Rainier, Heather - Her Gentle Giant: Remember to Dance [Divine Creek Ranch 2] (Siren Publishing Menage Everlasting) Read online

  Divine Creek Ranch 2

  Her Gentle Giant, Part 2: Remember to Dance

  Rachel and Eli prepare for a future together, as Grace and Kelly plan their Christmas-time wedding. Eli makes it worthwhile for Rachel to master her jealous tendencies as he shows her how much fun loving him can be.

  When Rachel comes face to face with painful memories from her past she claims to have moved on, but Eli struggles with the need to avenge the wrong done to her. A shocking revelation comes to light and the men of Divine Creek Ranch take matters into their own hands to make sure justice is served.

  Will it be enough to satisfy Eli? Caught up in the plans of friends and family, Rachel faces the ultimate test of a bride-to-be’s faith in her prospective bridegroom. Grace and their friends surprise Rachel and Eli with a pre-wedding celebration, and Rachel must decide if her trust in Eli is absolute?

  Genre: Contemporary, Western/Cowboys

  Length: 99,538 words

  HER GENTLE GIANTPart 2: Remember to Dance

  Divine Creek Ranch 2

  Heather Rainier

  EVERLASTING CLASSIC

  Siren Publishing, Inc.

  www.SirenPublishing.com

  ABOUT THE E-BOOK YOU HAVE PURCHASED: Your non-refundable purchase of this e-book allows you to only ONE LEGAL copy for your own personal reading on your own personal computer or device. You do not have resell or distribution rights without the prior written permission of both the publisher and the copyright owner of this book. This book cannot be copied in any format, sold, or otherwise transferred from your computer to another through upload to a file sharing peer to peer program, for free or for a fee, or as a prize in any contest. Such action is illegal and in violation of the U.S. Copyright Law. Distribution of this e-book, in whole or in part, online, offline, in print or in any way or any other method currently known or yet to be invented, is forbidden. If you do not want this book anymore, you must delete it from your computer.

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  A SIREN PUBLISHING BOOK

  IMPRINT: Everlasting Classic

  HER GENTLE GIANT, PART 2: REMEMBER TO DANCE

  Copyright © 2010 by Heather Rainier

  E-book ISBN: 1-61034-238-0

  First E-book Publication: December 2010

  Cover design by Les Byerley

  All art and logo copyright © 2010 by Siren Publishing, Inc.

  Currington, Billy. Lyrics. “She’s Got a Way With Me.” Doin’ Something’ Right. Mercury Nashville. © 2005.

  ALL RIGHTS RESERVED: This literary work may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, including electronic or photographic reproduction, in whole or in part, without express written permission.

  All characters and events in this book are fictitious. Any resemblance to actual persons living or dead is strictly coincidental.

  PUBLISHER

  Siren Publishing, Inc.

  www.SirenPublishing.com

  Letter to Readers

  Dear Readers,

  If you have purchased this copy of Her Gentle Giant by Heather Rainier from BookStrand.com or its official distributors, thank you. Also, thank you for not sharing your copy of this book.

  Regarding E-book Piracy

  This book is copyrighted intellectual property. No other individual or group has resale rights, auction rights, membership rights, sharing rights, or any kind of rights to sell or to give away a copy of this book.

  The author and the publisher work very hard to bring our paying readers high-quality reading entertainment.

  This is Heather Rainier’s livelihood. It’s fair and simple. Please respect Ms. Rainier’s right to earn a living from her work.

  Amanda Hilton, Publisher

  www.SirenPublishing.com

  www.BookStrand.com

  DEDICATION

  For my husband, who has taught me more than he realizes about living life with no regrets.

  ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

  Thanks to Rebecca, Dana, Lisa and Kayla for believing in me.

  Thanks to Christie, Jennifer and Tonya for their contagious enthusiasm.

  Thanks to incredible beautiful, graceful pole dancing specialist, Leigh Ann Orsi of Be Spun, for the inspiration she provided with her beautiful moves. I never thought to include something like pole dancing in my story line until I was doing related online research for a bachelor party scene. Wish I could move like that.

  And my sincerest thanks to Diana, Alison, Caroline and all the wonderful staff of Siren Publishing, and cover artist Les Byerley who brought Eli and Rachel to vivid life.

  Warning: Adults only. This is a work of erotic romantic fiction. It includes elements which some may find offensive, including scorching hot M/F love scenes with very little left to the imagination: from the first shiver, to the last contented sigh. Anal play, anal sex, light bondage, bondage play, sex toys, spanking, pole dancing and stripping, as well as love scenes involving a committed polyamorous foursome M/M/M/F separate from the main characters. This novel is not intended for young readers and was written for of-age adults, and should not be left out where young eyes might see it.

  HER GENTLE GIANT

  Part 2: Remember to Dance

  Divine Creek Ranch 2

  HEATHER RAINIER

  Copyright © 2010

  Chapter Twenty-nine

  “Beautiful.” Rachel gazed out to the horizon, quietly admiring the sunset with the others.

