WAS INCREDIBLE!” Christine said as they strolled along the sidewalk next to the Bellagio. The night air was cool, but Christine didn’t seem to notice as she waved her arms enthusiastically. “I had so much fun.”
Travis could tell and he was glad she enjoyed it as much as he did. When he took her to the Las Vegas Motor Raceway to drive exotic cars, he thought she would be careful. Cautious. Slow.
Instead, Christine was a speed demon. His heart had stopped when he watched her take a sharp turn in the Ferrari, but she handled the car beautifully. The woman tested the machine—and his nerves—to the limit. He was sure the tires would have burned from the friction if she’d been allowed to continue.
“Thanks so much for this night, Travis.” She wrapped her hands around his arm and leaned into him. “How did you manage to make that happen?” Christine asked.
“I know a guy,” he said gruffly as he inhaled her intoxicating scent and his chest clenched. He knew men and women all over the world with whom he bartered and traded favors. They weren’t close relationships, but his network of acquaintances and casual friends was an essential part of his nomadic life.
“I wish we could have raced each other,” she said.
“That would have been...” Wild. Electric. Dangerous. “Interesting.” Christine thought she was living on the edge, unaware that he was providing her a protected and safe place.
“I got you something.” Christine pulled away and Travis wanted to grasp her hand and draw her back. He watched as she opened her backpack and pulled out a sparkly and colorful keychain. It was the famous diamond-shaped sign that welcomed tourists to Las Vegas. The rhinestones glittered as the chain dangled from her finger.
“Thank you,” he said as he accepted it. He held it up and realized that he had no keys to place on the keychain. He didn’t own anything that required a key. “I’ll think of you every time I look at it.”
His statement seemed to please her. “Everyone could use a little more glitter in their lives,” she declared.
“I have to know,” he said as he slipped the keychain into his pocket. “Where did you learn how to drive like that?”
“I love driving,” she said with a sigh as she hooked her arm with his. “Not that you would know it if you saw my car. But whenever I have the chance, I leave town and drive through the mountains. It doesn’t take much to encourage me to leave the city limits.”
Every time he thought he’d figured out Christine Pearson, she did something that blew apart his theory. She wanted to break free from her comfort zone, but she stayed in her contained world. Something was holding her back. Or was it someone?
There was probably a man back home. Christine was smart, beautiful and joyful. No man would be able to resist her charm. She could have her pick of men and demand everything she wanted. Commitment. Family. A comfortable life.
Everything he avoided. Travis frowned as envy and bitterness churned inside him. He didn’t want to think about it. He could give Christine something the men back home could never offer—the thrill of a lifetime and some wild memories. “If I need a driver on my next trip, I’m calling you.”
“You’re on,” Christine said with a wistful smile. She turned her head and her hand tightened on his arm. “Look! The Bellagio fountain! I see this in the movies all the time!”
Travis indulgently followed Christine as she pulled him to view the fountain up close. He had never stopped to watch the performance. To him, it was simply water moving to music, but he could understand why Christine would be fascinated. He enjoyed seeing the world through her eyes.
Everything was beautiful to Christine. She found pleasure in the stores that sold kitschy souvenirs and in the fries she ate at a retro diner. And yet, she wasn’t ready to live hard and fast, making up for lost time. She wanted to savor every moment.
They stood with the crowd and watched the water-and-lights display. After a few moments, Travis found himself watching Christine. Her expressions fascinated him.
Her brown eyes widened as the water sprayed to unbelievable heights. Her face softened at the cheesy romantic song. Her satisfied sigh pierced his heart. Travis wanted to hear that sound again. He wanted to make her sigh like that just for him.
The breeze pulled at her dark hair. Without thinking, Travis reached out and grasped the long tresses that buffeted her face. Her hair was as soft as he had expected.
His heart started to pound as he tucked her hair back. He dragged his finger along the curve of her ear and felt her shiver of delight. Christine slowly turned toward him as the song continued to play. Her eyes darkened as she shyly met his gaze.
Travis didn’t say anything as he slid his fingers along her jaw and cradled her face with his hands. Her lips parted as his mouth grazed hers.
He had meant for it to be a brush of lips, a whisper of a kiss. He didn’t expect the crackle of fire between them. It promised something wild and uncontrollable.
Christine tasted of innocence and mystery. Heat and softness. It was like nothing he’d ever experienced before. His skin tingled and he felt that kick of excitement as she yielded and drew him past her lips.
He deepened the kiss as the lust licked through his veins. He dimly heard the flourishing end of the song and the crash of water. All he noticed was how Christine melted into him. The crowd dispersed, jostling them. He instinctively held her close to protect her as someone bumped into him. She clutched his jacket lapel as she hungrily returned his kiss. Travis wasn’t ready to end this. He gathered her against him until her soft curves were flush with his rock-hard body.
Travis knew they were too far from the hotel. He wanted somewhere quiet and private where he could explore Christine inch by inch. Shed their clothes and...
Tension gripped his muscles as he realized he missed something. Something important. He suddenly recalled that someone had bumped right up against him.
The crowd hadn’t been that packed. Dread settled deep in his gut. Was it one of the guys who had followed them earlier? Did they know he had the emerald in his breast pocket?
Travis abruptly pulled away from Christine. He had to stop himself from checking the emerald. Alarm scorched through him and it must have shown as he saw Christine’s guarded expression.
“I’m sorry,” he said hoarsely as he watched Christine press her fingertips against her swollen lips. “I shouldn’t have done that.”
“There’s nothing to be sorry about,” she said as desire shimmered in her eyes. “You did that very well.”
He tilted his head as hope leaped into his chest. He wanted to pursue what was happening between them right now. Travis was about to reach for Christine when his cell phone buzzed. He gritted his teeth and swallowed back a growl of frustration. “I have to get this.”
Christine lowered her gaze. “Not a problem.”
He surreptitiously checked for the emerald as he retrieved his cell phone from his pocket, and wanted to sag with relief when he felt the stone. He glanced at the phone and saw Aaron’s number. He wasn’t surprised. It was a shock that his friend hadn’t contacted him until now.
Travis answered his phone.
