Blue Autumn in the Bayou (Gumbo Love) (19 page)

“
Jacob, it’s a pleasure to see you again.”

“It’s great to have you here. Let me introduce you to my colleagues.”

Travis walked over and began to shake hands with each person present.

* * * *

Several hours later, Travis hastened his steps through the hotel lobby, hopped into the back of a rented car, and instructed the driver to stop at a florist on his way to Autumn’s condo. He sent flowers all week to mask his plan. He didn’t want to spoil his surprise, even though he almost spilled the beans this morning. “What are our plans tonight?” he asked her earlier today.

“Mindless television is all I’m up to tonight, Mr. Brooks.” Her voice was cheery and she seemed
to be in a really good mood.

“I’m with you, sweetheart. Hey
, let’s play a game. Are you in?”

“Okay, I can be in.”

“No, matter what?”

“Yeah, no matter what
,” she answered without hesitation.

“I’m going to serve myself up one of my favorite meals.”

“Will that include pecan pie?” she interrupted.

“It’s possible. You know I love my pie. So I tell you what, I’m going to dress up
, and want you to do the same from your end; and then we can meet on webcam for dinner tonight. Are you still game?”

“Who’s paying for this date? It’s been a long time since I’ve gone on a
dutch date, you know.”

Travis laughed. “Don’t worry about it. I’ll make it up to you.”

“Even if I order lobster?”

“Especially if you order lobster.”

“Okay. You’ve got a date.”

“So I’ll meet you at say
seven.”

“I’ll be starved by
seven.,” she complained.

“Well you have to remember I’m an hour behind you and I have a meeting. So eat a little something early enough
, so you can be good to go at seven. Or have yourself an appetizer before we meet. That’ll be on me as well.”

“Sure, that’s what you tell me now. I order my appetizer and lobster, and I’ll end up footing the bill. Some sham you’re trying to pull on me
,” she teased.

“I can’t believe you question my motives.”

“Humph! I’ll meet you at seven, and don’t be late.”

“I won’t.”

“Love you, babe.”

“I love you
, sweetheart.”

Traffic jammed the streets as the driver weaved in and out of the cars, buses, and bikes compacted down the busy street. Travis didn’t know what to expect and really wanted to get to Autumn ahead of time
, to make sure their meeting was timely. Once he got a fresh bouquet of flowers he was on his way again.

* * * *

Autumn hummed as she stuck the five ounce salmon filet in the broiler, She then headed around the corner from her kitchen to the bathroom, and turned on the shower. She’d already set up the webcam session on her laptop. By the time she stepped out of the shower and into a dinner dress the timer, for the salmon chimed. She slipped into a pair of black satin sandals and headed for the kitchen.

She’d already prepared the mix
ed salad chilling in the refrigerator. All she had to do was add the salmon to her salad, and she would be set to have dinner with the man, who up to this point, had consumed her every waking thoughts. She removed the salmon and placed it on top of a cooling rack to rest. Her phone rang. It was Travis. “You better not be late, Travis Kane Brooks or I’m getting you.” She fussed when she answered his call.

“I’m not late
, my love. Can you go to your door for a minute? Someone should be delivering a surprise to you. He’ll need your signature… from me to you, sweetheart.”

“What
? What did you send me this time, Travis, more flowers? The ones you sent already are absolutely gorgeous. I’m not sure I have room for more flowers, man,” she fussed. Just then, her doorbell rang. “Hold on, there’s someone at the door right now.” She pulled the phone from her ear. “Who is it?”

“Delivery.” Travis disguised his voice. He’d already hung up his cell phone.

CHAPTER 21

When Autumn looked through the peephole of her door and saw Travis standing on the other side, she almost screamed
, but she didn’t. Instead, she dropped the cordless phone, which startled her when it hit the hardwood floor. She took several steps back into the foyer. She covered her mouth with both hands, and her whole body shook. “Oh, my God!” She kept repeating over and over again.

Travis rang the doorbell again. And after a second time
, he rang it again, only this time it was followed by several knocks on the door. “Autumn, baby, open the door. Your neighbors are going to get suspicious.”

His voice pulled her from her stupor.
With shaky hands, she groped the door. By the time she got the lock pushed back, Travis had stepped away. When she didn’t respond, he wondered what to do.
Wait until the shock wears off?
In the meantime, he stood at her doorway knocking, which could have created an awkward situation. He worried that his surprise might have been a little over the top, maybe not a good idea after all. But when Autumn finally appeared and she leaped into his arms, that thought vanished.

Travis wrapped his arms around Autumn just as tight
ly as she had wrapped her arms around his neck. He pulled her snugly against his body. He took caution not to crush the flowers in his hand, but for the moment, their importance paled compared to the soft body meshed against him. He met her hungry kiss with pure passion, and couldn’t quite get all they wanted, but held on to what he had. Something would have to give soon. The bouquet was losing the battle.

No words
were spoken. Only the sounds of ragged air every so often as their lips moved from one position to the next could be heard in the small space between them. Travis picked her up, lips still locked, and eased them through the open door of her apartment. Happy to be there with Autumn, he held her tightly until he finally pulled back. “So you’re happy to see me?” Teary eyes stared up at him.

Seeing them pulled at Travis’s gut. “Please don’t.” He frowned as he looked down into her gorgeous face. But it was too late.
Water trickled down her checks. He moved his hand from around her waist and captured her face with it. He still clung to the flowers.

