Travis

By M Tasia

BEAUTY...

After living on the streets and in his car, Travis has found a home in Brighton, Texas. His job as a cook at the local diner pays enough for him to afford a small apartment, and, for the first time in years, he's able to feed his passion, buying a few art supplies so he can sketch. He's safe, and, oddly enough, feels accepted in this small town. And, for reasons he cannot fathom, Bo Mason, a gorgeous cop, seems interested. While flattered, Travis knows if his secrets are revealed, Bo won't want to have a damn thing to do with the likes of Travis Boone.

IS MORE THAN SKIN DEEP

From the moment he saw the new blue-eyed cook at Brighton's diner, Bo Mason fell. Hard. And while getting close to Travis Boone has been like gentling a terrified animal, Bo knows there's a special person hiding behind those small smiles and closely guarded secrets. Slowly, Bo starts to peel back the layers cocooning Travis and learns the heart of an angel beats inside the most beautiful man Bo has ever known.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Boroughs Publishing Group
• Release date: Nov 7, 2017
• ISBN: 9781944262976

M Tasia

Michelle M. Tasia is a paralegal and romance author who lives in Ontario, Canada. She is a proud member of the Romance Writers of America and its chapters; the Rainbow Romance Writers and the Toronto Romance Writers. Michelle is a dedicated people watcher who often uses what she sees around her in the creation of her characters. She likes to read romance as much as write it and is a firm believer that love is meant to be celebrated and shared. She is the author of the Boys of Brighton series and the new series Gates of Heaven. Connect with Michelle: website: mtasiabooks.com facebook: mtasiabooks twitter: mtasiaauthor instagram: m.tasia.author

Book preview

EVERYONE LOVES

THE BOYS OF BRIGHTON SERIES!

I loved this book and I love this town. I hope there’s going to be more.

—Melissa Lemons on Gabe

I loved this story from page one.

—eBytes on Sam’s Soldiers

An amazing read that was filled with lust, love, crazy hot sex, danger, action and so much more. This is the first book I have read in this series, but I will definitely be reading more in the future.

—Gay Book Reviews on Sam’s Soldiers

I was crazy impressed that the author made me teary over the ending of a relationship that I shouldn’t have even been invested in. I didn’t yet know these characters yet the author made me hurt for them. That takes some mad writing skills!

—Love Bytes Reviews

Jesse and Royce together have my heart. Jesse has it all by himself.

— The Book Junkie Reads on Jesse

READER REACTIONS TO THE BOYS

"I love this series. The author writes beautiful, damaged characters and their soul mates who defy odds and win their HEA no matter the cost."

…Sweet and touching…hot and sizzling…

The love, drama, and intimate scenes are all well written. I would definitely recommend this book to romance lovers.

Angst, sweetness, love and passion.

Bear is the whole package.

Came to this book expecting one thing and got so much more. Now can’t wait for book four!

Welcome back to Brighton, Texas. Where any man can find home.

BEAUTY...

After living on the streets and in his car, Travis has found a home in Brighton, Texas. His job as a cook at the local diner pays enough for him to afford a small apartment, and, for the first time in years, he’s able to feed his passion, buying a few art supplies so he can sketch. He’s safe, and, oddly enough, feels accepted in this small town. And, for reasons he cannot fathom, Bo Mason, a gorgeous cop, seems interested. While flattered, Travis knows if his secrets are revealed, Bo won’t want to have a damn thing to do with the likes of Travis Boone.

IS MORE THAN SKIN DEEP

From the moment he saw the new blue-eyed cook at Brighton’s diner, Bo Mason fell. Hard. And while getting close to Travis Boone has been like gentling a terrified animal, Bo knows there’s a special person hiding behind those small smiles and closely guarded secrets. Slowly, Bo starts to peel back the layers cocooning Travis and learns the heart of an angel beats inside the most beautiful man Bo has ever known.

TRAVIS

The Boys of Brighton – Book 6

M. Tasia

www.BOROUGHSPUBLISHINGGROUP.com

PUBLISHER’S NOTE: This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, business establishments or persons, living or dead, is coincidental. Boroughs Publishing Group does not have any control over and does not assume responsibility for author or third-party websites, blogs or critiques or their content.

