“What are you thinking about?” Travis asked curiously.
“Nothing,” she squeaked guiltily. “Just plotting my third book.” Liar. Liar. I’m so not thinking about a young adult plot at the moment.
“When is it going to be done? You left me hanging again,” he grumbled.
Her eyes shot open. “You already read the second book?”
“Yesterday. And it was fantastic, but you need to end this with a trilogy or you’ll drive me crazy.”
“I plan on it. And I think you’re biased. The publishers hated it,” she answered with a sigh, but pleased that Travis seemed to genuinely like the story.
“I don’t give a shit what they said. It’s fantastic,” he grunted. “I’m a reader. So my opinion is much more important,” he said arrogantly. “You need a good agent who can submit to the bigger publishing houses. Or you can publish them yourself. I know a good businessman who’d be more than happy to help.”
Ally already knew who that good businessman was, and she smiled. “So you’d let Kade help me?”
She laughed when she heard the predictably unhappy growl from Travis that she’d expected. When she stopped laughing, she told him more seriously, “Just the fact that you believe in me is enough. I think this is something I need to accomplish on my own.”
“Stubborn woman,” he complained mournfully. He nodded his head to the right. “There’s a herd of elk.”
Ally marveled over the field littered with elk. “They’re huge.” A few were right beside the road, and Travis slowed down through the area to avoid hitting any of the animals.
After they passed the herd, Ally asked Travis curiously, “So why were you so insistent that I was coming with you to Colorado? You’re obviously comfortable with the crowd here. You know the Colters well. Why is this any different than any other charity function?” She’d been wondering that for a while now.
“It’s an auction and a ball,” Travis answered grimly.
“So? You attend auctions,” she shot back at him.
“It’s not a typical auction. Tate thought it would be interesting to have a billionaire auction to raise more money. Bastard! And he has the connections to gather a very wealthy crowd.”
“So only billionaires will be there?” Ally asked, bewildered.
“No. Billionaires are the auction items. Women are bidding on the billionaire of their choice to be their escort for the ball.” Travis visibly shuddered. “I can’t believe Sutherland showed up. Poor bastard. I hope he knows what he’s getting himself into. Tate’s own brothers conveniently had to be out of town.”
“So you’re going to be auctioned off?”
“Hell, no. I’m exempt because I have a woman. It’s just the single guys.”
“So you brought me along as your cover?” Ally asked, biting back a laugh, knowing that was probably initially the reason he’d needed her.
He hesitated for a moment and then answered, “Yeah. I’m not going up on some auction block like a damn antique or a prize show horse for sale.”
Ally snickered. “Well, you are priceless and a stud. That’s hilarious. And I think it’s very unique. I think it will be fun. And the men who are participating are good sports. Is Tate going to do it?”
“Yeah. Some unsuspecting woman will have to put up with his ornery ass all night,” Travis grumbled. “He got a surprising number of men who volunteered. We should raise a lot of money.”
“So I’m going to be in the same place as many of the world’s most eligible bachelors?” Ally asked teasingly.
“No. You’ll be there with me,” Travis told her gravely.
“Jason Sutherland will bring a hefty price. So will Tate. I know women who would give anything to spend an evening with either one of them. And I imagine there will be women there with very deep pocketbooks.”
“And are you one of those women who would love to spend an evening with Tate or Jason?” Travis questioned, his voice harsh, but a little vulnerable. He turned off the highway and onto a paved road that had a “Welcome to Rocky Springs Resort” sign beside it.
Ally looked at Travis in surprise. Was he serious? Not another man even existed for her anymore. Jason was certainly handsome, and so was Tate. But there was no other guy in the world like Travis. She found it incredible that he could even ask that question, that he still had any doubts. She panted after him like a woman in a perpetual state of heat. It was amazing that Travis had any insecurities, but apparently…he did.
Just like I do.