Light from Her Mirror (Mirrors Don't Lie Book 3) by Becki Willis Page B

longer, until she smiled her irresistible smile. “Come on,
Stix, you don’t really want to get back on that bike for an hour.” Keeping in
character for his cover, he had to leave Nacogdoches on his motorcycle, even if
it meant a four-hour trip on his Harley.
    While
he went out to get his duffle bag, Kenzie told her sister they would have a
guest for the evening.
    “Purely
innocent,” she assured her twin. With a wicked grin, she added, “His rules, not
mine.”
    Makenna
smiled indulgently. “I’m glad to see you so happy.”
    Embarrassed
by the sappy feeling gushing from her heart, Kenzie shrugged it away. “I’ve
always loved the Fourth of July. I think it’s the fireworks.”
    Her
sister laughed aloud. “I’m sure it is, just not the kind in the sky!”
    Kenzie
quickly changed into her nightclothes and waited on the couch while Travis did
the same. The lights were dim as she savored the memories of the day and
studied the picture in her hand. Her happiness today would be complete, if only
she knew the truth about her mother.
    The
day, itself, had been magical. More than just having the attention of the man
beside her, it was the overall sense of family that she treasured, the sense of belonging . With no family to call his own, Travis considered the
Kaczmareks his family, just as Kenzie did the Reagans. And after a full day in
their company, mingling among them in their warm and gracious home, Kenzie felt
she had a place among Hardin’s family, as well. The sense of home and country
had been strong. Kenzie remembered very few Fourth of July celebrations as a
child, and certainly none as wonderful as today. Long before the fireworks
display began, it was the best holiday she could recall. The bright bursts of
color lighting up the night sky could have been coming straight from Kenzie’s
heart; each ‘ooh and aah’ from the crowd could have been a contented murmur
from her soul.
    Travis
came from the bathroom quietly, immediately spotting her in the dark. “What are
you looking at?” he asked. “It’s too dark to see.”
    She
did not need light to see the image of the photo; it was engraved on her heart.
Tucking the picture away, Kenzie patted the couch beside her. “I’ll tell you
all about it tomorrow,” she promised. “Talking about it will make me sad, and
right now I’m happy. Let me savor the feeling for a little longer.”
    He
sat down, his hesitation slight before pulling her against him. Their
relationship was still new enough to be awkward, but Kenzie immediately leaned
back against his chest. As he wrapped his arms around her middle, she hugged
them to her, content to simply be in his embrace.
    “I
missed you,” he confessed, the words a kiss into her hair.
    “I’ve
missed you, too, Ranger.” She reached her hand behind her to touch the
unfamiliar stubble along his lean cheek. He pressed a kiss into her palm and
she sighed with utter contentment.
    “Maybe
I can actually sleep tonight,” he mused softly. “I don’t think I’ve had a
decent night’s sleep since the last time you slept in my arms.”
    She
nodded in understanding. “I know I haven’t.”
    They
lingered for a long moment, content in the silence. Finally Travis spoke. “Come
on, darlin’, let’s go get a good night’s sleep.” He held her hand as they
walked into the bedroom. 
    Kenzie
crawled beneath the covers and Travis laid his long body on top, covered by a
light quilt. As she curled into his arms and snuggled against him, she smiled.
    “The
perfect day,” she whispered into the darkness.
    “Mmm,”
he agreed groggily, pressing a kiss into her hair as his body fully relaxed for
the first time in weeks. “Perfect.” 
     

Chapter Twelve
     
    It
was a wonderful feeling, waking up in Travis Merka’s arms. For long moments,
Kenzie lay there watching him sleep, amazed at how different he looked in
slumber. Even before, when they slept in the same bed while on their quest to
uncover secrets from her