If the Ring Fits (7 page)

The instantaneous combustion had her pulling back, even as heat seared her veins.

For a second an answering fire sparked in his eyes then vanished. “I hope my awesome body and bedroom skills aren’t all you like about me.”

Mary Karen had known Travis for as long as she could remember. He and her brother, David, had been childhood friends. Tonight he seemed different from the bold, brash prankster who’d always been there for her. There was a crack in the confident facade that she couldn’t recall ever seeing before.

Had her pregnancy done this to him? Was he worried her perception of him had been altered by their time together in Vegas? Surely not. Surely he realized how much he still meant to her.

“In addition to being sexy as hell, you’re a good guy. You’re sweet and kind and honest. You’ve never lied to me and I can’t tell you how much that means.” The words flowed from her mouth uncensored. Mary Karen
stepped from his arms, her body trembling at an unexpected realization.

She loved this man. Had loved him for years but until this very moment hadn’t admitted it to herself. Of course, what did it matter? Steven had shown her that love wasn’t enough. She cleared her throat and forced a bright smile. “Do you mind if we step outside for a moment? It’s awfully stuffy in here.”

“You don’t fool me.” He took her hand. “You’re just tired of stroking my battered ego and will use any excuse to get away.”

“You found me out.” Mary Karen gave a gentle tug, trying unsuccessfully to extricate her fingers. Touching him right now, knowing that she was in love with him, was playing with fire.

He smiled and tightened his hold.

“I like holding hands,” he said as they wove their way through the linen-clad tables to a wall of French doors leading out onto a large veranda. “I bet you didn’t know that about me.”

“Actually I don’t believe I’ve ever seen you hold hands with any of your girlfriends.” In fact, Mary Karen was practically positive she’d never seen such a sight. The tall, leggy ski-bunny types were always hanging on to his arm. But him holding their hand? No.

“I’m not talking about them.” Travis released her hand and opened the door. “I’m talking about
you.
I like holding your hand.”

Mary Karen wasn’t sure how to respond, so she said nothing. There were several other couples out on the veranda. Mary Karen slowed her steps not far from them, but Travis took her arm and they didn’t stop until they reached the far end, a remote spot shrouded in darkness, the only light coming from the stars.

The air had turned chilly, near freezing. Mary Karen shivered and wrapped her arms around herself.

“This is getting to be a habit.” Travis removed his coat, wrapping it around her before pulling her close, waving aside her weak protests.

“I’m sorry,” she said. “I should have known it would be cold out here.”

Though the temperatures in Jackson Hole could reach seventies during the day, the night could still hit freezing temperatures.

His arms tightened around her. “Who’s cold?”

Suddenly Mary Karen wasn’t, either.

M
ary Karen expected Travis to try to kiss her but instead he shifted his gaze and stared into the night sky.

“Every time I see a sky filled with stars, I think of my sister Margaret.”

Mary Karen stilled. Travis rarely spoke of his siblings.

“The night of our parents’ funeral she showed me two stars just to the side of the Big Dipper,” he continued. “She swore she’d never seen them before. Then she said something that really surprised me. Meg insisted our parents put those stars in the sky so we’d know they were still watching over us.”

Mary Karen could see why he’d been surprised. His oldest sister had always been the practical one in his family.

“Those two.” Travis leaned close and pointed. “They’re the ones.”

His cheek was right beside hers. She only had to turn her face a millimeter or two and their lips would be together. Instead Mary Karen rested her head against his.

For several long heartbeats they stood at the rail, silently gazing into the star-filled sky. Not even when they’d made love had she felt so close to him. She told herself the strong connection was due to their longtime friendship and shared past, nothing more. It didn’t have a thing to do with love.

“I adored your parents.” She spoke into the silence, her voice as soft as his had been seconds earlier. “I loved your dad’s deep belly laugh. Your mom’s fabulous cooking. They’d both joke that I had internal radar. Somehow I always managed to stop over when the cinnamon rolls were ready to come out of the oven.”

A slight smile lifted his lips.

With eight children—and two busy parents— Travis’s home had hummed with delicious smells, laughter…and love. Then, without warning, it had all come to an abrupt end.

Mary Karen thought of her own parents. She couldn’t imagine losing them both. Never having a chance to say goodbye or tell them how much she loved them. “You must miss them terribly.”

“I’ve been thinking about them a lot lately, remembering what it was like to be part of a family.” Travis spoke into the darkness, his eyes focused straight ahead. “I never realized how much I miss having a home.”

Mary Karen pulled her brows together. Travis had always insisted that all he needed to be happy were the three b’s—a bed, a BMW and a big-screen. She’d never heard him talk about wanting a
home.

Before she could question the odd comment, one of
the banquet organizers opened the doors and called everyone inside.

Travis placed his hands on her shoulders and turned her toward the door.

Mary Karen wished they could stay and talk some more. Their conversation felt unfinished, like they were just getting to the important part. But already, everyone, including Travis, was moving toward the door.

