by Lori Wilde
“You can't be too lazy. I bet you worked hard when you were in the Navy,” she said. “And working on your brother’s ranch has got to be hard.”
He tried to think about her comments, but the only thoughts crowding into his brain were about all the things he'd like to do with and to Dani.
When she repeated her comment, he said, “That's why I got out of the Navy. I didn't like having to jump when someone told me to jump.”
“Ah, an independent soul,” she said, and then she flexed her fingers across his skin, caressing him lightly. “And now? What do you want to do now?”
Her expression was completely innocent, but there was nothing innocent about her touch. He could have let it go and pretended it wasn't happening, but that probably wasn't the smartest thing for either of them.
“End this.”
She looked baffled.
He sighed and moved his arm away. “If I can’t give you sexy looks, then you don't get to caress my arm.”
She opened her mouth, no doubt to protest, but immediately shut it and nodded. “You're right. Fair is fair.”
She got the waitress’ attention and asked for the bill. When it arrived, he snagged it from her.
“Chauvinist,” she said when he pulled out his credit card.
“I’ll add it to your bill,” he teased, knowing full well he wouldn’t.
After dinner, they walked outside. The night air was still warm, and Travis knew he needed to get away from Dani before he did something stupid.
“I guess we should head back to your ranch now so I can get my car,” she said when they reached his truck.
Travis reached around her and unlocked her door. Dani’s tone sounded stiff, and he’d bet anything she was mad. He felt half like a jerk and half like a hero. On the one hand, he hadn't meant to upset her, but on the other hand, he was only human.
They were both quiet on the ride back to his ranch. She was probably feeling the way he felt, that if things were different, something definitely would happen between them. Desire again surrounded them, and it took a lot of self-control to ignore it.
But he did. He didn't do or say a thing that would give in to the lust he felt burning hot within him for Dani. Instead, he played it cool. He parked near her car and turned off the engine.
“Are you coming with me tomorrow when I interview the next person?” he asked, figuring she'd say no.
“Of course, I am.” She shoved open her door and was half out when she added, “Oh, and I'm sorry about tonight. I'm usually smarter than that.”
Before he could say a thing, she was out of his truck and heading toward her car. Travis climbed out, intending to stop her but then realized he shouldn't. It was better this way.
So he stood near the back of his truck and watched her unlock her door. She seemed cool and calm, but he'd bet his Mavericks season tickets that was all an act.
“Have a good night,” she said, opening her car door. She dropped her things inside, climbed in, then buckled her seat belt. After a second, Travis noticed something was wrong, because she started muttering and mumbling.
“Don't say a word,” she told him.
Travis bit back a smile. Yeah, she was far from calm. “Hey, I can be uncoordinated, too. What did you do?”
“Nothing. And don't talk,” she said, which only made him laugh more.
“Seriously, let me help you.” He took a step forward, but she once again told him to stay where he was. After a minute, he figured it was safe to get closer, and when he did, he saw she'd caught her T-shirt in her seat belt.
“Need some help?” he asked, leaning inside her car a little.
Dani immediately leaned away from him. “What are you doing?”
“Helping.” He hunkered next to her seat. She'd smashed the buckle of the seat belt into the lock and jammed a big chunk of her T-shirt in with it.
“I hope this doesn't tear,” he said, slowly moving her hands away. “It's a nice T-shirt.”
Dani kept fiddling with the belt and the shirt, and no matter how many times he tried to help, she just kept saying she had it.
Finally, he sighed. “You're going to ruin your shirt.”
Turning her head, Dani looked at him. He tried to read her expression, tried to tell what she was thinking, and at first, he couldn't.
Then he saw the fire. Burning deep within her amazing black eyes was a heat like none he'd ever seen. Desire had caught her in its spell just as it had him, and she was feeling the same undertow of attraction that he was feeling.
“I should leave,” she said softly, her gaze never leaving his.
“Yes,” he said, reaching out and touching her cheek gently. “You should leave.”
Her gaze moved to his lips, and Travis felt the air whoosh from his lungs. Man, she looked as hungry as he felt, and he found himself moving closer.
“I really, really should leave,” she said, but her words were meaningless since she was still staring at his lips.
“Yes.” He brushed the hair off her face. “Leaving would be the smart thing to do.”
“And I'm very smart,” she answered. She met his gaze once more, and a teasing, tempting smile formed on her lips. “Or at least, I used to be.”
Then, with a little murmur of defeat, she kissed him.
Chapter Four
The first thing that occurred to Dani as she kissed Travis was that he was a wonderful kisser. Really. A truly first-class, knock-your-socks off, melt-you-into-a-puddle kisser.
And the second thing that occurred to her was she was a fool. What intelligent woman kissed Travis Walker? It was as foolish as standing under a tree during a lightning storm. Something bad was bound to happen.
She pondered that while she tipped her head and continued to kiss him. Travis kissed just as she'd known he would—with finesse. He used just enough pressure to curl her toes. Girls had talked in high school about how talented he was, and she could now personally testify that yes, the man had talent.
