Not a Chance(55)

She glared at him. "You disgust me."

His eyes roamed her face. "You have quite an opposing effect on me. That black eye...God, you look cute."

"Breakfast is ready!" Shannon's voice sounded.

Travis jumped up and headed straight for the kitchen. Arden shook her head. She must not have too strong of an effect on him if the mere mention of food sent him running. She stood and followed him at a more subdued pace into the kitchen.

"Travis would you go get Russell?" Shannon asked from where she was flipping over some eggs in a skillet.

"Yes, ma'am," he said, and then disappeared out the back door.

"Come give me a hand?" Shannon asked. Arden nodded and started plating food per Shannon's instructions.

Russell and Travis walked in through the back door, deep in discussions about the state of Russell's truck. They sat at the kitchen table, still talking.

"Here, Arden," Shannon said, "Would you pour coffee?" She handed her a coffee pot. The mugs were already on the table.



Arden poured some coffee for Russell, but when she saw Travis's expectant grin she realized she wasn't comfortable with the situation. She sat the coffee pot down on the table and left Travis to pour his own.

Just as she returned to the kitchen, Shannon handed her two plates, both full of bacon and eggs with sides of biscuits and gravy. Arden took them and looked back over her shoulder at the men. She set the plates on the counter. "You know what," she said. "You're not a short order cook, Shannon." She turned on Russell. "How dare you sit there on your lazy ass and let her wait on you hand and foot."

"Arden!" Shannon said.

Russell looked up at her, nonplussed. "Honey, I think the demonic spirit of Alice has possessed your friend, here," he said to Shannon.

Arden threw up her hands. "Honestly, don't you feel the least bit guilty about the way she runs around doing everything for you and you don't even trouble yourself to thank her?"

Russell's eyes began to narrow. He looked to Shannon, who stared at him apologetically.

Travis seemed to be fighting amusement. But instead of laughing, he stood, pulled out a chair, and offered it to Arden. She reluctantly sat. Then Travis retrieved the plates, gave Russell his and then sat the other one in front of Arden. Shannon dished out two more plates and she and Travis took their seats.

Arden stared in horror at Russell who was looking back at her in disgust. "I'm so sorry, Russ," she said. "I don't know what got into me. I'm really, very sorry."

He stared at her for another moment and then picked up his fork to start eating.

"It's obvious," said Travis, "that since your pride won't allow you to admit your love for me, your confounded emotions are manifesting themselves in frequent outbursts of anger and frustration." He smiled, pleased with his assessment.

"Aren't some of those words a little too big for you?" Arden asked.

Russell choked on his orange juice.

"I read a lot of books," Travis replied. "I'm a smart guy."

"You're an asshole."

"You can be both." Travis proceeded to enjoy his breakfast.

Arden rolled her eyes and picked up her fork. Shannon had been watching to make sure everyone made it through the tension unscathed. Satisfied, she took a bite of her bacon.

There was silence for a few minutes except for the clanking of forks on plates. But then Arden looked up at Travis. "Also, I'm not in love with you. Just so you know."

He didn't look up at her. He shrugged. "You say it so often I'm starting to think you're trying harder to convince yourself than me."

Arden let out a sharp laugh.

"I agree," Russell said. "You should just sleep with him and get it over with."

Travis nodded vehemently.

Arden rolled her eyes. She would have argued, but she figured Russell was just getting back at her.

"Honestly, Arden, you could do a lot worse than Travis," Shannon said with a playful wink.

Arden gawked at her. She didn't have to look to see the self-satisfaction on Travis's face. "I could do a lot better, too," Arden replied.

Travis paused with a bite of food in midair and looked at her, hurt.

Arden closed her eyes. "I'm sorry, Travis. But leaving feelings out of it and looking at this thing rationally, I can do better than you. Not because my parents are rich, but because I don't have near the baggage you do. And maybe I don't want to deal with it."

He was slowly turning red. "If you love me, then none of that matters."

"That's bull, Travis. My loving you...or...or not loving you...does not erase your past or your family. The problems will still be there. And since I know in advance that they are there, why would I put myself in a position to fall in love with you and then have to deal with them."