“What you need to do is plunge headfirst into trouble …”

“Forget the rules,” Travis said. “Just follow your instincts.”

Christine tilted her head to the side and opened her eyes. Travis was standing a kiss away from her. “What do your instincts tell you?” she asked.

“That I scared you because you don’t know what’s going to happen next. Well, I’ll give you a hint. It includes you and me naked on this screened-in porch.”

She gasped as the image flickered in her mind. It was daring and risky and … exciting.

She couldn’t see Travis’s expression. Was there a gleam of lust or triumph in his eyes? The porch was too dark, but she felt the tension in him. She grabbed the front of his shirt and pulled him forward. Travis went willingly and their mouths collided.

The kiss was hot and hungry. Anticipation swirled inside her. Christine slid her hands under his shirt, enjoying the solid muscle beneath her fingertips.

Travis’s firm but gentle touch made her shiver as he undid the buttons on her blouse.

For once Christine didn’t want to think about the future. She only wanted to focus on this moment.

And for tonight Travis was hers …

Dear Reader,

This story idea was inspired by a list I made years ago, long before I heard of the terms “bucket list” or “leap list.” After graduating from high school, my twin sister and I, along with a few friends, got together one night and wrote lists of what we wanted to accomplish in a decade. We sealed the lists in an envelope and promptly forgot about it. Imagine our surprise when my twin sister sent us our dream lists ten years later!

Christine, the heroine of Wild Weekend, gets the same surprise when she uncovers her decade-old dream list. Unfortunately, nothing is crossed off that list. Life got in the way, but she’s giving herself one weekend in Vegas to change all that. However, nothing goes as planned, especially when she meets Travis Cain, a man who doesn’t need a list to have a wild time. She can’t allow Travis to distract her from her goals but he’s determined to give her an adventure of a lifetime.

Thanks for reading Christine and Travis’s story. Enjoy!

Susanna Carr

Wild Weekend

Susanna Carr

www.millsandboon.co.uk

SUSANNA CARR has been an avid romance reader since she read her first Mills & Boon® Modern at the age of ten. Although romance novels were not allowed in her home, she always managed to sneak one in from the local library or from her twin sister’s secret stash.

After attending college, and receiving a degree in English Literature, Susanna pursued a romance-writing career. She has written sexy contemporary romances for several publishers and her work has been honoured with awards for contemporary and sensual romance.

Susanna lives in the Pacific Northwest with her family. When she isn’t writing she enjoys reading romance and connecting with readers online. Visit her website at: www.susannacarr.com

Many thanks to my editor, Kathryn Lye

Contents

Cover

Introduction

Dear Reader

Title Page

About the Author

Dedication

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

Epilogue

Extract

Copyright

1

NEON LIGHTS FLICKERED inside the dark casino. The cold air was thick with cigarette smoke and the scent of sugary cocktails. Frank Sinatra blared from the loudspeakers.

So this is what hell looks like. Travis Cain automatically surveyed the room, although any sudden movement from the patrons was unlikely. Most of them were slumped in front of tables and slot machines, their expressions glazed over as they waited for something—anything—to happen. “There are other things I could be doing right now,” he muttered.

“True.” His friend Aaron nodded as he drank a fruity cocktail. “But how often do you get a chance to make money just by sitting around?”

Aaron made it sound so easy, but Travis was never good at sitting still. “Do you know what I could be doing right now? Wingsuit-flying over the Eiger.”

“As if you had enough cash to fly to Switzerland,” Aaron said as he motioned the blackjack dealer to hit him with another card.

“Surfing the big waves in Tasmania.” Travis smiled as he thought about the crystal-blue water.

“You’ve already done that.” Aaron sighed when he lost the hand. “You never repeat yourself.”

“I saw something about bungee jumping.” He’d jumped before, so it wasn’t that much of a challenge, but it was better than staying in the casino.

“Dude, this is Las Vegas. Why would you want to do that when everything you need comes directly to you? Entertainment,” he said as he placed another bet. “Cheap drinks. Spa services.”

The spa? Was he serious? Travis cast a glance at his friend’s hand and belatedly noticed the manicured fingers. He looked at Aaron with horror, noticing everything from his long blond hair and groomed beard. Aaron’s hands used to be caked in mud from digging up treasures. Now he was getting manicures? “What happened to you? Don’t you crave adventure?”

“I started craving comfort. It happened the moment we kayaked that waterfall.” Aaron closed his eyes and shuddered as he remembered that moment. “That was stupid.”

It was a miracle that they had survived. “You’ve gotten old. Cautious.” Travis made a face. “Married.”

“My priorities have changed and I decided what I really wanted in life,” Aaron corrected. “My dreams are bigger.”

Bigger? Travis wanted to scoff at that statement. His friend’s dreams had become safer. He now focused all his reckless energy on gambling. Unfortunately, Aaron turned out to be good at it.

“Wait until you get married,” Aaron said as he motioned for the blackjack dealer to give him another card, “and then you’ll know what I mean.”

“Never going to happen,” Travis said gruffly. Women only wanted one thing from him: a good story to tell their friends back home. He was the rebound sex or the vacation fling. Not that he had a problem with that.

Only the brave ones tried to make the affair go longer. He’d had a few serious relationships in the past and tried living in one place with one woman. Turned out he was horrible at it. No big surprise there.

His exes quickly realized he couldn’t be domesticated. He did try. They wanted him to bring excitement and adventure to their daily schedule, but at the same time they didn’t welcome chaos in their lives. His boundless energy was no longer attractive and his need to explore became less inspiring and more exasperating.

“Travis?” Aaron lightly punched him in the arm. “Are you listening to me?”

He hated sitting still. It gave you too much time to think about mistakes and regrets. Limitations and personal flaws. “No, but let me guess. You don’t trust hotel security.”

“After what happened in Rio? Hell, no,” Aaron said with feeling. “The thieves tore up my room and almost got the emerald. Good thing I had it on me that night.”

That was the problem with all his friends settling down, Travis thought as he took a drink from his beer bottle. He may be envious that they’d found someone to share their lives with, but settling down meant embracing the sameness. Same conversations. Same retelling of their adventures. His friends were content with that, but he wanted more stories to tell.

It was only a matter of time before Aaron launched into the story about the emerald that was tucked in Travis’s pocket. How he won it from an unscrupulous guy named Hoffmann in a game three years ago. Aaron had already reminisced about that moment when he called Travis for backup. Aaron was in Las Vegas on a poker-playing circuit with Hoffmann and some high rollers and he was using the emerald again as collateral. Unfortunately, the other players were not known to be law-abiding.

