Awakening Veronica [Divine Creek Ranch 17] (Siren Publishing Ménage Everlasting)

by Heather Rainier

  Veronica nodded vigorously and swayed in her chair. “Yes. I love it. It’s nice, and it makes more sense than Ronnie, which is a boy’s name. I’m a girl,” she enunciated and rolled her eyes.

  Travis smiled. “Yes, you are.” She was also adorable with her wine-induced buzz. “I want to ask you something.”

  “Ask away, Mr. Game Warden,” she said with a salute, then sat up in her chair after she slid forward a bit.

  “Would you consider letting us help you with your ménage research while you’re here? You said that dynamic fascinated you earlier. Maybe we could help you to get answers for your questions.”

  Hank rolled his eyes but didn’t say anything. Travis grinned, willing to risk looking like a horndog if it would mean spending more time with Veronica. Soon enough, Hank would realize that he didn’t intend to take advantage of her while she was tipsy. He just wanted time with her while she was in Divine.

  “How would you do that?”

  Hank scanned the gathering. “We could start by satisfying your curiosity here at the reception. Of course, we won’t share any private information but we could fill in the blanks for you. Who would you like to know about?”

  Veronica settled her gaze on a pretty blonde woman standing near the entry. Travis didn’t recognize her but he understood immediately why Veronica was interested as she said, “Notice how those three men have closed in around her. I’ve been watching her while we’ve been talking and she’s kissed all three of them at one time or another. She’s wearing a wedding band, as are the three of them, so I’m assuming that they’re a committed foursome.”

  “You’re right,” Hank said. “That’s Maya Warner. Those men are all Jack’s cousins, Kendall, Boone, and Richard. They own a ranch outside of Divine, and Maya is a registered nurse.”

  They spent the next thirty minutes filling her in on the guests. Travis realized how long he’d been gone from Divine because there were so many people he hadn’t recognized at the reception.

  “Who was the white-headed minister that married Maizy and her men? He didn’t seem too perturbed a few minutes ago when Heath kissed her while she talked with him.”

  “He’s actually a Justice of the Peace. Woody Porter. He’s known Maizy practically her whole life. He knows about Heath and Spencer, but the ceremony he performed was between Cody and Maizy.”

  “He doesn’t mind, even though he’s from a different generation?”

  “No. Woody is pretty progressive in his beliefs. Lots of people in Divine are.”

  “So people like that crazy lady who showed up at the wedding are rare?”

  “I wouldn’t go that far, but people in Divine are pretty tolerant for the most part.”

  Just then Grace joined them, excitement in her twinkling blue eyes. “You’re not going to believe this.”

  “What?” Hank asked, seeming to immediately go on alert.

  “Don’t reach for your weapon, lawman, it’s good news,” she said and then turned to Veronica. “Grandma Kate made a contribution to the fund the bears set up for the rose garden. The improvements to the Memorial Garden are fully funded. She’s planning to go home and talk to the Lusty Town Trust about starting a rose garden for all of their veterans. Isn’t that exciting?”

  Veronica giggled. “That sounds like her. And yes, it’s wonderful news.”

  Grace glanced between him and Hank, a big smile on her face, and said, “Y’all planning to go to the Dancing Pony?”

  Travis and Hank turned their attention to Veronica, and Hank asked, “Well, Nika? Would you be interested?”

  “We could talk some more,” Travis said softly into her ear. “And I could get those dances I wanted from you.”

  Veronica blushed and said, “I’d love to talk, but the dancing I’m not so sure about. Grace?”

  “Rose Marie is going home with a sitter so we’ll be there, too,” Grace said. “Maizy said she’d be happy to chat with you for a few minutes before they leave, if you’d like?”

  “Sure. Would you mind, guys?”

  Hank nodded and stood from his chair, “Of course not. It’ll give us a chance to congratulate the grooms. You sure you’ll be okay? I think the wine hit you kind of hard.”

  Veronica nodded as she rose from her seat and smiled. “It did but I’m fine now. Give me a few minutes with Maizy and then we can go if you’d like.”

