The Last Cowboy Standing

Three

When Travis spotted Danielle across the lobby that evening, he knew his hunch had paid off. Randal was with her, as he’d expected. They were part of a larger group that included her friends Astra, Nadine and Odette, obviously gathering together before leaving for a function.

She was dressed in a black cocktail dress. He wouldn’t call it basic. It was off the shoulder, with a lace trimmed neckline that sparkled with inset jewels. The hammered satin molded to her breasts, fitting her waist, and flowed smoothly down to midthigh. She wore delicate diamond earrings, and a thin, diamond choker.

Her shoes were silver, barely there, with long, thin heels that made him want to peel them off and toss them in the corner of his hotel room.

Randal clearly felt the same way. The man was practically salivating as he gazed at her shapely legs. Danielle was slender, very much suited to elegant clothes. But, with big, brown eyes and full, red lips, she looked sophisticated one minute, innocent the next. A man didn’t know whether to protect her or ravish her. Travis wanted to do both.

While the group chatted, he made his way closer. He’d picked up a suit in one of the hotel shops. It was basic, charcoal-gray, with a white shirt and silver striped tie. His hair was trimmed neat, his face clean-shaven. The only thing that differentiated him from the lawyers in the room was a pair of polished, black cowboy boots.

“Travis,” Nadine sang out, motioning him over. “Look, Danielle. It’s Travis.”

Danielle spotted him, and her round eyes went wider still. It might have been the shock of having him show up unexpectedly, but he hoped it was surprise at how well he’d cleaned up.

He’d made her at least an hour late for her workshops this afternoon. He should have felt guilty about that, but he didn’t. They hadn’t made any plans to see each other again. But he’d guessed that whatever evening shindig was being put on by the conference would start in the lobby.

Nadine skipped over and gave him a friendly hug. She was dressed in deep purple with lots of sequins.

She pulled back. “You look terrific.”

“Thanks.” He made a show of taking in her dress and her dangling earrings. “You look very beautiful yourself.”

She gave a delighted grin at the compliment.

His gaze moved to Danielle, catching Randal’s scowl on the way by, and experiencing a thrill of satisfaction.

“Good evening, Danielle.”

“Travis,” she acknowledged evenly, an unspoken question in her eyes. She likely wanted to know what on earth he was doing.

“Nice to see you again, Randal.” He nodded to the man. “Astra, Odette.” His gaze paused on a thin, expensively dressed, older woman, standing next to a man who looked to be her husband.

“Claude and Catherine Hedley,” Danielle introduced. “This is Travis Jacobs. Travis is from Lyndon Valley, Colorado. He’s a friend of Caleb Terrell, Active Equipment, one of my major clients.”

Catherine Hedley gave a warm smile. “So nice to meet you, Mr. Jacobs. Are you attending the conference?”

Travis stepped forward to gently shake the older woman’s hand. “Please, call me Travis. I’m not a lawyer, ma’am.”

Randal piped up. “He’s a bull rider.”

Claude Hedley looked surprised by the revelation.

“I’m a rancher, sir.” Travis held out his hand to Claude. “Our spread is next door to Caleb’s in Lyndon Valley.”

“And he won first prize last night,” Odette put in helpfully.

“Caleb diversified into Active Equipment many years ago,” Danielle elaborated, obviously trying to make up for the social gaffe of being acquainted with a bull rider. “While the Jacobs family has gone into politics, the arts in New York, and a fast-growing international brewing company.”

“The brewery is my brother-in-law,” said Travis, unwilling to push the spin too far. “I just take care of the cattle.”

Claude Hedley shook his hand. “Call me Claude. It sounds like your family is up and coming.”

“His sister is Katrina Jacobs,” said Astra. “The ballet dancer.”

Travis glanced at her in surprise.

“I’ve got internet,” said Astra.

“Danielle, your friend should join us for the reception,” Catherine Hedley put in. Then she looked to Travis. “We’re touring the Van Ostram Botanical Gardens.”

Randal obviously couldn’t hold his tongue. “I’m sure Travis has plans with the rodeo crowd.”

“As a matter of fact,” said Travis, glancing at his watch. “I just had a meeting postponed.”

“That settles it,” said Catherine with another smile. “You know, I do believe I’ve seen your sister dance.”

“She’s been with the Liberty Ballet for several years now.”

“That makes sense, then.”

“We can catch the limos out front,” Claude offered, stretching out an arm to invite them to proceed.

Randal swiftly sidled up to Danielle. They were slightly ahead of Travis as the group began to move.

“What are you doing?” Randal hissed at her in clear annoyance.

“What do you expect me to do?”

“Get rid of him.”

“How would you suggest I do that?”

Travis couldn’t tell whether Danielle thought getting rid of him was a good idea or not. It didn’t really matter, since he wasn’t going anywhere except with her. Randal might be able to snow Danielle about his intentions, but Travis was on to him, and he was going to force the man to show his hand.

“You need their support,” said Randal.

“They’ve already made me an offer,” Danielle countered.

“Getting through the door is only the first step.”

“Catherine invited him, not me.”

“Everything the man says and does tonight will reflect on you.”

Travis bit his tongue. He was tempted to tell Randal he’d do his level best not to spit and swear in front of the Hedleys. But he didn’t want Randal to know he could overhear.

The group was forced to split up, taking two of the black Escalade SUVs. Randal jockeyed hard, but ended up with the Hedleys and Odette, where he politely, if reluctantly, offered to clamber into the third-row seat.