“Nika, you decorate my house any time you’re in it.”
Veronica giggled and nudged his shoulder with hers. “Stop.”
He kissed her temple, and after they’d finished their snacks, they headed to Batson’s Grocery Store for steaks and shrimp to put on the grill for supper that night. Travis was expected home within the next couple of hours and they planned to celebrate erasing her cyber stalker and bully from her life.
Chapter Seventeen
From her spot in front of the fireplace in the den, Travis heard Veronica giggle as she unwrapped another baby Jesus. “I think there must be five different nativity scenes in this box, Hank.” She looked beautiful with the firelight flickering on her naked form as she perched on the towel he’d folded for her to sit on. Her little feet were crossed behind her and he had a delectable view of her bare, shapely backside. He was glad she’d become comfortable remaining nude while in the house.
Hank chuckled from the kitchen, where he was rinsing the dinner dishes while Travis wiped down the kitchen island and the counters. They’d cooked supper for her and cleaned up afterward, sending her into the den to investigate the contents of the numerous boxes that Hank had brought out of storage. He’d told her she could put out as much or as little as she wanted of the Christmas ornaments and offered to go shopping for a fresh Christmas tree after Thanksgiving, if she wanted to decorate it, too. Travis had been moved by the blush in her cheeks and the mistiness in her eyes as she smiled and nodded at him. They’d make this the best damned Christmas ever for her, to make up for all the ones she’d missed.
In answer to her earlier declaration, Hank said, “Mom collected nativity scenes, too. There’s even one in there that I made for her when I was in sixth grade.”
“I found it. She wrote your name and the year on the bottom of each piece. It’s my favorite,” she replied softly as she kept working.
A thumping noise sounded outside and a fist connected with the front door and began pounding. “Veronica! Open up! Open up now! I know you’re there. Open the fucking door!”
Veronica’s jaw dropped as she made eye contact with Travis and then she looked down at her nudity. She scampered down the hall and reappeared a moment later in her robe. Travis muttered, “Two guesses who’s at the door.”
In a tight voice, Hank said, “This is our day for dealing with assholes, I suppose.”
Veronica started to walk around them to answer the door but they stopped her and Hank said, “Let us handle this, Nika. I’m not allowing him within striking distance of you again.”
Travis slid his hand into hers and held on to her as Hank went to the door but didn’t stop her as she trailed behind.
More pounding vibrated the door in its frame. “Let me in, Chubbs! I’m about to blow that doorknob off if you don’t let me in!”
“Shit!” Travis acted so fast it tore a gasp from Veronica, as he pivoted and placed his body between her and the door and maneuvered her into the hallway.
Travis growled, realizing that neither of them was armed. She shrugged when he quietly asked her if Brent owned a gun. He quickly joined Hank, stationing himself on the opposite side of the front door. The pounding continued. If this son of a bitch was telling the truth—
Veronica peeked around the corner and called out, “Hang on! I’m opening the door!”
Hank gestured for her to back farther into the hallway and reached out to throw the bolt and unlock the doorknob. Before he could manage either, a tremendous weight landed against the door, cracking the frame. The door exploded open on the second impact, startling a scream from Veronica. A big, stocky bastard charged through the door and pivoted his head on his thick neck one way and then the other before he made eye contact with Travis beside the door.
Dressed in a dirty denim jacket, jeans, and muddy work boots, aggression burned in his eyes as his fists bunched angrily. This was what Veronica had been dealing with? He was flexing those fists for Veronica? Not anymore.
“Brent, I presume?” Travis said, and then nailed the big son of a bitch with an uppercut that didn’t even rock him, much less fell him.
The guy shook his head and looked at Travis. “Who in the fuck are you?” He scowled and reached for Travis’s shirtfront. Pain exploded in Travis’s head as Brent nailed him in the jaw with a rock-like fist and he hit the floor.
Hank sprang at the bastard. Travis shook his head, trying to make the stars dissipate and saw Veronica as she backed into the kitchen from the hallway. Good girl. It might take two of them to take this behemoth down but he needed to know she was safe.