  Hank and Travis watched as she walked away with Grace, and Hank groaned. “You let her go eleven years ago?”

  “She was a baby, Hank. I would’ve felt like a cradle robber.”

  “She sure as hell isn’t a baby now.”

  When he’d met her, he’d been at the point in his career where he was making a name for himself and his trajectory pointed straight at Washington, DC. But here he was now, forty-one years old, disillusioned by life in a town that spouted on about change but the only thing changing was money and influence from one set of powerful hands to another.

  His family’s house had sat vacant in Divine so long he’d finally sold it and now his life fit in a suitcase and a cold apartment in a town he knew he’d never call home. He was beginning to think that returning permanently to Divine, Texas, might be just what he needed.

  Chapter Five

  Hank helped Veronica into the tall chair at the Dancing Pony, which had a packed house that night. He flagged down a waitress as several members of their party showed up and took seats at the table, and Veronica was pulled into a conversation with Lydia Carlisle by Grace.

  The waitress had just brought their beers and a virgin margarita for Veronica when Jack walked over, seriousness in his eyes. Ethan and Adam flanked him. “Can we chat with you two gentlemen?”

  Having a suspicion of what they wanted to talk about, Hank said, “Sure, Jack.”

  He laid his hand on Veronica’s in her lap and said, “We’ll be right back.”

  She nodded, seeming like she was doing okay, but she watched them as they moved toward the other end of the bar, by the front door.

  Jack said, “We were watching you with Veronica at the reception. Seems like there’s more than a casual interest between the two of you and her.”

  While Hank could understand Jack’s concern, he wasn’t about to submit to a grilling. “There is definite interest, Jack.”

  Ethan leaned in and said, “You know she’s here for a limited time, right?”

  “We haven’t discussed it yet. How long?”

  “She hasn’t decided yet, last I heard. She could leave next week, or she may stay through Christmas.”

  “I guess our new goal then is getting her to stay until Christmas.”

  Adam lifted his eyebrows. “You’re that interested? What then?”

  Hank knew he’d be asking the same questions if he was in their boots so he didn’t get riled. “Last I looked, she was a grown woman capable of making her own choices.”

  Jack put his hands up. “All we want to know is whether your intentions are honorable. She’s shy, Hank, and…she seems fragile, too. This has been more work than vacation for her, judging by the way the lights burn at the old foreman’s house all night long.”

  Hank nodded. “She told us she keeps odd hours when she’s working.”

  Ethan looked him in the eye and said, “We know how Grace gets when she’s on a deadline, so we thought talking to you was a good idea. I know it may go against your nature, Hank, but don’t push her too much about her hours. If you don’t let her get her work done, it’s only going to create more tension for her, and she already seems tense enough. And Jack’s right—she’s pretty shy. I’m—we’re just worried about her getting hurt.”

  Hank shook his head. “Guys, Travis and I don’t want a hookup with her. Remember how you felt about Grace? You wanted to take care of her, right?”

  “Hell, yeah,” Adam said.

  “It’s the same for us.”

  Jack smiled, “So you’re thinking about building something with her while she’s here? Something that might convince
her to stay or make a change of address? I heard her tell Grace that she can work from anywhere as long as she has strong Internet.”

  That was an encouraging piece of news.

  He glanced over at Veronica and gestured with his chin for Travis to look, too. She was distracted from her cell phone by a couple of guys who tried to woo her onto the dance floor but she smiled shyly and turned them both down.

  Hank noticed the slight frown on her face as she watched the dance floor, eyeing it like it was her enemy before she put her phone away and went back to her conversation with the girls. He wanted to dance with her something fierce. Feel her gorgeous curves pressed up against him. Just the thought made him feel warm. The sensation was only partly sexual, which got his attention. He could picture himself dancing with that woman for many years, and seasons, to come.

  Jack turned to Travis, speaking over the noise of the nightclub as the next song began. “What about you, Trav? You mentioned the other day that you were looking into another career opportunity—one that might take you right back out of Divine.”

