I thought you might like to hear about the rest of the tariff Q and A. Randal smiled, and his gaze slid to Travis again. We could contrast tripartite arrangements pertaining to intra-regional trade distortions versus the harmonization of partner states.
Were going to contrast the black bulls with the white ones, Travis said with a straight face.
Danielle thought it was a stretch for Travis to take Randals words as a slight, but she nearly laughed at the comeback.
I can make some introductions to people at the firm, Randal pushed on. You should use the break time to your advantage.
Sorry, said Danielle. But I already have plans.
Randal hit Travis with a disparaging look. Youre going to take advantage of her good manners?
I was going to pay for the lunch, said Travis.
Thats not the point.
Danielle reached out to where Randal held her bag. Thanks for bringing this. Ill probably see you later on in the day?
Before Randal could react, Travis removed the bag from his grasp.
Jacque Alanis Signature Room? Travis asked her in a clear voice, naming the most exclusive and expensive restaurant on the Strip. Then he took her arm and deftly turned her for the main entrance.
Youre the one whos throwing down the gauntlet, she accused as they moved out of earshot.
If his motives are pure, hell have no interest in which restaurant we choose.
Were going to contrast the black and white bulls?
He tossed out all that technical language for my benefit.
Lawyers always talk that way.
You dont.
Danielle tried to decide if he was right. I do when Im with other lawyers.
You dont do it to belittle other people in a conversation.
She thought about that. Sometimes I do it to you.
He seemed to ponder the comment as they walked out the doors of the main entrance. Sometimes I deserve it.
Danielle gaped at him in astonishment, as he gave a hand signal to a doorman.
Within moments, a long, white limousine was pulling to the curb, and the porter held open the back door.
You have got to be kidding, she told Travis.
Hes still watching. I want to make this good.
Danielle didnt believe that for one minute. By now, Randals gone to lunch with someone else.
No, he hasnt. Travis guided her forward with a hand on the small of her back. And the more I look like a rival, the faster hell tip his hand, and prove me right. Hes still after you.
She put her hand on the open car door. This is going to cost you a fortune.
Youre talking to a man with bull riding prize money in his jeans.
Youre going to spend it all just to make a point?
Might as well spend it on you. His blue eyes were fixed and determined.
She gave an unconcerned shrug, answering as she slid into the car. Fine. Ive got nothing against the Jacque Alanis Signature Room.
Travis grinned and slipped the doorman a bill before following her inside. The door shut behind him, and his phone began to ring. He reached into the breast pocket of his Western shirt.
I think the Signature Room requires a jacket, said Danielle.
He gazed at his phone display. In the absence of a jacket, they require a good tip. He gave her an eyebrow waggle. Its Vegas, baby. You mind if I take this? Its Caleb.
Danielle felt her eyes widen. She wondered how Caleb could have known she was with Travis. Then she remembered Caleb and Travis were close friends. Then she realized she was making a colossal mistake by accepting his invitation to lunch. This was Travis, her archenemy from Lyndon Valley. Why had she let her guard down?
Hey, Caleb, he said into the phone.
Then he paused and listened, brow furrowing in concern.
The driver put the limo into gear and pulled ahead.
Is everybody okay with that? he asked.
Danielle didnt want to be nosey, but she couldnt help think something was wrong back at the Jacobses ranch.
No. If thats what he wants, then it seems like a good solution. Travis paused again. Yeah. Sure. Ill get it done.
The limo pulled into the busy street, and Danielle hung on to a handle as they bumped from the hotel driveway. The Signature Room was only half a mile away, but traffic was busy.
Traviss gaze went to Danielle, a conspiratorial smile growing on his face. Shes here? Really?
She held her breath, not exactly sure why she wanted Caleb kept in the dark, but quite certain that she did.
Ill watch for her, said Travis. Thursday, it is. See you then.
He ended the call. Then he grinned at her. Caleb just informed me you were in Vegas.
Danielle struggled to frame the right words. She didnt want to offend Travis, but she didnt want anybody getting the wrong idea, either.
Relax, he drawled. Im not going to kiss and tell.
