by Susanna Carr
He nodded. She looked as nervous as she had when she suited up for the sky jump. He couldn’t imagine why. “I know, I know, you’ve seen one nightclub, you’ve seen them all. But I promise, this one is different.”
“Dancing?” she repeated. She snapped her mouth shut and flipped back her hair. “Eh, sounds a little tame, Travis.”
He gave her a slow, wicked smile. “Then you’re not doing it right.”
* * *
NOT DOING IT RIGHT. Christine nervously thought about Travis’s words as they stepped into the nightclub an hour later. It was more like not doing it at all.
She looked around the nightclub. It wasn’t like anything she had expected, but then she had never been to a club. They didn’t have any around Cedar Valley.
The place was obviously popular, but she wasn’t sure why. The white walls, pink lights and sheer curtains didn’t look exotic or mysterious. The live band was good but she didn’t recognize any of the music. The dance floor was filled with men and women her age, their hands up in the air as they swayed to the beat. Christine’s shoulders tightened as she surveyed the unfamiliar setting. She didn’t know the latest dance moves or what drink to order.
She glanced at Travis, who stood by her side. He had changed into a dark suit and a gray shirt. Christine bit her bottom lip as she looked at her blue dress. It was limp and tired. She hadn’t considered changing. Should she have? This was really the only dress she had to go clubbing.
She frowned. Was she even using the correct verb? Did they use the term clubbing anymore? She just didn’t know.
Christine knew she shouldn’t be this nervous, but it had been so long since she had danced. Dancing meant losing control and surrendering to the music. It revealed what was going on inside her. She couldn’t show that, not back at home.
She always had to be on her best behavior in Cedar Valley. She had discovered that when she first started working at the bank. Her community wanted to know that she was a reliable and serious person. That they could trust her. People had no sense of humor when it came to their money and valuables. And for good reason. But now it had gone too far and for too long. She’d lost a piece of her identity in the process. A sense of her true self.
Christine had yielded to the town’s expectations because she needed the job. She thought it was going to be temporary, but she had stayed and didn’t recognize the gradual shift in herself during the years. The flirty clothes she used to wear were replaced with appropriate work attire in dull colors. She never did anything “out there” or that caused a scene, no matter how much she wanted to. But did any of it pay off? No. Instead of being rewarded for her efforts, her life was in a rut.
That needed to change, even if it meant continuing to take wild weekends away from Cedar Valley. It was going to be a balancing act to keep everything she’d worked hard for and still fulfill her dreams. As fascinating as Travis’s life sounded, she knew it wasn’t for her. She needed a safety net and a place to call home.
“What do you think?” Travis asked, his mouth close to her ear.
Christine shivered with anticipation as his warm breath caressed her skin. She couldn’t wait for him to kiss her again. She didn’t know if that was going to happen, but she couldn’t make the next move. Old habits died hard.
“It’s great.” Christine looked around and saw quite a few bachelorette parties on the floor. She looked at the bar and noticed two men staring at her. It wasn’t a flirtatious look or even one of interest. They were watchful as they zeroed in on her among all the other women in the club.
They looked familiar but she wasn’t sure why. “Do you know those guys?” she asked Travis, gesturing with a nod of her head. “They keep looking at us.”
Travis gave a quick glance. “No, never met them,” he said tightly. “Come on, let’s dance.”
Travis grasped her elbow and led her onto the dance floor. There was barely any room, yet he managed to cut through the crowd with ease. She envied that skill. She imagined he didn’t have any trouble finding a path through a maze or a jungle.
A stunning woman with silky red hair gave him a long, lingering glance. Travis didn’t seem to notice. The redhead was sleek and sophisticated in a little black dress. She was a symbol of effortless elegance, and Christine couldn’t compete. She felt like a broken-down car next to a Ferrari.
Christine hesitated, but Travis gently pulled her forward. Why was Travis with her? He could have any woman he wanted. Was it because he thought she was a kindred spirit? Bold, adventurous and wild? She hoped he never found out the truth.
Travis stopped in the middle of the dance floor and turned around. Christine’s heart began to pump hard as he gathered her close in his arms. Her body was on full alert as she curled her arms over his shoulders. She was surrounded by him. His scent, his heat. Christine looked away, unable to meet his gaze. She felt safe and protected in the sea of people and yet she felt just as she had when she’d been on the edge of the Top of the City Hotel, ready to let go and fall.
She wanted to pursue this. Pursue Travis. It didn’t make sense. She didn’t have flings. She had relationships. Loving, committed relationships with a future. She wasn’t thinking about that with Travis.
And yet, she wanted him more than she wanted to check something off her list. But she couldn’t repeat that mistake. She couldn’t allow a man to distract her from a goal. When she had delayed her dreams for Darrell, she had considered the pros and cons. She thought it had been the right decision to stay in Cedar Valley and make their relationship a priority.
A lot of good that did. She should have put herself and her dreams first. This time her dream list was top priority. She wanted Travis more than she wanted to climb Mount Rainier or get a tattoo, but she simply couldn’t leave Vegas with nothing crossed off her dream list.
