The Braddock Boys: Travis. Kimberly Raye

leather on tile that told her Evan and his new Feragamos had given up on the barn.

      She bent down and snatched up the headset. “Meet me on the back patio,” she blurted. “Now.”

      “Where have you been? I’ve been calling you forever!”

      “I was busy going through all the boxes the caterer left on the back patio. Stop with the twenty questions and give me a hand.”

      “But we found the champagne already. It’s being served up now. That’s what I was coming to tell you. I figured you had a malfunction on the headset and—”

      “We have extra on the back patio,” she blurted. “Lots of extra. I’m practically drowning in the stuff. Help!” The footsteps turned abruptly and then a fading clatter signaled that Evan had bought the distraction and was heading to the opposite end of the house.

      “Does that mean you’re staying?” Travis asked when the footsteps finally disappeared and Holly could actually breathe again.

      “He’ll be looking for me again when he realizes I’m not on the patio.” She turned the knob.

      “Wait.” Before she could pull open the door, he stepped up behind her and pressed her up against the wood.

      She could hear his voice distinctly, his lips feathering over her ear. But there was no warm rush of breath against her temple. No heartbeat pounding against her shoulder blade.

      He was there, yet he wasn’t there.

      Just as the strange thought struck, he murmured “Thanks.” The knob seemed to turn beneath her fingers and suddenly the door was open and she was free.

      She resisted the urge to turn and catch a glimpse of him standing in the shaft of light from the hallway. His hair mussed. His shirt hanging open. His pants still undone. His eyes still gleaming with passion—

      She stiffened and ignored the image whispering through her head. Sure, it was a purely sexual image. But that was beside the point. If she turned around now, they would have sex again. And possibly again. And then before she knew it, she would be hopelessly in love. A repeat offender.

      These boots were made for walking. She squared her shoulders, stepped forward and went to intercept Evan.