Susanna Carr – Wild Weekend (страница 8)

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. “Hello?” he asked curtly. He didn’t want any more interruptions.

“Travis? How’s it going?” Aaron asked.

“Good. Why?” Travis heard the underlying tension in his friend’s voice. He glanced around the sidewalk. Pitts and Underwood were nowhere to be seen.

“Okay.” Aaron’s voice dropped to a confiding whisper. “You know how I said you were paranoid because you thought those two guys were watching us.”

“Yeah?” He did another quick survey of the area. Nothing.

“Well, I think someone was in my hotel room.”

Travis’s head came up like an animal scenting danger. It must have been obvious as Christine looked at him with concern. He flashed her a lopsided smile as if nothing was wrong. “How do you know?”

“I did the toothpick trick you showed me,” Aaron said in a rush. “You know, put the toothpick on the top of the door and close it.”

“Found it on the floor, huh?” He didn’t need confirmation. He knew the room had been searched.

“Yes! I also did it for the bathroom door and the closet. They’re all on the floor. I got out of there as fast as I could and called you.”

“Do you need me to drop by?” Travis asked. He saw Christine’s chin dip with disappointment.

“Actually...” Aaron’s tone changed. “I need my emerald now before the game starts.”

Travis rubbed his forehead as he tried to understand his friend’s insistence on playing the game with the questionable group. Did he think this emerald had some protective spell? “You’re still going through with it?”

“Yes, of course,” Aaron replied. “And then I’ll give the stone right back to you. What could go wrong?”

Travis groaned. “Famous last words.”

“You sound different,” Aaron said.

He probably did. He hadn’t felt this frustrated in a long time. He was used to getting what he wanted, when he wanted it. But now he couldn’t follow up on this attraction that flared between him and Christine. “No,” he said through clenched teeth. “I’m good.”

“Wait a second,” Aaron said slyly. “Are you still with that hot chick?”

He glanced at Christine and their gazes held. “Yes.”

“Seriously?” his friend said in a high-pitched squawk. “How the hell did you get her to go with you?”

He couldn’t answer that because he had no idea. “I’ll be right there,” he promised with great reluctance before he disconnected the call.

“You have to leave?” Christine asked.

“I have to drop by the casino,” he said as he placed the cell phone into his pocket. “It won’t take long.”

“No, that’s fine.” She took a step back and crossed her arms. “I’ve already taken up enough of your time.”

“I’m not ready to call it a night,” he said. Especially after that kiss. “I have to do something for a friend and then I’ll take you dancing.”

Her eyes widened. “Dancing? Like at a nightclub?”

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.