Travis swung the truck with the flat-bed trailer up along the side of the feed barn, hardly getting it in park before he jumped out of the cab. Now that he had made the decision to pursue the rapturous Miss Harley wholeheartedly, he was in a hurry to get started. Every moment he spent away from her, made him miss her more and he was anxious to rectify that. Immediately.

"Brady, before you unload, I want all of Harley's feed transferred to my personal truck."

"Sure thing, boss," he agreed with a smug little grin as he rounded the trailer and started unstrapping tie downs.

Travis shook his head. He didn't know who was more excited about his newly flourishing love life, him or Brady. Chuckling under his breath, he took off towards the house, but a thought had him screeching to a halt. What if Harley wanted to come out to his truck or worse...go for a drive?

Travis cringed slightly, thinking about the dozen or so fast food bags and other junk gracing the floor of his pickup from his last auction trip. Turning on his heel, he headed back towards Brady who was in the middle of unloading large bags of dogfood. "Before you load up my truck, give it a quick cleaning out and a vacuum."

"Will do," Brady grunted.

Turning back towards the house, Travis walked about a half a dozen steps before turning back. "Oh, and Brady?"

"Yes?"

"Give it a quick wash too."

Brady sighed and rolled his eyes. "Anything else?" he asked, annoyed.

Travis crossed his arms over his chest and bit the inside of his cheek to keep from grinning. "Just one more thing," he said solemnly, "don't squish the geraniums."

Laughing as his new foreman gave his middle finger a workout, he made his way over to the house. His heart beat double time, matching the pace of his boots as he rounded the corner heading for the front porch. He felt light as a feather and as happy as if someone was tickling his ass with one.

A smile broke across his face when he realized he was giddy. Downright dizzy with excitement and happiness. Travis's mind had all kinds of issues to deal with today. Who knew he would ever have to deal with feelings of the actual emotional variety? Him...Mr. Asshole was hopelessly smitten.

He had taken great care at the nursery, selecting just the right shades of flowers and driving the sales attendant to a high level of frustration at his pickiness to choose only the most perfect of specimens. He even subjected himself to non-stop ribbing from Brady in uncharacteristic good humor and his hand had taken full advantage of the situation.

Normally, he wouldn't have been caught dead in a garden center, but...surprisingly enough, he had enjoyed the afternoon of searching for the right plants. The chore of making sure she only received the best the nursery had to offer, filled with a sense of accomplishment and pride. To him, it wasn't just a bunch of stupid plants, it was assuring she received the finest of everything he could give.

For the first time in his life, Travis wasn't concerned about anything other than spending time getting to know someone and seeing to their happiness above his own. This idea had shocked him some and he did a little soul searching to see if any of the old worries would rear their ugly head.

Was she after his money, the ranch, the Montgomery name? He waited for the telltale dread to wash over him, but it never came. Nope. Not one blasted worry erupted in his gut. All he could feel was the warmth which washed over him when he pictured her beautiful face smiling at him with her little mischievous grin. The way she nibbled on her bottom lip when she was being shy or contemplating something, made him melt and quite frankly, turned him on like nothing he had ever imagined.

Everything about that delectable darling was pure, simple and what he needed in his life. As much as he needed the sunshine that he so adeptly nicknamed her for, he wanted her enriching his life. Standing on the porch, he overlooked his kingdom feeling a sense of peace. God, he was falling hopelessly in love and he was totally on board with that.

Taking a deep breath, he was about to turn into the house and head for the shower when he noticed Ethan's cruiser parked alongside the house. His lopsided smile turned into a dubious frown. What was he doing here? Travis turned and stomped into the house, calling out for Addie.

"In the kitchen, lad," Addie answered and he followed the sound of her voice. Sitting at the table scarfing down some of Addie's homemade strawberry pie was the Sheriff in question. The one person he didn't want to see tonight.

"What the hell are you doing here?" Travis clipped shortly.

Addie gave him a narrowed glare at his lack of manners, but right now he really didn't care about being polite and continued to scowl at his unwelcomed guest.

Ethan grinned, giving Addie a little wink. "I had heard through the grapevine that Addie had bought a passel of strawberries down at the farmers market, so my curiosity got the better of me. I decided to come and investigate to see if she had made some of her famous pie." He smacked his lips in approval. "It was just my luck, she had."

"Well, I'm busy right now, can I ignore you some other time?" Travis stated dryly, crossing his arms over his chest and continuing to glare.

Addie walked calmly across the floor and promptly smacked him in the back of the head. Hard. "Don't take that tone with Ethan. He's like yer brother."

"It's alright Addie. Everyone has the right to be an ass every now and then. Trav here, just seems to abuse the privilege," Ethan said. Amusement apparent on his face as he chuckled watching Travis rub the offended area. His green eyes twinkling in merriment.

"I keep waiting for the day ye two lads grow up," Addie sighed, turning back to the sink of dishes. "Do ye want some pie and coffee, Travis?"

"No, thanks. I was just on my way out for the evening," Travis answered with a pointed look at Ethan. Walking over to the table where the big pain in his ass sat, he leaned down and put both his hands on the table, trying to get the point across through some pissed off body language.

"Really?" Ethan's eyebrows shot up, not taking the hint. "Now where would you be off to this time of day, little brother?" he teased.

"Somewhere around buzz off and none of your business, Gargantuan," Travis hissed quietly through clenched teeth, nodding his head in Addie's direction.

Until he had Harley in his grasp, the last thing he needed right now was Ethan sticking his overly obnoxious nose in his business and dragging Addie along with him for the ride. Harley had enough troubles without compounding it by adding more temptation in front of the wagging tongues of the gossip network.