  Someone shifted behind her, and Rachel heard a distinct feminine sigh. Eli stood from his seat beside her and Rachel smiled at him, assuming he was getting another beer from the cooler. Looking into his eyes, Rachel could see the love and purpose in their gray depths as he got down on one knee in front of her chair.

  Good Rachel and Naughty Rachel perched on her shoulders and broke out in the Hallelujah Chorus.

  Rachel sat there in shock, and a small squeak escaped her lips. Her body went limp in the chair as she gazed at him. For several seconds, she stayed that way, memorizing the moment and waiting for him to speak, reveling in the gleaming emotion she saw in this gentle giant’s luminous eyes.

  Close by, one of the women sobbed softly. It sounded like her mom. Eli placed his callused hands over hers, which now rested on her thighs. She smiled happily at him and stroked the undersides of his wrists with the knuckles on her fingers.

  “What are you doing?” she asked quietly.

  He smiled and whispered softly back, “What I’ve dreamed of doing for months now.” He took her right hand in his, kissed her palm, and stroked it with his warm fingers. His touch sent a rippling thrill up her arm and through her body.

  “When I laid eyes on you the first time, I recognized what was missing from my life. I asked you out, and you turned me down, but I understood why. I kept asking you out, and you kept turning me down. The blows to my pride were worth it if eventually you’d say yes.” He kissed her palm again and pressed it to his cheek. She listened in awed silence.

  “When the accident happened, I was so afraid I’d lose you. In such a short time, you’d become everything to me. Now, here you are, almost
healed up from all your injuries, and I don’t want to waste another minute. Will you marry me, angel?” He gently wiped the tears trickling down her cheeks with his thumbs.

  Trying to frame a reply equally as romantic as his proposal, Rachel was momentarily distracted as he removed a box from his jacket pocket and opened it so she could see the ring inside. She let out a sound that was a cross between a whimper and a wail. All the women gasped when he removed it from the box and they could see, too. Suddenly, all the women were talking at once. She placed her hand in his, and he slid the engagement ring onto the ring finger of her right hand

  He brushed her knuckles with his warm lips. “You haven’t said yes. Will you marry me?”

  Conversations came to a halt, and all eyes turned to her.

  “Of course I’ll marry you, Eli!” She wrapped her arms around his neck, careful not to club him in the head with the cast on her left arm, and promptly burst into happy tears. “Yes! I’ll marry you! Yes! Yes! Yes!”

  Everyone laughed as he wrapped his arms gently around her back and under her knees and stood with her. He cradled her in his arms and kissed her like no one else was there, oblivious to the clapping, laughing, and chattering going on around them. He smiled happily at her and tilted his forehead to hers.

  “When?” he asked softly as she rubbed her nose against his.

  Not fast enough, big boy! “As soon as Kelly and Grace can help me pull it together.”

  “Good, because I don’t want to wait any longer than we have to.”

  “Your sister and Grace were both betting we’d be married before Christmas. Did you know that?”

  “They both made mention of that, yes,” Eli replied with dry humor.

  “Kiss me again and leave the details to me, honey.” Rachel squeezed his shoulder and held up her hand to admire her ring. “My ring is perfect.”

  Made from platinum, it had a round one carat stone surrounded by swirling flourishes and inset with tiny diamonds.

  “Let us see! Let us see!” came the chorus of female voices as they all clamored to see the ring.

  Rachel scoffed before allowing them to ogle the ring. “Oh! Like you haven’t already seen it. You all knew Eli was planning to propose tonight, didn’t you?” She didn’t see a repentant face in the bunch as she continued. “Well, girls, looks like we have a wedding to plan!”

  Rachel and Eli both cringed as Kelly and Grace shrieked and jumped up and down, hugging each other.

  Eli and Rachel chuckled and kissed again as the other women put their heads together and started making plans without her. Eli released her lips and murmured, “So your old boyfriend is going to be on this hog hunt next month, huh? Do I need to kick his ass?”

  “Don’t you dare. Mitchell never laid a hand on me and was always a gentleman. Like I said before, if he behaved himself, he got the added bonus of going to my dad’s deer lease. He’s a nice guy and considered a family friend.” Rachel giggled and gave him a crooked little grin before adding, “But I don’t mind if the caveman wants to beat his chest a little.”

  Eli grinned, and a deep chuckle rumbled in his chest. Finally, he released her and allowed her to stand up

  “It’s too bad Mike and Rogelio couldn’t be here to see you propose,” she murmured, missing her two old friends. “Especially since Mike introduced us.”

  “You ought to go out to The Pony and show off that rock,” Ethan said, winking at Rachel. “Show ’em he’s officially off the market.”

  “You should all go!” Renata echoed. “You, too, Kelly. I can watch Matthew for a couple of hours for you. He’s so sweet, and it would be no trouble at all.”

  Kelly looked torn, hopeful but doubtful at the same time, glancing from her dad to her brother. Because of his age, she had not left Matthew with a babysitter yet.

  “Sis, I think a couple of hours of dancing and having a good time would do you good. You know Matthew will be perfectly safe with Renata—”

  “Mom,” her mom said softly, correcting Eli.

