Thoroughly Loving Nina Ch. 06

Nina sighed, noting that Vic was dozing. Well, what did she really need think about it? Her mind challenged her asking if she wanted the truth so she made no attempt to block that challenging line of thought. You're acting in your best interest girl. In all your life you haven't met a man who's treated you so well and made you love him so much despite his treacherous streak.

Love?

Is it really love? She rolled slightly in despair not knowing how to answer and then deciding they'd advanced a few steps beyond simply being partners with a healthy inclination to share in sex. Well, in her book that was love and even more so when she was prepared to be tolerant of him messing around with other women, or fucking other women as he would call it. Some women would question her mental capacity to be thinking like that – she was sure they would. A few would urge her to flee from him. Well, perhaps that was good advice. She could abort the sale, face the music and pay the financial penalties and then head in the opposite direction her financially busted Vic proposed taking.

Her Vic? Yes, quite. Any critics would do well to think about that: if she thought possessively about Vic and allowed him to access her body, what was that: casual friendship? Oh yeah, what about the possessiveness? She expressed that emotion these days because she now loved him, and just because he lifted up the skirts of other women that didn't mean he didn't love her. Take the purchase of the ranch – she was putting up a slice of her money whereas he was on the way to investing his last cent apart from spending money. He had courage and conviction and in his own way probably love her. Well she loved him and felt the need to increase her possessiveness.

Nina's heart leaped. Kate – Kate and Shaun; they don't have children but is that their wish? Oh that would be ideal if she and Kate became pregnant at the same time. Nina's mind went onto a higher plane and romantic images began replacing the uglier side of realism. She briefly thought of loaning Vic to impregnate Kate if Shaun was firing blanks – either via test tubes or going on holiday to the coast or lakes with Kate for a few days. That thought faded and she saw the vision of Vic on his Palomino riding ahead of a little girl and her younger brother on their ponies and Vic was urging his daughter to stay back with her brother, knowing she was as fearless as Kate and could ride like the wind. Then she was in another scene and there was her other great friend Leigh – she now had three dear children; was the new one Vic's or her husband's. Twice a month Leigh and Vic disappeared for a night. What a coincidence it always was the same night. No-one ever said anything but everyone knew; everyone! But guess who had Vic for those other nights of the month1 God, how could she cope with him by herself. Vic was a bull.

Nina's mind slipped into another scene: a bull was charging her. She jolted from dozing. Her head was almost touching Vic's. "Vic, let's get married."

Vic's breathing stopped but he didn't even say 'Huh'.

"Vic, let's get married."

His breathing resumed and he said "Huh?" but turning to her said what she wanted to hear: "Okay, when?"and he yawned.

She turned, smothering his face with kisses and yapping like a lap dog, consumed in excitement. She was aware she should have held back and extracted a proper speech from him: in years to come their fiery daughter would berate her, screaming, 'You allowed him to get away saying Okay, when? Oh mother!' and Nina would grin and say that was not quite right, it went, Okay, when – then a big yawn.

"The Friday before we take possession. I want to be married in Kate's sitting room."

"Kate's sitting room?" he said, sounding confused. "Don't all women want to be married in white in a church ringing with hallelujahs?"

"Not this woman. I will be married dressed as a cowgirl. You wear what you want."

"But you're not a cowgirl. All you can do is ride a horse."

"What this space buster, the woman you're fucking so regularly is becoming a cowgirl."

"You language is becoming quite common."

"Oh yeah, I wonder where the wellhead of that degrading influence lies."

Vic was sounding confused again. "What's got into you?"

"I'm getting married, that's what is embracing me. Oh, I've just thought this: you're not getting my ass on my birthday. Sorry, you'll have to go elsewhere."

"Why, what are you talking about?"

"Our stroppy young daughter would take to you with an axe if she found out you ass-fuck me."

"Nina, are you on dope?"

"No, I would have fucked you senseless had I been on that kind of high."

"You're a worry Nina. Let's go. I'm taking you out to dinner – you choose."

"Thanks partner, now we're getting married you're no longer a worry to me."

"It's my third wedding darling, remember?"