Her guilt turned to irritation. Nobodys kissing anyone.
Its an expression.
Her own phone chimed.
He glanced to her purse. Go for it. I did.
Thanks. She popped the snap and reached inside, extracting the slim phone. It was Caleb.
She pressed the answer button, watching Travis as she spoke. Hi, Caleb.
Traviss brows shot up. Then he grinned, shaking his head.
Hows the conference? Caleb asked.
Interesting, so far, said Danielle, thinking it was interesting, and on more than one level. Its going very well, she added.
Good. Glad to hear it. Listen, Im going to be in Vegas on Thursday.
Danielle shot a reflexive and accusatory glare at Travis. He could have mentioned that fact.
Youre coming to Vegas, she said to both men.
Were going to hold Alex Cables bachelor party there. You remember hes marrying Mandys cousin Lisa?
I do, Danielle confirmed.
Calebs wife, Mandy, had only recently discovered Lisa was her cousin. Lisa was Mayor Seth Jacobss Chief of Staff, and Danielle had worked with her on permitting for the Lyndon Valley railway. Alex also had a family connection. He was Mandys brother-in-law Zachs partner in DFB Brewing Company.
We were going to hold it at the brewery, but they ran into a problem with some renovations, so were moving to plan B. Hey, youll never guess who else is in Vegas this weekend.
Who? she asked, her voice going slightly high pitched as guilt contracted her stomach.
Travis. Hes going to plan everything, and well fly in Thursday afternoon. Id like to meet with you about the Columbia accounting firm and a couple of other things if you can still be there.
Sure, said Danielle. No problem. She had planned to fly back to Chicago on Tuesday, but Action Equipment was a very important client. Shed meet Caleb whenever and wherever he needed.
Hes bull riding, said Caleb.
Travis?
Mandy saw where he won yesterday.
Good for him, said Danielle.
Youre at the Emperor Plaza?
I am, she admitted.
Ill see if Travis can get our rooms there.
Good idea.
Perfect. Talk to you Thursday.
Ill see if Travis can get our rooms there.
Good idea.
Perfect. Talk to you Thursday.
Bye, Caleb. She pushed the end button, letting her hand drop into her lap.
Traviss phone rang.
Thatll be Caleb, she told him fatalistically. He wants you to get them rooms at the Emperor Plaza.
Travis grinned. Hi, Caleb.
The limo took a wide turn, and Danielle hung on again. It then came to a smooth stop in front of the restaurant entrance.
Sure, said Travis. Ill send the particulars as soon as I have them. You want strippers?
Danielle shot him a glower of disapproval.
Travis chuckled into the phone. Yeah, thats what I thought. I wouldnt want to tangle with her either.
The driver pulled opened the limo door, letting sunshine and warm air flood in. The noise from other traffic and the sidewalk crowds displaced the relative quiet of the limo.
Gotta go, said Travis. Ive got a hot lunch date.
Very funny, Danielle muttered as she shifted to the door.
Maam, said the driver, holding out his hand.
She accepted the offer of assistance, smoothing her skirt as she stepped onto the sidewalk. Travis climbed out, her bag in his hand.
He paid the driver. Then he generously tipped the maître d, and they were quickly shown to a table on the second-floor patio. They had a sun umbrella above them, flower boxes decorating the rail beside them, and a panoramic fountain display across the street. The white tablecloth billowed slightly in the breeze, held down by a low, floral centerpiece and an abundant setting of fine china, crystal and silver.
It was warm, and Danielle shrugged out of her gray blazer. The waiter offered to hang it up, and laid a linen napkin across her lap.
She glanced at her watch to see it was coming up on noon. I need to get back by one-thirty.
No problem, said Travis, accepting a slim, leather-bound menu from the waiter.
The man handed Danielle a menu, while a second waiter filled their glasses with distilled water. The traffic noise and stereo music wafted up to them, along with laughter and a few yelps from the crowds below as the fountains danced higher. It was only noon, but many youthful tourists were already in the party spirit.
Tell me you were joking about the strippers, said Danielle, focusing her attention across the table.
I was joking about the strippers.
That didnt sound sincere.