“And yet you still want to play poker with these guys,” Travis muttered. “If breaking and entering is part of their routine, something tells me cheating is going to be second nature to them.”

“There is no evidence that Hoffmann or anyone from the circuit was behind it.”

“Right,” Travis said sarcastically. “It’s only coincidental that a break-in happens when you enter a high-stakes poker game with these guys.”

“The only time that emerald is out of the vault is when I enter a high-stakes poker game. That emerald you’re keeping safe in your jacket is my collateral.”

“And your lucky charm,” Travis added. His friend’s superstitious nature brought them more problems than protection.

“That, too.” Aaron leaned back in his chair and had a faraway look in his eyes. “If I didn’t have that when we were chased out of that village on the Amazon River...”

Travis rolled his eyes. Why did his friend give all the credit to a rock? “I still would have saved you.”

“Yes, but would I still have all my limbs? We’ll never know.” Aaron straightened in his chair. “Anyway, I’ve had that emerald with me whenever it counted. I had it when I met Dana.”

“Had it when you married her,” Travis finished for his friend. “I’m surprised you didn’t add it to her engagement ring.”

“She said emerald engagement rings are bad luck.”

“Can’t have that.”

“Damn straight. But when I win this poker game, I’m going to buy her something nice. I saw this necklace in the window—”

Travis raised his beer bottle to his lips and paused when he saw a woman walk into the casino from the hotel lobby. She stood out from the crowd of T-shirts and jeans, wearing a skintight blue dress and platform heels. His gaze traveled lazily down her body. Travis did a double take when he saw what was in her hand. Instead of a designer purse or a weekend bag, she held a vintage mountaineering backpack. Only this backpack had never been used.

He slowly lowered his beer onto the table as his curiosity deepened. Travis glanced at her face and his heart gave a violent kick. She was a natural beauty. She didn’t need to highlight her wide brown eyes or her full pink lips with a heavy layer of makeup.

The woman reached up and flipped her hair back. The movement pulled at her dress, emphasizing her gentle curves and athletic build. His gut clenched when he saw her long, bare legs. He’d bet they were silky smooth. Warm and strong. He wondered what those legs would feel like wrapped tightly around him. Travis gritted his teeth as his imagination bloomed.

“She’s out of your league,” Aaron said.

It was true, but that didn’t make Travis ignore the woman. “Dana is out of your league, and look what happened there,” he said gruffly.

“Dana is different. That woman? High maintenance. I see that kind of woman all the time in the casinos. Do you see how she’s dressed? How she isn’t with anyone? She’s on the hunt for a big spender.”

Travis shook his head as he watched the woman walk past a row of slot machines. She was a breath of fresh air in a kitschy casino filled with gold furniture and red carpeting. She was looking around, taking in everything. He had recognized the look in her eyes. She was ready for anything. “No, she wants excitement.”

But what kind? The backpack indicated she wanted adventure but it didn’t seem a natural fit. Her do-me-right-now shoes suggested she was looking for a good time, but she tugged at her dress as if she wasn’t comfortable with the short length.

“She wants a glamorous lifestyle,” Aaron corrected. “Financial security. Two things you don’t possess.”

“I’m getting big bucks to babysit the emerald,” he reminded his friend. He would have done it for free to help out but Aaron had insisted. It was the only reason Travis would visit a place like Vegas.

“Which you plan to spend on climbing the volcanoes in Indonesia. Waste of money, if you ask me.”

Travis reluctantly dragged his gaze away from the woman. “You’re just saying that because you want to come along. Dana won’t let you, will she?”

“Hey, she worries about me,” Aaron said with a smile. “And I kind of like that.”

Travis frowned. It had been a long time since someone had worried about him. He used to prefer it that way. After being raised by his grandmother, who saw danger in every corner, he didn’t want to be held back because of someone’s fears. But the idea of a loved one caring about him didn’t sound as suffocating as it should.

“You know,” Aaron continued, “if you stopped spending your money on adventures and started investing it, you could have a very comfortable lifestyle.”

There was that word again. Comfortable. The idea of comfort was a trap. If you’re comfortable, you’re too scared to take a risk. You’re too busy protecting what you have instead of going for something you want.

“You could even have a chance with a woman like that.”

“I could get her now,” Travis declared, ignoring Aaron’s bark of laughter as he looked for the brunette in the shadowy casino. He jerked his attention back to two men sitting next to the slot machines. They hadn’t been there before. He noticed only one of the guys was playing. The tall one sat silently, his attention directly on the blackjack table. Their dark suits didn’t hide their bulky physiques.

“Aaron, do you see the two guys at the slot machines?” Travis asked as he made brief eye contact with the pale guy with blue eyes. “Something’s off. They’re positioned to look directly at us. How much do you want to bet they are looking for the emerald?”

Aaron took a long sip of his drink as he casually glanced over at the slot machines. “You’re being paranoid.”

“Do they look familiar?” Travis asked as his instincts started tingling. “Did you see them when the thieves tore up your hotel room in Rio? They may have blended in with the crowd, but they don’t fit in with this clientele.”

“Neither do we,” Aaron pointed out as he set down his glass.

“Exactly.” The players for the high-stakes poker game purposely chose a cheap and shabby casino for privacy and secrecy.

“Those guys are part of Hoffmann’s security team,” Aaron said.

“How rich are these poker buddies that they need security?”

“Very. Although I think security team is another way of saying enforcers.”

“Terrific.”

“I think the one with the crooked nose is Pitts. The tall one is Underwood.”

“You really need to learn the definition of buddy,” Travis asserted. “A buddy does not put you under surveillance. I think you are being watched.”

“You mean we are being watched,” Aaron corrected.

“Do you think these guys are working for their boss or for themselves?”

Aaron frowned. “Hoffmann has been trying to win back the emerald. He says it’s a family heirloom. He’s getting a little desperate and he’s had an unlucky streak.”

“So if he can’t win it back, his security guys are going to find it while you’re in the game.”

“We’re making it too obvious that we’re friends,” Aaron said. “If they tear up my room and don’t find the emerald, they’ll search your room.”

“Why me? You’re the one who owns the gem.”

“Process of elimination. If I don’t have it on me or in my room, they will go after my closest buddy.”

“Time to split up,” Travis muttered. “Text me when you need me.”