His face gave nothing away, but when she handed him his jacket she caught a glimpse of sadness in his eyes. Though she’d told herself when she’d left her house that she’d keep her distance, just before they stepped inside, Mary Karen impulsively reached for his hand.

A spark flared in his hazel depths and his fingers tightened around hers, the sadness replaced by something more intense. Her heart pounded against her ribs and moistened her lips with the tip of her tongue.

“Everyone please take your seats.” The voice of Harlan Stromberg, the CEO of the Jackson Hole Hospital filled the large ballroom.

Although most of the attendees began moving toward the tables, Travis strolled through the crowd, holding her hand tightly, stopping to speak to colleagues, introducing her to those she hadn’t met before. There was a certain possessiveness to his tone that she hadn’t heard before and a warmth in his eyes whenever his gaze fell on her.

Mary Karen was feeling a little possessive herself. Especially when they were approached by several women he’d dated. But while Travis was friendly enough, he also made it clear the only woman he was interested in tonight was the one at his side.

By the time the CEO ordered the crowd to be seated there were very few open spots. Mary Karen would have
preferred a table closer to the back—in case a fast break to the restroom became necessary—but Travis led her to a table directly in front of the podium. It wasn’t until they sat down that she noticed the reserved sign.

“Travis.” She tugged on his sleeve, keeping her voice low. “This table is reserved.”

The words had barely left her mouth when Harlan and Dr. Grant, the Chief Medical Officer, and their wives sat down. Mary Karen started to rise but Travis put a hand on her knee, keeping her seated.

“It’s a shame David and his lovely wife couldn’t be with us tonight.” Anita Stromberg smiled at Travis and Mary Karen. She glanced at the two empty places at the table. “We kept the seats open just in case.”

Puzzled, Mary Karen shifted her gaze to Travis, hoping for an explanation.

“They wanted to be here,” Travis assured the woman, his gaze lingering on Anita’s large diamond-encrusted cat broach. “But July has been having contractions off and on all day, so they decided to stay home.”

“Harlan tells me they’re having another boy.” The older woman smiled at Mary Karen. “Sounds like your new nephew will be making his debut very soon.”

Mary Karen kicked Travis under the table and pasted a smile on her lips. She couldn’t believe he’d known about the contractions and hadn’t said a word. Somehow, she had the feeling that wasn’t the only thing he hadn’t told her. “July is due any day so tonight could definitely be the night.”

As much as she knew that her sister-in-law was ready for this pregnancy to be over, Mary Karen hoped July wouldn’t be heading to the hospital any time soon. Her parents planned to watch David and July’s one-year-old
son when the new baby came. If that event occurred tonight…

“I should make a quick call,” Mary Karen murmured, glancing toward the exit.

“Oh, my dear, can’t it wait?” Anita Stromberg appeared genuinely distressed. “Harlan is ready to begin handing out the awards. You’ll want to be here for that.”

Actually Mary Karen would happily miss the boring presentations, but the way the two couples were looking at her, leaving now would be practically un-American. And even though she didn’t have to worry about hospital politics, Travis did.

“You’re right,” Mary Karen said. “I don’t want to miss the ceremony.”

Harlan had just taken the podium when Travis leaned close.

“If you need to leave,” he mouthed, “I’ll cover for you.”

“I was just going to call and check on July,” Mary Karen whispered back. “It can wait.”

Harlan tapped on the microphone. Once the conversation quieted, he gazed over the crowd. “Our first award of the evening is the Humanitarian Award. This honor is given to the member of our community who exemplifies what it means to help the underserved through medicine. I’m pleased to announce that this year’s recipient is…Dr. Travis Fisher.”

The room erupted in applause.

Mary Karen gasped and whirled in her seat.

Travis grinned, accepting the congratulations of the others at the table, none of whom appeared at all surprised by the announcement. It appeared that the only one who hadn’t known he was receiving the award was her.

She grabbed his lapels and leaned close, speaking softly so that no one could overhear. “You are so dead.”

His smile widened.

Mary Karen released her hold and sat back, irritated that he’d kept such important news from her. When he tried to grab her hand beneath the linen tablecloth, she placed her hands out of reach on the table and focused on the CEO.

Harlan had clearly missed his calling. Goodbye hospital administration, hello public speaker. Give the man a microphone and he could ad lib all night.

Mary Karen listened while he regaled the audience with Travis’s many accomplishments. Harlan extolled the young doctor’s work on enhancing obstetrical and gynecologic services at the free clinic in Jackson, his medical mission trip to Cameroon and even tossed in Travis’s role as an advocate for tort reform in the state of Wyoming. By the time Harlan finished, Mary Karen was properly impressed.

The night passed quickly after Travis gave his acceptance speech, with colleagues coming up after dinner to offer their congratulations. Kate even stopped by the table. She didn’t seem surprised to see the two of them together. Mary Karen didn’t know if that was a good or a bad thing.

It wasn’t until the event concluded and they were in Travis’s sports car that Mary Karen let the smile slip from her lips.

