home for lunch when I remembered today is the last day of school. I always loved the picnic and games as a kid,” Tess said, clapping as the winners crossed the finish line.
“I thought you hated the school picnic. You always ended up either mad or in tears before the day was done,” Travis said with an ornery grin.
“That’s because a bunch of mean boys wouldn’t leave me alone. Remember the year you and Brice put worms on my hotdog? Or what about the year Ben and Trent super-glued my shoes together and I had to run the race barefoot?”
Travis laughed and dropped a kiss on her head.
“Those were fun times.”
“For you hooligans, but not for me,” Tess said, turning big brown eyes filled with mirth his direction. “I think I still owe the lot of you some payback.”
“Now, Tessa, don’t you go getting any ideas,” Travis said, wondering what she would consider payback for something he’d done years ago.
“You’ll just have to wait and see,” she said, turning her attention to the award ceremony taking place in front of the playground equipment.
With his arm still around her, they watched the kids receive their awards, joining in the clapping and celebration.
“Can you stay for lunch? Cady brought enough food to feed a small army,” Travis asked, bending close to Tess’ ear.
Unable to speak with tingles racing through her from his warm breath tickling her neck, she nodded her head. She really hadn’t intended to stay, but she had an hour and a half before her next appointment and it was just a few miles down the road. When she saw Travis watching the kids, she couldn’t resist the temptation to join him. Fighting the war against her attraction to him was proving to be a losing battle.
“If you stay I promise to keep all worms and any other non-food substances off your plate,” Travis said with a warm smile that made his blue eyes glow.
“You know just the right words to say to convince me,” Tess said, looping her hand through his arm and walking with him to the picnic area. Trent, Lindsay and Cass were spreading out blankets while Trey and Cady unpacked the food.
After eating their fill, the three Thompson brothers along with the five Triple T hands lazed on the blankets. Cady sat with Trey’s head cushioned in her lap and Trent leaned against a tree trunk with Lindsay snuggled up to his chest. Travis sat as close to Tess as he dared with the cold pack on his leg.
When she thought no one was paying attention, Tess tugged up the leg of his shorts and looked at the bruise. It wasn’t nearly as swollen or hot although the discoloration looked worse.
“I think you are officially on the mend,” she said, gently pulling his shorts back down over the bruise.
“Good to know. Here I was thinking the whole thing was going to fall right off,” Travis said, trying to look serious, but the smile that formed brackets at the corners of his lips and danced in his eyes gave him away. “I appreciate the personalized attention.”
“You’re welcome. I better get going or I’ll be late for my next appointment,” Tess said, getting to her feet. Travis had no idea just how much personalized attention she really wanted to give him. It took a colossal effort to stand up and walk away right now. She waved at Cady and Trey. “Thanks for lunch, it was delicious as always.”
Cady waved and told her to come by for a visit sometime soon. Travis walked Tess to her car and held her door while she climbed in.
“I’m really glad you stopped by,” Travis said, leaning against the car while Tess fastened her seat belt.
“Me, too. It was fun,” Tess said, wishing more than anything that Travis would give her a kiss. He’d kissed her three times during the course of their growing up years and the last one was a kiss goodbye that still lingered in her thoughts.
“Maybe we could do something fun together sometime,” Travis said, thinking he sounded like a 15-year-old working up the courage to
“I thought you hated the school picnic. You always ended up either mad or in tears before the day was done,” Travis said with an ornery grin.
“That’s because a bunch of mean boys wouldn’t leave me alone. Remember the year you and Brice put worms on my hotdog? Or what about the year Ben and Trent super-glued my shoes together and I had to run the race barefoot?”
Travis laughed and dropped a kiss on her head.
“Those were fun times.”
“For you hooligans, but not for me,” Tess said, turning big brown eyes filled with mirth his direction. “I think I still owe the lot of you some payback.”
“Now, Tessa, don’t you go getting any ideas,” Travis said, wondering what she would consider payback for something he’d done years ago.
“You’ll just have to wait and see,” she said, turning her attention to the award ceremony taking place in front of the playground equipment.
With his arm still around her, they watched the kids receive their awards, joining in the clapping and celebration.
“Can you stay for lunch? Cady brought enough food to feed a small army,” Travis asked, bending close to Tess’ ear.
Unable to speak with tingles racing through her from his warm breath tickling her neck, she nodded her head. She really hadn’t intended to stay, but she had an hour and a half before her next appointment and it was just a few miles down the road. When she saw Travis watching the kids, she couldn’t resist the temptation to join him. Fighting the war against her attraction to him was proving to be a losing battle.
“If you stay I promise to keep all worms and any other non-food substances off your plate,” Travis said with a warm smile that made his blue eyes glow.
“You know just the right words to say to convince me,” Tess said, looping her hand through his arm and walking with him to the picnic area. Trent, Lindsay and Cass were spreading out blankets while Trey and Cady unpacked the food.
After eating their fill, the three Thompson brothers along with the five Triple T hands lazed on the blankets. Cady sat with Trey’s head cushioned in her lap and Trent leaned against a tree trunk with Lindsay snuggled up to his chest. Travis sat as close to Tess as he dared with the cold pack on his leg.
When she thought no one was paying attention, Tess tugged up the leg of his shorts and looked at the bruise. It wasn’t nearly as swollen or hot although the discoloration looked worse.
“I think you are officially on the mend,” she said, gently pulling his shorts back down over the bruise.
“Good to know. Here I was thinking the whole thing was going to fall right off,” Travis said, trying to look serious, but the smile that formed brackets at the corners of his lips and danced in his eyes gave him away. “I appreciate the personalized attention.”
“You’re welcome. I better get going or I’ll be late for my next appointment,” Tess said, getting to her feet. Travis had no idea just how much personalized attention she really wanted to give him. It took a colossal effort to stand up and walk away right now. She waved at Cady and Trey. “Thanks for lunch, it was delicious as always.”
Cady waved and told her to come by for a visit sometime soon. Travis walked Tess to her car and held her door while she climbed in.
“I’m really glad you stopped by,” Travis said, leaning against the car while Tess fastened her seat belt.
“Me, too. It was fun,” Tess said, wishing more than anything that Travis would give her a kiss. He’d kissed her three times during the course of their growing up years and the last one was a kiss goodbye that still lingered in her thoughts.
“Maybe we could do something fun together sometime,” Travis said, thinking he sounded like a 15-year-old working up the courage to
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