After they ate they did a little more shopping and then headed home. It was seven-thirty when Arden dropped Tonya off at Travis's house. She got out to help her carry her bags in and Travis greeted them at the door. Tonya waddled in and paused to take off her coat and shoes.
"Did you get everything you need?" Travis asked.
Tonya stood and stretched, putting her hands on her lower back. "Yeah. I need a hot bath."
Travis gestured toward the bathroom and Tonya disappeared down the hall.
Arden looked at him. "She's an ungrateful one, isn't she?" she said quietly.
Travis shrugged. "Did you get yourself anything?"
"Bought a new purse," she said, smiling.
"Did you need a new purse?"
Arden laughed. "No. But so what? I wanted one."
Travis frowned in thought and nodded. He glanced over his shoulder when he heard the bathroom door close and the water turn on. He turned back to Arden. "Thank you..."
Arden held up her hand. "Don't even worry about it. Shopping is like breathing to me. I was happy to do it."
"I don't like asking for help."
"No one does. But I want to help. She's going to be a handful. I wish she'd never come."
Travis grunted. "You and me both."
She smiled up at him, but he wasn't smiling. He was searching her eyes, her face. She bolstered herself, keeping her expression neutral. His gaze dropped to her lips and she could tell he wanted to kiss her. "I have to go, Travis."
He walked toward her, then, backing her against the wall. He put his hands on the wall on either side of her head. She wasn't scared. She was excited. But still she forced herself to stay strong. "Do you really not feel this, Arden? It's so real for me. Every moment of every day since we got back I've only wanted to be near you. How come you don't feel anything for me? How can this just be me?" His voice was husky, his expression desperate.
"I'm sorry, Travis. I have to go."
He grabbed her by the shoulders, not roughly, but firmly. "I can make you happy, Arden. I swear it. Just give me a chance."
"I'm already happy." Her voice wavered and she realized she had to leave or risk falling apart.
"Arden, please. I realize I'm begging, here, and it's gotta be the most pathetic thing you've ever seen. But I love you. I want you...so much. And sometimes I think I see something in your eyes, some indication that maybe you want me too. Just give me a chance, sweetheart. I'll do anything...anything to be with you."
Arden swallowed and felt tears stinging her eyes. She fought for control. "Anything?" she asked.
"Oh, God, Arden, anything."
She looked at him, so big and strong. She'd brought this powerful man to his knees without even trying. What could possibly be so wonderful about her that he would lower himself like this. She took in a breath and mentally cursed when it shuttered. "I want Tonya gone."
"What?"
"And you have to promise that Duane is out of your life, too."
Travis stared at her, confused. "You want me to put a pregnant woman out on the street?"
"Would you do it for me?"
Travis stared at her, looking hurt and desperate.
"And let's say things work out for us," Arden said. "If we get married, my father will want you to work for him at one of the banks. Would you do that for me? Would you give up the garage and put on that nice suit of yours every day and manage a bank?"
"Arden, I..."
"Because if you say yes to those things, I'm yours." She reached in her pocket for her cell phone and held it up. "I'll call Nick right now and break up with him. Then I'll spend the night here with you. Is it a deal?"
He dropped his hands from her shoulders and stepped back, shaking his head and looking sick to his stomach. "You're a bitch, you know that?" he said, his voice shaky.
She'd expected worse. "The reason I'm giving you this offer at all, Travis, is that I do have feelings for you. When you touch me I just get hot all over and can't think of anything but getting you alone and ripping all your clothes off. Actually," she looked away and laughed, "I had the most erotic dream about you last night. I think you and I would be amazing together. You make me happy in ways that Nick never can."
He looked even more disgusted than before, like he wanted to vomit.
"But the things I asked you for, the things Nick can give me--stability, money, peace of mind--those things are far more important to me than these feelings."
He shook his head. "Get out and leave me alone," he said.
She nodded. "Okay. I'm sorry to have hurt you. I just think we have to be realistic."
"Get out of my house, Arden!"