“They’ll go after you,” Aaron predicted. “You need to throw them off. How will you do that? You’re a single guy who doesn’t gamble. A lot goes on in Vegas, but you’ll stick out like a sore thumb. You need to look less suspicious.”

It was true. He needed to blend in with a group. Unfortunately, most of the guests in this place were senior citizens. He could infiltrate a bachelor party. Find a group of businessmen here for a convention. Travis looked around and his gaze landed on the brunette in the blue dress.

An idea formed in his mind. Travis rose from his seat, his pulse quickening with anticipation. Forget a bunch of drunk, rowdy men. He knew exactly how he wanted to spend his weekend. “I’ll be with the brunette.”

His friend snorted at the claim. “Her? Never going to happen.”

“How can you say that? I’m holding on to your emerald,” Travis replied. The emerald suddenly felt heavy in the breast pocket of his jacket.

Aaron laughed. “That emerald is lucky, not magic. But you’ll find out soon enough.”

* * *

SHE WOULD NEVER listen to Jill again, Christine Pearson thought as she tugged at the hem of her dress. Her friend insisted on this fancy outfit, telling her she would blend in with the crowd. Did Jill think she was staying at the Bellagio or something?

Christine took a step forward and felt her skirt rise up her thigh. She tried to yank it down as she walked, but she wasn’t used to wearing high heels. She turned her ankle and almost tripped.

I should have stayed home. That had been the thought running through her mind the moment she got off the plane at McCarran Airport. She had headed straight for the restroom, found an empty stall and struggled into her tight dress and high heels.

The moment she had stepped out of the stall and seen her reflection in the mirror she knew the plan wasn’t going to work. She wasn’t the kind of woman to wear this dress. It was no use pretending. At least no one back in Cedar Valley would see her make a fool of herself.

Christine closed her eyes, but the chimes and bells from the machines were distracting. She took a deep breath only to inhale the stench of smoke. You’re here. Might as well make the most of this weekend.

She opened her eyes and blinked as the bright lights flickered in the dark casino. It was time to focus. Flipping her hair back, Christine tried to remember her to-do list.

She sighed and rolled her eyes in self-disgust. That should have been her first clue that this plan wasn’t going to work. Who made a to-do list for a wild weekend?

Her thoughts only proved that somehow, somewhere, she had lost her impetuous spirit. She hadn’t realized it until she discovered the list of dreams she had written when she had turned eighteen. She really wished she hadn’t found it. Every naive, ridiculous and impractical goal was on that list.

And yet, ten years later, she hadn’t accomplished any of them. Not one. The regret weighed heavily on her. Where had all the time gone? What had she been doing? She marched across the casino floor. Was it possible that she had changed so much in ten years? Was she a completely different person now?

Christine stumbled to a halt in the middle of the casino as she considered that question. Was it too late to follow this list? Should she let it go and move on?

No. Christine raised her chin and rolled back her shoulders. If she were a different person, it wouldn’t have hurt so much to see that list. She would have laughed it off and thrown it away.

Instead, she’d memorized it and decided to take action. It was time to resurrect her wild side and become the bold woman she’d always wanted to be. She was starting it all off with a three-day weekend in Las Vegas so she could have the freedom to try something daring.

She walked by a row of old-fashioned slot machines and paused. Fishing through her backpack, Christine pulled out a crisp dollar bill and fed it through the machine. She pulled the lever, but didn’t feel any excitement as she watched the row of symbols spin and settle.

She lost.

No surprise there. But that was dream number forty-three. Win money. She knew why she had written that down ten years ago. Back then she had big dreams and a poorly paid summer position at the bank.

Now she was the manager of that bank.

Christine’s shoulders slumped. That hadn’t been the plan. The plan had been to get out of Cedar Valley and find her passion. She’d failed on both counts. Worse, she had a pristine dream list with nothing checked off.

Her eighteen-year-old self would be horrified.

Her twenty-eight-year-old self wasn’t that impressed, either.

But she was changing that. All she had to do was check off one thing. She could do that in Vegas, where no one would judge her or rein her in.

Christine sat down next to the slot machine as she considered her list. What about number nineteen? Climb Mount Rainier. Yeah, that’s in Washington state and she was in Nevada. Perhaps number eight? Get a tattoo. No. Christine immediately discarded that idea. It was too permanent. She needed to take a baby step.

Christine reached into her backpack for another dollar. She saw a movement from the corner of her eye and looked up to see a man stride down the aisle of slot machines.

Wow. Christine’s eyes widened. The man was tall and lean. She was mesmerized by the confident and smooth way he moved. Her gaze went from his scuffed boots and his powerful legs encased in low-riding, faded jeans. She noticed how his dark jacket hung from his broad shoulders and the way his white-collared shirt stretched against his muscular chest.

Christine glanced up and found herself staring. The man did little to control his dark wavy hair and her hands itched to sink into the softness. And then she would trail her fingers along his high cheekbones and angular jaw. She wanted to trace the grooves that bracketed his firm mouth and the lines that fanned from his sparkling brown eyes.

The man flashed a lopsided smile and Christine’s breath hitched in her throat. Excitement bubbled inside her, heating her body and pressing against her skin, ready to burst.

Christine slowly looked over her shoulder, wondering if he was smiling at a pretty waitress or an exotic dancer. No one was behind her.

She frowned and turned around. The handsome stranger stood in front of her. His smile was brighter, a slash of white against his golden-brown skin. He was so tall that she had to tilt her head back to look into his eyes.

“You have so many games to choose from and you try the slot machines?” The man’s husky voice sent a thrill down her spine. “Where’s the challenge in that?”

Why did that sound like a metaphor of her life? Christine cautiously returned his smile. “It doesn’t require any skill.”

“It’s also the simplest way to lose money.” He leaned against the machine. “The odds aren’t in your favor.”

“That doesn’t surprise me.” She nervously shifted in her seat and felt the short hem inch up. “I don’t think the casino will offer a sure thing.”

“Depends on what you’re looking for.”

Christine saw the gleam of interest in his eyes. She dragged air into her lungs as her skin felt tight and flushed.

No, no, no. She shouldn’t entertain this idea. He was just chatting with her. He wasn’t flirting. He wasn’t suggesting he was a sure thing. That was just wishful thinking on her part.

Anyway, hot sex was not on her list. There was no mention of a fling or a one-night stand.

But that didn’t stop her from allowing her gaze to drift down his body. There should be something about sex on her dream list, she thought as she bit down on her bottom lip. Something impossibly wild. A fantasy that would rock her world.