If Alex wanted strippers, Id get him strippers.
Would you want them at your bachelor party?
Nope. There wasnt the slightest hesitation in his answer.
Are you humoring me?
No.
Are you sure?
The Travis shed observed over the past two years was ribald and rowdy. She could easily picture him whooping it up at a bachelor party.
He sat forward, resting his forearms on the table and fixing his gaze on her. If I was getting married, I expect Id be seeing a gorgeous woman naked on a regular basis. I wouldnt have the slightest interest in anyone else.
Danielle had to give him points for that. Good answer.
Thank you. Im not without experience.
Seeing naked women? she joked.
Falling in love.
That answer threw her. Youre in love?
Travis was in a relationship? What had she missed? And why had a knot suddenly formed in her stomach?
I watched Caleb, Reed, Seth and Alex all fall head over heels in love. I think I know what to expect.
But youre not in love yourself?
Not yet. His expression turned reflective. But if it happens, I know Ill recognize the signs.
The knot in her stomach relaxed.
Your turn, he told her, his inquiring tone putting her on alert. Ever been in love?
Unsure how much she wanted to disclose to Travis, she bought herself a moment, reaching for two of the flowers in the centerpiece, switching their places to fix the balance.
Ive dated men I liked, she allowed. Some, I liked very much. But love? She shook her head. I probably wouldnt know the signs if they bit me on the backside.
I can tell you the signs, Travis offered easily. Or I can bite you on the backside. Your choice.
A rush of unexpected arousal raised the temperature on her skin.
Travis grinned. Youre blushing.
Im embarrassed. Youre far too crude.
No. He waggled his brows. Im exactly the right amount of crude.
Danielle couldnt help remembering Nadines brazen comments. Crude could be sexy. Crude could be very, very sexy.
Three
When Travis spotted Danielle across the lobby that evening, he knew his hunch had paid off. Randal was with her, as hed expected. They were part of a larger group that included her friends Astra, Nadine and Odette, obviously gathering together before leaving for a function.
She was dressed in a black cocktail dress. He wouldnt call it basic. It was off the shoulder, with a lace trimmed neckline that sparkled with inset jewels. The hammered satin molded to her breasts, fitting her waist, and flowed smoothly down to midthigh. She wore delicate diamond earrings, and a thin, diamond choker.
Her shoes were silver, barely there, with long, thin heels that made him want to peel them off and toss them in the corner of his hotel room.
Randal clearly felt the same way. The man was practically salivating as he gazed at her shapely legs. Danielle was slender, very much suited to elegant clothes. But, with big, brown eyes and full, red lips, she looked sophisticated one minute, innocent the next. A man didnt know whether to protect her or ravish her. Travis wanted to do both.
While the group chatted, he made his way closer. Hed picked up a suit in one of the hotel shops. It was basic, charcoal-gray, with a white shirt and silver striped tie. His hair was trimmed neat, his face clean-shaven. The only thing that differentiated him from the lawyers in the room was a pair of polished, black cowboy boots.
Travis, Nadine sang out, motioning him over. Look, Danielle. Its Travis.
Danielle spotted him, and her round eyes went wider still. It might have been the shock of having him show up unexpectedly, but he hoped it was surprise at how well hed cleaned up.
Hed made her at least an hour late for her workshops this afternoon. He should have felt guilty about that, but he didnt. They hadnt made any plans to see each other again. But hed guessed that whatever evening shindig was being put on by the conference would start in the lobby.
Nadine skipped over and gave him a friendly hug. She was dressed in deep purple with lots of sequins.
She pulled back. You look terrific.
Thanks. He made a show of taking in her dress and her dangling earrings. You look very beautiful yourself.
She gave a delighted grin at the compliment.
His gaze moved to Danielle, catching Randals scowl on the way by, and experiencing a thrill of satisfaction.
Good evening, Danielle.
Travis, she acknowledged evenly, an unspoken question in her eyes. She likely wanted to know what on earth he was doing.
Nice to see you again, Randal. He nodded to the man. Astra, Odette. His gaze paused on a thin, expensively dressed, older woman, standing next to a man who looked to be her husband.