Tiny Dancer(Divine Creek Ranch 13)(69)
A single tear rolled down his cheek before he smiled at her and wiped it away.
“I’m sorry, Ben.”
He put his arm around her shoulders, squeezed her to him, and cleared his throat before continuing. “So I went home with my grandparents, who lived here in Divine, and they finished raising me. Remember I said I was a mess?” At her nod, he continued, “I was on crutches, and was suffering the loss of both parents. My grandparents had a neighbor who had a kid my age. He already had a truck, a beat-up old Chevy. He came over one day and introduced himself, offered to let me ride with him to school once I was well enough to start back. I was pretty withdrawn, but he didn’t mind. He was a good friend. So were his cousins.”
“Who was he?” she asked, having a feeling she knew exactly who he was talking about.
“Ethan Grant.”
Camilla smiled and chuckled. It figured. Anyone could tell that Ben and Ethan were close and went way back.
“After high school we went to college and then returned to Divine. We’d had this silly dream of owning our own saloon when we were teenagers, so we could get lots of chicks.”
A giggle slipped from Camilla, and she felt an answering rumble against her shoulder as he chuckled. “Did it work?”
“Oh, yeah. I got the best one of all.”
“I think Ethan might argue with you on that point.”
“So, now you understand why it is such a big deal to me that we take good care of you, that you never work yourself to the point of burnout. My dad admitted he’d neglected Mom, forced her to work past her point of endurance. He never got the chance to make it better or to make it up to her. I never want to be in that position.”
“You’re not your dad.”
“He wasn’t a bad man. He was just a drunk. Not a malicious bone in his body. But in the end, he hurt us both. My mom most of all.”
“I’m so sorry, Ben. Thank you for telling me. For trusting me. This explains a lot.”
“A lot about what?”
“Why my safety is such a huge issue. Why you are so protective of me, even willing to risk pissing me off to keep me safe. You felt completely powerless and out of control back then, didn’t you? Yeah, this definitely explains it.”
“What?”
“Don’t ‘what’ me, Mr. Control Freak.” Camilla elbowed him gently, her loving gaze softening her words. “If you’re in control, then you think the people you care about can’t be hurt.”
“I wish that was the case. Yeah, I guess you’re right. If I’d been older or said something to Dad sooner, maybe none of that would’ve happened. I know. I know. It’s in the past.” He glanced at her and smiled, and she had the sense that he liked her knowing about his vulnerabilities. “Of the three of us, Quinten is the only one with both parents still living. You’ll like them, and I know they’ll love you. His mother despaired of Quinten ever leaving his gigolo lifestyle.”
Camilla covered her mouth as she erupted in giggles, and Ben told her about visits with Quinten’s parents until he pulled into the driveway at the ranch.
Chapter Fourteen
Early November…
Camilla placed opened beer bottles on the bar before her three big, handsome friends at The Dancing Pony. She waved off their money when Cody, Heath, and Spencer pulled out their wallets.
“I’m buying. I have a proposition for you guys.”
Ben and Quinten came and stood beside her.
Cody, Heath, and Spencer gave her their attention, and Heath replied, “What did you have in mind, Camilla?”
She smiled at him when he used her proper name rather than her stage name. “I’m opening my own nightclub, The Twisted Bull, and Chantilly’s, a steakhouse next door. I want to hire the three of you as security.”
Cody glanced at the men flanking her and tilted his head as though he was concerned. “All on your own?”
She placed her hands around Ben and Quinten’s shoulders. “Meet my partners.”
Ben added, “Mostly silent. She’d be the boss lady.”
Camilla looked at Ben and let him take it from there. This was his idea anyway. “We would want you to start before the club actually opens. The renovation is starting soon, and frequently she’ll be working there, setting the business up. We’ll still be needed here, but her hours at The Bull will increase as the opening gets closer. When she’s at the other location, she needs someone watching over her.”
Spencer raised an eyebrow. “Is there something we don’t know?”
Ben explained the events of the last few weeks, and that Hank had very few leads so far, and Camilla noticed that her three friends all looked a little riled. Cody said, “Can we give it some thought?”