  Travis shrugged. “Until I know whether I’m in the running for the job, I can’t say.”

  “If you hang around long enough to make her fall in love with you, and leave her, I swear to God, Trav, I will hunt you down and kick your ass,” Adam said, not even a tiny hint of humor in his pale-green eyes. “I’m serious. Man, you’ve been my friend a long time, but if you do that to her…”

  Travis held up a hand. “We don’t even know for sure if she’s interested in us that way, Adam. Calm down. We’ve only spent a few hours with her. I’m open to the possibilities but she needs to be, too. All we’ve talked about was helping her with ménage research—”

  Adam geared up to respond to that news and Hank chuckled. Seeing one of his oldest friends so up-in-arms over protecting their woman was heartening. He put a hand on Adam’s shoulder and said, “Adam, do we strike you as the love ’em and leave ’em type? Either of us?”

  “No, but I also don’t want her to get hurt ‘doing research.’”

  Travis said, “I won’t lie, guys. If she wants to do in-depth research, I’d be okay with it, but only if I felt like she wanted us for us, and not simply for the experience.”

  “Same goes, here,” Hank murmured. “Right now, she has a lot of questions, so we brought her here to talk. And here y’all are discussing china patterns and planning a bridal shower.”

  Jack shot him the bird discreetly and laughed. “You’d do the same thing if it was someone you felt protective over. We feel responsible for her.”

  “I understand. We feel protective of her ,too. It sounds like her last boyfriend was a jackass. May possibly have hit her.”

  “Grace mentioned that, although Veronica hasn’t been forthcoming with details. Sounds like she’s being cyber bullied in some of those chats, too.”

  Ethan nodded. “She’s got some trolls that seem to follow her about on the Internet. She handles herself pretty well, but she’s nonconfrontational with them.”

  Hank shook his head. “Ignoring a bully doesn’t always work, though.”

  “No, it doesn’t,” Jack said. “Anything you can do about that?”

  “I can look into it. Duke and Ace may be good ones to get on it, too.”

  Jack nodded. “I think I was just waiting for the suggestion to get the guys involved.”

  “Good enough. Now, if you three mother-fucking-hens are finished with your chest beating, we’re going to go dance with our woman.”

  The men saluted and Hank and Travis moved back through the crowded club. As he watched, Veronica took out her phone, and frowned at the screen before sliding it back into her purse. He grew curious about whoever was bugging her, and planned to ask her until he saw what distracted her.

  Her gaze was glued to Chance and Clayton Carlisle, who were cuddling Lydia. They were whispering in her ears, one in front of her and the other behind her. Judging by the twinkle in Lydia’s eyes and the way she bit her lip, it was juicy, whatever they were saying. Hank nudged Travis to get his attention and watched as a blush filled Veronica’s cheeks. Travis followed her gaze, and then grinned at him and nodded.

  They moved up behind her and Hank smiled at her soft squeak as they crowded in at her sides. Travis kissed her temple and stroked her hand which was resting on the table, as Hank kissed the top of her head and stroked the cheek she’d cradled protectively earlier. Because her body was pressed between them, he felt the shudder that quivered through her.

  Hank spoke in a husky whisper. “Imagine it, Veronica. Two men, both desiring you, wanting to be near you more than anything, wanting to touch you—together.”

  “Oh my—” Her breathing was shaky as she turned to him, placing her lips within an inch of his.

  Travis slid his hand up her forearm and then stroked her inner arm from her elbow upwards. She gasped and jolted in her seat, and Hank realized Travis must’ve caught the side of her breast with his knuckles. Her nipples peaked against the silky fabric of her dress and whatever sinful lingerie he could feel underneath it.

  “They’d want to slip this sexy dress off of you, Nika.” Travis spoke so only the two of them could hear him. “So they could see and touch what’s underneath.”

  She turned her gaze to Travis. “You two are potent, you know that? You could probably charm any girl out of her clothes.”

  Hank stroked her lush reddish-brown locks off her shoulder and said, “The only one we’re trying to charm is you…Nika.”