“You’ve got some explaining to do, mister.” She pinned him with her gaze. “Why didn’t you tell me you were getting the Humanitarian Award this evening?”

He slipped a key into the ignition then sat back. “The subject never came up.”

Hurt mixed with Mary Karen’s rising irritation.
She and this incredibly intelligent man could talk for hours about everything from sports to medicine. They could make love for hours, exploring every inch of each other’s bodies. He’d had plenty of time to mention he was receiving the most prestigious award the hospital gave out. But he hadn’t said a word. Heck, even his recent new-car purchase had been a surprise.

“Getting the award is a big deal, Trav,” Mary Karen said. “You could have told me they were giving it to you.”

“Ah, M.K.,” he said finally, “there are a lot of people in this community who give a whole lot more than I do.”

Mary Karen blinked. Travis was known for many things, but humility had never been one of them.

“Who are you?” she recoiled in mock horror. “And what have you done with Travis Fisher?”

He laughed then sobered. “Thanks for coming with me tonight. Having you beside me sharing the moment—well, it meant a lot.”

There it was again, that strange vibe that she couldn’t decipher.

“Well, I’m glad I was there, too.” She kept her tone matter-of-fact. “But if I couldn’t have gone, I’m sure Kate or one of your other friends we spoke with tonight would have been happy to sit at the head table with you. Then they could have had the pleasure of listening to Anita give the blow-by-blow of Ms. Kitty’s hernia surgery over dinner.”

Despite the fact that everyone knew how passionate Anita Stromberg was about her prize-winning Persian, Travis didn’t even smile.

“If you hadn’t come, I’d have gone alone.” He shifted to face her. “I don’t want anyone but you.”

Before Mary Karen knew what was happening, he pulled her into his arms and began kissing her. She could have just said no but she was too busy kissing him back. Those darned pregnancy hormones fueled an explosive passion that took even her by surprise.

Heat swept down her spine as his mouth molded to hers. His lips were firm and demanding, exciting yet familiar. An ache began deep in her belly. Mary Karen slid her fingers into his wavy hair and eagerly opened her mouth to his probing tongue.

When his hand slipped inside her dress and covered her breast, ache became need. Still, Mary Karen was able to keep her mounting passion under some control until his thumb scraped the tip of her nipple.

Waves of pleasure gripped her and she shattered in his arms.

“And that’s how it’s done,” he said with a smug smile.

Breathing hard, Mary Karen settled in against his shoulder. “And that’s the Travis I know.”

He chuckled softly and continued to disperse kisses across her face, her lips and down her neck until the tinted windows were steamed up and the parking lot was empty. Though her heart still tap-danced against her ribs, Mary Karen finally grabbed control of her rioting emotions and pushed him back.

“You are amazing.” Travis kissed her softly then trailed a finger up her arm. “Come to my place. We can finish what we started.”

A wave of need almost swamped her good sense. Mary Karen could already visualize what would happen if she went to his apartment. They’d barely be inside the front door when clothes would hit the floor. At that point she’d forget she had three little boys at home, not
to mention parents who were undoubtedly exhausted by now.

Still, when Travis leaned forward and scattered a string of kisses down her neck, she was oh, so tempted to agree.

“No can do.” Mary Karen resisted the urge to sigh when he lifted his head and sat back.

For a second he looked as if he might argue but then he started the engine and peeled out of the parking lot.

Travis wheeled the BMW down the long winding drive as if he were driving the streets of Monte Carlo. By the time he reached the highway Mary Karen leaned her head back and closed her eyes, leaving Travis alone with his thoughts.

It had been a strange evening. His goal had been to make M.K. believe that he’d changed, that he was now ready to embrace home and hearth. The trouble was that as the evening progressed it had become harder for him to say where the acting ended and reality began.

Talking about his parents had taken him by surprise. And that bit about wanting a home had come out of nowhere. Of course, when he’d seen the look in Mary Karen’s eyes, he’d realized it had been pure genius…just the sort of thing to convince her he was sincere.

Even as he rejoiced that his plan appeared to be working, he hated deceiving her. Trust had always been at the base of their relationship. When Steven had been jerking her around and she’d grown suspicious of all men, he’d promised that
he’d
never lie to her.

The greater good.

He had to keep reminding himself that’s what this was all about. Mary Karen needed him. She would never
let him be a husband to her unless she believed he’d changed.

Mary Karen’s stubbornness was one of the things he lo—er, liked most about her. She was strong and determined but vulnerable at the same time. He pulled the car to a stop at a light several blocks from her house. While waiting for it to change he cast a sideways glance.

Though they’d done a good job of heating up the car before they’d headed for Jackson, he’d given her his jacket for the drive. Sometime during the ride home she’d pulled it around her like a blanket and snuggled up to it.

Her blond hair that had been pulled back from her face with sparkling pins, now lay tousled around her face. His heart swelled with emotion. He was reminded suddenly of when they’d dated, how much he’d like her and how hard it had been to let her go.