Tiny Dancer(Divine Creek Ranch 13)(51)

Ben’s wide grin spoke for itself. “You said it yourself, sugar. I’m a pushy pit bull of a man when it comes to the woman I love.” His tone lacked heat as he helped her up and tucked her between them after Quinten had the pillows rearranged. Her searching gaze as she looked up at Ben spoke volumes. Just give it time, baby. Ben cupped her cheek and kissed her chastely, as though acknowledging that it would take time to convince her.

Quinten scooted in close at her back, and she snuggled against him and turned her face to him to kiss him. “Thank you, Quinten. That was incredible.”

He squeezed her and kissed the side of her throat. “It was. I love you, tiny dancer.”

Camilla chuckled. “Hardly tiny. While I was dancing, I realized how out of shape I am tonight.”

Ben groaned. “You looked like you’re in pretty good shape from where we were sitting.”

Camilla scoffed. “There was a time when I could’ve danced like that most of the night, and did, frequently.”

Doing himself justice, Ben didn’t reply about her past. He just stroked her belly and said, “I think you look perfect. I like a woman with curves, especially when they’re your curves.”

Quinten let out a long, deep sigh, reliving the memory of her shimmying her breasts in his face. “You test those curves out on us anytime you need to, baby. I loved watching you dance tonight. Thank you for sharing that part of yourself with us.”

“That routine was just for you. No one else will see this girl dancing anymore.”





Chapter Eleven




He sat in the parking lot of the deserted dry cleaner’s located across the open grassy field behind The Dancing Pony, waiting for dark to settle. Very smartly, he’d parked where the security cameras at the back of the nightclub couldn’t make out his vehicle. He shifted in his seat and moaned softly when the movement jarred his bruised nuts.

“Fucking assholes,” he whined as he tried to find a comfortable position. He was running out of time and it was all Cami’s fault. All she had to do was hold on to one little thing for him and stay put. “But noooo. She’s gotta go traipsing all over kingdom come.”

When he’d visited her house the first time, he’d barely gotten away before that guy she was with had caught him in her bedroom. He’d closed and locked the bedroom window she’d left open, making it harder for him to come back later. He’d figured she’d have been too busy with a tow truck after work and finding a ride home after the nightclub closed. He hadn’t counted on her coming home early or there being a boyfriend in the picture.

Unfortunately, Nat’s goons had caught up with him when he’d gone back to the shithole he was renting in Kerrville, when he was still empty-handed. To show that they were serious about him keeping the promise he’d made the day he’d left Huntsville, they’d used his balls as punching bags. Just the memory made nausea swirl in his gut.

When it was finally dark, he slipped from his work van, donned the heavy oversized jacket that contained all of his tools, and put on the old cowboy hat he’d found. No one would be able to tell it was him. He just needed to work fast. It wasn’t in her house. Maybe it was in her car.

He hoped to hell he got lucky, because he was still holding out hopes of maybe visiting Camilla, seeing if there wasn’t still a little spark between them. Right now his first priority was getting what he came for and keeping his nuts attached.



* * * *



Camilla placed a napkin on the bar in front of Lucy Carter who had just taken a seat. “I haven’t seen you in here in forever, Lucy. How are things going?” It was quiet, even for a Monday night.

Lucy rested her forearms on the bar and smiled as she heaved a sigh. “Better. I’m keeping busy.” She slid her eyes down the bar and then said, “Nice, calm night?”

“Monday nights usually are.” Lucy ordered a Divine Margarita, which Camilla set to mixing for her. “You must be really busy right now. You haven’t been in a while.”

“I’ve been getting settled in the job and in town. I figured it would be quiet here tonight and thought I’d slip in for a drink and a visit.”

Curiosity got the better of her, and Camilla asked, “I get the impression you’ve been avoiding The Pony. Did somebody in here give you a hard time?” Ben and Ethan took the safety and comfort of their female patrons very seriously.

“No. Well. I think it’s more of a case of my ego getting stomped on.” She glanced down the bar again and leaned closer. “Can I ask you a kind of personal question?”

Camilla rested her forearms on the bar, mirroring Lucy’s posture. “I guess so. What do you want to know?”