As she followed Travis’s movements, her breasts brushing against his chest, Christine fought back the urge to roll her hips against his. She hadn’t crossed anything off her list and she had only two more days here.
What if she crossed one thing off her list before exploring this thing with Travis? The excitement started to fizz through her veins as she grabbed hold of this idea. Just one. That was all she needed. Complete one goal and then she could add Travis to her list.
“You look very serious all of a sudden,” Travis said against her ear.
A one-night stand. But it wasn’t enough. She wanted more than one night, one time.
“Relax,” he continued. “I won’t let anything happen to you.”
But she wanted something to happen. Something that would change her life. Her point of view.
“I was thinking I haven’t checked anything off my list since I got to Vegas,” she said. What would be the easiest thing to accomplish? Something quick. She didn’t want to waste any more time. The sooner she crossed something off her list, the sooner she could start her wild night with Travis.
“We’ll have to do something about that,” he said as his hands slid down the small of her back. “What’s on your list?”
You. And by this time tomorrow, Travis Cain will have been added and checked off her list. “How do you feel about the Grand Canyon?”
“I can make that happen.” Travis said.
Christine smiled. “I know you can.”
5
WHAT WAS HE doing wrong? Travis had Christine in the palm of his hand last night. She had been so attuned to his body that they moved as one on the dance floor without thinking about it.
It was obvious that she didn’t want the night to end, yet she went to her hotel room alone. Today she’d refrained from touching him, as if she’d been having second thoughts. He had felt her hot gaze on him, had caught the yearning looks before she glanced away, but she’d kept her distance all morning and afternoon.
It had been agony to be on
his best behavior all day, Travis thought as he watched Christine feed another dollar into the slot machine. He knew he had to keep moving to avoid Pitts and Underwood, but all he really wanted to do was stop time, find a private corner and pull Christine back into his arms.
“It’s official. Lady Luck hates me,” Christine announced as she raised her hands and glared at the slot machine. “That’s all there is to it. The world knows what I want and won’t let me have it.”
“An extreme view,” Travis said with a smile. And he knew it was a temporary one. He wondered when she would show a sign of exasperation. They’d had a streak of bad luck, but Christine didn’t allow it to slow her down. She kept looking for the next adventure.
This time she was dressed as if prepared for anything. Her hair was pulled back in a ponytail and she wore sneakers. Her tight jeans accentuated her long legs, and her snug hot-pink T-shirt had the words Las Vegas emblazoned on the front. As much as he enjoyed the sight of her in the blue dress and high heels, he had a feeling this casual look was more like her.
Travis glanced at his watch and knew they were running out of time. Night was about to fall and Christine had to check out of the hotel tomorrow at noon to catch her flight home. They had spent most of the day trying to find one thing Christine could cross off her list.
Little did she know that he was slowly piecing together her dream list and getting an intimate view of her. She had a fascination with speed and a fear of fire. She felt more comfortable with nature than in an urban setting. And for a woman who seemed to have a lot of friends, Christine didn’t include them in her dreams. All her goals could be done solo.
“I’m sorry.” She pressed her lips together and shook her head. “I didn’t mean that. I’ve been having a great time. I really have. I loved driving the Ferrari, and I can’t believe I jumped off a building. I can’t wait to tell Jill about that.”
Jill. Her best friend, who owned a dry-cleaning store. It felt as if he knew every citizen in Cedar Valley now. It sounded like the kind of quaint town he’d seen only in the movies. The kind where no one locked their doors and everyone looked out for one another. The kind of place that would make him feel claustrophobic. “She won’t believe you,” he said.
“Probably not. That’s okay, because I know I did it,” Christine said. Her proud smile faded. “But I wanted to check one thing off my list. I won’t forgive myself if I don’t do it. I set aside this weekend to work on it. If I fail in that endeavor, what does it say about me?”
“Nothing. It says something about the goals,” he said as he curled his arm around her shoulders and guided her away from the slot machine. He wanted to draw her closer but knew he’d be pushing his luck. “It can take time to achieve one. It could also mean that you have to modify a goal.”
“You mean downsize it?” Christine shook her head. “No, that’s cheating. That’s not what my list is about. It’s about going for it. No compromising. No holding back.”
“The list you won’t let me see.” He said it in a teasing tone, but her secrecy was starting to bother him. Why didn’t she trust him with her dreams? She still seemed uncomfortable with his help. Did she suspect he had an ulterior motive? Or was she not used to having support?
“You know some of it,” she muttered as her cheeks turned red. “I wrote it knowing no one else would see it. Some of those goals are private.”
“I understand. When I was growing up, I wanted to climb Mount Everest. I told my friends and they thought it was a joke. They didn’t think I could do it. They didn’t think I would leave home.” A goal revealed a lot about a person. It was more than pushing the limit or boundaries. It showed not only their heart’s desire, but also what they lacked in life. What they wanted more than anything. Travis had learned to be careful in telling someone his dream and revealing why he kept challenging himself. It had been his way of protecting himself. He didn’t want anyone to say his goals were never going to happen.
