Awakening Veronica(Divine Creek Ranch 17)(53)

“You’re thinking about them, aren’t you?”

Veronica looked up to find Grace watching her with a knowing smile on her face.

“Maybe, a little.”

She could fantasize about what it would be like with Hank and Travis but she always came back to the same roadblock. Hank held a public office, Travis might be leaving, and she had a lease in Montana and a recalcitrant ex-boyfriend to deal with, if the growing string of text messages and e-mails she’d been receiving on a daily basis were any indicator.

The doorbell rang and Grace smiled up at her. “Why don’t you go see who that is?”

A heat wave swamped her body as anticipation made her nerves jump. Her hands were even shaking as she answered the door. On the doorstep stood Travis and Hank, looking like sin in denim and cowboy boots. This time, Hank was hatless, revealing his sexy silver sideburns and temples while Travis wore a wheat-colored straw cowboy hat.

She stood back and gasped as they both crowded in around her, pinning her to the door. Travis took off his hat and said, “Hello, Nika.” He kissed her brow and then lowered his lips to hers. “Been thinking about you all day.”

“Same here,” Hank added as Travis moved aside enough for Hank to get his kiss. The heat in his gaze was enough by itself to get her wet, imagining the way he’d taken care of her earlier.

Grace came out and greeted both men. Hank’s phone rang while they were chatting and he excused himself to answer it. When he returned, Travis asked, “Who was that?”

“Manager of my last election campaign. He wanted to talk strategy for the next election. He likes to get started early.”

Veronica nodded and smiled. Divine seemed like a well-run town and she had a feeling Hank had a lot to do with that. She wondered how he coped with the public pressure to get the job done. Hank was a good man and it was obvious he had his campaign manager’s confidence for another term in office. A chilling thought occurred to her. If word got out that Hank was a Dom who was interested in a ménage, regardless of its duration, would he still get reelected?

Hank called out to her as he and Travis followed Grace into the kitchen and got beers. She filed the thought, knowing she needed to be careful. The last thing she wanted to do was cost him an election.

Shortly after, Seth brought Kate home and wished them all good-night, and Grace’s men came in from the horse barns with Rose Marie perched on Adam’s shoulders.

When Veronica took her seat, she was surprised to find Hank and Travis immediately situated on either side of her, a fact that both excited her and made her nervous. Grandma Kate looked pleased with the seating arrangement and seemed to take every opportunity to ask Hank and Travis about themselves. The conversation flowed around the table during dinner and Veronica felt a little like she was in a dream world. Every time either man spoke to her or looked at her, she could feel the heat and need growing inside her.

Judging by the way their gazes lingered on her, Hank and Travis must’ve been feeling it, too, because as the meal drew to a close and everyone rose from their seats, Hank took her plate and glass from her and helped to clear the table. When he returned, Grace and Kate were in his wake, bidding her good-night.

Veronica smiled and hugged them both, and Kate said, “I think you’ve earned a nice evening off, sweet girl.”

On the way back to the old foreman’s house in Travis’s truck, she gave it some thought and said, “I could afford to take the evening off, guys, if you’d like to stay and talk or…”

“If we stay, we’ll be making love to you, Nika,” Hank said, brushing a lock of hair back over her shoulder. “Just like I told you this afternoon.”

The reminder of that hot encounter only increased the heat blooming inside her. She looked up into his gray eyes and saw the truth there. She turned to Travis as he parked the truck outside the old foreman’s house and the desire in his eyes told her he felt the same way.

He climbed from the truck and went around to the other door as Hank helped her out. “We won’t push you beyond where you want to go, Nika, but I want you. I know Hank wants you. Either stop us now or let us in.”

Hank squeezed her hand and said, “We won’t stop you from working later if that’s what you need to do.”

Work was the last thing on her mind as both powerful men closed in on either side of her, encompassing her with their heat. “Come inside with me.”





Chapter Nine




They walked through the dimly lit house, Hank leading her by the hand, Travis following behind her. Travis set to work, building a fire in the bedroom fireplace. Hank placed the black zippered bag he’d brought in with him on the chair in the corner and then moved around the room, lighting the candles on the dresser and night table. Veronica had no idea what was in the bag but had a few guesses.