The Last Cowboy Standing (13 page)

She struggled not to think about Travis, but the closer they got to Lyndon Valley, the more he was on her mind. She hadn’t spoken to him since their fight, and she couldn’t help but wonder how he’d reacted to the news that she’d be working for his brother instead of going to D.C. He hadn’t wanted her to take the job in D.C., but that didn’t mean he wanted her underfoot, either.

Part of her wanted to avoid him. The other part wanted to get the first meeting over with as soon as possible. At least once she saw him she’d know where things stood. Whatever it was, she promised herself she could handle it. She’d have to handle it. She’d closed all the other career doors in her life, and her professional future was with Active Equipment. She was absolutely determined to succeed.

Caleb met her at the small airport, stowing her suitcase into the canopy of the pickup truck.

“Glad to have you with us,” he offered, opening the passenger door.

She smiled, genuinely happy. Now that she was here, everything felt right. She grasped the door handle and hauled herself into the cab, smoothing her short skirt beneath her on the plaid-covered bench seat.

“Nester and Hedley would have sent a limo,” she couldn’t help but tease.

“We’d break an axle in the potholes,” he retorted, clearly not the least bit offended or apologetic.

“I can see I’m going to have to adjust my standards.”

“I don’t think you’ll have any trouble.” He closed the door to round the hood.

She glanced down at her straight, black skirt, the white blouse and the blazer that she’d worn out of habit. If Caleb was going to need her in Lyndon Valley very often, she’d have to rethink the wardrobe.

“I may have to invest in a pair of plain ol’ blue jeans,” she told him as he opened the driver’s door.

“Co-op’s open ’till nine.”

Danielle laughed. “That would be a first.”

“Twenty bucks a pair. You can buy two.”

She could buy five. Her blazer alone had cost four hundred dollars.

“But not today,” said Caleb, slamming the door and hitting the key to start the engine.

“What’s today?”

“Rehearsal dinner tonight.”

“Rehearsal dinner?” Then it dawned on her. “Lisa and Alex’s wedding?”

“Is tomorrow.” Caleb confirmed as he pulled the shifter into reverse and backed out of the gravel parking spot.

She glanced at her watch. It was after two. “Do you have time to take me all the way to the ranch?” She didn’t understand how he was going to make it back for the dinner.

“We’re not going to the ranch.”

“A hotel?”

That wasn’t a problem. She could set up shop in a hotel room for the weekend. Maybe she would shop around for some more casual clothes.

“We’re staying at the mayor’s mansion.”

“What do you mean ‘we’?” Danielle wasn’t involved in the wedding.

“Everyone’s there for the weekend.”

Everyone would most certainly include Travis. Danielle’s mouth went dry. “You can drop me off at a hotel.”

“What?”

“Caleb, I don’t want to be in the way.” And she didn’t want to see Travis.

She’d thought she did. She’d thought the best thing was to get it over with. But she’d changed her mind. She wanted to put it off as long as possible. She very much feared he was holding a grudge. While she couldn’t stop thinking about how much she liked him.

“You’re not going to be in the way,” said Caleb. “The place is huge.”

“Square footage isn’t my worry. This is a very special occasion for your family.”

“They’re pretty excited,” Caleb agreed as he slowed down, entering the city limits.

“They’ll be too busy to worry about me.”

He sent her an arched look. “What makes you think they’re going to worry about you? They’ll park you in a bedroom, and you’ll blend with the crowd. Katrina can’t wait to see you.”

Danielle gave an involuntary smile at the thought of hanging out with Katrina again.

“Fine,” she agreed. She’d simply make sure she stayed out of everyone’s path, especially Travis’s.

“You say that as if you had a choice.”

Danielle twisted her body to give him a mock scowl. “Are you going to be some kind of autocratic boss?”

He glanced at her. “You have a problem with that?”

She huffed a little. “You might find yourself with a rebellious employee.”

His lips stretched into a grin. “I can live with that.”

He flipped on his signal and pulled into the palatial driveway of the mayor’s mansion.

The lawns were fine trimmed, as were the hedges. The building itself was three stories high. A huge front porch greeted them, with white pillars and an ornate rail.

