Read Online Larkspur Road by Jill Gregory - Free Book Online

needed something different from him. The boy needed a firm but gentle touch.
    Grady was hurting inside, and Travis didn’t know why yet. He only knew he damn well wouldn’t add to the boy’s pain and sense of isolation. But neither did he want to reward sulky behavior or give in to impulsiveness. Children needed structure, a sense of self-discipline. And they also needed love. He sensed that guiding Grady along would require the right balance between the two. He’d have to feel his way along that particular tightrope. He suddenly wished he had more experience at being a father.
    His own father had done a great job of being fair andloving and instilling a sense of responsibility in him and his brothers. Travis only hoped he could do half as well.
    Passing through the hall, he caught a glimpse of Mia and Sophie in the kitchen and was treated to the highly distracting sight of Mia’s cute little rounded behind encased in snug-fitting denim. He paused.
    Damn. She looked as drop-dead sexy in those jeans and that tank top as she had in that slinky red dress that had been stuck in his mind for the past year and a half.
    And maybe even twice as beautiful.
    Just the sight of all that shiny blond hair twisted atop her head made him long to undo that tiny white clip and watch it all spill down around her shoulders in a golden waterfall.
    She’d worn it short and lusciously sexy the last time he’d seen her, at Rafe and Sophie’s wedding, but now it was long again.
    And he had no trouble at all remembering how those thick, silky blond strands had felt sifting through his fingertips. Particularly that winter day years ago when they’d made out on a blanket in the bed of his pickup as fragile snowflakes drifted down around them.
    It was December and Mia had been wearing a white down parka. Snow had melted on her eyelashes. Her full, sweet mouth had tasted of pink lip gloss when he kissed her.
    And her hair—her hair had brushed as soft as a wish against his skin….
    He suddenly felt an almost irresistible urge to touch it again. To touch
her
again.
    But every grain of common sense he possessed shouted at him that it was too late to make things right. To go back. He had to find a way to shake off all the feelings for her he’d never quite been able to forget, even after he walked out on her.
    Still paused in the hallway, he saw her move toward the counter with a grace that would draw any man’s eye. Shelifted the lid of the white bakery box Sophie held out toward her and was so engrossed in their conversation, he realized, that for her, he’d probably already ceased to exist.
    No doubt she’d already even forgotten he was back in town.
    His jaw clenched. He told himself it was better that way. That the past was done and gone.
    Then he turned and took the stairs two at a time.

Chapter Six
     

    “He’s gone now,” Sophie murmured. “He went upstairs. I’m sorry you had to find out that way about Travis being back—I should’ve called you.”
    “Makes no difference to me if Travis is back—,” Mia began, setting the bakery box on the kitchen table, but Sophie cut her off.
    “Oh, please. I knew you way back then, remember? I was at your house that day fifteen minutes after he broke up with you—after he left.” Her eyes brimmed with concern as she gave Mia a quick hug. “I’m sorry I didn’t think to warn you he was on his way home. I’ve been so distracted with Aiden being sick that I completely forgot to give you a heads-up—”
    “You don’t have to ‘prepare’ me for Travis coming home. Travis and me—all that—it was a million years ago.” Mia waved an airy hand. “But do we have to talk about him? I’d rather not.”
    Instead of replying, Sophie studied her. Mia suspected her friend could see right through the blithe indifferenceshe was trying so hard to project. It was impossible to hide much from Sophie or from Lissie—and normally she wouldn’t even bother to try. But over the years, the