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.”