Page 26 of Her Wild Cowboy Billionaire

Travis turned and wrapped his arms around her.

She raised her gaze to lock with his.

His eyes were almost closed. At half mast, as she would have said in her younger years. He lowered his head and pressed his lips against hers.

She couldn’t help but respond. His lips were soft yet firm. Her pulse raced, and her heart pounded in her chest. She’d wanted this for so long. Wanted to kiss him and so much more. But she shouldn’t do this. Shouldn’t have a romantic relationship with a patient; yet she wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him back.

He took their kiss deeper.

Their tongues met and circled, dueled, played, and tasted each other.

She was momentarily lost, loving the feel of his lips against hers. Then she came into herself again and pulled back, but she kept her arms around his neck. “We can’t do this. You’re my patient. It’s against every rule in the book.”

“Then you’re fired, because I want you, Willow.”

“I’ll have to leave if I don’t work here.”

“No, stay. Please. You’re safe here, and, until they catch Simmons, I’m not letting you become his target again. I care for you. Can’t you feel the pull of our bodies? We belong together.”

Does he just want her for a night or for a lifetime? She didn’t know and right now she didn’t care, but she knew her duty. She shook her head slowly. “I...I don’t?—”

He touched her lips with two fingers. “Shh. Don’t say anything now. Come watch a movie with me. We’ll talk. We’ll get it worked out. Just don’t avoid me anymore.”

He dropped his fingers from her lips.

She ran her fingers through his thick, dark hair. And pulled him down. “I feel it. I wish I didn’t, but I feel it, too.” Then she pressed her lips against his and kissed him back.

Hours later, Willow came back to the living room after getting Mindy to sleep.

Travis sat on the sofa; two glasses of wine were on the table in front of him.

She sat next to him and felt his arm around her shoulders after they’d picked up their glasses.

He raised his glass. “To becoming good friends.”

She smiled. “To good friends.”

“Willow. I’ve been thinking a lot about what you said today and I don’t want you to go against your ethics, therefore, I’m firing you...starting now. But I don’t want you to leave or even think about it. You need to stay here where you and, more importantly, Mindy are safe.”

“I don’t know—” I want to stay, but I feel like I shouldn’t. He’s my patient...was my patient. What he says is true. Mindy and I are safer here than anywhere else. Should I listen to my heart?

“You can’t take chances anymore. What if he decides to escalate things? And with you leaving the state, making it impossible for him to keep to his game plan, whatever that is, I fear he won’t be satisfied until he’s actually got you to himself. Mindy is only a distraction to him. He could do anything to eliminate that distraction. Do you understand me?” A crinkle cut across the expanse of his forehead as his brows collided. “I believe Mindy is in more danger than you are.”

His words shot shafts of fear through her body. She set her wine on the table and turned her body to face Travis. “Mindy? I would never put her in danger. I’ve done everything I can to protect her. Why do you think we moved so often? Or that I started home schooling her? She is the most important person in my life.”

“I understand that but you have to make a stand somewhere. Why not make it from a position of power?”

“Well, I?—”

“I’m right.” He took her hands in his. “You know I am. Think about it. You’re not leaving anytime soon. My ribs aren’t healed and I still need PT.”

Her brow lifted in an arch and her mouth turned up at the corners. “I thought you fired me.”

He pulled a slow smile. “Only if you won’t kiss me anymore. Then I’ll have to fire you and ask you, as a friend, to continue to help me...and stick around.”

She bubbled with laughter. “You are an ornery man, you know that?”

Travis grinned. “Whatever it takes.”