Wild Weekend (5 page)

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

W
HAT
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.”

“I’m already having fun.” And it was true. He enjoyed being with Christine. He didn’t miss the rush of an extreme sport or fight the need to keep moving. Instead, he wanted to linger, stay in one place and gain Christine’s full attention.

“I know you said I don’t have to pay you, but I still—” Christine bumped into a tall, thin man. “Oh, excuse me.”

“I’m sorry. Are you all right?” The man had a faint accent that Travis couldn’t place. He frowned as he noticed the man’s baseball cap and sunglasses.

Travis immediately recognized him. It was Underwood, dressed casually and keeping his head down as he boldly made contact. Underwood expertly slid his hand across Christine while pretending to hold her steady. Underwood’s hand splayed against her wrist bag in a classic pickpocket move.

Travis grabbed her hand, blocking Underwood from completing the theft. Travis’s stealth move revealed his training, but he had no choice in the matter. His protective instincts had kicked in and he wasn’t going to allow this man anywhere near Christine.

He knew Pitts would be nearby. One glance in Underwood’s sunglasses and Travis saw the guy right behind them. He and Christine had to get out of there before Pitts and Underwood discovered the emerald in his shirt pocket.

“Let’s go,” Travis told Christine as he quickly pulled her away. He needed to find a spot that had heavy security.

“Sorry!” she called out to Underwood over her shoulder. “Wow, I swear that guy came out of nowhere.”

That was close. He should have predicted it, but he was taken by surprise that they had gone after Christine. Why did they think she had the emerald? Unless it was a move to distract him so Pitts could pick his pockets.

Travis’s hands shook as he escorted Christine to the entrance. He realized it wasn’t adrenaline flowing through his veins. It was fear. He had placed Christine in danger. What if Pitts or Underwood had a weapon? How would he have protected her?

This babysitting job was over. He was returning the emerald to Aaron immediately. “I have to make a call before we go,” he said to Christine.

“Sure,” she said as she headed directly to the slot machine by the entrance. “I’m going to give this one more try.”

“So much for quitting,” he said with a smile. He turned around and scoped out the casino. Dressed like the other weekend tourists, Pitts or Underwood couldn’t be spotted in the crowd. Travis reached for the phone in his jacket pocket and casually checked for the emerald in his shirt pocket. It was still there. He didn’t care if Aaron thought it brought good luck. He couldn’t wait to get rid of it.

As he dialed, Travis heard loud bells and whistles. Someone had hit the jackpot nearby. Someone whooped with sheer joy. It sounded a lot like Christine. Travis slowly turned and saw her jumping up and down.

“I won!” she shouted as he stared wordlessly at the flashing lights on the slot machine. “I finally won!”

* * *

“I
WON
!” C
HRISTINE
couldn’t stop smiling as she crammed the cash into her small purse. “I won. I won. I won.”

“I’m as stunned as you are,” Travis said as he pressed his hand against her back and guided her out of the casino.

“I can’t believe I won.” She was excited. Relieved. She’d completed a challenge and was ready to accept the reward. “I have no idea what to do with this money.”

“This is Vegas,” he reminded her. They stood on the sidewalk and inhaled the desert air. “Where do you want to go? You can get almost anything. Clothes. Jewelry. Or do you want to gamble some more?”

“No, none of that interests me.” It was only a few hundred dollars, but she knew she wasn’t going to put it away for a rainy day. She wanted to use it on something fun with Travis. “It doesn’t matter. I won!”