Forever Almost

Chapter 5

That evening, Kayla sat in her room, frustration building as she stared at her phone. She had sent countless texts to Travis, but each one went unanswered. Her irritation only grew when she glanced up to see Taylor sitting in the living room, her cheeks flushed, clearly lost in some blissful daydream.

Kayla's temper flared. "Taylor!" she barked, causing Taylor to jump. "Stop wasting time and go make dinner! Or do you think sitting around fantasizing will make it appear on the table?"

Flustered, Taylor muttered an apology and hurried off to the kitchen.

The next morning, Taylor walked into the hospital, her mind still occupied with thoughts of the mystery man. She didn't even notice Travis entering right behind her. A smirk tugged at his lips as he watched her, enjoying the way her face lit up when she was lost in her thoughts.

He caught up to her and leaned in close. "Don't I need to catch you today?" he whispered, his voice low and teasing.

Taylor jumped slightly, spinning around, her hand instinctively going to her chest. But when she saw it was him, she let out a relieved breath, her lips curving into a shy smile. "You scared me!" she said, though her tone held more excitement than fear.

Travis's eyes roamed over her, appreciating the way she looked even in her simple white attire. "Sorry about that," he said, his voice smooth. "I'm Travis—surgeon here. And you are?"

"I'm Taylor, the new music therapist," she replied, her voice soft and a little breathless.

Travis's smirk deepened. The title clicked something in his mind. So, she's the one with that voice. He remembered the soft melody he'd overheard in the interview room the other day.

"Taylor..." he repeated, savoring her name. "You know, I think I've heard you sing before. Your voice... it's something else."

Taylor's blush deepened, and she looked down, unable to meet his intense gaze. "Thank you, Travis. That's really kind of you."

"I'm just being honest," he replied, his eyes lingering on her lips before he pulled back, though not without reluctance. "I'll see you around, Taylor."

They parted ways, but Taylor's soft voice and innocent demeanor lingered in Travis's mind.

By lunchtime, Travis couldn't stop thinking about her. His curiosity—and something else—drove him to head toward her cabin. As he approached, he heard her singing again, the sound pulling him in like a magnet. He followed the melody, his heart beating faster with every step, until he found himself at the door of a patient's room.

Without thinking, he pushed it open and froze at the sight before him. Taylor stood by the patient's bed, her eyes closed as she sang, completely absorbed in the moment.

Travis couldn't move. He was mesmerized—not just by her voice, but by the way she seemed to glow, her entire being wrapped up in the song. When she finished, she turned and saw him standing there, his eyes dark and full of something that made her pulse quicken.

"Travis...?" she asked, her voice a little shaky.

He stepped into the room, his gaze locked on her. "You have no idea what you do to me," he murmured, his voice low and thick with desire.

Taylor's breath hitched. She wasn't sure how to respond, but the way he was looking at her made her feel both nervous and excited.

"You're... really talented," he said, his eyes never leaving hers. "And I'm not just talking about your voice."

Her cheeks burned at the implication, but before she could say anything, his phone buzzed in his pocket. He pulled it out and saw Kayla's name on the screen, irritation flashing across his face.

"What is it?" he answered, expecting some work-related question.

"Travis, I was thinking we could have lunch together," Kayla's voice cooed through the phone.

He rolled his eyes, glancing at Taylor. "I'm busy." Without waiting for a reply, he hung up and shoved the phone back into his pocket.

Turning back to Taylor, he smiled, softer this time. "How about we grab lunch together?"

Taylor hesitated but then nodded. "Okay, sure."

They walked to her cabin, and Taylor offered to share her homemade lunch with him. As they sat down, Travis couldn't help but be drawn to her again, not just by her cooking, which was incredible, but by the way she seemed so unaware of how captivating she was.

"This is amazing, Taylor," he said, his voice dropping an octave. "You keep surprising me."

Taylor looked up, meeting his gaze. "I'm glad you like it."

Travis leaned in slightly, his eyes burning with an intensity that made her heart race. "I'm liking a lot of things about you, Taylor," he said softly, letting the words hang between them.

As Taylor reached for a glass of water, her hand slipped, sending the glass toppling over. The water splashed all over her, soaking her white dress. Her heart sank as she realized the fabric had become almost entirely transparent, clinging to her skin and revealing the lacy red bra she had underneath.

Panic set in as she glanced up, only to find Travis's gaze locked on her. His eyes darkened with a hunger she had never seen before, lingering on her now-visible curves. Taylor's face flushed a deep shade of crimson, a mix of embarrassment and something else—sorry that made her pulse quicken.

"Let me help you," Travis said, his voice low and thick with desire as he swiftly pulled out his handkerchief. Before she could protest, he was at her side, his hands moving with a deliberate slowness that sent shivers down her spine.

Taylor tried to step back, but her body refused to cooperate. Her breath caught in her throat as Travis gently pressed the handkerchief to her chest, his fingers grazing her damp skin through the sheer fabric. He wiped away the water with exaggerated care, his touch lingering just a little too long on her breasts, making her heart race wildly.

"Looks like I didn't do much good," he murmured, his voice tinged with amusement as his hand slipped lower, brushing against her waist. "But I have to say, this dress... it suits you, Taylor. Especially like this."

Taylor's mind was a whirl of emotions. She knew she should pull away, say something—anything—but the way he was looking at her, the way his fingers seemed to burn through the fabric, left her feeling dizzy and confused.

Travis's lips curled into a wicked smile as he continued his ministrations, his fingers skimming along her waist, just enough to make her skin tingle, but not enough to cross the line. "You're blushing," he noted, his tone soft yet teasing. "Does it embarrass you? Knowing I can see... everything?"

Taylor's cheeks burned even hotter. She stammered, trying to form a coherent response, but all that came out was a soft gasp as his fingers brushed over her again.

Finally, the intensity of the moment became too much. With a burst of adrenaline, she pushed him aside, her hands trembling. "I—I need to go!" she exclaimed, her voice barely above a whisper as she turned and fled, running to the washroom to collect herself.

Inside, she leaned against the door, her heart pounding. She didn't know what had just happened or why she had felt such an overwhelming mix of emotions, but one thing was certain—Travis had gotten under her skin, and she wasn't sure if that was a good or a bad thing.