In fact, there was no reason why she couldn’t add this sexy stranger to the list.

“I’m Christine.” She held out her hand and belatedly realized her formal manner.

He wrapped his large, calloused hand around hers. He was big. Strong and masculine. She hoped he didn’t feel the fluttering pulse at her wrist.

“Travis.”

Hello, Travis. Otherwise known as number one hundred and one: have a weekend fling.

She froze as the words tumbled in her mind. One hundred and one. This was a mistake. How could she add him to the list when she hadn’t crossed anything off? Was she trying to sabotage her goals the moment her vacation started?

Christine reluctantly withdrew her hand from his grasp. She immediately missed the warm, masculine touch, but she tightly folded her hands on her lap.

She wasn’t going to get distracted from her dream list. Especially not with a man. She couldn’t let that happen again.

2

TRAVIS WAS SURPRISED at Christine’s withdrawal. One moment he saw the glow in her eyes and the next moment she’d banked it. It was as if she took one look at him and decided pursuing him wasn’t a good idea. That he wasn’t a good idea.

It wasn’t the first time for him. Good girls and proper ladies kept their distance...unless they were looking for a good time. He was a momentary lapse of judgment or a vacation from real life.

He felt a twinge of disappointment that Christine wasn’t going to act on the instant attraction. He liked the way she’d looked at him. It was a mix of excitement and trepidation. Anticipation and doubt. He knew that feeling—it was what he experienced every time he was about to embark on a great adventure.

He liked the idea of being someone’s great adventure, and he wanted to see that wicked glow in her eyes again. Hold on to the promise of something special. It had nothing to do with his goal to blend in and everything to do with exploring the wild streak he saw inside her.

Travis knew he would have to be careful in his pursuit. He realized now that Christine wasn’t as bold as she appeared. Despite the sexy dress that hugged her curves and the thirst for adventure in her serious brown eyes, this woman was quiet and reserved.

He should have picked up on that in the way she checked out the casino when she first stepped inside, but he wasn’t used to hesitant women. This one observed before she moved forward. She didn’t run headfirst into a situation, nor did she see an opportunity and grab it.

This was a woman who considered the pros and cons. She saw potential problems before she saw possibilities. He remembered how his grandmother used to do that and he always pushed himself to do the opposite. His mind-set worked because most people he met on his travels were impulsive, ready to forget common sense in their quest to go crazy before they had to return to their real life.

“What brings you to Vegas?” Travis asked. She was playing the slot machines with a decided lack of interest but was perched on the gold seat as if she were waiting for something wonderful to happen.

Christine was an intriguing puzzle. He felt the buzz of interest in his veins. Normally he felt like this right before he stepped into uncharted territory. But those times he knew the payoff would be big. Christine wasn’t a sure thing but she was the challenge he was looking for in Vegas.

She tilted her head and gave him a quizzical look. “What makes you think I’m not from around here?”

Where should he start? Her attire was wrong for a casino and a Las Vegas native would know that. She was dressed more for a nightclub. He could also tell that the desert sun never touched her pale skin. Travis curled his fingers as he imagined she would be smooth and silky to the touch.

There was also the fact that she was dragging around a bag that had an airline sticker on it. He gave a casual shrug. “Just a wild guess.”

“Do you live here?” she asked as she gave him a longer, more thorough look. “Is that how you can tell?”

“No, I don’t have a home base.” After feeling trapped in his childhood home, he chose not to have a permanent address these days. In the past few months he had lived everywhere from a hut in Belize to a pickup truck along Route 66. He made good money along the way. Once he picked up a skill, he turned around and taught them to tourists. He could do anything from teaching people how to surf to guiding them through the jungle. “I don’t really see the need for one.”

“I don’t think I follow,” Christine said as her eyes widened. “You just pick up and leave whenever you feel like it?”

He nodded as he watched Christine’s eyes cloud over. She obviously couldn’t comprehend that kind of freedom, but he couldn’t tell if she was envious or horrified. “I don’t mind roughing it,” he added. “Comfort and excitement don’t go hand in hand.”

She dipped her head and her long hair fell over her face like a veil. “You’re right, they don’t.”

Christine’s voice had been so quiet he almost didn’t hear her above the ringing bells and shouts of laughter in the casino. Yet he caught the regret in her tone.

She straightened her shoulders and lifted her chin. “Once you have a comfort zone, it doesn’t grow wider,” Christine said as she tucked her hair behind her ear. “It gets smaller and smaller until you realize you’ve put yourself in a cage.”

“Exactly,” Travis slowly agreed. It was why he didn’t stay in one place for more than a month. There were moments when he longed to call a place his own, but he’d grit his teeth and keep moving until the feeling passed. “Sometimes you need to shake things up. The way you’re doing now.”

“You can tell that just by looking at me?” She glanced at her dress and automatically pulled at the short hem that revealed her long, slender legs. “What else can you tell?”

Travis paused. He was usually good at figuring out people; the skill helped him survive whenever he found himself in sticky situations. But he got the feeling that Christine was trying to be someone different during her Vegas trip. He saw that a lot in the more touristy areas he’d visited. It was like role-playing, trying on a more exciting or an entirely different persona.

“This is your first time in Vegas,” he guessed.

Christine jerked her head back in surprise. “That’s true,” she reluctantly admitted. She glanced around the casino as if she wondered how he’d come to that conclusion.

“First trip anywhere?” he asked.

“Not at all,” she scoffed. She rubbed her fingers over her bare collarbone. Her hand stilled as if she realized something was missing. “I travel around the world all the time.”

Travis silently nodded his head. It may not be the first time she’d been out of her hometown, but it was definitely the farthest she’d been away from home. Only she didn’t want him to know that. Christine wanted to look more sophisticated and experienced than she really was. How far was she willing to go to live out this role? Travis was willing to play along.

“I’m taking advantage of a long weekend,” she said with a defiant thrust of her chin, “and I decided to try something closer to home.”

He didn’t buy that excuse. Christine was definitely the kind of person who would make incremental goals. Once she found success, she would build up to a bigger goal. He couldn’t imagine living like that.

“What do you do?” he asked. It was probably a desk job that dealt with numbers. She would want something that was climate-controlled and dealt with absolutes. But what would her alter ego say? Would she pick something creative or something dangerous? What she decided would give him a little more insight into her dream life.

Christine pursed her lips. “What do you think I do?”

Travis arched an eyebrow. It was time to rattle her cage. He reached out and grabbed her hand.

