Chapter 29
Alyssia
“Wait, I need to get one more picture,” I tell my uncles, holding up my hands right before they leave out for the night.
They’re going to the Monte-Carlo casino and staying at the hotel for the night.
“Now you sound like my husband,” Uncle Theo says, cutting his eyes over to Owen who chuckles.
“I’m rubbing off on her.”
“You two look so handsome in your tuxedos.” I wave off Uncle Owen’s offer to use his camera for the pictures. “I’ll use my phone.”
I don’t even have to ask as they pose arm in arm, as if they’ve done this thousands of times before. Which, of course they have.
Travis moves to my side, arms folded as he watches my uncles posing. Whether it’s his nearness or the easy smile on his lips that causes the hair on my arms to stand on ends, I can’t figure it out.
A sigh falls from my lips as he leans in closer, his hand dropping to the small of my back as if it belongs there.
“They’re quite a pair,” he says only loud enough for me.
“One more for the road,” I say when Uncle Theo grows impatient, asking if I’m done.
In the last photo, I laugh and snap more photos when Uncle Owen steals a kiss from Uncle Theo, catching him off guard.
“Alright, kids, don’t do anything I wouldn’t do,” I tell them as I wave, Travis holding the door open for them.
Uncle Owen’s eyes drop to my belly. “What is it you wouldn’t do again?” He squints at me.
My eyes bulge, and I cover my mouth with my hand.
“Get out of this door.” Uncle Theo shoves Owen’s shoulder.
He gives me one last kiss on the cheek and they head out. Travis and Uncle Theo exchange a silent glance at one another.
As soon as the door closes, I push out a breath and rush to the couch. “Thank goodness.”
I lean down and start rubbing my feet.
“What’s wrong?” Travis asks, concern lacing his words.
“Nothing, just my feet were, um …” I trail off when he gives me a look.
He sits, pulling my feet onto his lap, and he starts massaging them.
I bite back my groan. “You’re good at this,” I say, slightly breathless.
“And you’re stubborn as hell. Why didn’t you tell me your feet were hurting?”
For some reason, the annoyance in his voice makes me grin.
I drop my head on the arm of the couch and lightly close my eyes, reveling in the feel of his hands on me.
“Did you have fun today?”
“I did. So much I thought twice about taking Uncle Owen up on his offer to do karaoke at lunch.”
Travis chuckles. “I noticed that. Not a fan of karaoke?”
I shake my head. “Not really.” I push out a breath, staring at the ceiling. “My mother had a beautiful singing voice.” I don’t know what prompts me to share that.
Perhaps it’s the conversation I had with Uncle Theo earlier today. Or remembering my mom’s face whenever she sung around the house. Maybe, it’s the feel of Travis’ strong hands on my feet.
“Can you—”
“Totally tone deaf,” I say. “Can’t hold a note to save my life.”
He frowns. “Our poor baby.”
I cock my head to the side.
“Poor thing will have to deal with not only possibly being born with a sixth toe but a tone-deaf mother.”
He laughs when I toss one of the couch pillows at him. He easily bats it away and wiggles his eyebrows at me.
“I do not have a sixth toe. You’re literally rubbing my feet.”
“You’re lucky I’m not inspecting too closely for the scar left behind by the removal surgery.”
“You’re such a—”
“Gorgeous guy.”
I roll my eyes. “I don’t like handsome guys.”
He squeezes my feet. “I said gorgeous and not handsome. Do you have plans for next weekend?” he asks, expression turning serious.
My brows knit as I go over my schedule for the next week. “No. Why?”
“I want to take you somewhere.”
“For the weekend?”
He nods. “Silverstone.”
I jut my head backwards. “Don’t you race there?” It sounds vaguely familiar as one of the places on his racing list.
“In July, but I want to take you there before our race. Especially since by then it wouldn’t be ideal for you to get on a plane.”
“What’s in Silverstone?” His inquiry had piqued my interest.
“You and me, hopefully.”
I fake like I’m going to toss another pillow at him.
“Something I want to show you. You’ll see once we get there. Plus, there’s a nice bed and breakfast where we can stay. I never get to stay there when we’re in town for races.”
“Sounds fun.”
“Good. I’ve booked our reservations already.”
I roll my eyes and drop my head on to the back of the couch, still luxuriating in the caress of his prodding fingers.
“We should discuss names at some point, huh?”
“And the nursery,” I remind him.
I haven’t started setting up the nursery in my France apartment. Maybe because it never felt right.
“There are three rooms to choose from here,” he says. I know he’s saying without saying that we might as well set up the nursery here and I might as well move in.
That idea doesn’t send fear racing through me like it once did.
“Did you like any of the sample nurseries I sent you?”
After our trip to the market, Travis sent me a few nursery ideas that matched the pair of booties we bought.
Between work and preparing for my uncles’ visit, I forgot all about the pictures.
“It slipped my mind.”
He nods, not looking the least bit frustrated. “Pregnancy brain.”
“Jerk.”
He shrugs with one shoulder. “It’s to be expected. The good news is that the books say it’s a temporary thing.”
A contemplative expression crosses his face.
“I liked some of the samples but they’re all grey,” Travis continues. “I was going for more neutral colors since we’ve decided to stay away from pink or blue as a theme and the gender.”
“I don’t like grey either. A bit boring.”
“Right?” He agrees. “Give the baby some color. Something intriguing to look at.”
I smirk at his excitement over the whole thing.
“Our baby’s entire nursery will be fire engine red.” I point my finger at him.
“Of course not. There needs to be some teal in there.” He affectionately squeezes my ankle. “We can get a decorator. One who can help us come up with some better design ideas.”
“You don’t think that’s too much?”
He frowns, his brows drawing over his eyes slightly. He lowers his hand to my belly.
“Nothing’s too much for either of you.” The way his voice takes on a lower octave has my nipples hardening.
“When we go to Silverstone, are we staying in separate rooms?”
Travis’ lips tighten, eyelids lower, and his gaze travels over the length of my body. The heated flames that invade his eyes reminds me of his favorite color.
“I only booked one room.” His voice is a soothing balm to the growing edges of the tension in my body. “Didn’t even consider reserving two.”
He lets his gaze meet mine. “Do you prefer your own room?”
It’s not even a thought as I shake my head.
“No.” My voice is a whisper in the charged silence.
Travis intertwines his fingers into mine that hang off of the back of the couch. I watch him bring our joined hands to his mouth. He kisses the outside of each of my fingers, never taking his eyes off of me.
Before I can register it all, I tilt my head upward as he hovers above me. With his lips only millimeters from mine, Travis says, “I think it’s time we go to bed.”
He pauses, waiting for my consent.
“Yes,” I say while nodding.
A rush of air escapes my lungs when he lifts me from the couch. I wrap my arms around his shoulders and let my head rest as he strides toward the master bedroom.