Veronica knew Charity was happily married to her husband, Justin, and they had two children who were nearly grown. Perhaps it was just the glare of the sun in Charity’s eyes and Veronica was looking for a story where none existed. Val turned his attention back to Charity and she smiled and nodded at what he said, her eyes showing only friendly interest.
Veronica’s writer’s mind automatically started churning out what-if scenarios, wondering what would happen if a well-established married couple were suddenly faced with the chance to become a ménage. The possibilities were endless and she wondered if she’d have time to make some notes for a story before they went on to the Wassail Fest.
Veronica was lost deep in thought when she felt a gentle hand on her shoulder. Both Hank and Travis crowded around her right there in the street, and Hank said, “Well, Nika. We’re about as far out of the closet as we can get now.”
She smiled until she thought her face would crack and she threw her arms around both of them and let them carry her across Central Park to where their vehicle and decent changes of clothing and makeup remover awaited.
“Nika, please tell me that was you that pinched my ass when we were standing in the crowd earlier,” Travis said as they walked.
Veronica gigglesnorted. “It wasn’t me. I guess I’m going to have to carry a big stick.”
“That’s okay,” Travis said. “I just want out of these tights and this leotard. It’s giving me a serious wedgie.”
Chapter Nineteen
Hank smiled at Veronica as he stood on the ladder and reached down for the Christmas tree topper she’d discovered earlier that afternoon during the Wassail Fest in downtown Divine. They’d shared a cup of the hot beverage as they’d browsed the stores, and when she’d found a particularly pretty Christmas tree topper in one shop, he’d bought it for her, to add to the collection his mother had started so many years ago.
It meant a lot to him that Veronica had enjoyed sorting through his mother’s collection as much as she had. Once again, he knew, if his mother had still been alive, she would’ve loved Veronica.
Veronica looked like an angel, the dancing light from the fire flickering on her skin, illuminating the teardrop swells of her breasts with golden light as she lifted the topper, made into the shape of a star out of iridescent shells, up to him.
The front door closed, and a minute later Travis made an appearance in the doorway to the den. He caught Hank’s eye as Veronica rushed over to him and hugged him, nodding at him over her head.
“Ready?” Hank asked as he climbed down from the ladder and moved it out of the way.
“Yes,” Veronica said as Travis turned out the lights, casting the room in the light and shadows created by the fireplace. Hank tapped the switch on the floor by the Christmas tree and then went to stand with Veronica and Travis. The big evergreen was festooned with decorations, some brand new, many old, and all of it was lit up with multicolored lights. Veronica sighed with pleasure as she looked at the result of her work.
“Nika, it looks beautiful in here,” Travis said.
“The whole house looks more festive than it ever has, thanks to all of your Christmas decorating skills.”
Veronica giggled. “I know I kind of went overboard. I guess I was making up for so many years of not really observing the holidays. And your mom had a great collection of Christmas decorations. I couldn’t pick and choose so I put out everything.”
“Nika, we have something for you,” Hank began, butterflies making nervous fluttering in his gut as Travis took off his coat and hung it in the hall.
“You do?”
“Yes,” Travis said and then pulled the thickly padded throw rug before the fire.
They crowded on either side of her and Travis brushed the long locks of auburn hair off of her right shoulder before gently stroking her nipple, which drew up into a tight peak in response. She hissed softly and bit her lip as she looked up at him, the light from the fire flickering in her cinnamon-colored eyes, which sparkled from the multicolored lights of the Christmas tree.
On her left side, Hank gently slipped her eyeglasses off and laid them with care on the mantel and slid his fingertips along the silky smooth skin of her neck and cupped the back of her head. She turned eyes filled with love up to him and the nerves settled as she smiled at him. Travis bent his head and kissed her shoulder.
Hank nodded at the rug and she settled into a comfortable position kneeling, looking up at them, waiting. Hank and Travis went to her and knelt down on one knee, side by side in front of her.
Her jaw dropped a little, and she licked her lower lip, making it glisten in the low light. Her eyes skipped back and forth between the two of them and she gulped as Travis revealed the little white velvet box he held in his hand and handed to Hank. She gasped and Hank could see the quiver that ran through her body as she leaned toward them almost imperceptibly. Her hands fidgeted together in her lap before Travis lifted one into his.