Page 36 of Her Wild Cowboy Billionaire

His eyes tightened at the corners for just a moment. Then he ran a hand through his hair and relaxed. His lips turned up at the corners. “Fine. I’ll fly with you and move to my new house in Denver. That will make it easier for us to see each other. Next week, there is a charity ball for diabetes. I was just going to send a check, but now I’d like you to go with me. Please.”

Her heart pounded. She would love to go. She shook her head to clear it. “I don’t have the proper clothes for a ball.”

He shrugged. “That’s not a problem. My sister is a designer. I’m sure she has something. She goes by the name of K. Starr. You may have heard of her.”

Her mouth dropped open. “K. Starr. Of course, I’ve heard of her. Everyone who’s anyone wears her creations.”

He sipped his wine and smiled. “Good. I’ll have her send you a dress, or you can go to her showroom in Denver and pick out something.”

She couldn’t resist having one of K. Starr’s dresses. And, to be honest, she would love to go with Travis anywhere. She’d fallen in love with him, but she needed him to love her back. She didn’t care about his money. She’d be happy going to a fast-food restaurant, but attending this ball was special. And Alex’s sister had juvenile diabetes and had struggled for years, losing sight in one of her eyes to the disease.

“Very well, I’d love to go. Where is it at?”

“The Westin downtown Denver.”

“That’s a very nice hotel. What day and will you pick me up?”

He cocked one brow and pursed his lips. “Of course. What do you take me for? And it’s on Saturday.”

She laughed. “Sorry. I haven’t dated for over fifteen years. I don’t know what the protocols are anymore.”

“The ball begins at eight. I would usually get there about eight-thirty and leave at nine, but this time, I want to be early. I want everyone to see my beautiful date.” He flashed a sexy grin.

“You don’t know that I’ll be beautiful.”

He dipped his chin and lifted hers with a single knuckle, then he gave her a quick kiss. “Okay, now you’re fishing for a compliment. So, I’ll give you one. I know you’ll be beautiful because you always are. You could wear a flour sack and run rings around any other woman there. In one of Kelly’s dresses, you’ll be spectacular. I have no doubts all the men will envy me.”

She swallowed over the lump in her throat. “I’d like very much to go. Thank you.”

“I should thank you. You’ll have fun. Trust me.” He gently cupped her cheek and ran a thumb over it. “I’ll pick you up at seven-thirty and we can have dinner after. Where would you like to go?”

She shook her head and shrugged. “I have no idea. You pick.”

He sat back against the sofa. “Very well. It will be a surprise, then.”

Willow set her wineglass on the table and stood. “I should get to bed. I still need to pack. What time do you want to leave?”

“That’s up to you, but before you go to bed, I need something.” He wrapped his arms around her, pulled her close, and then leaned down until his lips met hers. Then he pressed them against hers, teased her lower lip with his tongue until she opened and greeted him with hers.

They stayed like that for a while. Finally, Willow pulled back and ran her fingers through his hair. “As much as I like this, I really have to go up to bed now.”

His bottom lip jutted out, and he pulled his arms back, then he smiled. “If you must, I’ll walk you to your door.”

She grinned. “You are such a gentleman.”

He held out his arm.

Willow put her hand through the crook of his elbow.

“You know, as to dating protocols, I’m a bit rusty myself. How about we make our own protocols?”

“Sounds like a good idea.”

They walked up the wide staircase and down to their rooms.

Travis braced one arm on the door beside her head and then leaned down to take her lips again. When he pulled back, he gazed down at her. “I don’t think I can ever get enough of your kisses.”

“That’s good. I feel the same way about yours. But I must say goodnight.” She lifted on her toes and kissed his cheek. “Goodnight, Travis.”