Awakening Veronica(Divine Creek Ranch 17)(25)
Hank frowned as she rambled. “Only Cord and Jackson call you Nika? Who are the others?”
“Jesse and Barry, my other brothers, and my older sister, Addison. They call me Round Ronnie and Mom and Dad call me Pudge. And the knuckle-dragger called my Chubbs. I don’t miss him at all. Can you believe that? We were together for two years and I haven’t missed him once while I’ve been here.”
Hank nodded thoughtfully. “Yes, I can imagine that. Do you like being called Nika?”
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?”