"Upon learning that our stroppy daughter will brand you a rutter of women."

Lifting up Nina looked down on the hugely embarrassed face of her man, lover and husband-to-be. "You'll be able to keep her under control by turning her into daddy's girl. To such girls daddy is beyond reproach forever. I won't mind because I'll have Nigel. Our timid Nigel ultimately will grow out of that awkward state imposed on him by the unstoppable combination of daddy and daddy's girl."

"Nigel?" what kind of name is that?"

"My kind of name; you name our daughter."

"But I don't know any girls' names."

"Oh, the typical male brain collapse. You'll think of something but call her Leigh and I'll scratch your eyes out."

"Why?" He sounded even more confused.

"One Leigh is enough around these parts. That's all I have to say. Now kindly kiss your bride-to-be soundly – a loving kiss."

She then told Vic they were staying a long weekend with the Loves to meet Kate's father and for Vic to work on finishing the house - with him flinging a hammer Kate figured Shaun would be shamed into joining the building crew. Her father would assume the role of foreman.

"This Kate, I'm not sure I like the influence she's having on you."

"Oh, really? You'll change your mind when you set eyes on King."

"King - what king?"

"Oh, never mind for the moment."

"Nina - was it Kate who suggested we get married?"

"Kate - Kate who?"

"Oh fuck, this has become too much for me. I'm going for a walk."

"Don't trip over Leight Masters."

"What?"

"I didn't say a word; enjoy your walk darling."

* * *

Kate and Shaun would be the first two people to be told, Vic thought, although Nina was bound to tell the breakfast waitress at the hotel whom she's befriended. Walking back to the hotel to rest with Nina before going out to their celebatory dinner, Vic came across Leigh who hugged and kissed him quickly more or less like a normal greeting between friends on a busy sidewalk. He blurted out the fact that a wedding was coming up.

Leigh's eyes shone and she asked him what he wanted for a wedding present. Not unexpectedly Vic's mind went blank.

"I'll think of something – you're always giving me something," she giggled.

Vic have been surprised how well he felt about this marriage before realizing it had been natural progression, unlike his previous two ill considered ventures. That pleased him and was aware that these days he was looking at Nina in admiration and knew she'd become aware of that – it sparked her eyes. He worried about what to give Nina for a wedding present.

The next day he called Leigh who astonished with her suggestion. That resulted in Vic going out to the Hunger Ranch with their permission with Leigh, an architect and an engineer.

The four of them stood in a tight group looking at flat land that within 400 yards began rising sharply into high country.

"I favor the site for the new homestead away from this present site," Vic said.

Leigh looked across to a knoll a couple of hundred feet above them. "What about up there?"

The architect said it would be a magnificent site provided it met engineering standards. The engineer said site access costs would be high as a long track would be required which would involve cutting through rock.

"That's okay, your new clients are not short of money," Leigh smiled.

The architect pulled a sketch plan from a folder he was carrying. "Perhaps something like this. It's a plan been awaiting a client with money."

"Oh my," Leigh breathed. Vic was impressed and said it suited him fine.

"Oh no, the woman of the house must have her say," the architect said.

"Right – we'll leave finalizations till after the wedding," Vic responded with authority and decisiveness.

He continued: "Thomas, I want the concept of site development fine-tuned and engineering plans plus environmental report rushed though approvals – I'm prepared to pay a penalty payment to authorities to make that happen. That access track and the building pad must be formed before the 30th of next month – so there are five weeks to go. Can do?"

"Normally I'd say no, but if Leigh can do the people pushing for me I'd say we'd at least have something in the way of ground works started by the wedding."

"Great. Lance can you give me a couple of hours tomorrow morning on that plan? I know the way Nina thinks and have clear knowledge of some of her preferences. The winds will be strong up there so we'll need a nook offering some protection if we want to eat outside on windy days. When it's still, she'll want the whole front of the house to open up, fireplaces in lounge, living room and master bedroom – old Western style. That means outside can look modern, but inside must appear traditional although not to the extent of log walls and imitation candles on suspended wagon wheels. I'd describe it as modern cowboy."