  Her eyelids slid closed and she bit her lip. “I love the way that sounds coming from your lips.”

  “We like it, too,” Hank murmured. He glanced around at the club patrons surrounding them and happened to catch Grace’s eye. She pressed her lips together to keep from grinning from ear to ear, but her eyes twinkled and she winked at him before turning away.

  Another song began to play and all the girls climbed from their chairs, with Grace leading the way. She turned and waved at Veronica and then gestured at Hank and pointed at Veronica.

  Hank chuckled and said, “Travis, Veronica, I’d like to introduce you to a tradition at the Dancing Pony. It’s known as the girls’ dance, and Nika, you’ve just been invited to join the girls on the dance floor.”

  A look of horror passed over Veronica’s face and she shook her head. “That’s not a good idea. I’ll pass.”

  Hank had always—always sympathized with the exasperation that some of the men in Divine suffered over these girls’ dances. Seeing it from a law enforcement officer’s standpoint, these dances were like waving a red cape in front of a bull—it was only a matter of time before someone got hurt.

  When he was around for the dances, he always made sure, like the bouncers did, that each of the ladies was safely back with the man—or men—she came in the club with. It didn’t matter that he was off duty. He couldn’t stand the thought of any woman getting hurt and he’d always do whatever he could to keep that from happening. The fact that women kept running into harrowing circumstances in his fair town was the cause of the silver that had been infiltrating his formerly black hair over the last few years.

  Well, that and age, Hank. You aren’t getting any younger.

  But tonight, he felt differently. He wanted to see Veronica have a good time, but he should’ve known better. Not only was she not going out there, it was written all over her face—No way, no how am I going out there.

  “That’s all right, Nika,” Hank said, his tone consoling as he brushed his lips against her temple. Her gaze followed the group as even Grandma Kate shook her tail feathers and the sad smile on her face and the way her eyes got shiny made his throat swell in empathy. She wanted to dance. Badly. But something was stopping her.

  “You don’t like to dance?”

  “I don’t know how. Or rather, I learned but I’m no good at it.”

  “Who taught you?”

  “I don’t want to talk about it.” She chewed her lip and looked about the club, h
er eyes not settling anywhere in particular. She slumped her shoulders and wrapped her arms around herself, losing the connection between him and Travis.

  “Fair enough. Look at me,” he said softly. Her eyes turned up to his, her expression apologetic. Her gaze immediately flitted away before turning to him and then shifting again. He stroked his thumb gently across her chin and said, “I hope sometime you’ll trust us enough to tell us why that upsets you, Nika.” He didn’t push her, just waited for her response. Her lower lip trembled under his thumb and she finally nodded.

  Travis trailed a hand lightly over her hair. “You can trust us.”

  Her gaze fled again. “I should go home. It’s late and I need to work on my notes from tonight.”

  Hank exchanged a glance with Travis and gave him a brief nod. Moments before, she’d been trembling and aroused. Now she was stiff and near tears. “Sure. I’ll let Jack know we’re leaving.”

  “I’m sorry, guys.”

  She apologized several more times in the truck on the way out to the Divine Creek Ranch. They’d reassured her just as many times. With each stilted attempt at conversation by the men, she seemed more and more withdrawn. Hank became more determined to find the cause of her anxiety as the minutes past.

  * * * *

  Hank parked the truck in front of the house and Veronica reached into her clutch for the key. Feeling guilty for being such a baby, Veronica opened her mouth to speak but Hank cut her off. “Please don’t apologize again, Nika.”

  Hearing the endearment in his husky voice made her feel worse about the emergency jettison of the evening. “Okay.”

  Hank pulled the keys from the ignition and then gazed at her as he rested his arm on the seat behind her head. “Are you sorry for ending the evening or are you rethinking ending the evening?”

  Travis leaned in on her other side. “Good question, Hank, because I’m flexible here.”

  Smiling in appreciation that Hank was that intuitive, and Travis’s attempt at humor, she decided truth—or at least as much as she felt comfortable sharing—was the best thing to offer.