The Last Cowboy Standing

by Barbara Dunlop

  “Interesting, so far,” said Danielle, thinking it was interesting, and on more than one level. “It’s going very well,” she added.

  “Good. Glad to hear it. Listen, I’m going to be in Vegas on Thursday.”

  Danielle 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 in a black cocktail dress. He wouldn’t 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 didn’t know w
hether to protect her or ravish her. Travis wanted to do both.

  While the group chatted, he made his way closer. He’d 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. It’s 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 he’d cleaned up.

  He’d made her at least an hour late for her workshops this afternoon. He should have felt guilty about that, but he didn’t. They hadn’t made any plans to see each other again. But he’d 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 Randal’s 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.

  “Claude and Catherine Hedley,” Danielle introduced. “This is Travis Jacobs. Travis is from Lyndon Valley, Colorado. He’s a friend of Caleb Terrell, Active Equipment, one of my major clients.”

  Catherine Hedley gave a warm smile. “So nice to meet you, Mr. Jacobs. Are you attending the conference?”

  Travis stepped forward to gently shake the older woman’s hand. “Please, call me Travis. I’m not a lawyer, ma’am.”

  Randal piped up. “He’s a bull rider.”

  Claude Hedley looked surprised by the revelation.

  “I’m a rancher, sir.” Travis held out his hand to Claude. “Our spread is next door to Caleb’s in Lyndon Valley.”

  “And he won first prize last night,” Odette put in helpfully.

  “Caleb diversified into Active Equipment many years ago,” Danielle elaborated, obviously trying to make up for the social gaffe of being acquainted with a bull rider. “While the Jacobs family has gone into politics, the arts in New York, and a fast-growing international brewing company.”

  “The brewery is my brother-in-law,” said Travis, unwilling to push the spin too far. “I just take care of the cattle.”

  Claude Hedley shook his hand. “Call me Claude. It sounds like your family is up and coming.”

  “His sister is Katrina Jacobs,” said Astra. “The ballet dancer.”

  Travis glanced at her in surprise.

  “I’ve got internet,” said Astra.

  “Danielle, your friend should join us for the reception,” Catherine Hedley put in. Then she looked to Travis. “We’re touring the Van Ostram Botanical Gardens.”

  Randal obviously couldn’t hold his tongue. “I’m sure Travis has plans with the rodeo crowd.”

  “As a matter of fact,” said Travis, glancing at his watch. “I just had a meeting postponed.”

  “That settles it,” said Catherine with another smile. “You know, I do believe I’ve seen your sister dance.”

  “She’s been with the Liberty Ballet for several years now.”

  “That makes sense, then.”

  “We can catch the limos out front,” Claude offered, stretching out an arm to invite them to proceed.

  Randal swiftly sidled up to Danielle. They were slightly ahead of Travis as the group began to move.

  “What are you doing?” Randal hissed at her in clear annoyance.

  “What do you expect me to do?”

  “Get rid of him.”

  “How would you suggest I do that?”

  Travis couldn’t tell whether Danielle thought getting rid of him was a good idea or not. It didn’t really matter, since he wasn’t going anywhere except with her. Randal might be able to snow Danielle about his intentions, but Travis was on to him, and he was going to force the man to show his hand.

  “You need their support,” said Randal.

  “They’ve already made me an offer,” Danielle countered.

  “Getting through the door is only the first step.”

  “Catherine invited him, not me.”

  “Everything the man says and does tonight will reflect on you.”

  Travis bit his tongue. He was tempted to tell Randal he’d do his level best not to spit and swear in front of the Hedleys. But he didn’t want Randal to know he could overhear.

  The group was forced to split up, taking two of the black Escalade SUVs. Randal jockeyed hard, but ended up with the Hedleys and Odette, where he politely, if reluctantly, offered to clamber into the third-row seat.

  Travis intended to do the same in the other vehicle, but Nadine insisted that she, Astrid and Danielle could fit in the middle seat, and Travis should ride up front. The driver slanted a covetous glance at the three beautiful women in his rearview mirror and gave Travis a discrete thumbs-up as they pulled away.

