The job would give her a chance to build toward an equity partnership in a prestigious, cutting-edge firm. Any lawyer would jump at that. But she didnt want to be beholden to Randal. And she didnt want to date him again. Maybe she was being ridiculously conceited, but she couldnt help but wonder if that would turn out to be part of the package.
Good evening, ladies, drawled a male voice.
She glanced up to see a vaguely familiar man in a black cowboy hat, a blue-and-green Western shirt and faded blue jeans. A split second later, she caught sight of Travis slightly behind him, worn Stetson low on his brow, face tanned brown, a challenging glint in his cobalt eyes.
She was honestly too tired for this.
Are you from the rodeo? asked Nadine, glancing from one to the other.
We are, the stranger answered.
Astra pointed to Travis. Hes the guy who won, isnt he?
Are you a bull rider, too? Nadine chirped to the other man.
Im a bullfighter.
So, one of the clowns? she asked.
Theres a big difference between a clown and a bullfighter, maam. For example. He jabbed this thumb toward Travis. I saved this guys life tonight.
I saw that, Odette put in knowingly.
Nice buckle. Nadine had turned her attention and her brilliant smile to Travis. She reached out and touched the shiny, gold and silver prize at his waist.
Danielle couldnt help but roll her eyes at the bling. Really? He had to wear it?
This is Travis Jacobs, the stranger introduced, removing his hat. Hes tonights bull riding champion. And Im Corey Samson, bullfighter extraordinaire.
Did he really save your life? Odette asked Travis on a note of awe. Danielle knew the question was more about flirting than any true amazement at Coreys feat.
Corey looked to Travis and waited.
He most certainly did, Travis acknowledged staunchly. Bullfighters are highly skilled, highly trained, and among the bravest men on the planet.
The word wingman flitted through Danielles brain. Travis was trying to help his friend pick up Odette.
Nadine turned to her. That wasnt short sentences and small words.
Traviss challenging gaze turned on Danielle. It was clear he remembered her using that particular phrase in the past.
It was a generalization, she repeated, refusing to break eye contact with him.
Thats very impressive, Odette told Corey with an almost comical flutter of her eyelashes.
Danielle is continuously unequivocal in her elevated specifications for interactive discourse, said Travis, keeping his expression completely neutral.
How does he know your name? Astrid immediately demanded.
We met in Colorado, said Travis.
Briefly, Danielle pointed out.
Dance? Corey asked Odette.
Love to. She giggled as she came to her feet.
Dance? Travis asked Danielle.
Too busy with my drink, she responded airily, lifting her long-stemmed glass.
Ill dance with you, Nadine chimed in with obvious enthusiasm, holding out a hand.
Maam, Travis answered her, gallantly tipping his hat, taking her hand and helping her to her feet.
You know a real live bull riding champion? Astrid asked Danielle as the two couples left the covered deck for the dance floor inside, and Danielle concentrated on not looking at Traviss rear end.
Hes not a champion. Danielle went ahead and finished off the martini. He only does it as a hobby.
Hes pretty good.
Thats what happens when you spend your entire life on a ranch in Lyndon Valley.
Astrid seemed confused by Danielles tone. You hold that against him?
What I hold against him is that hes annoying and incredibly full of himself. To hear him talk, differentiating between a Hereford and a Black Angus is the only knowledge relevant to mankind.
Astrid was obviously fighting a grin. Did you mix the two up?
Danielle sighed. They do look a lot alike.
Astrid chuckled.
He mocks me, Danielle elaborated. All the time, on every level. And we only ever see each other at the ranch, so Im always out of my element, and he has the advantage.
Youre a Harvard graduate.
I know.
You shouldnt let him get to you.
I dont.
I can tell.
Danielle regrouped. Its just that his frame of reference is so different than mine.
And that ticks you off.
What ticks me off, is that hes such a snob about it. Im intelligent. Im hard-working. People respect me, even other cowboys. Caleb and Reed are perfectly fine with me.
Astrid nodded toward the dance floor. Looks like hes getting along fine with Nadine.