Danielle took a deep breath, steeling her nerves.

Her next meeting with Travis was likely only moments away.

* * *

Travis watched from an archway leading to the great room while Katrina squealed and gave Danielle a tight hug. Then it was Lisa’s turn, then Mandy and finally Abigail. His arms felt ridiculously empty and she hadn’t even looked his way.

“You’re coming to the dinner, right?” Lisa asked her. “And to the wedding.”

Danielle glanced momentarily to Caleb then back to Lisa. “I’m... Uh... No. I have work to do. But it’s very kind of you to ask.”

“Don’t be silly.” Lisa grabbed her hands. “You have to come.”

“Absolutely, she’ll come,” Katrina put in. “It’s a wedding. And there’s no way we’re leaving you here all by yourself while we go out and party tonight.”

Danielle shook her head. “I really can’t intrude. It’s your family.”

“You’re family now.”

“I’m an employee,” Danielle corrected. “Just because I happen to be here working—”

“Don’t insult us,” said Mandy.

Danielle turned to her in obvious astonishment.

“Caleb thinks of you as much more than an employee. We all do.”

“But—”

“Please come,” said Lisa in a cajoling voice. “It would make me happy to have you there. And I’m the bride. You can’t say no to the bride.”

Danielle glanced to Caleb again, clearly uncertain about what to do.

“I don’t need you to work on anything tonight,” he told her with conviction.

“I don’t have anything suitable to wear to a wedding,” she protested, gesturing to her rather severe suit. “It’s all like this.”

“We’ll go shopping,” Katrina piped up.

“You’ve got work to do, young lady,” Abigail reminded her. “Decorating committee. All of us.”

Katrina gave a pretty pout.

Travis stepped forward. “I’ll take her shopping.”

The five women, along with Caleb, swung their gazes toward him.

“You?” asked Katrina in obvious astonishment. “Going dress shopping?”

“I’m not decorating,” he pointed out. He didn’t give a damn what errand got him alone with Danielle, so long as he got there.

He looked at her, struggling to keep his tone and expression neutral. “What do you say? Make the bride happy?”

“I’m—”

“I suppose you could drive her to the mall,” Katrina put in. “But you have to send me a picture of each dress so I can help choose.”

“You don’t trust my taste?” Travis asked her.

“Why on earth would I trust your taste?”

“I’ll send photos,” Travis promised, making a show of looking at his watch. “But we’d better get going.”

Before Danielle had a chance to protest, he paced across the room and took her arm, gently turning her and urging her toward the front door.

Caleb shot him a knowing smirk as he passed by, but Travis ignored him.

“Rehearsal at six. Dinner’s at seven,” Lisa called from behind.

Travis gave them all a wave over his head. “We’ll be back in plenty of time.”

Then he pushed open the front door, and suddenly he and Danielle were alone. He had no idea what to say.

“What just happened?” she asked, glancing over her shoulder in confusion as they walked toward the wide staircase.

“You’ve been bamboozled by the Jacobs family.”

“But why?”

He shrugged, pulling his truck keys out of his pocket. “Lisa wants you at the wedding. Really, Danielle, there was no chance they’d leave you home alone tonight.”

“I offered to stay at a hotel.”

Her words gave him a little jolt. He didn’t want her at a hotel. He wanted her here, with him, where he could talk to her, look at her, listen to her breathe. He realized he had it bad for her, but he couldn’t fight it. All he’d done for the past week was miss her. If he hadn’t known she was coming back to work for Caleb, he might have gone stark raving mad.

He opened the pickup door for her, offering his hand to help her up to the seat. “Nobody wants you to stay at a hotel.”

She ignored his hand and hoisted herself up to the seat. “I feel like an interloper.”

“You’re not an interloper. So stop worrying.”

With her settled, he moved to the driver’s seat. It was only a couple of miles to the Springroad Mall. He knew Abigail’s favorite store was Blooms.

Once on the road, the silence settled between them, and he could feel the tension ramping up. Danielle tugged her skirt an inch down her thigh. Then she smoothed back her hair then tapped her fingertips against her knee.