“Are you going to tell me my fortune?” Christine asked with a nervous laugh.

“No, but I can tell a lot about a person by their hands.” Hers were soft and delicate. The nails were short and unvarnished. There was no wedding ring and no indication that there had been one.

“I can’t tell what you do for a living,” he said as he trailed a fingertip down her palm before resting it against her wrist. Her pulse skipped under his touch. “You are searching for a challenge. You’ve done it all. Seen it all.”

Her hand jerked but she didn’t pull away. “Go on.”

“You’re looking for a jump start.”

She snatched her hand back. “What makes you think that?”

He wasn’t sure why he said it. A jump start suggested she had once been adventurous but now found herself in a routine. That didn’t sound right. She was too cautious. She wanted to be reckless but just couldn’t let herself go.

“It’s been a while since you had an adrenaline rush,” he continued, watching her closely. He needed to see her response or have her correct him, but Christine’s expression didn’t give anything away. “Vegas may be too tame for you.”

The corner of her mouth twitched as she leaned back in the gold seat. “Are you talking about me or yourself?”

“Can you read people, too?” he teased.

“No, but I looked around this casino when I came in,” she said. She did a quick survey and looked back at him. “We don’t fit into this crowd, so I have to wonder why you’re here. The only other guy who’s around thirty is the blond guy with a beard at the blackjack table. Are you with him?”

Travis froze. He hadn’t expected Christine to be that observant. How had she already connected him with Aaron? Had she seen him talking to his friend or was there a detail he had missed?

“That guy?” He casually glanced over at where his friend was sitting. His gut clenched when he noticed Underwood and Pitts talking to Aaron. “Never met him before. I was giving him blackjack tips, but he didn’t need them.”

Aaron and Pitts looked over at him. Travis knew that wasn’t a good sign and refused to make eye contact with his friend. He needed to distance himself from Aaron before they realized he was the one who had the emerald.

He didn’t know why he assumed Pitts and Underwood wanted to steal the emerald. He just knew. Maybe it had to do with the instincts he had developed over the years. Or it could be because those two were around the last time someone tried to take Aaron’s gem.

That emerald was bigger than any gem he and Aaron found on their treasure hunts. Any of his poker compatriots could be after it, but Hoffmann had more of an emotional investment in it since it was a family heirloom.

“Why are you in this casino, Travis?” she asked. “Do you work here?”

The idea of working hours in a dark and windowless room sounded like torture. Travis shuddered at the thought. He hated being indoors. It reminded him too much of home. “No, I’m here looking for business.”

Christine gave a skeptical look. “You’re a businessman?”

Travis shook his head. No one would believe that. He realized he should have planned a cover story so he didn’t get caught in a lie. But why should he start thinking ahead now? He always thought on his feet. Not knowing what he was going to say or how he was going to get out of trouble was half the fun. “Most of these guys are senior citizens who like to gamble and invest in expeditions.”

She blinked and it was as if the light went out in her eyes. “I see.”

He knew that look. He got it all the time when he tried to fund his next extreme adventure. “I’m not a con artist or a grifter,” he insisted, flattening his hand against his heart as if he was making a pledge. “I plan and guide friends through adventures.”

“Yes, I can imagine there’s a huge difference.”

“I’m trying to raise money for my next trip,” he added. He wasn’t sure why he felt the need to tell Christine. He wanted her to open up, but it felt as if he was the one who was telling her everything. “I want to climb the volcanoes of Indonesia.”

“Never been there,” she said coolly. “But then, if you climb one volcano, you’ve climbed them all.”

Travis pressed his lips together. No climber would make that kind of declaration. “Yes, I can tell you’re an experienced mountaineer with that backpack.”

She reached down and touched the pack, as if making sure it was still there. “I take it with me everywhere.”

“It’s in great condition for a world traveler,” he commented as he leaned more comfortably against the slot machine. “So where have you been?”

She hesitated. “Everywhere but here.”

“Hmm...” She wasn’t giving him any information. He needed a new tactic. Travis didn’t think she was trying to be mysterious. Was she worried she’d get caught in a lie or was she out of practice talking about herself? “How long did you say you’re staying in Las Vegas?”

“Just for the weekend.”

He could do a lot in Vegas in forty-eight hours. Take Underwood and Pitts on a wild-goose chase. All he needed was a woman at his side who was game for anything. “Christine, it sounds like you need a guide,” he said with a smile. “I’m happy to be at your service.”

* * *

OH... CHRISTINE FOUGHT to keep a mildly interested look on her face as disappointment washed over her. So that was what this was all about. Her pulse had fluttered when she realized Travis had crossed the casino floor to meet her. Her heart had thumped against her ribs when she met his piercing brown eyes. She felt like the exciting and fascinating woman she’d always wanted to be.

It had only taken a moment to believe in the fantasy. But Travis set her straight. He wasn’t flirting with her. He wasn’t interested in her as a woman. Travis had given her his full attention because that was his routine. He didn’t want to bed her; he wanted her money.

Not even as a gigolo. No, her luck never worked like that. He wanted to be her tour guide.

She should have known. If she wasn’t exciting enough for her ex-boyfriend, Darrell, then she really wasn’t going to be spellbinding for a guy like Travis. Darrell was the most eligible bachelor in Cedar Valley, but honestly, there wasn’t that much competition.

Travis, however, was different. He was so handsome that it almost hurt to look at him. He walked with the confidence of a man who had faced life-and-death situations. His hooded eyes couldn’t hide the shadows or the hard-earned experience. Women were immediately drawn to a man like Travis. He was danger, fantasy and sex wrapped in raw masculinity.

He could have his pick of women. Travis probably had met thousands of women just like her. She had nothing new to offer him, nothing to hold his attention, except for her money. He should have picked someone richer.

“You’re a guide?” she said, her voice high as she tried to hide her disappointment.

“I’ve been a guide all over the world,” he said. “I’ve taken travelers through the jungles of South America, the mountains in—”

“How many did you start out with and how many came back?”

Travis’s knowing smile made her pulse skip hard. “I haven’t lost a client,” he said proudly. “There were a few I wanted to push over the cliff, but that’s bad for business.”

“And what makes you think I need a guide?” she asked, not really sure if she wanted to hear the answer. Did she look lost and out of place? Was it obvious that she didn’t know what she was doing?