“You're thinking about the kiss,” he murmured against her lips. “I can almost hear your brain whirling around in there.”
Dani didn't want the kiss to end yet. Despite the whole foolish factor, she was enjoying herself immensely. “Um, no.”
He nibbled on the corner of her mouth. “Um, yes.”
She smiled, and typical of sneaky Travis Walker, he took advantage of the situation. He deepened the kiss, effectively finding a way to get her to stop thinking about anything but him.
Dani wrapped her arms around his neck and turned herself over to the kiss. If she was going to be foolish, this certainly was a pleasant way to accomplish it.
She had no idea how long she sat in her car kissing Travis, but she didn't regret a second of it. In fact, the only regret she had was when he finally broke off the kiss and looked at her in the dim light from the interior of her car.
“That was nice,” he said, his deep voice washing over Dani like warm water.
“Yes.” For a second, she considered him and debated what else to say. Common sense told her she should explain all the reasons why they shouldn't have kissed, but right at this moment, she was simply too happy to do that.
Instead, she decided to leave well enough alone. Travis was a smart guy. He knew they couldn't get involved. He didn't need her to point out the blatantly obvious to him.
For once she decided not to analyze a situation to death and instead just accept it. She flashed Travis a smile, started her car, and said, “I guess I'll see you in the morning. We still need one or two good curse recipients on our side if we’re going to convince Carl Whitley not to file this suit.”
Dani knew Travis had expected her to do a postmortem on the kiss, and he seemed really happy she wasn't. He stood and said, “Okay. Meet you here at ten. Drive safely.”
With that, he shut the driver's door to her car and walked away. Dani watched him go. This whole not-talking-things-over had some definite upsides. They'd avoided any scenes, any melodrama.
> They'd shared a kiss. Big deal. They'd both ignore that it had happened and simply go on with their lives.
Sounded good to her.
THE NEXT MORNING, TRAVIS glanced over at Dani as they walked across the campus of Grayton College and couldn't help wondering what was going on. Since when didn't women want to talk about things like kisses? What was up with Dani?
She seemed extremely happy this morning and hadn't mentioned the searing kiss they'd shared the night before. What about the agreement they'd had to just be friends? Didn't she want to discuss that?
Man, he was losing it. He should be happy she wanted to let it go. He certainly didn't want to talk about the kiss. What guy ever wanted to talk about things like that?
But since when didn't a woman want to dissect it to pieces?
“Did you get a chance to explain to Dr. Knightly what we wanted to see him about?” Dani asked, not a trace of discomfort in her tone.
Travis pulled his mind back to the subject at hand. Today, they were meeting with another of Freda's curse recipients—Dr. Andrew Knightly. He taught in the psychology department at Grayton College and had told Travis during their phone conversation that he didn't believe in things like curses and spells.
“Yes, he knows we're coming, and he guarantees that your grandmother had no impact on his life.” Travis stopped and looked at the signs pointing to the various buildings. Why was it that colleges had the most complicated building names?
“He said he's in B45-12.” Travis walked over to the campus map hanging in a display case outside what looked to be the student union. “I think it's that way,” he said, pointing left.
Dani leaned around him and looked at the map, too. She brushed against his arm as she moved, and just like that, memories of last night's kiss slammed into his brain.
Man, it had been one spectacular kiss. He hadn't really expected it to rock his world the way it had. He'd always liked Dani, but he'd never expected them to share the kind of chemistry they'd experienced last night.
Not that she seemed overly impressed by it.
“No, I think the psych building is to the right,” she said, pointing away from where they were standing.
“No, it's not.” He nodded at the map. “The bookstore is directly behind us, so in that case, the psych building has to be to the left.”
Dani tipped her head, the gesture making her look downright irresistible. “I think you're wrong.”
“Hey, who's the private detective here?” Travis asked. “Figuring things out is what I do for a living. I think if I can solve intricate cases, I can read one little map. You have to learn to trust me.”
Dani laughed, and Travis had to admit, he really liked that sound. She had a great laugh, rich and full and vibrant. It wasn't that feigned polite kind of laugh a lot of women used. When Dani laughed, he knew she meant it.
“Did I accidentally insult your deductive powers?” She had a definite twinkle in her eyes. “Sorry about that. Don't want to cause any lasting psychological damage.” With a wink she added, “But if I do, maybe the psychologist we're going to meet can help you. Arrange for some therapy. Stuff like that.”
“I'll keep it in mind,” he said, leaning closer to the map. It was the worst drawing he'd ever seen. None of the buildings looked like what they were. Plus, according to the map, Dani and he were standing in the middle of a lake rather than on a sidewalk.
To find this building, he didn't need to be a detective, he needed to be a psychic.
“So which way do we go, oh mighty leader?” Dani asked.
Travis chuckled. “Cute.”
“Why, thank you. I think you're cute, too.”
She sure was in a playful mood this morning. He couldn't help wondering if the kiss they'd shared had anything to do with it. He knew it couldn't be the progress they were making on the case because they weren't making any.
“Apology accepted,” he said and then nodded toward the left. His gut told him to go that way. “The psych building is over there.”