  “With Mom,” he said, looking gratefully at her mom, “and I think Christopher would approve of you having a little fun tonight. It’s a celebration.”

  “I think the break would be good for you, honey,” Elijah said. “I’ll come along, too, and whenever you feel ready to go, I’ll bring you back to get him.”

  Kelly patted her hair. “I think I will, if it’s truly no bother, Renata?”

  “None at all. I would have been up late, anyway. Peter, you could go, too, if you want?”

  “No, no. I’ll leave that to the young. I know my daughter is in good hands.”

  Rachel smiled contentedly as her dad held out his tanned, work-roughened hand to his future son-in-law.

  * * * *

  Mike whistled admiringly when Rachel showed him the ring, and tears prickled in her eyes when he hugged her and told her he was proud and happy for her. The Dancing Pony was packed almost to capacity by the time their group arrived.

  “Quick announcement, ladies and gentlemen,” Ethan said through a microphone in the DJ booth. “For all of you who know Rachel Lopez, you are aware she was involved in a serious car accident last month, and we want to welcome her back tonight.”

  Cheers came from around the room because she did know almost everyone there.

  “And many of you know our most recent addition at The Dancing Pony, Eli Wolf.” There were many more whistles, shouts, and even a few shrill wolf whistles. “Eli proposed to Rachel tonight, and she said yes. Sorry to all you single ladies. He’s officially off the market. A round of applause for Rachel and Eli!”

  Eli put his arms around her gently, encircling her in his protective embrace, and he kissed her tenderly during the din and roar of applause and cheers.

  Rogelio hugged her and congratulated Eli. She held on tight to Eli’s hand, not wanting to be passed around the room away from him, but well-wishers crowded in on them. Nodding at his dad and sister, he carefully led her forward to the dance floor.

  In the DJ booth, Ethan requested a special song for them. Eli took her in his arms as “I Wanna Make You Close Your Eyes” by Dierks Bentley began to play. She happily wrapped her arms around him, careful of the cast on her left arm, and rested her head against his chest. As they danced around the big dance floor, other dancers patted him on the back or congratulated her as they passed.

  “How are you feeling, angel?” Eli asked, his hands sliding down her back to the swell of her hips.

  “I feel terrific, Eli. So happy.” She slid her be-ringed right hand over his hard biceps. Eli pointed to his dad and Adam, both taller than almost everyone else there, as their group of friends claimed a recently vacated table.

  After the song ended, he led her from the dance floor and helped her into the tall cushioned chair, saying, “Rest for one song, angel. Then we’ll dance again. I want you to pace yourself.” There was concern for her in his eyes. She’d already had a lot of excitement, and this was her first night out since before the accident.

  She knew he was right and nodded in understanding. The men closed in behind her so that she was not completely surrounded by well-wishers, of which there were many. A thick knot of friends and acquaintances soon formed around their table.

  Eli stood behind her chair, his gentle hand on her arm or shoulder stroking her. Luckily, the table and chairs they sat at were tall. Otherwise, Rachel would have felt a little claustrophobic with the press of bodies. Everybody was shaking their hands and wishing them well when it occurred to her why they were flanking her so protectively. Rachel felt a lot stronger, but she didn’t think she could take too many slaps on the back or hard hugs before she’d be hurting. She glanced up at Eli and reached for him. He leaned down to her.

  “Thank you.”

  “For what, angel?” he asked, smiling at her.

  “For protecting me. I know they mean well. Thank you, Eli,” she said, watching the crowd.

  “Sorry Rachel,” Ethan murmured from the other side. “Maybe I sh
ouldn’t have made the announcement.”

  She shook her head. “I don’t mind at all, Ethan. It’s good to see them again after so long.”

  Adam said, “We’ll stay here right beside you until the crowd thins out, sweetheart. By then you’ll probably be ready for another dance.” There was laughter in his voice. He knew her well.

  She did get her next dance a few minutes later and a few more after that. At one point, a friend cut in, asking to dance with Rachel, and Eli reluctantly allowed it. He stayed near the dance floor as others cut in also to watch her for signs of fatigue or a signal that she was ready for him to cut back in. She did eventually look over at him and nodded slightly for him to come to her rescue. As her current partner released her, she came into Eli’s arms and hugged him close. He steered them across the dance floor to the table.

  “How are you doing, angel?” he asked.

  “A little tired, but mostly just thirsty. I need water or a Coke.” Eli looked up for the waitress, but Ethan patted his back.

  “I’ll be right back with it, Eli. Sit tight, Rachel.”

  Looking concerned, Grace patted Rachel’s hand. “Rachel, you feeling okay?”

  “I feel fine, but my stamina isn’t back at full strength yet. I’ll probably sit the next few out. Where is Kelly?”

  “She’s dancing with her dad. She looks like she’s having a good time. Oh, Lord. Look who just cut in on them,” Grace added. Rachel looked and, to her surprise, saw Kelly dancing and chatting with Brice Huvell. Brice was looking sharp, dressed in new Wranglers and a freshly pressed white dress shirt and sporting a new black Stetson. He’d even polished his cowboy boots.