He had figured her out pretty fast. Did most women visiting Vegas alone feel as if their lives were in a rut? What did they do to get out of it? Something told her that their Vegas to-do list was sexier than hers. That wasn’t a surprise. She wasn’t a sexy woman and passion never ruled her dating life.

“You’re not interested in the gambling or the shows,” Travis said. “You want the wild side of Vegas and that isn’t so easy to find.”

“You don’t know what I’m looking for,” she pointed out.

Travis’s gaze captured hers for a beat. “I have a pretty good idea.”

She chuckled. If he knew, he would offer an indecent proposal and the key to his room. It was best that he didn’t know. She didn’t need any distractions while she tried to cross something off her list.

“I want to do something I haven’t done before,” she said, rubbing her fingers against her collarbone, belatedly remembering that she’d left her dainty pearl necklace at home. “And I’ve had so many experiences that I’m sure I’ve forgotten a few.”

“I know the feeling.”

He would know. What was she doing pretending to be a worldly woman with this man? Her blood was pumping through her veins harder than it had in a long time. Travis was the real deal. He was going to catch her in a lie.

So what? The question swirled inside her head. After this weekend, you’ll never see him again. Tell outrageous lies and do something daring. If you crash and burn, no one will ever know.

Yet she still hesitated. “I don’t think I can afford you.”

Travis’s smile grew triumphant. As if he knew he had hooked her and only had to reel her in. “Yes, you can, Christine. I’m giving you this night for free.”

That instantly made her suspicious. “Why?”

He shrugged his broad shoulders. “Because I like you.”

Sure he did. There had to be a catch somewhere. “Wait, did you say tonight? You want to start now?”

“Of course. Did you have other plans?”

She nervously bit her lip. This was the moment when she could find her wilder, more adventurous side. Suddenly the idea of getting settled in her room and having a good night’s sleep sounded better. Safer. “Nothing set in stone.”

“Then let’s go.” He pushed away from the slot machine and reached for her.

Christine looked at his hand. It was large and masculine. Rough and weathered. Not the kind that had earned a living working on a computer. “What are we going to do?” She cautiously placed her hand in his.

He closed his fingers around hers and helped her up. “See everything Vegas has to offer.”

“That’ll take more than one night.”

He looked over his shoulder. “That’s the plan.”

Her instincts told her this guy never had a plan. He was a bad boy looking for trouble. She knew she could see Sin City on her own, but she doubted it would be as much fun as the Vegas Travis knew. She hadn’t crossed anything off her list in ten years, but with this man at her side, she’d get more done than she had in a decade.

Christine squared her shoulders and took a deep breath as her stomach twisted with nervousness. “Let’s do it.”

3

SHE WAS SCARED. Travis could tell Christine was trying to act calm but she was almost doubled over with tension. Her breath stuttered as she looked out the window from the top of the Top of the City Hotel and stared down at the Las Vegas Strip. “How high is this jump?”

“Over eight hundred feet,” Travis said as he watched Christine close her eyes and whisper something. “More than one hundred floors.”

“Yeah, yeah. I got it. It’s very high.” She pulled uncomfortably at the powder-blue flight suit. “Is it hot in here?”

“No, it’s fine,” he said. Christine looked very different with her brown hair pulled back in a ponytail and wearing a baggy flight suit. She was adorable, but he had a feeling she wouldn’t think that was a compliment.

He heard her groan before she put her hands on her waist and doubled over. He wasn’t sure, but Christine looked like she was about to become sick.

Travis felt a sharp pang of guilt. He thought this was a good introduction. A baby step. It wasn’t as if she was hurtling out of a plane or BASE jumping. Obviously his idea of a beginner’s jump was completely different than hers.

“You’re overthinking this,” Travis said encouragingly as he rubbed his hand on her back. “It’s a very controlled jump. You are hooked up to so many lines and cables. It’s like a vertical zip line, but the jump is slowed down so you land safely on the ground.”

“Oh, this is so not on my list,” she muttered.

“List?” Travis asked. He bent down until his face was level with hers. “What list?”

Christine opened her eyes wide. “What? Nothing.” She straightened to her full height.

What kind of list? Travis wondered. It didn’t surprise him. Just on the walk along the Strip from the casino, he had learned that Christine Pearson was not a spontaneous person. She was the type who had tunnel vision and to-do lists. “Wait a second, is this a bucket list?”

Christine looked away as her cheeks flushed with embarrassment. “Uh, I guess so. I didn’t see it that way. It’s just a list of dreams. Things I want to accomplish.”

“So basically things you want to do before you kick the bucket. Hence the name,” he said as he continued to rub her back. He should stop touching her. He wanted to give her comfort and support but he was very aware of her. His hand glided low on her back and he knew he should stop.

“If you say so,” Christine said.

“Why did you make it?” He dropped his hand as he studied her carefully. She was healthy and strong as far as he could tell. “Were you sick?”

“Bored,” she replied. She tilted her head and clucked her tongue as if she didn’t like that answer. “No, that wasn’t it. I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do with my life. So I wrote a list of one hundred things that sounded fun.”

What did Christine think was fun? He was deeply curious about that. She had been interested in everything she had seen on the Strip. She enjoyed watching people and taking in the sights. She wanted to know more about the street performers who were dressed in silver and acted like statues, and she had never heard about the persistent card clickers who lined the sidewalks offering cards about escort services. Everything was new to her. What was it that she found really exciting? “Like what?” he asked.

She shook her head, refusing to give details. “Some of the stuff on my list are stupid. Not this stupid,” she said in a low voice as she looked out the window.

A hundred entries on a bucket list would take time. However, Christine seemed organized, and he had a feeling she didn’t dream big. She could have blown through that list in record time. “How many do you have left?”

Christine dipped her head. “A few,” she said tightly. “That’s one of the reasons I came to Vegas.”

“What’s on the list?” And why did it require visiting Sin City? Most of the guys he knew would have winning the jackpot in strip poker or skinny-dipping in the Bellagio fountain on their Las Vegas bucket list.

Christine blushed bright pink and looked away. “I’m not telling.”

Could her list be just as naughty? No, Christine was too innocent, too much of a lady. She might try to rock a sexier persona but she was a good girl. He didn’t know many good girls. What would they want out of life? Probably a husband, kids and a house with a picket fence. The idea sounded claustrophobic to him.

“Become a rock star?” he teased. “Find the end of a rainbow?”