Dani looked dubious, but said, “Okay, I guess there's only one way to find out.”
Making certain he didn't show her any of the uncertainty he was feeling, he led the way. Okay, so he wasn't one hundred percent certain they were going in the right direction, but he wasn't about to admit that to Dani. A guy had to have some dignity.
Thankfully, after they'd passed four large white buildings, they came to a smaller brown and beige building labeled Psychology. Travis didn't even try not to grin.
“Did I tell you I was a good detective or what?” he asked.
Dani laughed. “I can't believe you found it. Well, that proves I hired the right person for this case. I mean, if you can find a clearly marked four-story building in the middle of the day when surrounded by maps, then you can find anything.”
Travis waved one hand toward the building. “Like I said, you've got to learn to trust me.”
He was smiling as he followed Dani inside the building. No two ways about it, he was going to miss her once she moved away. Looking back, he guessed he should have tried harder to stay in touch with the gang from high school. Sure, they'd all grown up and gotten busy, but that was just an excuse. Friends were friends, and he should try to hold on to the true ones.
True ones like Dani.
“I can't believe this man doesn't hate my grandmother,” Dani said.
They'd reached the elevator, and while they waited, Travis pulled out his phone and scanned the notes he'd made when he'd talked to Dr. Knightly.
“Didn't seem to hold any resentment against Freda. In fact, I think he found her quite charming.”
“Yeah, charming in a scary, I'm-putting-a-curse-on-you way,” Dani added dryly.
“Hey, all she did was hit his car and then curse him. Now why wouldn't the man find her charming?” Travis teased.
“She didn't hit his car,” Dani said as the elevator doors opened. “She nudged it.”
“Nudged it? She totaled the back end of his car and then said it was his fault,” Travis pointed out.
Obviously knowing she'd lost this fight, Dani sighed loudly. “Okay, maybe Freda should have handled the situation a little differently.”
“A lot differently,” he clarified.
“But if she had, then he wouldn't remember her, and we definitely need him to remember her.”
“Freda is a hard woman to forget,” Travis noted, and then he looked at Dani.
Speaking of hard women to forget, Dani was just like her grandmother. Even though their kiss had been short, he'd already played it back in his mind several times. He'd undoubtedly play it back in his mind many more times, too.
Forgetting Dani was going to take some serious work.
As the elevator doors slid open, the thought hit him that it was probably a good thing Dani was moving away. He wasn't the type to get serious, and if one simple kiss could fog his mind this way, what would happen if they did more than kiss?
Nothing good, that's for sure.
DR. ANDREW KNIGHTLY was a huge man with graying hair who Dani estimated to be in his early fifties. He certainly didn't fit the stereotype of a college professor. There was nothing stuffy or reserved about him. In fact, he was built more like a professional wrestler than an academic.
And when he enthusiastically shook Dani's hand, it was all she could do not to wince.
“Good to meet you.” He had a wide smile on his round face and looked completely sincere.
“I'm happy to meet you, too,” Dani said, then internally breathed a sigh of relief when he released her poor hand and turned his attention to Travis. She felt as if she should warn Travis about the ferocity of the handshake he was about to experience, but there was no polite way to do it.
Thankfully, Travis seemed to do better than she had. He didn't seem the least uncomfortable as Andrew violently shook his hand.
“I can't believe someone is suing your sweet grandmother,” Andrew said once he released Travis’ hand. “Even thou
gh it was years ago, I still remember how nice and friendly she was.”
Dani shot a quick glance at Travis, who seemed as baffled as she was. “I'm surprised to hear you say that since she smashed your car.”
Andrew laughed loudly. “Yeah, I know. It seems kind of strange considering that after she plowed into my car, she read me the riot act. But I've always considered myself a good judge of character, and your grandmother is a sweet person at heart.”
Well, he was right about that. Her grandmother was a sweet person on the inside. It was the outside that people often misunderstood.
“She told you that love would perpetually confuse you,” Dani said, mentally crossing her fingers that this man would be the witness they needed. “Do you feel that her words had any effect on your life?”
Rather than simply blurting out an answer, Dani watched as Andrew seriously considered her question. Finally, he shook his head.
“I've been very fortunate in my life. I fell in love in graduate school. My wife and I have been married for fifteen years and have two great children. I've had a lot of love in my life, but I can't say the emotion has confused me. If anything, I knew the second I met my then-future wife that she was the woman for me.” He smiled, obviously enjoying the memory. “She says it was the same for her. One look and we were in love.”
Dani really liked his story, and not just because it obviously would help their case. She liked believing that it was possible to meet someone and, pow, know instinctively that they were the right person for you.
She glanced at Travis, wondering what he thought of the story and half expected him to have a cynical expression on his face. But instead, he was smiling.
“You're a lucky man,” Travis told the professor. “And we're lucky, too, because that story is exactly what we need to help Freda.”
“Good. I'm glad I can help.” He pushed open the door behind him. “Let me show you a picture of my wife and our sons.”
Dani happily followed him into the small room, which turned out to be sort of a laboratory. She glanced around, noting rows of cages that lined the counters.