Travis turned on the radio, filling the cab with a country ballad about lost love. He immediately wished he hadn’t done it.

“It ought to be sunny for the wedding tomorrow,” he noted out of desperation.

She didn’t respond.

“They’re having the wedding in the garden.” He paused. “Reception in the mansion.”

“I’m sorry,” she blurted out.

He was confused. “About the wedding?”

“No. About the last time we spoke. I shouldn’t have stormed out on you. You were out of line, and I was angry, but I could have handled it better.”

He was so surprised by her unexpected words, that he didn’t know what to say.

She was silent, then she adjusted her seat belt. Then she moved her sun visor.

He finally came up with, “I didn’t expect you to apologize.”

“I kind of expected you would.”

Okay, that was even more surprising. “Me? What for?”

He’d only stated the facts.

“What for?” Her voice went a notch higher. “For meddling in my life.”

“That wasn’t meddling. That was warning you about someone who was operating against you.”

“I told you I could deal with Randal.”

“You don’t have to deal with him anymore.” And
that
was thanks to Travis. Though he’d never let on.

“I know that. But, I could have. And I would have. And you need to keep your opinions to yourself.”

Travis thought about it for a moment. “I don’t really see that happening.”

She pressed her lips together. “At least keep your opinions about
my
life to yourself.”

He shook his head. “Seems unlikely.”

“Am I going to have to avoid you?”

“Personally, I’d suggest you get used to hearing my opinions. It’ll be a whole lot easier than avoiding me.”

“Travis,”
she protested.

“I mean, take a look at us now.” He swung the truck into the parking lot of the Springroad Mall. “You’re in town fifteen minutes, and already we’re together.

“That’s your fault,” she accused.

“It is,” he agreed. He’d shamelessly manipulated himself into this position. “But it shows you how easily it’s going to happen.”

He brought the truck to a halt, and they both climbed out of the vehicle.

“I thought things might have changed,” she told him as they crossed the parking lot.

“What things?”

“You and me. Our relationship.”

Her words took him by surprise. Did the woman have amnesia? “I’d say our relationship has changed a whole lot.”

“Not fundamentally.”

“Yes, fundamentally.”

“You’re still the same. I’m still the same. We can’t seem to help from rubbing each other the wrong way.”

It was on the tip of his tongue to make a joke about all the times when they’d rubbed each other exactly the
right
way. But he kept silent.

“Let’s find you a dress,” he said instead, nodding to a large purple sign on the side of the mall. “Abigail seems to like Blooms.”

“I’m sure it’s fine,” said Danielle, sounding like she was heading for the executioner.

He opened the glass door. “You might want to work up a little enthusiasm. It’s an important wedding, and I’m buying.”

“Oh, no, you’re not.”

“I got you into this.”

“Caleb got me into this. I asked him to drop me off at a hotel.”

“Everyone would have been disappointed if he’d done that.”

Travis included himself in everyone. Even now, sparring with her, frustrating her, on the receiving end of nothing but her annoyance, he was incredibly glad she was here. He realized he’d rather be arguing with Danielle than doing anything else with any other woman.

She gave an exaggerated sigh. “I wouldn’t have been disappointed.”

He nudged her shoulder. “Cowboy up. This isn’t the end of the world.”

“Cowboy up? I’m dress shopping here.”

“It’s a versatile metaphor. It means quit whining and get ’er done.”

“I know what it means.”

They passed through the big doorway to Blooms, and she stopped in front of a display of dresses.

“So, are you going to do it?” he asked.

She squared her shoulders, reaching for a simple, gray cocktail dress. “I’m going to do it. I’ll buy myself a dress, say happy things to the bride and groom and cheerfully chat my way through dinner.”

“It’s a tough life,” Travis deadpanned.

“Shut up.”

“I don’t think Katrina is going to like the gray.” He extracted his phone from his jeans pocket and turned on the camera. He wasn’t crazy about gray, either. He hoped he could talk Danielle into something sexier.

Ten

D
anielle pulled the curtain shut on the changing cubical, and hung three dresses on the hooks placed around it, dropping her purse on the chair. She hadn’t been crazy about the gray dress, either. She might have mixed emotions about attending Lisa’s wedding. But if she was going to be there, she wanted to help celebrate, not bring anyone down with such a somber color.