“No,” she said with a laugh. “I was eighteen when I put the list together, not six! They’re a list of experiences. I wasn’t thinking about milestones like graduating high school or getting a driver’s license. When my friends were looking at colleges and deciding their career paths, I was planning to backpack across the globe. But I had to put some of those ideas on hold when my dad walked out of our lives. I stayed to look after my mom. You know how it is.”

Travis nodded as if he understood, but he didn’t think he would have done the same. He had been desperate to break free from his grandmother’s strict rules and debilitating fears. When she had died, he had left town after the funeral. He didn’t know where he was going to go, but he knew he was not going to end up like his grandmother. He wanted freedom and nothing was going to tie him down.

“By the time Mom got remarried and moved away, I was dating someone who hated traveling.” She rubbed her hand over her face, took a deep breath and gave a determined smile. “But now, nothing is holding me back from completing my list.”

Travis watched her closely. Christine didn’t seem to realize that she had given herself away. She had stayed home. Was she still going to pretend that she was a world traveler?

Why had she stayed home? Travis would never have made that choice. Did Christine love her ex-boyfriend so much that she had given up something she enjoyed? It occurred to him that Aaron was making the same choice to be with Dana. Travis couldn’t imagine loving someone so much that he would ignore the wanderlust that drove him.

“So you came to Las Vegas to cross something off your list. And sky jumping isn’t on it.” He wanted to see that list. It would give him more insight into Christine. “You know, we can go back to the aquarium so you can swim with the sharks.”

Christine shook her head vigorously. “Nope, can’t do it.”

“Really? All you need is a scuba certification. I’m sure you have that.”

She snapped her fingers with regret. “I’ve been so busy. Never should have allowed my scuba certification to expire.”

Travis bit back a smile. Anyone who trained to dive underwater would know that scuba certifications never expired. Obviously she was still determined to play this role. He wondered why she felt the need to pretend to be something she wasn’t.

“What?” she asked as she watched him with suspicion.

“Nothing,” he said. “I’m just glad you don’t need any experience to free-fall.”

She went pale. “Yeahhh...” The word dragged out of her. “Isn’t that great?”

Travis noticed she was beginning to shake. “Christine, are you afraid of heights?”

“No,” she said. “I’ve done some rock climbing.”

He held her by the shoulders and bent his head so he could meet her gaze. “You don’t have to do this if you don’t want to,” he said. “You have nothing to prove.”

“No, I’m doing this.” Travis recognized the determination in her voice. She would regret stepping away from this challenge. “Why aren’t you suited up? I thought you liked this kind of thing.”

She was right about him. He’d rather climb, jump or run than stand on the sidelines. He needed to push himself to the limit and prove he wouldn’t let fear control him. But he wasn’t letting anything happen to Aaron’s emerald. “I did a free fall once into the water. Without restraints.”

Christine’s mouth dropped open. “On purpose?”

“I didn’t plan it. It shredded my clothes.” And he wasn’t going to tell her about the broken bones and lacerations he got from the fall. “Let’s just say it was the better option at that time.”

All of her attention was focused on him. She stared into his eyes, hanging on to his words. “I would love to hear all about it,” she said quietly.

Christine wanted to know every detail of his travels and mishaps. On the way to the sky jump, she didn’t just want to know about the tallest mountain he’d climbed. She wanted to know how he kept going in the face of danger and failure and how it felt to accomplish his goal. No one had asked him that before.

“And I would love to see that bucket list of yours,” he replied. What did she hope for? What did she dream about?

Her eyes twinkled at his insistence. “That’s not going to happen. There is no comparison.”

What did she want to do that could only happen in Las Vegas? What could make her shy about revealing it? Did she want to be a showgirl? Learn illusions from a famous magician? “Then tell me what one thing you’ve crossed off your list.”

“I would but the statute of limitations hasn’t expired,” she answered primly.

“Christine Pearson?”

Christine flinched, startled, when she heard her name called. She slowly, almost reluctantly, turned to the man who was looking for her. “Yes?”

“You’re up next.” The guide motioned at the jump platform outside the windows. “Mr. Cain, you can wait with her.”

Travis saw Christine’s balance wobble as her legs threatened to buckle. He wrapped his arm around her shoulders and held her close. “Christine,” he said huskily in her ear, “why do you want to jump?”

* * *

WHY DID SHE want to jump? Christine stared at Travis as she considered the question. Was it because she wanted to become an exciting person? Was it because she just wanted to do one stupid thing to tell her friends?

Or was it because she needed to stop making excuses? She made choices knowing it meant she didn’t pursue her interests. She had placed other people and goals first. She had delayed her dreams of travel to be there for her mother and, later, for Darrell. She didn’t know why she did it, but she had no one to blame but herself.

And because she had stayed in Cedar Valley, she had a job, a home, and belonged to a close community. She was fortunate and she knew it. It took years to get where she was today. She had invested so much time and energy and she didn’t want to give that up.

And yet...it felt as if it wasn’t her life. It definitely wasn’t her dream. She knew she should be grateful, but she wanted more. Something else. She felt she was too young to feel so old. That if she didn’t do something now, she would never break free from the routine and predictability.

She slowly raised her head. “I’m jumping because I want to know what it feels like.” She wanted to take a risk. Allow the fear and exhilaration to collide inside her. Test her mettle and discover what she could do. When was the last time she did that?

Okay, she had felt a zing of exhilaration when Travis approached her. And when she pretended to be someone else, she hadn’t felt that nervous in a long time. But that was different; it had nothing to do with skills or accomplishment. It was simple and instant attraction. Travis Cain was a handsome guy and she was in Vegas. It was a moment when she felt that anything was possible.

“You’re going to do great, Christine,” Travis called out to her as she walked to the platform. “You’ll be fine.”

“I don’t want to be fine,” she said over her shoulder. “I want to shake things up.”

Christine stood on the platform and stared out at the Strip. She tasted the fear as she started trembling. She barely heard the man behind her giving tips as he strapped her onto the wires.

“Ready?” the man asked.

She shook her head. Christine stared at the small blue X on the ground, where she was supposed to land. She knew this was a controlled fall, that the wires would keep her on target with where she needed to land, but the ground was so far away.

“You don’t have to jump,” the man explained. “All you have to do is let go.”

He said it as if it was no big deal. That it was perfectly normal to let go of something solid and safe so she could fall to the ground. She took a big breath.

“Don’t think about it,” the man said. “That will only make it more difficult.”

That was her problem in a nutshell. She thought too much. She considered every possibility, every outcome. It didn’t take long before she was frozen with indecision and did nothing.

She didn’t want to be like that anymore. “I’m ready.” Her voice shook.

