Free Millionaire in a Stetson by Barbara Dunlop

between the Jacobs and Terrell families are plenty. Any more, we might be tempting fate.”
    Niki let loose with a loud laugh. “You went from Katrina dressing me up, to the two of us possibly walking down the aisle, in the space of an hour and a half?”
    “I believe in cutting to the chase.”
    “You certainly do.”
    The song began to draw to a close.
    “Travis?”
    “Yeah?”
    “When you do fall for someone? Let me say right off that she’s going to be a very lucky woman. But, my advice? You might want to wait a day or two before popping the question.”
    It was Travis’s turn to laugh. “I’ll try to restrain myself.”
    Niki reached up to squeeze his hand where it rested on her shoulder. “Thanks for the dance, Travis.”
    “You do know Katrina’s been watching us with baited breath the entire time.”
    Niki closed her eyes for a long second. “What should we tell her?”
    He shrugged. “I’m not going to tell her anything. Let her stay curious for a while. It’ll serve her right.”
    “Is that how brothers treat their sisters?”
    “Absolutely, Nellie. We teased them half to death. And I feel like you’re my new sister.”
    She struggled not to grin. “You’re frightening me now.”
    “Don’t worry, it’s not all bad having me as a brother.”
    The song came to a close, and Travis escorted her off the floor. Niki was happy to take a break.
    Very quickly, she spotted Sawyer. He was sitting at one of the many bars that dotted the perimeter of the arena, sipping a bottle of beer. She decided she needed to set things on the right course between them. He had a point. She was playing with fire, and their flirtation had to come to an end.
    She crossed to him, hopping up on the seat next to him.
    “Looked like fun,” he drawled, an edge to his voice.
    “What looked like fun?” Then she turned to the bartender. “Chardonnay, please.”
    “That dance.”
    “Which dance?” She’d just danced with Sawyer, then John, then Travis.
    “Talking, laughing, touching. I thought Travis was going to kiss you right out there in front of everyone.”
    The light went on inside Niki’s brain. Sawyer had completely misunderstood the body language between her and Travis. She opened her mouth to correct him, but then stopped herself.
    If Sawyer thought she was interested in Travis, maybe he’d back off of flirting with her. She accepted the drink from the waiter. Before she could dig out some money, Sawyer was tossing a bill on the bar.
    “Thank you,” she told him.
    “No problem.” He took a swig of his beer.
    “Travis is a very nice man,” she added.
    Sawyer stared at the crowd. “I take it John doesn’t have a chance?”
    She ran her finger along the condensation from the cold glass. “John’s iced tea in the kitchen.”
    “And Travis is a midnight stroll by the lake.”
    She shrugged, for some reason not wanting to outright lie to Sawyer.
    “And more?” Sawyer asked.
    She swiveled to face him. “That’s a very rude question.”
    “I’ve given up being a gentleman.”
    “Were you ever a gentleman?”
    He angled his body toward her, and she caught a whiff of his scent. It was enticing and intriguing. It cut through the wood and leather, the beer and champagne. It shot straight through her brain, and her entire body clenched with desire for him.
    His tone went low and gravelly. “I can fake being a gentleman, Nellie. But don’t let me fool you. Deep down, I’m as devious as they come.”
    She kept her tone light, even though her blood was beginning to sing with arousal. Her lips tingled and a bead of sweat gathered between her breasts. “I’m surprised you would give that away about yourself.”
    “So am I.”
    Silence grew between them. The music from the band seemed to fade, and the stomping of boots on the dance floor muted. His very gaze reached out and swirled around her, bands of energy pulling her toward him.
    “What am I, Nellie?” His fingertips came to rest on her bare knee,