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I’m not without experience.”
    “Seeing naked women?” she joked.
    “Falling in love.”
    That answer threw her. “You’re in love?”
    Travis was in a relationship? What had she missed? And why had a knot suddenly formed in her stomach?
    “I watched Caleb, Reed, Seth and Alex all fall head over heels in love. I think I know what to expect.”
    “But you’re not in love yourself?”
    “Not yet.” His expression turned reflective. “But if it happens, I know I’ll recognize the signs.”
    The knot in her stomach relaxed.
    “Your turn,” he told her, his inquiring tone putting her on alert. “Ever been in love?”
    Unsure how much she wanted to disclose to Travis, she bought herself a moment, reaching for two of the flowers in the centerpiece, switching their places to fix the balance.
    “I’ve dated men I liked,” she allowed. “Some, I liked very much. But love?” She shook her head. “I probably wouldn’t know the signs if they bit me on the backside.”
    “I can tell you the signs,” Travis offered easily. “Or I can bite you on the backside. Your choice.”
    A rush of unexpected arousal raised the temperature on her skin.
    Travis grinned. “You’re blushing.”
    “I’m embarrassed. You’re far too crude.”
    “No.” He waggled his brows. “I’m exactly the right amount of crude.”
    Danielle couldn’t help remembering Nadine’s brazen comments. Crude could be sexy. Crude could be very, very sexy.

Three
    W hen 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