"Oh...really? Hmmm...Then I guess you don't have any interest in what I found out this afternoon," Ethan stated with a slight smirk.

Travis raised a brow? "The background checks came in?"

"Yup, but seeing's that you are busy, I will just be on my way." Ethan made a show of finishing off the last of his coffee and rose out of his chair. Walking over to Addie, who was busily scrubbing away, he kissed her gently on the cheek. Purposely ignoring the soft growls coming from across the kitchen. "Thank you again Addie for the most delightful strawberry pie this side of the Mason Dixon line."

"Ye are such a charmer," she smiled before frowning at him. "Now, ye get yer backside outta my kitchen and stop teasing Travis. Ye tell him what you know about that lovely lass so he can get to wooing her and making me some babies to take care of," she scolded, slapping him in the stomach with the wet dish towel.

Both men stopped in utter shock, their jaws hammering the floor. A duel set of "What the...," erupted out of their mouths.

Addie crossed her arms over her ample bosom and pursed her lips. "Ye didn't think I didn't know what ye all were up to under my own roof, now did ye?" She raised a inquisitive brow at them. "O' course I know what you boys are up to!" She snorted. "And I have to say I am not pleased to know that ye have been sneaking around checking up on that poor lass." She shook her finger at Ethan before turning her ire to Travis. "Yer ears need a good boxing for the shenanigans ye've been up to." Addie tisked in disapproval. "Now, off with both of ye. Get whatever needs to be settled done so Travis can do right by that lass."

"Addie!" Travis blurted in shock, shaking his head in amazement.

"Don't ye be Addie-ing me young man. It's all over town how ye have been acting around that lass." She said angrily. "Ye were raised more of a gentleman than that Travis Douglas Montgomery! Now go listen to what Ethan has to say about the lovely lass so ye can set yer mind at ease and make it official."

Travis gulped. "Make what official?"

Addie rolled her eyes irritably. "Bless my soul, ye are a stubborn sod. Anyone with a set of eyes in their head can see ye are gaga over her. Ye need to make it right and let everyone know that ye are courting the lass, young man. And best do it quick before those tongues wag any more than they already are," she reprimanded, turning back to the sink of dishes. Clearly, ending the conversation.

Ethan laughed, walking over to were a dumbfounded Travis still stood with his mouth gaped wide enough to catch June bugs. "We will be in the den Addie. Come on little brother." He grabbed Travis, dragging him out of the kitchen and down the hall to Travis's study. "I see you have had some extra time on your hands to humiliate yourself in public," he mumbled, pushing Travis in the leather chair behind the desk.

Taking a seat in one of the two over-sized supple leather chairs in front, Ethan kicked up feet on the corner of the highly polished wood desk. Crossing his arms, he rubbed his bottom lip with his index finger, leveling a stare at Travis. "What have you been up to?"

"Me?" Travis exclaimed, scrubbing his hands across his face. "I haven't been up to anything...yet." He glared at Ethan's raised eyebrow and look of disbelief. "You know how this damn town is for fucks sake." He let out a heavy sigh. "Look, I'm going to level with you, I do like this girl. I mean...I really, really like this girl. So, if you have something to tell me, spit it out now. I need to know if you're going to be the cause of my next headache." And possible first heartache, Travis added silently.

"How much?"

"How much what," Travis asked, wary.

Ethan rolled his eyes. "How much do you like her?"

"I think I love her," Travis stated simply.

Ethan sat there for what seemed like hours, just studying him with that law enforcement expression which made him squirm slightly.

"I knew it!" Ethan barked loudly, clapping his hands. Successfully damn near giving Travis heart failure. Ethan leaned back in his chair, placing his hands behind his head, giving Travis a smug look. "I knew you were crazy for that little filly."

"I use to think you were just a royal pain in the neck, but now I have a much lower opinion of you," Travis growled. Standing up, he leaned over the desk to give Ethan a menacing glower. "Would you get to the point already?"

"Alright...shit little brother." Ethan held up his hands in surrender. "Sit down and give your mind a rest for a minute. I would have thought finding the girl of your dreams would have improved your disposition," Ethan mumbled as he pulled a large envelope out of his jacket pocket and threw it on Travis's desk.

"I'll try being nicer if you'll take a stab at being smarter," Travis muttered, taking a wad of papers and clippings out of the envelope.

He started sifting through the mix of information basically laying out Harley's life history which included a large collection of newspaper clippings and stories. "How did you get your hands on all this?" He swiped a hand over his now cluttered desk.

"Can you say Google?"

Travis narrowed his eyes. "You Googled her?" He leaned back in his chair and crossed his arms over his chest. "That's your background check...Google?"

"Don't be a hater." Ethan grinned. "Just because you are so computer illiterate you shake your laptop to get the cookies out, doesn't mean the rest of us don't have skills." He chuckled at Travis's scowl. "You're just pissed I thought of it and you didn't. Now are you going to sit and pout all night or do you want to go over what I found?"

I wanted to take this time to thank you for reading! I really hope you enjoyed this installment of When Roses Collide, and that you'll consider giving it a vote. I can't tell you how much your support means to me and how much it motivates me to keep going.

Don't forget to check out my Facebook page for the latest news and general fun! You can find me at K. M. Halandras. I look forward to seeing you there!

If you find any errors along the way, don't be afraid to point them out and I enjoy any recommendations or critiques you may have. As always, I will try and update once a week, but if you don't see an update here, check out my other story Bending Steele and FANGED. Thanks again!