Danielle couldnt help a reflexive glance at the couple as they danced together. Nadine has probably been blinded by the shine off that enormous belt buckle.
She always was attracted to winners.
Danielle couldnt help but take note of Traviss hand on the small of Nadines back, her touch on his shoulder, the animated smile on his face, and the way she was chattering on to him. He twirled her around, and she laughed as he pulled her back, holding her even closer against him as they swayed to the music.
Danielle couldnt seem to stop a reflexive shimmer of sexual awareness from flashing through her belly. She pictured herself dancing with Travis. Then abruptly shook the image away.
Whats that? asked Astrid.
What?
Youre blushing, Astrid accused.
I am not.
You got the hots for the bull rider.
Not even a little bit.
I think a little bit. I think more than a little bit.
Im ignoring it, Danielle declared, lifting her martini glass only to find it empty. She glanced around for the waitress. Im using intellect and reason to counteract inappropriate infatuation.
You should dance with him, said Astrid.
Not on your life.
What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas.
Im sure not doing anything tonight that I have to leave in Vegas.
Im talking about dancing. What is it you have in mind?
Absolutely nothing.
She and Travis had come close to...well, close to something a couple of years back when hed rescued her from a derelict barn. Hed mostly been amused, and shed mostly been angry. But after they got back to his ranch house, and shed showered and borrowed one of his sisters robes, thered been a moment, a very long moment, when hed look like he wanted to kiss her.
Her desire for that kiss had been so strong that it frightened her. Shed reacted defensively, uttering some patently untrue and hurtful remark. It had worked. Hed backed off. But it had also made him angry, and their relationship had never recovered.
* * *
I see your drink is empty, Travis couldnt help saying to Danielle as he escorted Nadine to their table. He raised his brow in a question.
Thats your cue to dance with him. The woman called Astrid nudged Danielle with her elbow.
It was her cue to dance with him. Although he fully expected her to shoot him down, he had to take the chance. Danielle was in front of him, and he wanted to touch her. It was as simple as that.
Nadine dropped into her chair at the table, crossing her shapely legs and taking a drink of something frozen and orange. Go for it, Danielle, she breathed. The bands great.
Danielle shook her head. Im not But then she stopped. Her eyes went wide, and she focused on a spot behind his shoulder. Sure. She rose to her feet. Why not?
Travis glanced behind him, finding a smartly dressed man in his late twenties. He was clean-shaven. His light brown hair was slicked back, slightly shiny, neat around the ears. He wore an expensive, pin-striped suit, with a white dress shirt and a purple tie. The handkerchief in his pocket matched the tie, and his gaze was intent on Danielle.
Dani, he opened with a dazzling, white smile.
Sorry, Randal, she spoke breezily, linking her arm with Traviss. Just about to dance. She all but dragged Travis toward the dance floor.
What was that? Travis asked, as he turned her into his arms.
What was what? she asked, all wide-eyed innocence.
What was up with the guy back there? He settled a hand on the small of her back.
Nothing. She took a breath, placed her hand on his shoulder and stepped into the smooth jazz music.
She felt so good in his arms that he almost let her get away with it. The dance floor was crowded. The breeze from the open window ruffled her hair. Man, she was beautiful.
But he was too curious to let it drop. You were about to turn me down. Dont pretend you werent. Then that guy showed up, and you changed your mind.
Danielle gave her short, brown hair a little toss. It was soft and trendy, long across her eyes, wispy at her neck. I didnt expect to see you in Vegas.
The longer he held her in his arms, the less he cared about the other guy. Is that your way of telling me hes none of my business?
He is none of your business. But thats my way of telling you I dont want to talk about him.
Okay by me.
Thank you. There was an edge of sarcasm to her voice.
Travis was used to that. I didnt expect to see you in Vegas, either.
Im attending an international law conference.
Interesting?
It is if you like international law.
Not exactly my forte.
Thats true, isnt it?
Why are you smiling?
Because, youre in my world now, cowboy.