  When Astrid expressed a desire for breath mints, Travis asked the driver to stop and hopped out to buy them for her. He took enough time to be certain the Hedleys’ group would have headed into the reception by the time the second Escalade arrived at the gardens.

  Travis tipped the driver and helped each of the women out of the vehicle. The trees at the entrance were lit with tiny white lights. Glowing orange lanterns illuminated a stone walkway, while colored spots gave a fantasy aura to the leafy plants and flowering gardens.

  Danielle moved up beside him as they passed a glowing, purple pond. “What exactly are you doing?”

  Travis considered a range of answers and decided to be honest. “I’m making him stark raving mad.”

  “Why? I’m sure you had far better things to do tonight than hang out with a bunch of stuffy lawyers.”

  “You’re not a stuffy lawyer.”

  “You know what I mean.”

  “He’s going to show his hand, Danielle. He can’t stand the competition, and he’s going to make a pass at you. And then you’ll know.”

  “Know what?”

  Travis counted off on his fingers. “That he’s willing to cheat on his girlfriend. That this was never about a job. That he wants you back in his life, back in his bed.”

  She went silent for a long moment. “It’s not true.”

  “Yes, it is.”

  “Why do you even care?”

  The question stopped Travis. It took him a minute to collect his thoughts. “I care because he’s lying to you.”

  They walked a bit farther in silence, beneath a canopy of oaks, green, red and blue spots glowing up their trunks.

  Finally, she drew an audible breath. “What you’re doing doesn’t make sense, Travis.”

  “Why does it have to make sense?” Even as he said the words, he knew she was right. He had absolutely no reason to meddle in her life.

  “Everything has to make some kind of sense,” she countered.

  “Maybe to a lawyer. But cowboys operate on instinct.”

  She paused at the bottom of the stairs that led up to the pavilion, turning to face him. Astrid and Nadine were several yards ahead.

  “And, what’s your instinct t
elling you?” she asked.

  He gazed down at her. His instinct was telling him to kiss her, and kiss her hard. But he couldn’t do that here. Not that he could do it anywhere.

  “It’s telling me he’s no good for you, Danielle. He’s no good for you, and I’m the only guy around to stop him.”

  “I am a grown woman, Travis. I can stop him all by myself.”

  Travis smiled at that. In many ways it was true. But his way was faster, and he didn’t like the odds that she’d end up getting hurt. “He’s too sneaky, and you’re too kind.”

  “What do you mean I’m kind? I fight with you all the time.”

  “It’s safe for you to fight with me.”

  She tilted her pretty head sideways, and he couldn’t help but think it was the perfect angle to kiss. “Your instincts telling you that, too?” she asked tartly.

  “Yep. And they’re infallible.” He offered her his arm to walk up the staircase.

  * * *

  Inside the reception, Danielle left Travis to his own devises. She quickly found herself swept up in a whirlwind of introductions and conversations with the who’s who of Nester and Hedley. It seemed they were interested in her South American experience. Brazil and Columbia were rising on everyone’s trade radar in D.C., and their expertise was weak for the region. They saw an opportunity to get in early on this new wave, and they wanted Danielle to head up an entire division.

  It was a genuine, exciting offer that didn’t appear to have anything to do with Randal. In fact, she’d barely seen him since they arrived. The senior partners seemed to know her entire professional history, even details of Caleb’s Active Equipment activities and challenges in Columbia.

  It was close to eleven when, throat raw from talking over the music, and feet sore from her high shoes, she pushed her way up to a bar stool and asked the bartender for a soda and lime.

  “He’s watching you,” came Travis’s deep voice from behind her left ear. He took the stool next to her.

  “He’s barely said a word to me all night long. Honestly, the only person creeping me out here, is you.”

  “He’s known where you were every second.”

  She angled toward him. “First, I don’t believe you. Second, I’ve been talking with his bosses. They’re the ones who have his attention, not me.”