She stripped out of her suit and pulled on a knee-length, aqua party dress. It had cap sleeves and multi-layered, gauze skirt. It was pretty, but seemed a bit young and frivolous for the occasion.

“Let’s see,” came Travis’s voice through the curtain.

“I don’t like it,” she called back.

“I need to take a picture.”

Danielle rolled her eyes in the mirror.

“Katrina’s texting me,” he said.

Danielle decided it was easier to humor Katrina than fight with her. “Fine.” She drew back the curtain.

“Come out,” Travis instructed.

Danielle took a few steps forward.

He raised the camera and snapped a shot. “Turn around.”

She felt incredibly self-conscious under his scrutiny. “This is ridiculous.”

“Tell that to Katrina.”

Danielle reluctantly turned around. She posed for only a moment, then she retreated back into the changing room.

She didn’t like having Travis stare at her. Okay, actually she did like having Travis stare at her. And that was the problem. There was nothing about a fashion show that ought to have been sexy, but she was getting aroused anyway. It was embarrassing.

She switched to the next dress, determined to get this over with as quickly as possible. The silk fabric was soft against her skin. It draped over one shoulder, with a wide, sash belt. She’d forgotten to remove her bra, so she had to take off the dress and try again.

“Ready?” called Travis.

Standing there in nothing but her panties, Danielle’s chest tightened, and her skin flushed in reaction to the mere sound of his voice.

“Just a sec,” she called out a little breathlessly.

She pulled the moss-green silk over her near naked body, reaching around to zip up the back. When she turned, she nearly groaned in despair. Her nipples had hardened and were clearly visible through the fabric. There was no way she was leaving this room.

“Danielle?” he called.

“It’s definitely a no-go.”

“Let’s see.”

“Not this one.”

“Come on. Katrina is waiting. She gave a thumb’s down to the blue one.”

“No kidding.” Danielle glanced back into the mirror. Okay. Her body had calmed down a little. She could risk it.

She pulled back the curtain, walking out on the carpet.

“Not bad,” said Travis.

“Really? You’re a fashion critic, too?”

He snapped a picture. “I know what I like on women.”

“What you like on women has no bearing on my decision here.”

He swirled his finger, indicating she should turn around. “Probably a good thing. If I had my way, you’d be—”

“Don’t you dare say something indecent.” She turned back.

He grinned unrepentantly. Then his gaze dropped to her breasts and stayed there.

Uh-oh.

“Next,” she quickly stated, whirling to get back into the changing room.

The third dress was a muted, Carolina blue. It was rich satin, with a strapless, tucked, crisscross bodice. Tiny crystals at the waist and neckline gave a muted sparkle, while the full skirt draped softly over a subtle crinoline, ending just above her knees.

“Katrina says no again,” Travis called.

“Your sister has good taste,” Danielle called back.

She craned her neck to look at the back of the dress, straightening the neckline, then she took in the side view. It wasn’t bad at all. She’d have to pick up some dangling earrings, but her neutral pumps would work with it.

She opened the curtain and stepped out.

Travis stood still and stared.

“What do you think?” She pirouetted.

He stepped closer then closer still, until he was almost touching her. She caught her breath.

“You’re going to dance with me, right?”

“That’s not an option.”

“Oh, yes, it is.”

“Travis.”

His broad hand covered hers. “Listen, we can pretend all day long, but there’s something between us. And it’s not going away. Dancing with you is the very least I want to do.”

His blue eyes were intense while they held her gaze. His hand was warm on hers, his scent surrounding her, reminding her of things she’d hoped to forget. But she remembered in vivid detail, and her pulse leaped, her humming arousal gathered strength.

“I’ll dance with you,” she told him.

He smiled, and his hand tightened around hers.

“But that’s all I’m promising.”

“That’s all I’m asking.”

She hesitated for a moment. “You like the dress?”

His voice went husky. “I like the dress. I like what’s inside the dress. I’m going to love the whole package when we’re dancing together.”

“Travis,” she sighed this time. She knew she should make him stop flirting, but her protest was only halfhearted.

