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“Um—”
“No overthinking, Nika. Follow my lead and you’ll see how easy it is. Forget what you were taught. You’re with me now.”
She glanced around her one last time, as though making sure there was no one near that she could bump into, and then looked up at him with warm brown eyes.
“What’d Grace tell you?” he asked, distracting her as he took charge and moved her slowly in the two-step dance steps. She already knew how to do it. She just had to learn to do it in reverse.
Her blush deepened and she stumbled, bumping his boot with hers, and then giggled. “She told me to seize the day.”
Hank snorted. “Should’ve known. You’re doing great. Now we’re going to turn. Follow my lead.”
He maneuvered her through a full turn and chuckled when she squealed in delight as she accomplished the turn without a hitch. Lifting misty eyes to him, she said, “I love you.”
Smiling, he kissed her and slid his hand down her lower back, pulling her a little closer. Doing so meant her abdomen was pressed against his erection, making concentration difficult, but he didn’t mind. “I love you, too, Nika.”
After the song was done, he kissed her and then escorted her back to the table where Travis stood waiting for his chance.
“Ready to dance with me?” he asked as she went into his arms.
“You’re both brave souls tonight, aren’t you?” she asked as “Compass” by Lady Antebellum started to play. “This is kind of fast for a beginner, isn’t it?”
Travis winked at Hank and then gave her a grin. “You’re with me, Nika. Before long you’ll wear us out, wanting to dance all the time.”
Hank watched them with pleasure as she spread her wings with Travis and let him guide her in the dance. At first, Travis maneuvered her at a slower pace, giving her time to gain confidence. When he changed to a faster pace, her eyes sparkled and the flush return to her cheeks.
He counted himself fortunate that he and Travis had been the ones she’d trusted in her journey. As Doms. As lovers. As encouragers, and soon, as her husbands.
* * * *
Lucy Owen and Maizy Welsh winked at Veronica across the empty space Violet had set up for Veronica in the center of Violet’s Emporium. Hank and Travis were picking her up for supper at O’Reilley’s any minute. They were celebrating Travis’s news that he’d been asked to become the facility director and ranch activity coordinator for the Hill Country Boy’s Ranch, which would break ground in the spring.
A reader, Jerry Batson’s wife, was talking to her about how much she liked Veronica’s books. She cast a glance around the room and gestured to Veronica to lean close and said, “My husband got curious one night because I was giggling while I was reading Bound at the Bonfire and asked me to share…so I did.” Veronica giggled as Mrs. Batson blushed and added, “Let’s just say he’s a fan, too, and he says I can read your books all I want. He even told the kids to stop giving me a hard time about reading them.” Her eyes grew a little teary and she added in a whisper, “Thank you for what you do.”
Veronica patted her hand as Mrs. Batson blinked and sniffled for a few seconds. They chatted a while longer and posed for a picture before she departed to pay for her books and converse with Violet.
The book signing had been a hit. Violet had set it for a Saturday in the middle of December and advertised in all the surrounding communities. The store had been busy the entire time.
As was her custom, Veronica had taken her time, talking with each person who waited, taking pictures until she saw stars, and signing books and other items until the last customer waiting in line had been greeted.
Grace and Grandma Kate had come for moral support, too, but they’d left early because Grace hadn’t been feeling well.
Violet turned the “Closed” sign on the door, locked it, and declared the book signing extravaganza a success. As she removed the extra copies of books from the table, she said, “I wasn’t there, since I was getting ready for the Wassail Fest, but I have to know. Whatever became of that Lester woman? Did those bikers catch up to her?”