TRAVIS

Copyright © 2017 M. Tasia

Smashwords Edition

All rights reserved. Unless specifically noted, no part of this publication may be reproduced, scanned, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, known or hereinafter invented, without the express written permission of Boroughs Publishing Group. The scanning, uploading and distribution of this book via the Internet or by any other means without the permission of Boroughs Publishing Group is illegal and punishable by law. Participation in the piracy of copyrighted materials violates the author’s rights.

ISBN 978-1-944262-97-6

E-book formatting by Maureen Cutajar

www.gopublished.com

This has only been possible with the love and support of my family.

Love you Craig, Samantha, Katie and Jason.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Thanks to Virginia, Elizabeth Levander, and MJ Ferguson.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Epilogue

About the Author

Also by M. Tasia

TRAVIS

Chapter One

The heat from the flames moved like waves slowly burning his hair and skin. The pain was excruciating, but he held on. He heard people screaming, but he didn’t dare look down. He somehow knew the fire was getting closer, and no matter what he did, the firemen would never reach him in time. The flames shot upward, licking at his feet and legs. The screams ringing in his ears were now his own. The smoke sucked the air out of his lungs as he began to gasp and cough. His fingers slipped slightly, and he knew it would all be over soon.

Travis jackknifed out of bed so fast he slipped on the hardwood and fell flat on his back. His heart was racing. He drew in a ragged breath while he tried to clear his brain, but he could still feel the flames on his skin, and the smell of burning flesh still clogged his nose. He blinked to clear his vision and looked around his tiny apartment.

Safe. He was safe.

He sat up and rubbed his bruised back, feeling raised scars through the fabric. To this day, even when he was in bed, he remained covered in a shirt and sleeping pants, as if he could hide away the past.

Slowly, he stood then made his way over to his small kitchenette where he placed the kettle on his one-burner hotplate. He grabbed his one mug from the cupboard, along with his packages of tea and sugar. His little place might not have looked like much to someone else, but it was perfect for him. Considering mere months ago he was living out of his car, this was an upgrade. It was clean and safe, and that was all that mattered.

Still unsteady on his feet, he leaned against the tiny counter as he pulled his long hair into a ponytail and then took a deep breath to try to clear his mind. The nightmares were getting worse, and the room seemed quieter and emptier than ever before. In the past, Travis wouldn’t have minded so much if it weren’t for one persistent person who had become a constant presence in his life since moving to Brighton. Officer Bo Mason had turned Travis’s solitary life upside down with his kind brown eyes and gentle touch. In contrast to his manner, the man was physically intimidating, standing over six and a half feet tall. Any sane gay man would have perked right up at the first sign of interest. But not me, of course. Travis knew once the truth came out, Bo would never look at him the same way again.

When the kettle whistled, Travis turned off the burner and poured the steaming water over the teabag in his mug. The aroma of chamomile wafted up, soothing Travis’s jumpy nerves. He looked around his room again, and for the first time in a long time, he felt lonely. I wouldn’t be alone if I weren’t screwed up. I should have accepted Bo’s offer.

Travis had fallen from scaffolding at work and wound up in the hospital. The police had come to the scene—Officer Bo Mason to be exact, who had become a guardian angel of sorts. After endless cajoling, Travis had agreed to spend his recovery at Bo’s house while trying to get a handle on the relentless nightmares. At the last minute, Travis had backed out and returned to his room above the diner where he worked. Alone and in pain, but his scars and secrets remained protected.

He knew he was quiet and held people at arm’s length, but nonetheless, he was dismayed that people viewed him as incapable of caring for himself. He knew he had issues but he wasn’t an invalid.

Now it was four in the morning, so there was no use trying to go back to sleep. He needed to open the diner in a couple of hours anyway. Sarah would be in by six, and another busy day would begin again. But today would be a little different—it was payday and Travis had something special planned. Just the thought of it made him smile.

