LITMIR.BIZ

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shot a reflexive and accusatory glare at Travis. He could have mentioned that fact.

      “You’re coming to Vegas,” she said to both men.

      “We’re going to hold Alex Cable’s bachelor party there. You remember he’s marrying Mandy’s cousin Lisa?”

      “I do,” Danielle confirmed.

      Caleb’s wife, Mandy, had only recently discovered Lisa was her cousin. Lisa was Mayor Seth Jacobs’s Chief of Staff, and Danielle had worked with her on permitting for the Lyndon Valley railway. Alex also had a family connection. He was Mandy’s brother-in-law Zach’s partner in DFB Brewing Company.

      “We were going to hold it at the brewery, but they ran into a problem with some renovations, so we’re moving to plan B. Hey, you’ll never guess who else is in Vegas this weekend.”

      “Who?” she asked, her voice going slightly high pitched as guilt contracted her stomach.

      “Travis. He’s going to plan everything, and we’ll fly in Thursday afternoon. I’d 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. She’d meet Caleb whenever and wherever he needed.

      “He’s bull riding,” said Caleb.

      “Travis?”

      “Mandy saw where he won yesterday.”

      “Good for him,” said Danielle.

      “You’re at the Emperor Plaza?”

      “I am,” she admitted.

      “I’ll 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.

      Travis’s phone rang.

      “That’ll 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. “I’ll 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, that’s what I thought. I wouldn’t 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. “I’ve got a hot lunch date.”

      “Very funny,” Danielle muttered as she shifted to the door.

      “Ma’am,” 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 didn’t sound sincere.”

      “If Alex wanted strippers, I’d get him strippers.”

      “Would you want them at your bachelor party?”

      “Nope.” There wasn’t the slightest hesitation in his answer.

      “Are you humoring me?”

      “No.”

      “Are you sure?”

      The Travis she’d 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 I’d be seeing a gorgeous woman naked on a regular basis. I wouldn’t have the slightest interest in anyone else.”

      Danielle had to give him points for that. “Good answer.”

      “Thank you. I’m not without experience.”

      “Seeing naked women?” she joked.

      “Falling in love.”

      That answer threw her. “You’re 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 you’re not in love yourself?”

      “Not yet.” His expression turned reflective. “But if it happens, I know I’ll 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.

      “I’ve dated men I liked,” she allowed. “Some, I liked very much. But love?” She shook her head. “I probably wouldn’t 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. “You’re blushing.”

      “I’m embarrassed. You’re far too crude.”

      “No.” He waggled his brows. “I’m exactly the right amount of crude.”

      Danielle couldn’t help remembering Nadine’s 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 he’d 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

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