“I’m very glad you’re not in D.C.”

She grabbed the opportunity to tone things down. “I think it’s going to work out with Caleb.”

Travis opened his mouth, but then closed it again without speaking.

“You should take a picture for Katrina,” Danielle prompted.

“I don’t really care what she says.”

“I thought we were humoring her.”

“Okay.” He took a step back. “Smile.”

Danielle turned and paused for a second picture. Then she made her way back into the change room.

“I’m going to need some earrings,” she called as she finished putting her own clothes back on.

“Katrina likes it,” came Travis’s response.

“That’s good.”

Danielle slung her purse over her shoulder and hung the dress over her arm, sliding back the curtain to exit.

“Do you mind if we look for earrings?” she asked him.

“Not at all. You want me to carry that?”

“You don’t have to be my assistant.” Danielle had never met a man eager to trail after a woman in a dress shop lugging around her purchases.

“I’m a gentleman.” He removed the sparkly dress from her arm and draped it over his own.

“You’re not at all insecure about your masculinity, are you?”

“You can’t get more macho than bull riding.”

She glanced around at the dozens of shoppers. “Nobody here knows you ride bulls.”

“We’re in Lyndon City, Danielle. Everybody here knows I ride bulls.”

“So, the real test is if you’re willing to follow me around shopping in Chicago.”

“Bring it on, sweetheart.”

Her heart skipped a beat at the endearment. Luckily, she didn’t need to respond, because they’d arrived at the jewelry section of the store. She quickly veered away from him, zeroing in on an earring display.

She moved her way past the studs and hoops. She needed something with a drop. When she came to the right section, she concentrated on the display beneath the glass, refusing to look back at Travis.

A pair quickly caught her eye. They were white gold, in a twisted vine pattern, decorated with white sapphires and aquamarines. She asked the clerk to see them and held them up to her ears in front of a small mirror on the countertop. They were perfect.

“Find something?” asked Travis from a few counters away.

“I did.”

“You’re pretty fast at this.”

“You go shopping with a lot of women, do you?” she asked as she moved toward him.

“Occasionally. I do have three sisters. Though, Mandy’s in and out in about thirty seconds.”

“You find something for yourself?” Danielle teased, glancing down at the display. To her surprise, it was diamond rings.

He pointed. “That one looks like Lisa’s. She went with colored diamonds. Mandy’s is classic, a solitaire. Katrina’s is really modern.” He pointed to a platinum, nonsymmetric swirl with varying sizes of diamonds decorating it. “Reed bought it at some fancy store in New York. I can’t even imagine the price tag.”

“Are you doing a study of engagement rings?”

“Just thinking about the differences between the Jacobs women. Abigail has an heirloom ring from Craig Mountain Castle.”

“That sounds nice.”

He studied the display case in silence for a moment.

“Do you have a favorite?” she asked him.

“Favorite sister?”

She nudged him with her elbow. “Ring.”

He shook his head. “You?”

They all looked beautiful to her. “I’ve never given it a lot of thought. My family’s focus was more on the prenup than anything else.”

Travis chuckled.

“I think,” she ventured in all honesty. “The ring’s a bit irrelevant. I’d be a lot more interested in the man presenting it.”

“Good answer.”

The clerk appeared in front of them. “Can I help you with something?”

Danielle and Travis glanced rather guiltily at one another, both obviously realizing how this looked.

“Un, no,” she quickly answered. “We have a friend who’s getting married.”

It wasn’t really much of an explanation, but she quickly rattled on. “I’m ready to pay, if you could direct me...”

“Right over here,” she pointed to a nearby register. “I’ll be happy to ring those through for you.”

Danielle ducked her head and quickly followed the middle-aged woman. What was the matter with her? She needed to put up barriers against Travis, not engage in cozy chats over diamond rings of all things.

* * *

There were a whole lot of people at the rehearsal in the garden of the mayor’s mansion. Danielle stood off to one side, trying to stay in the background. She had been introduced to the Jacobses’ parents, Hugo and Maureen. Lisa was the daughter of Maureen’s deceased sister Nicole. Nicole had run away from home as a teenager, and the family had only recently learned of her daughter’s existence.