Travis cleaned his cup, made his bed, showered, and headed downstairs to the diner. The dining room was dark, the solo light from the kitchen spilling out into the area, casting a dim glow. He loved this time of day. Everything was fresh and new; anything was possible. Since the diner faced east, he’d soon be graced with a beautiful sunrise filled with reds and yellows. Someday, he would capture that sight on a canvas.

He turned from the window and headed for the kitchen. He’d get a tray of biscuits on before he started the coffee, knowing he’d have company soon enough. Since he’d decided to come back to his apartment from the hospital, Bo had been showing up every morning before the diner opened to have coffee with Travis. Then throughout the day into the evening, Bo would stop by until Travis was done with work. If he were honest with himself, he looked forward to their time together. And that was all he could allow. Nothing closer and certainly nothing more. Aside from the hospital staff and physical therapists at the rehab facility, no one willingly had or would ever touch him.

Within twenty minutes, Travis had a tray of biscuits ready for the oven. He set the timer and went to turn on the coffee when he heard a knock on the front door. Bo.

Just a minute, Travis yelled as he poured the remaining water into the coffee makers and headed for the door.

He rounded the booths and saw Bo’s police cruiser in the parking lot, and the man’s large body filling the front door’s frame. Bo stood there smiling wide as if he had good reason. Travis felt his body heat up, and he knew he was blushing. Life had made him tough; he was a loner, and he didn’t blush, dammit. But the sight of Bo turned Travis’s brain into tapioca pudding.

Quickly, he unlocked the door and let in the man of his dreams.

He could look but never touch.

Good morning. Bo’s deep voice resonated throughout Travis’s body like a caress. He reminded himself to remain unaffected; he could never allow himself to slip.

Good morning, Bo. I just put the coffee on. It should be ready any minute.

Great. Will you be joining me this morning? Bo’s brown eyes were so warm and inviting.

Travis had already put on the biscuits, so he had a few minutes to spare. But should he?

Bo being a cop meant he could read people well. A couple minutes is all I’m asking for, promise.

Oh, what the hell, why not?

Okay, I’ll get the coffee.

Bo sat his large body on a stool at the counter. With only the light from the kitchen illuminating the area, this familiar scene felt almost intimate. Travis’s hands shook slightly with equal parts excitement and trepidation. Though there could be nothing physical between them, maybe they could be friends. That way he wouldn’t lose Bo completely once the man realized Travis was a lost cause and Bo moved onto someone who could be what he needed.

Carefully, Travis added sugar and cream to Bo’s coffee, and then walked to the opposite side of the counter across from Bo, making sure a physical barrier remained between them. Bo smiled when Travis returned with his black coffee, and if Bo noticed Travis was keeping his distance, the cop gave no indication.

How was your night? More nightmares? Bo cradled the coffee mug between his large hands.

Travis had tried to keep his nightmares to himself, but Bo had seen the effects they had on him in the hospital, so there was no use in pretending they didn’t exist.

It wasn’t so bad. Only one last night. Travis played off how shaken he’d been and attempted a smile.

Bo reached over and took Travis’s hand, holding it gently. Travis froze, unable to pull his hand away. The big man’s warmth moved up Travis’s arm, and excitement filled his body. Bo reached into his pocket and pulled something out before placing it into Travis’s open palm.

I want you to have this. Bo removed his hand, leaving a shiny, black cell phone behind. Please accept it.

Travis never had enough extra money to buy a cell phone—a roof over his head and food in his stomach took precedence over any creature comforts. He looked at the phone’s shiny screen and its sleek body and had no clue what to do with it. Of course, he knew there was a button to turn it on, but that was as far as his knowledge base went.

I…I’ve never…I can’t take this.

Yes, you can. I bought it for you.

But why? Travis asked, truly confused.

Travis could have sworn Bo’s cheeks pinked. Why would he be embarrassed? I’m the one who doesn’t know how to use the damn thing.

"You should have one for safety in case you need help, or if you just want to talk to someone.

Reviews for Travis

[Missy Tapine-Tumu · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Loving this series of books.Each couple is unique and I like how this author interweaves all the connecting characters.