Travis's Gift (Riley's Pride #3)- Sandra R Neeley Page 0,57
the kids to have to wait if it got crowded while they painted their ornaments. There was a table set up to collect money to participate in the various activities, and for the Christmas trees themselves, then there was another table that was available for anyone to simply sit and relax. They were prepared with all kinds of hats, scarves, carrots, and pieces of charcoal if it snowed and anyone wanted to make snowmen.
As Libby stood looking over all the options for families to participate in while there to pick out and cut down their tree, she realized they hadn’t made the fire pit yet. They’d bought an enormous supply of marshmallows, graham crackers and chocolate bars so if anyone wanted to, they could make smores in the fire pit. But no one had built the fire pit yet. “Travis?” she called out as he carried out the last box with ribbons and wire in it to the wreath table.
“Yes, love?” he asked as he set the box down.
“We didn’t build the fire pit,” she said.
“Roman said he’d do that. I’m surprised he’s not here yet,” Travis said.
“Surprised who’s not here?” Roman asked, walking beneath the arch and into the middle of Christmas Village central.
“You!” Libby said. “Where’s the fire pit?” she asked.
“In the back of my truck,” he answered with a smile. “Had to go pick up the stones to build it, then a friend called and wanted to help, so I had to go all the way back home to get him,” Roman said, as Lucas walked up behind him with a hand truck full of shaped stones.
“Hey,” Lucas said.
“Hey,” Libby answered. “What are you doing here?” she asked.
“Not much to do around Riley’s at the moment. I asked Roman if I could come help out here. Hope you don’t mind. If you do I’ll go,” Lucas said in reply to Libby, but he was looking at Travis while he spoke. “Friends help friends,” Lucas finished, letting him know he saw both himself and Libby as friends.
“We could certainly use the help. Don’t know what you expect to be paid,” Travis said, reaching out and putting his arm around Libby’s shoulders when she came to stand next to him.
“Oh, Travis… no man. I don’t need to be paid. Riley pays us well. I just don’t want to sit around the house anymore, and if I watch ‘How the Grinch Stole Christmas’ one more time, I might scream,” Lucas said on a chuckle.
“Well, if you’re willing, we’d certainly appreciate it. Wouldn’t we, love?” he asked, looking down at Libby where she stood in the shelter of his arm around her shoulder.
“Yes,” she answered, smiling up at him warmly, thrilled that Travis would be accepting of Lucas as their friend.
“Well, first things first. We need to put up the parking signs along the length of the fence out front and need that fire pit built somewhere out of the way,” Travis said.
“Naw, that’s not first. First is a huge congratulations to the two of you,” Roman said, stalking toward Libby and hugging her tightly before hugging Travis and patting him on the back so hard it would have bruised a lesser male.
“Thank you, Roman. Very much,” Travis said.
“I’m very happy for you two,” Lucas said, walking over to shake Travis’s hand, then looking at him for permission to hug Libby.
Travis inclined his head, but watched carefully to make sure he was okay with the way Lucas hugged his mate.
“How’d ya’ll know?” Libby asked, beaming a proud smile at them.
Lucas tapped the side of his nose. “Scent. Plus, the huge ass claim mark on each of your necks kind of gives it away. You happy?” Lucas asked, with his hands still on Libby’s arms.
“So happy!” she answered enthusiastically.
“Then so am I,” Lucas answered. He shook Travis’s hand again, then walked over toward the load of stones he’d brought to build the fire pit. “So, where do you want it?” he asked.
“Let’s put it over there, toward the barn a little more where it’s set apart, and we don’t have to worry about kids walking too close to it,” Travis said.
“Sounds like a plan,” Lucas said, taking a hold of the hand truck again and starting in that direction. “Thanks again, for letting me help,” he said over his shoulder.
“Thanks for coming to help,” Travis said.
Libby leaned against Travis. “Thank you,” she said.
“For?” Travis asked.
“For accepting my friend.”
Travis leaned down to press his lips against hers. “Our friend,” he said.