“Sure. I know just the place.” Viper glanced over and smiled. Warmth gathered in my chest and radiated out through the restof my body. My entire life had changed over the past few days. Now I couldn’t imagine a moment without him in it. We hadn’t seen each other in person in over ten years, but it felt like no time had passed.
A sign for Lake Bliss came into focus. “I don’t know what you’re thinking, but there’s no way you’re going to trick me into skinny dipping in the lake again this time of year.”
The tension in his jaw let up as he smiled. “That’s too bad. I was looking forward to warming you up after.”
“It’s freezing out. I promise I’ll let you warm me up, even without a plunge into the lake first.”
Viper turned down one of the side roads leading to the lake. We used to drive up here a lot when we were younger. We’d build bonfires on the shore and lie back on the sand to watch for shooting stars in the summer. In the winter, we’d join candlelit cross-country skiing outings. It was just another place in a long list of many that I’d forgotten how much I missed.
We rounded a corner, and the lake appeared in front of us. Viper parked in the empty lot, and we both stared through the windshield at the beauty ahead. Snow already covered the top peaks of the mountain range behind the lake. Most of the trees had lost their leaves, but the firs and evergreens stood out, their strong trunks reaching toward the darkening late afternoon sky.
I soaked it in for a few long beats. “I’ve really missed this place.”
“This place has missed you.” Viper shifted in his seat, turning to better face me. “Despite what happened this morning, it’s a good place to live. A great place to raise a family.”
My lungs expanded, making it difficult to take in a full breath. Was he finally going to bring up the pact? Neither one of us had mentioned it yet, though it seemed like the promise we’d made so long ago had been hovering around us, just waiting to be acknowledged.
“You still want half a dozen kids?” he asked.
“Oh, at least that many. Maybe a baker’s dozen, even. An odd number is better. That way, fights won’t ever end in a tie.” I laughed at the sheer amount of shock reflected in his expression. We’d both been the only child in our families. I’d always hoped for siblings, but my mom said she never needed more since I was so perfect. I knew that was a bald-faced lie, but later found out they never even thought they’d get pregnant with me.
“A baker’s dozen is thirteen, right?” Viper’s nose crinkled. “Maybe we start with one and see how things go before we make that big of a commitment.”
“I didn’t realize we were talking about making a commitment.” I pulled my leg up underneath me and shifted to get a better look at him.
For someone built like a truck who’d never been afraid of anything or anyone, the hint of vulnerability in his eyes surprised me. “We did make a commitment to each other a long time ago. I know you haven’t forgotten.”
The pact. He wanted to do this now? With the fate of the town on the line? “Maybe we should put a pin in this conversation and come back to it later,” I suggested. “Like when the bad guys have been caught and we know Mustang Mountain will still be around for years to come.”
His arm slid around my shoulders. “I’m going to do everything in my power to deliver my own brand of justice, but if something happens to me?—”
“Stop.” I shook my head back and forth so quickly that it started to spin.
“I don’t want there to be anything left unsaid between us.” Viper cupped my cheek. His thumb grazed my bottom lip. I sucked in a breath, not willing to entertain this train of thought.
“Nothing’s going to happen. I heard Atlas say these guys always slip up. You’ll find out where they’ve been hiding, thentake them down.” I wanted to believe it would be that easy. That people I cared about wouldn’t get hurt.
Viper held my gaze for several seconds. “Do you want to stretch your legs for a minute? Let’s walk up to the edge of the lake before we eat.”
By the time I’d unbuckled and shrugged my jacket on, he’d rounded the front of the truck and opened my door. My boots crunched on the dry leaves as we left the warmth of the truck. Soon, the ground would be covered in snow. I’d loved watching the change from fall into winter in Chicago, but here in the mountains, the seasons were even more pronounced. I inhaled a deep breath of fresh air and let Viper lead me to the edge of the water.
“Remember that night we came up here?” He opened his arms, and I snuggled into his embrace.
“Of course.” We’d spent too many nights on the edge of the lake to count, but there was no doubt he was referring to the night we made the pact.
“You ever hear from that piece of shit who broke your heart?” Viper’s pulse thumped through his chest. His flannel shirt was soft under my cheek.
“No. You?” We’d been in the same small graduating class, though I’d lost touch with all of my classmates when I moved away.
“He got married a year or so after graduation. Last I heard, he was on his third or fourth wife and in jail for failure to pay child support.” Viper’s palm slid over my back.
“I guess I dodged a bullet with that one. Sure didn’t feel like it at the time.”
“We made a promise to each other that night.”
Nodding, I closed my eyes. “I remember.”
“My birthday’s coming up next month. I don’t see myself getting married before then.” He pulled back slightly andnudged my chin up to meet his gaze. “At least not to anyone but you.”