"Modern cowboy," Lance noted. "Modern Western is my interpretation and this is what this sketch is – okay?"

"Sounds good, Lance. I want to present Nina the draft plans and specification at our Wedding Breakfast but with a note from you saying she's free to change anything without requiring my consent as I'll not be at those meetings because a free hand is a free hand."

"Oh, aren't you sweet," chuckled Leigh and everyone laughed.

"I'd really appreciate you rooting for us to push rapid approvals through Leigh. By the way, I've suggested to Nina she invite you to be our matron of honor."

Leigh curtsied and asked demurely would there be any reason why Nina wouldn't ask her. Vic answered with a sly grin and the engineer and architect looked at each other, eyebrows raised.

"Guys, I want this kept tight-lipped for the moment," Vic said, pressing on. "Do your best on this project and you're on our team. Nina is coming up with ten million to begin development on this site of an adult only guest rancher complex around an artificial lake. We'd need advice on whether that's the way to go or to raze everything and to start afresh. At present that scheme is on hold until we get a replacement house sorted. I've decided to expedite development so will be back to you on this with Nina soon after the wedding. Leigh you'll get some crumbs – we'll want your company to become our master booking agent and develop a marketing strategy and create our website, links and manage it."

"Well, well. Haven't you woken up Vic. Holiday over, huh?"

"That's it, Leigh. At long last Nina and I have something to get our teeth into. That's all from me."

"I'm late for an appointment so must fly," Leigh said, kissing her two friends but taking longer to kiss Vic.

"Come back to the office for coffee you guys," invited Thomas.

An hour later Nina walking by on the other side of the street saw Vic shaking hands with two men outside the offices of engineers specializing in civil engineering including site development. Well, she thought, at least he's consorting with men rather than a woman. He must want our dams checked.

Vic was in the shade by the pool reading the morning newspaper waiting for Nina's return to prepare to leave for the Love's place for dinner when Leigh phoned.

"Hi, I'm back at the hotel waiting for Nina," he said, replying to her greeting.

Leigh ignored that. "I'm not fucking you to extract business favors."

"It never entered my head," Vic replied truthfully. "But from me you get what you deserve; I was repaying kindness with kindness."

"Glad to hear that. Look, this doesn't worry me too much but Thomas and Lance are friends of Dean's."

"Dean, is that his name? When you are with me I only ever hear you call Dean, quote, my husband, unquote."

"Stop clowning around. Thomas and Lance may have sensed something between us – you and I weren't actually on strict Sunday school behavior."

"I bet you were no saint, even as far back as Sunday school."

"Vic!"

"Sorry, you tend to bring out of the worst and best in me. Don't worry about Thomas and Lance – they are professional men who know all about client confidentiality. They also know that if they were responsible for screwing up anything between you and me and Nina they could well kiss goodbye some very fat fees."

"Well, I trust you are right. You know those people who say women are deceptive – they really are innocents when it comes to you."

"You're lavish with your compliments today."

Leigh giggled. My husband is away the first couple of days next week. Do you fancy anything?"

"Yes, Nina is having advanced riding lessons with Kate on Monday and Tuesday and we set off on Wednesday for a few days. Could we meet at your place for lunch Monday; it's my birthday? There's something I promised myself for my birthday."

"Oh great, I'll buy you a present."

"Okay, a soft liner for the floor of my new pick-up. Nina will assume I brought that – she could become suspicious if she found a personal gift she'd not bought me."

"God, you are a master of deceit, Vic. Yuk, a floor liner, how sexy."

"Rub some of your juices on it; that's sexy."

* * *

Dinner at the Love's ranch that Friday night was memorable for both couples. When Vic produced two bottles of French champagne Shaun and Kate assumed their guests were simply being socially very generous. That is until the glasses were filled.

"Cheers," Shaun said, preparing to take a gulp.

"Er, please toast the bride and bridegroom-to-be," Vic said, presenting a face that was a good imitation of an over-ripe tomato.

"What!" Kate shrieked.

Nina nodded. Kate put down her glass and went to her, the men rolling their eyes.

*

To be Continued...