He wiped away the tears with his blunt
fingertips. “Oh, baby, I didn’t mean to make you cry.” He pulled her closer.

“They’re happy tears.” She pulled away. “What are you doing here?”

“You’re here.” He gently kissed the tip of her nose.

“You didn’t tell me you were coming. I mean, I wasn’t expecting you.”

“It wouldn’t have been a surprise if I told you. And I wanted to surprise you. These are for you.” He handed her the flowers.

Autumn accepted the fresh bouquet. “You definitely surprised me and thank you. You’ve been sending me flowers all week. Was this a part of your scheme Mr. Brooks
?” She held up the flowers.

“Did it work?”

“That and the sham about ‘meet me on the webcam.’ I should beat you, man.” She tapped him in his chest.

“Yes you should, but it’ll have to wait. Right now
, we have to leave. We have a dinner date or did you forget?”

“I should stand you up because you tricked me.”

“Then I guess I will have no other choice but to ask one of those pretty young women I saw in passing to show me around New York.”

“I wish you would try!”

“So let’s go. I have a car waiting. Grab you keys.”

“Wait, I need to put away the food you had me prepare.”

“Okay, but hurry.” He kissed her on the brow.

The driver got out when he saw Travis come through the entryway of the apartment building. He walked around and held open the door. Autumn
got in first, followed by Travis before he closed it.

“So where are we headed?” Travis raised an eyebrow but didn’t answer. “Oh, I guess that’s a surprise too.” She squeezed his hand.

“Yes. Sort of… come closer, you’re sitting way over there. I’ve missed you.”

Autumn scooted closer and leaned into Travis’s body. “I’m so happy you’re here
,” she whispered. Her whole body sang. The tingle crept up her legs, igniting a flame at the spot that made her woman, and continued up to her mouth and eyes.

Travis took his time kissing her. He touched her lips lightly at first, moving to the corners of each side before capturing her lips fully. He savored them. His hand moved slowly up her bare legs beneath her dress. The softness of her skin hypnotized him. So much so
that he found it hard to lift his head but he did. “I have to leave in the morning.”

Autumn failed miserabl
y to hide her disappointment. “Okay.” She could hardly breathe. Travis’s hand burned straight through her flesh. The heat of it moved quickly up her entire body.

“Then I guess I won’t make you f
end for your dinner.” He smiled down at her. Again he changed the mood. He found control he didn’t know he possessed. He didn’t want their night to end before it began. So he tried to slow things down.

“You owe me lobster, brother man.” She pulled her bottom
lip between her teeth as she gave him a saucy grin. She refused to linger on the news that she only had hours to spend with him.

“You’ll get your dinner, little lady. You can have whatever you want.”

“Does that include you?” Autumn continued to tease Travis. Her hand traveled down the center of his chest and was headed south when he caught it in his hand. She knew she was playing with fire but tonight something about seeing Travis at her front door made her want to fling caution to the wind and damn the consequences. For the past two weeks they shared intimate conversation, each made promises to the other.

Travis
’s smoldering passion grew at the thought of having her beneath him. There was no way to hide the evidence that he wanted her. He dragged her hand back up between them and pressed it to his lips. “You can have me whenever you’re ready.” His nostrils flared, and he moved his face close to hers without touching. He watched Autumn’s eyes close, signaling her submission. “Can you handle it, Autumn?”

Autumn
, paralyzed by his statement, didn’t respond. Her head fell into his shoulder. She wanted so badly to tell him yes, but she couldn’t. Travis held the back of her head with his hand and planted a kiss on her hair. “My sweet, Autumn. We have plenty of time for me to love you. Because, baby when I do, there won’t be any turning back.”

He glanced out of the window at the city lights and tall buildings. He knew there was no way he could. One night would never be enough for him
. Travis’s appetite for a woman hadn’t change since meeting Autumn, and the lack of sex kept him on edge. So to tame that craving a bit, he stepped up his fitness routine. The intense regimen was supposed to distract him and keep his mind on work and Autumn. He hadn’t counted on Savannah disrupting his routine and his train of thought. He almost broke the promise to not bed anyone when he was tempted by Savannah’s impromptu visits. Each time the desire was so strong, that he could have easily succumbed to the moment. But Travis understood who he was, knew without a doubt, that the slightest indiscretion with her would ruin his chances with Autumn. The strong love in his heart for Autumn, he was certain, kept him from a potential misstep.

At this point it was all or nothing. He wanted to take his time. For
the time being, just holding her was enough to get him through their separation, and to help quiet the storm raging in his groin. “New York is a beautiful city.” His words brought her gaze back up to his. They stared at each other for a long moment without a word. Travis smiled and after a moment, she did too.

At dinner they talked, touched, and
then touched some more. They walked after dinner and were then picked up by the car at Times Square. “Where to next?” she asked him.

“Wherever else you want to take me.”

“I know the perfect spot.” Autumn grinned.

“I’m game.”

By the wee hours of the night, Autumn’s feet hurt so badly that Travis had to carry her from the car. “You know, this looks like a repeat of weeks ago,” he teased.

“Yeah, it sure does. You’re dangerous. Every time I hang out with you I can’t walk afterwards.”

“No. You just can’t hang with the big boys, little one.”

“Oh, I can hang. I just need to wear sensible shoes.” She pointed to her aching feet.