Page 22 of Her Wild Cowboy Billionaire

They had just sat down to eat dinner. Willow checked her watch when Travis returned to the kitchen. An hour had passed. He wore an old t-shirt and cut-offs made from sweatpants. He wasn’t using his crutches and was walking pretty well; and considering his ankle was still stiff, he only limped a little.

Willow looked at him up and down. “How’re you feeling after your bath?”

He sat at the table along with her, Mindy, Dan, and Claudia.

Claudia brought him a plate of food.

Travis placed his napkin in his lap, picked up his fork, and prepared to take a bite of the meatloaf. “Good. I couldn’t believe how much I had to scrub. The hot water relaxed the ankle some, too.”

“That makes perfect sense. You’ll be soaking some more, and we’ll make it on the warm side. Too bad, you don’t have a hot tub. It would be beneficial. How’s your ankle?” Willow took a bite of mashed potatoes, which she’d topped with sour cream.

“It’s really stiff. How long will that take to loosen up?”

“You’ll be able to work your wrist more often now, so it shouldn’t take more than a couple of weeks.”

He pursed his mouth and furrowed his brows. “I was hoping things would move along faster.”

Willow smiled and lifted a brow. “Trying to get rid of me already?” She liked she felt comfortable enough to tease him. Even though she’d been spending as little time with him as possible, they still had a good relationship.

Travis’s gaze locked with hers. “Not at all. I still want you to stay until they catch your stalker.”

She immediately found her lap fascinating. How could she stay when she was falling in love with him more every day? “I didn’t think you still wanted me to do that.”

“Of course, I do. Mindy and you need to be safe. I can provide that, so let me.”

Willow looked up and locked gazes. His gaze was a rich, black-coffee-brown and hers a sapphire-blue one. “Thank you. You don’t know what a relief it is to feel safe. Until a person has been afraid for their life, they can’t know what safety really means.”

Travis swallowed a bite of meatloaf. “I understand. Why do you think I don’t?”

She rolled her eyes. “Oh, I don’t know. Maybe because you’re a billionaire?”

He pushed his tongue against his cheek, and his mouth turned down on one side. An eyebrow shot up. “That wouldn’t matter to the cowboys I’ve met, but I do it so I don’t put a target on my back or on the backs of others.”

She felt a bit guilty for being so flippant. “I guess I hadn’t realized you would be in danger because of your money.”

He sighed and turned to face her. “It’s not just the money, but what I know. They want to know what innovations are in my brain. Some people out there want that and will do whatever it takes to get it. Kidnapping is an actual threat.”

Her eyes widened. “I don’t see security here. Are you sure it’s safe?”

He laughed.

So did Dan.

Travis sobered. “All of my men are trained bodyguards. They just also happen to be my ranch hands. You, Mindy and I are safer here than anywhere else.”

“Oh, I didn’t know.”

“Well, now you do, and you have nothing to worry about.”

I hope that’s true.

The following morning, Travis headed out to the barn, whistling. The day was gorgeous, the sky a deep crystalline blue and not a cloud in it.

Mindy saw him and called out. “Travis. Can I go with you?”

He turned and waved. “Sure, little firefly. Come on,” He swung his arm for her to join him.

She ran to catch up, her long blonde braids swinging as she went. “Are you riding today?”