Arden felt something she hadn't felt that first time he'd had dinner with them. She felt...proud. Proud to have something that so many other women wanted. Proud to have something her parents so voraciously approved of. And just proud of Travis in general. He really was a good man.
She looked up at him, examining his strong profile and his casual, comfortable smile. On impulse, she leaned up and nipped at his earlobe. Then she whispered. As she spoke in his ear, he leaned into her. When she sat back he was staring at her with heat and humor in his eyes, his brows raised in surprise. "You promise?" he said.
She nodded.
"Hot damn," he said, leaning back and pulling her tighter against him.
Arden couldn't help but take pleasure in Becca's look of disgust.
"Travis," said Uncle Todd from the entryway of the living room. "Come on down and play some pool with us."
"Sure thing," Travis said. He gave Arden a kiss, shoving his tongue halfway down her throat. She giggled as she struggled to remain upright. Then he stood, tousled her hair and followed Todd out of the room.
Arden was left grinning like an idiot, beet red and trying to smooth her hair down. Becca was glaring at her and her mother and Aunts were staring at her in varying expressions of amusement and bewilderment.
"So...," Laura said, "things seem to be going well."
Arden sucked in her lips, struggling to regain control of her emotions. "Mm-hmm," she replied. The fidgeted with the buttons on her blouse and the hem of her skirt because, even though she was fully clothed and respectable, Travis had left her feeling half-naked.
Aunt Jenny grinned. "You can't stop smiling, can you?"
Arden let go and laughed. "No. It's crazy, isn't it?"
They all shook their heads. "I've never seen you like this," Jenny said. "Not with Nick. Not ever. I'm very happy for you."
Arden felt heat rise to her cheeks. "Thank you. I'm glad everyone likes him."
"He doesn't really seem like your type," Becca said. She was examining her nails, trying to appear casual.
"Yours either," Arden said, a little bite to her tone.
Becca looked up sharply.
"I think he's perfect," Laura said. "Definitely a keeper. I'm sure your dad will want to offer him a job at the bank."
"That's nice, Mom, but I don't think that would go over too well with Travis. He's got this attitude. Like, 'I'm dirt poor and proud of it.' I don't know what it is. Plus he loves his shop. The only reason he wants children is so he can have more people to fix up cars with. He's already bought Emily this little NASCAR onesie. It's so cute." Arden wasn't sure whether "cute" was referring to the onesie or to Travis. He was taking to fatherhood really easily and falling in love with that baby way too quickly. He needed to keep his distance until they'd worked things out legally. Arden was already certain that if it was an option for him, Travis would keep her and raise her himself.
Arden had spoken to Dustin earlier in the week. Dustin said that when they were kids, Travis took in every stray animal that crossed his path. When they were teenagers, Travis was the guy that everybody bummed rides off of. He brought the booze to the party. He stood up for you in a fight. He helped you out of a jam whenever you needed it.
These things only opened Arden's eyes to something she already sort of knew about Travis. And it was something she felt she should think seriously about before committing to him. There was no doubt that Travis was a good-hearted man. But that kind of generosity would inevitably lead to pain in a lot of instances. It already had for Travis. And Arden wasn't sure she could live her life like that, watching him get hurt time and again.
At six, the women gathered in the kitchen to prepare dinner. The house was lit up with Christmas decorations and candles. Arden and Becca worked on making the eggnog together. When she was certain the older women were otherwise occupied, she leaned toward Becca and spoke in a hushed voice. "Quit throwing yourself at my boyfriend."
Becca wasn't shocked. "He's really hot," she said.
"I know that. Leave him alone. You're making him uncomfortable."
"I really like him," Becca said as she cracked some eggs and separated the whites from the yolks.
"He's mine," Arden said.
"Yeah? So? When you break up with him, then maybe I'll see if he wants to go out with me."
"First off, you're seventeen. Second...what makes you think I'll break up with him?"
"Because he's not your type. And I won't be seventeen forever."
"God, you're unbelievable."
Becca smiled smugly down at her. "Thank you," she said.
Arden laughed and shook it off. Becca was obnoxious, but ultimately harmless. The men came in when dinner was ready. Everyone sat around the big dining room table and Mark said a blessing over the food.