He didnt exactly know what she meant by that. But he wasnt sure he wanted to pursue it, either, since it would likely mean theyd end up arguing. The way he saw it, Vegas was as much his world as hers.
You saw me ride? he asked instead.
The girls dragged me along. She paused. Bull riding is not exactly my sport of choice.
He wasnt about to take offense. Hed have been shocked speechless if shed confessed to a secret love of bull riding. Where were you sitting?
She pulled back to look at him, her gaze quizzical. Why?
He wanted to know if he could have possibly seen her after his fall, but he wasnt about to explain that to her. I wondered if you had a good view.
Fourth row, across from the chutes.
Good seats. He could have glimpsed her on the way down, maybe filed her image away in his subconscious and brought it up when he hit the dirt. It was possible.
She frowned. Im not sure being closer makes it any better.
Are you trying to pick a fight?
She hesitated almost imperceptibly. We never seem to have to try.
Traviss skin prickled in warning, and he glanced around the room, catching the glare of the man whod approached Danielle at the table. Who is that guy?
I thought wed moved on.
They might have moved on, but the other man obviously hadnt.
Are you dating him or something? Travis asked.
No.
No to dating him, or no to or something.
She drew her arms from him. This was a bad idea. Im going back to the table now.
Hes waiting for you.
She reflexively turned her head, but Travis stopped her with a gentle palm on her cheek. Dont look.
She stilled.
Hes staring daggers into me. If Im gonna have to fight, youd better warn me now.
She gave a weary smile and a small shake of her head. Nobodys fighting.
Travis gathered her back into his arms, and she picked up the rhythm again. His body gave a subconscious sigh, and he drew her closer this time, her chest brushing his, thighs meeting as they moved. She was exactly the right size, exactly the right shape. She fit perfectly into his arms.
Im pretty sure I can take him, he mused, breathing in the fresh fragrance of her hair.
His name is Randal Kleinfeld. I knew him in law school.
In the biblical sense?
She tipped her head back, dark eyes chastising him. You are insufferably rude, you know that?
Travis might be rude, but Randal was intensely possessive. Not that Travis blamed him. Even he could see that Danielle was a gem, a beautiful, sensuous, fiery gem of a woman. And for the right man, thered be no looking back.
Did you date him, Danielle?
Its business, Travis. He wants to talk to me about a job. With his firm. Theyve made me an offer to move to D.C.
Travis didnt like the sound of that. If she switched firms, she would also switch clients. She might never come back to Lyndon Valley on business with Caleb.
He tried to tell himself it didnt matter. Theyd seen each other maybe a dozen times in the past two years. They were barely acquaintances. Mostly they fought. There was certainly nothing personal between them
Still, he found himself bracing for her answer as he posed the question. Are you going to take it?
I dont know. Thats why I dont want to talk to him. I dont need any pressure while I make up my mind.
Travis glanced at Randal again, taking in his clenched fists and the dark scowl that furrowed his aristocratic brow. It was patently obvious that he was after more than just a business relationship with Danielle. And Travis realized he had no way to stop him.
Not that he wanted to stop him. Danielles personal life, in D.C. or anywhere else, was none of his business. He hoped it wasnt Randals business. He hadnt seen much of the guy, but what hed seen, he didnt like.
Thankfully Randal didnt have the upper hand, at least not at the moment anyway. Right now, Travis was the guy who had her in his arms, while Randal was the guy on the sidelines. He deliberately eased their bodies farther away from the crowd and splayed his hand across the small of her back, thinking he liked it this way.
Two
The next morning, Danielle told herself that Traviss dancing her to the exit and spiriting her to the hotel elevator to get her away from Randal was no big deal. She didnt owe him any grand thank-you. Shed expressed her appreciation last night, and hed been polite about it. It was done, over. It had accomplished its objective.
She didnt need to contact him again. In fact, it was better if she didnt contact him again. Their dancing last night had confirmed her secret fear. His body was as fit, as rock-hard and as sinewy as shed fantasized.