“Put your toes on the edge. Good. Three...two...one...”

Christine closed her eyes, let go and screamed all the way down.

* * *

TRAVIS PACED ON the ground floor as he waited for Christine to change out of her flight suit. He glanced out the window and saw Pitts and Underwood on the sidewalk. They were at a discreet distance as they watched the other sky jumpers.

His instincts told him that they suspected he had the emerald. The stone in his jacket suddenly felt large and heavy. He refused to check his breast pocket. He knew the jewel was deep green and uncut. It was also safely tucked away in a tiny, sealed plastic bag. He didn’t know much about gems, but he knew this small emerald was worth a lot of money.

When Aaron first suggested he carry it around in his pocket, Travis thought it was a crazy plan. But it also made sense. Keep the emerald moving with very little fanfare and there was little chance of it getting stolen by Hoffmann. Aaron only needed to show it to an appraiser before the poker game. Once the game was over, Aaron would return home and lock it back up in a safe.

But there was a glitch neither he nor Aaron had considered. Someone had figured out that he had the emerald. Why else would these guys be following him? Travis thought he had lost them when he had taken a bright yellow cab down the traffic-choked street with Christine before they got out and walked the rest of the way. Pitts and Underwood were better than he had expected.

He needed to shake them off before they decided to pounce. He would never forgive himself if Christine got hurt or if he lost the emerald.

“Travis? Is everything okay?”

Travis turned at the sound of Christine’s voice. He paused, his chest tightening as he watched her approach. Something had changed about her. She still wore the short blue dress and impractical heels, and her soft brown hair was windblown, but there was no significant alteration in her appearance.

Yet she now walked with a purposeful stride. Her shoulders were back, her head held high as if she was ready to take on the next challenge. A fire had been lit inside her. It was fragile and small. He wanted to see it flare wildly.

“You should be proud of yourself,” he said. He knew she had to dig deep and find the courage to take the plunge.

“I am,” she admitted with a wide smile. “But my heart is still racing. I don’t think my legs have stopped shaking. I thought I was going to throw up after I landed, but that was a false alarm. And my throat hurts.”

Travis smiled at how she spoke in quick bursts. He didn’t think she was going to be quiet and reserved anymore. The shy Christine had caught his attention, but this side of her was capturing his imagination. “Yeah, you screamed all the way down.”

“You would, too.” She covered her mouth with her hand. “I can’t stop smiling.”

He reached for her wrist and pulled her hand away. “Why hide it?”

“Right. Exactly. Why hide it? I just feel strange. Different. Powerful.” She gave a husky chuckle. “I’m not making sense, am I?”

“You’re making perfect sense,” he assured her as he guided her back onto the crowded sidewalk. He knew Christine was still enjoying the excitement of her jump. Her senses were heightened. This was the time when she would be bolder because she felt stronger.

Christine slid her arm through his and held him close. “Everything is so loud. Colorful. I feel like Alice in Wonderland.”

Travis looked down at her in surprise. The way she spoke it sounded as if she’d never had an adrenaline rush. How was that possible? People got a high from speeding, having sex and facing their fears. What had she been doing all her life?

He held her arm tighter and led her along the sidewalk. He felt very protective of Christine. She stared at the Las Vegas lights as if everything was becoming brighter. Clearer. Her smile widened. He knew he wanted to see that smile all night long.

“Where to next?” he asked.

She stumbled in her platform heels. “Oh, I shouldn’t decide.”

“Why not? I’m your guide.” He found it curious that she was reluctant to try something more when she seemed so excited about her jump. This was the time when most people would set a bigger challenge for themselves.

“You’re supposed to be showing me your Las Vegas,” she reminded him, her shoulder and hip bumping against him as they strolled down the sidewalk. “Where should we go next?”

He looked around the street, searching for Pitts and Underwood. Dread curled around his abdomen when he couldn’t spot them. They could be anywhere. Travis noticed an exotic car idling in the traffic jam and his mind grabbed on to an idea. “Have you ever driven a Ferrari?”

Christine laughed. “I haven’t even seen one up close. Why? Do you have one?”

“No, but I know where to borrow one.”

She tilted her head and looked at him with narrowed eyes. “When you mean borrow...”

“Don’t worry, Christine. I won’t let you get arrested,” he promised. “Not on your first night in Vegas.”

4

“THAT 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. “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.

Christine knew she shouldn’t be this nervous, but it had been so long since she had danced. Dancing meant losing control and surrendering to the music. It revealed what was going on inside her. She couldn’t show that, not back at home.

She always had to be on her best behavior in Cedar Valley. She had discovered that when she first started working at the bank. Her community wanted to know that she was a reliable and serious person. That they could trust her. People had no sense of humor when it came to their money and valuables. And for good reason. But now it had gone too far and for too long. She’d lost a piece of her identity in the process. A sense of her true self.

Christine had yielded to the town’s expectations because she needed the job. She thought it was going to be temporary, but she had stayed and didn’t recognize the gradual shift in herself during the years. The flirty clothes she used to wear were replaced with appropriate work attire in dull colors. She never did anything “out there” or that caused a scene, no matter how much she wanted to. But did any of it pay off? No. Instead of being rewarded for her efforts, her life was in a rut.

That needed to change, even if it meant continuing to take wild weekends away from Cedar Valley. It was going to be a balancing act to keep everything she’d worked hard for and still fulfill her dreams. As fascinating as Travis’s life sounded, she knew it wasn’t for her. She needed a safety net and a place to call home.

“What do you think?” Travis asked, his mouth close to her ear.

Christine shivered with anticipation as his warm breath caressed her skin. She couldn’t wait for him to kiss her again. She didn’t know if that was going to happen, but she couldn’t make the next move. Old habits died hard.

“It’s great.” Christine looked around and saw quite a few bachelorette parties on the floor. She looked at the bar and noticed two men staring at her. It wasn’t a flirtatious look or even one of interest. They were watchful as they zeroed in on her among all the other women in the club.

They looked familiar but she wasn’t sure why. “Do you know those guys?” she asked Travis, gesturing with a nod of her head. “They keep looking at us.”

Travis gave a quick glance. “No, never met them,” he said tightly. “Come on, let’s dance.”

Travis grasped her elbow and led her onto the dance floor. There was barely any room, yet he managed to cut through the crowd with ease. She envied that skill. She imagined he didn’t have any trouble finding a path through a maze or a jungle.

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

WHAT 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.”

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