Jackson breathed slowly on the other end of the phone. “Damn.”
“And that’s not the only bullying she’s had to deal with. Instead of toughening her up, I think your family managed to condition her to take the abuse, to withdraw into her own world.”
“She has a tendency to withdraw. We caught a little dickhead bullying her one day when she was waiting for the school bus. She could hardly even speak when we dealt with the little prick and sent him on his way. We told her she needed to stand up for herself and she nodded but didn’t say anything. We did our best to keep an eye on her after that, but our age difference made it hard. Then we were in college and away from home a lot. I thought she was holding her own better than that. After all, she’s been putting up with Bubba the knuckle-dragger for a couple of years now.”
“Not unless you call him popping her in the face for breaking up with him doing okay.”
There was dead silence on the other end for several seconds. “He hit Veronica?” Cord’s exclamation in the background was loud and clear as Jackson continued. “And you say she broke up with him? When?”
“Yes. Sometime in the days leading up to her arrival here in Texas.”
“We saw her the day before she went to Divine. She didn’t say anything about it.” Another longer pause. “If she had a mark we didn’t notice. Fuck.”
Travis said, “It’d faded completely by the time we met her. I’ll bet I can guess what she’d say. To not worry about it, that it’s in the past and nothing can be done. That motherfucker better hope he never meets me and Hank.”
“He’d better run if Cord and I catch up with him. I’d really like to talk to Veronica. Is she around?” Travis could hear Cord speaking in the background.
“No. She’s sleeping.”
“That’s odd. She’s always awake and working this time of morning. That’s why we called so early.”
“I think she intended to and changed her mind.”
“Well, I’m glad she’s getting her rest, then. So you got ‘the talk’ from Grandma Kate, huh?” Jackson asked, his tone softening somewhat.
“I guess. She encouraged us to spend time with Veronica and we’re both glad she did.”
Jackson let out a sigh. “Ménage?”
Travis went on alert. Veronica had told him that her family in Montana hadn’t approved of ménage lifestyles but mentioned that she’d been at Cord and Jackson’s engagement party. Two brothers announcing their engagement at the same party had to mean a ménage. “Yes. Why?”
“Good. We have that in common. You’ll take care of her then? Protect her?”
“For as long as she’ll let us.”
“How long is she planning to stay in Divine?”
“She’s extending her stay until December.”
“She’s planning to stay, presumably to work and to spend time with you. And you’ve got Grandma Kate’s blessing.” Jackson’s voice was full of good humor.
“I’m not making any predictions or assumptions.”
Jackson laughed. “You don’t have to.”
“I wish it was that easy.”
“According to Grandma Kate, sometimes it is. Will you tell her that we called?”
They finished up the phone call and Travis grimaced when he took a sip of his coffee only to find that it was ice cold.
He went back inside and put her phone on the desk and reheated his coffee. Checking the clock, he grinned and looked into the refrigerator, which was fully stocked.
“I did promise Nika I’d make breakfast.”
Chapter Eleven
Veronica awoke lying on her stomach and blinked several times. She looked around the room, completely disoriented. According to the bedside clock, it was six thirty but she wasn’t sure which six thirty it was.
When she stretched and yawned, she became aware of several things simultaneously. She was sore in some places she hadn’t ever been sore in, her legs and shoulders were stiff, and as she moved her arms, they slid over something cool and silky. Lifting her head, she saw the black satin ties. The memories rushed back all at once as her head bounced on the bed.
Hank and Travis. Her eyelids slid closed and a soft, replete sigh left her lips as she rolled over, rather enjoying the stiffness in her muscles and the ache in her pussy.
Travis stood in the door watching her, his arms crossed over his beefy chest and a smile on his face. His eyes traveled all over her body like a warm caress and her nipples hardened to tight peaks instantly.
“Good morning.” That husky voice filled with sensual knowledge was the sweetest sound she’d ever heard.