Danielle had met Abigail Jacobs on several occasions. Her husband, Zach, had grown up with the groom, Alex, in a home for orphaned boys. She was also already acquainted with Niki Gerrard, Caleb and Reed’s half sister. Niki had recently married Washington, D.C. mover and shaker Sawyer Layton. The two now spent as much time as they could on their own ranch in Lyndon Valley.

Abigail was the matron of honor, while Zach served as best man. Katrina and Mandy were bridesmaids. Two of Alex’s longtime friends from DFB Brewery were standing up as groomsmen. Danielle couldn’t immediately remember their names. Nor could she remember the names of their girlfriends. Seth, as mayor, was officiating, right now directing operations for the rehearsal. His new wife, Darby, was clearly pivotal in the organization of the event.

“You okay?” Travis’s voice so close startled her.

“I’m fine,” she answered.

“You look worried.”

“I’m just trying to keep everyone straight.”

“I could write up a cheat sheet.”

“That would be nice. Did I ever mention I’m an only child? When I get married,
if
I get married, there will be approximately six people in attendance.”

“I doubt that.”

But Danielle gave a decisive nod. “There’ll be no need at all for a cheat sheet.”

“Wait until you see all this tomorrow.”

“I’m dreading it.”

“Don’t be modest. You’re in crowds all the time. Look at the conference in Vegas. I’ve seen you work a room.”

“With lawyers,” she protested. “I can talk business all day long, but put me in a family setting.” She gave a shiver. “I pretty much panic.”

“I’m a lowly cowboy, and I braved your lawyers’ Van Ostram Gardens for you.”

“Lowly cowboy,
huh,
” she mocked. “You fit in anywhere.”

“So do you.”

Seth called out to Darby, who gave a saucy answer while moving the bridesmaids into position for the mock procession. Everyone erupted in laughter.

“Holidays at my house were sedate and boring,” said Danielle. “Nobody teased, nobody joked. We dressed impeccably, and discussed meritorious topics of international interest, while staff served fine French cuisine.”

“Sounds horrifying,” Travis remarked.

“My point is that my upbringing was very different from yours, and this massive family thing is intimidating.”

“Holidays at our house were bedlam and chaos.”

“I bet you loved it.”

“I loved it,” he agreed.

A sense of emptiness overshadowed Danielle’s feelings.

Hugo was giving Lisa away, putting her hand in Alex’s, who gazed down at her with love and longing. She tried to imagine her own father walking her down the aisle, shaking the hand of her soon to be husband. The picture didn’t work.

He’d probably wax on about the archaic convention of a woman passing from her father’s care to her husband’s. Danielle could take care of herself, she didn’t need to count on any man. By the way, did she need him to look over her prenup?

A spurt of laughter erupted from her.

“What?” asked Travis.

“Nothing. Will you really help me?”

“Help you what?”

“Navigate your family tonight?”

There was a very slight pause before he answered.

“Yeah.” His voice was husky, and the back of his hand brushed lightly against hers.

A spurt of desire in her abdomen was followed by a warm glow moving up her arm. She almost curled her hand into his palm, stopping herself just in time.

“That’s a wrap,” called Seth. “I think we’ve got it under control.”

His wife, Darby, whispered something in his ear.

He grinned and immediately wrapped an arm around her, giving her a kiss on the temple.

“The cars will be waiting out front,” he called to everyone else.

Chatting happily, the crowd started along the concrete pathway to the back of the mansion.

“Big breath,” Travis whispered to Danielle as they both moved to follow.

They traveled in the same car, and Travis sat next to her at one of five round tables set up in the private, second-story room of the Riverfront Grill. It had an expansive view of the Lyndon River, looking west over the Rockies, and they were just in time for a gorgeous sunset.

Caleb and Mandy, along with Katrina and Reed, had joined them at the table. Alex and Lisa sat with Zach and Abigail at the head table, along with Hugo and Maureen. Danielle noticed that Maureen stuck fast to Lisa, taking every opportunity to hug her or smooth her hair. Both women glowed, seeming delighted in each other’s company.