“And you left home. You showed them. What are your goals now?”
“Never return home. Never stop moving.” Travis sighed and shook his head to rid himself of those thoughts. “Okay, the helicopter ride to the Grand Canyon fell through.” That had been bad luck that all the helicopters were grounded due to high winds. “So did the land sailing. We could zip-line down Boulder Canyon.”
Christine shook her head. “It sounds like fun, but it’s not on my list.”
“Here’s a thought,” he said, leaning toward her and whispering theatrically. “Ignore the list.”
“Right now I would love to.” She glanced up at him, and he saw the glitter of desire in her eyes. She determinedly turned her head away. “But tomorrow I’ll wake up and wish I had stayed focused.”
“There’s nothing wrong with adapting. I had to learn that skill when I first started traveling. Some of my best times happen when I ignore my itinerary.”
Christine stopped and gave him a look, raising her eyebrow. “You don’t strike me as a guy who would have an itinerary.”
She would be surprised. He had a clear itinerary for what he would like to do with her. First he would drag that rubber band from her ponytail and sink his hands into her soft brown hair. Then he would tilt her head back and claim her mouth with his.... The air hissed between his teeth as he grew hard. He was willing to adapt and make changes as long as it ended up with them naked, in bed and satisfied.
“I think of them as ideas. Suggestions. They aren’t set in stone,” Travis said. His chest tightened as he decided to follow an impulse. “You know, you could extend your vacation.”
He saw the pleasure bloom in Christine’s face at his words. Just when he thought she was considering the option, the light dimmed in her eyes and the corner of her mouth tightened. “No, that’s not going to happen,” she said as the sadness tinged her voice. “I have to leave tomorrow.”
“Come on,” Travis wheedled. He was also going to leave tomorrow and get ready for his next adventure, but he would delay his trip if it meant being with Christine. “What’s the worst thing that could happen if you missed your plane?”
Christine shuddered. “I don’t want to even think about it.”
He wasn’t surprised by her response, but he wanted her to consider it. He wanted more time with Christine. “Maybe the question should be, how important is it for you to cross something off your list?”
“It’s important,” she said with great urgency. “I can’t begin to tell you how important it is. Ooh. Another slot machine.” She ran over and fed the machine a dollar. Travis stood by her side, arms crossed as he shook his head. As the bells rang and the symbols rolled, he caught the reflection of Pitts and Underwood several machines away.
Damn. Travis gritted his teeth. He was still being followed. He hadn’t seen them all day. Either they were getting better at surveillance or he was getting too distracted with Christine.
Fear twisted in his stomach. He knew Pitts and Underwood weren’t going to follow for much longer. They were going to make their move very soon. The high-stakes poker game was going to be over tonight. He needed to find a way to stay in a public and crowded area.
After this weekend, he was not going to babysit the emerald for Aaron again. Even if the next poker game was in Macau or if Aaron offered more money. His friend knew Hoffmann was after the emerald. The guy had to get over his suspicions about hotel security or hire a true professional.
Christine’s shoulders slumped as she lost again. “I don’t understand,” she said. “I should have won something by now. Even a quarter. A penny. I don’t care as long as it’s something.”
“You’ve been feeding these machines all day,” Travis said. “I think it’s time to take a break.”
“It’s on my list,” Christine admitted. “Win money is number forty-three.”
He stared at her. That was the kind of goal she
had? It didn’t make sense to him. “What kind of wild adventure is winning money?”
“It’s not.” She shrugged. “This is why I don’t share my list. Some of the goals aren’t exciting. But they are my dreams and there’s usually a reason behind them. I added ‘win money’ because it was always a struggle to get the cash to go on a trip.”
“Well, that would explain why you have difficulty walking past a slot machine. It’s good to know I don’t have to stage an intervention.” Travis shoved his hands through his hair as he thought about her goal. The odds weren’t good for this dream, but he understood it. After all, he was babysitting an emerald to pay for a trip to Indonesia. “If you want to win money, try something different.”
“No, I give up.” She turned and strode away from the row of slot machines. “Win money was my backup goal in Vegas. I’ve wasted too much time on something that isn’t going to happen.”
Travis hurried to catch up with her. “Now isn’t the time to give up. It’s the time to adapt. Change course,” he encouraged her. “Try blackjack or roulette. Throw some dice.”
“Those games are too expensive,” she said.
“Too expensive to fulfill one goal?” Travis never allowed anything to get in the way of accomplishing a dream. There were times when he took a gamble and failed, but he wasn’t afraid of losing it all. He knew he could recover and start over.
“Yes,” she said definitively. “I don’t want to go all in.”
“You should try it once,” he insisted. “The adrenaline rush makes it all worth it.”
“I’ve gone all in before,” she said as her expression darkened. “Gave it everything I had. Sacrificed more than I should and it still hurts. I haven’t recovered.”
Travis had a feeling she wasn’t talking about gambling.
“No more slot machines,” Christine stated with determined cheerfulness. “Let’s go to the Mirage and see the white tiger exhibit. I know it’s not as exciting as zip-lining, but we might come up with an idea while we’re there.”