Awakening Veronica(Divine Creek Ranch 17)(23)
She gasped and put her hand out to stop him. “Tell you what. I have a good friend who writes books similar to mine. She’s better than me. I’d much rather you read one of hers. She’s wonderful.”
Why was she being so evasive? “But she’s not you. I’d rather read one of yours.”
“Yeah,” Hank said as he pulled his smartphone out, too, and started typing. “I’m very interested.”
“Oh boy,” she moaned as she lifted her wine glass to her lips. Then she giggled. “I need more wine if we’re going to continue this conversation. Once I confess though, you’re going to have to help me with my research.” She gestured around the room.
Travis beat Hank out of his chair, lifting her glass from her hand. “Be right back.” As he sauntered to the bar, an idea formed in his mind as he recalled her words about them helping with research. He didn’t intend to get Veronica drunk, but he did plan to make a proposal that he hoped she might take interest in.
When he returned, Veronica thanked him and took another sip, as though bolstering her courage.
“You said you had a confession to make. Why in the world would you feel that way with us?”
Veronica took Travis’s phone from him and moved her fingertips nimbly over the screen then handed the phone back to him. “That’s why. That’s my first book, written about six years ago.”
“The Game Warden Traps a Wife?”
“Uh-huh,” she murmured into her glass as she averted her gaze and took another sip. “You inspired me.”
Travis blinked as he enlarged the cover, which featured a totally ripped, tan model with muscles that practically burst out of his green game warden’s uniform, embracing a woman who looked enthralled by his gaze. He’d inspired one of her books?
“Well, hot damn.” He handed the phone to Hank and Veronica looked ready to pass out from embarrassment.
He stroked her upper arm and said, “I’m honored, Veronica. Did you think I’d be mad?”
“Not so much mad as embarrassed. It got pretty good reviews for a debut novel.”
“I’ll bet it did, or you wouldn’t still be writing. So that’s supposed to be me, huh?”
Veronica giggled behind her hand. “I provided a description of the main characters and that’s what they came up with. Readers loved that cover, though.”
Hank chuckled and said, “Not many men could live up to that image.”
Veronica said, “It’s all part of the fantasy, gentlemen, and don’t sell yourselves short. I think you’re both cover-worthy.” Veronica gaped as he touched the screen. “Did you just buy it?”
“Of course,” Travis said. “I’m curious.”
“Me, too,” Hank said as he did the same. “Grace’s men told me they read her books. I know of at least a couple of other guys who read romance novels as well. It’s good to see into a woman’s fantasy.”
“It is?” She nervously fingered the stem of her wine glass before taking another sip.
Travis and Hank shared a glance and a knowing smile. “It is indeed.”
It was too soon to bring up his proposal but he saw the interest flame to life in her eyes.
Travis peered at the screen on his phone. “Let’s see what else is here. Damn, darlin’, you’re prolific.”
Veronica nodded. “I write a lot. Mostly mainstream sweet romance.”
“Closed bedroom door?”
“Firmly closed. I’m experimenting with branching out though. It’s partly why I’m interested in the ménages in Divine.”
“Oh yeah?” Hank asked, interest sparking in his eyes. “But you know there are plenty of them in Lusty, too, right?”
She nodded as her eyes darted around the room and she looked like she was losing her buzz. She also seemed tired, judging by the way her eyelids drooped. “Yes, but they’re related to me. I know it probably sounds not very nice but I can’t research with family members, even distant family.”
“Understandable, but you should at least make a visit to your family’s museum. I hear it’s really something to see.”
“That’s what Cord and Jackson said. They seem to love it in Lusty. Anyway, I’ve wanted to try writing something erotic since it sells so well. It’s not just the money though. I’m ready to move on…and what Grace writes—extremely hot ménage erotic romance—holds a lot of interest for me.”
Hank nodded over her head at Travis, a smile on his face. Travis clasped his fingers with hers and smiled when she didn’t pull away.