flick through the channels, settling on a rerun of 50 First Dates. Halfway through the movie, I look up at Travis. “What would you do if I forgot us?”

“I wouldn’t ever let you forget, Lili. Besides, how the fuck could you forget that you love this face?” He draws a circle in the air for good measure.

“It is a really pretty face,” I tell him.

“Did you just call me pretty?” Travis laughs.

“You and I both know how good looking you are. Don’t pretend you don’t know that face of yours is breaking hearts all across the country.”

“As long as it’s not breaking yours. I don’t give a shit about anyone else.”

My phone vibrates on the coffee table. I reach out, pick it up, and find another message from Alessandro. “It’s my brother,” I tell Travis before tapping on the notification.

Alessandro:

They were paps. We’ve sent them on their way.

Me:

Thank you.

Alessandro:

Anytime, sis. Have fun, but not too much fun. I’m heading back to the city.

Me:

Dad’s letting you leave me here alone?

Alessandro:

Don’t be ridiculous. Zio Luca is staying in town.

I roll my eyes. Of course he is.

Me:

I love you.

Alessandro:

Love you.

I set my phone back down on the table and catch Travis’s eye. “Everything okay?” he asks.

“Uh-huh, perfect.” I roll over, crawl my way up his body, and close my mouth over his.