Page 78 of Hard Rain Coming

“What’s wrong?”

She picked at his leather bracelet.

“Talk to me, Viv.”

“We’re doing this, right?”

He saw the fear. The insecurity. He swept his mouth across hers and climbed out of bed. “Hold on,” he said over his shoulder as he walked out to the loft area where his office was. He headed for the desk and opened up one of the drawers, carefully withdrawing a box. Dallas grabbed what he needed from it and strode back to the bedroom.

He slid into bed, pulled Vivian as close as he could, and offered a gift.

“I kept the unicorn, remember?”

She took it from him and turned it over in her palm. “You did,” she said with a nod.

“Unicorns are magic.”

“Are they?” She lifted her sweet face.

“They’re rare, and they mate for life.” He sounded corny, had no idea if what he’d just said was true, but Dallas didn’t give a rat’s ass.

He grabbed her hands and kissed them. “You’re my unicorn.” His voice was gruff. “If you want to be.”

Vivian’s face opened into the kind of a smile most men would pay a fortune to receive.

“I love you, Dallas Jenkins Henhawk. And yes, I’ll be your unicorn.” She kissed him. “For life.”

It was the sweetest thing she’d ever said, and he took those words with him as he held her close and, eventually, fell asleep.

Chapter Twenty-Six

Vivian was nervous.

It was early evening with a cloudless starlit night overhead. The Bridgestone house was ablaze with lights, and several vehicles were parked off to the side. Snow still stuck to the ground, and the chill in the air was sharp. In the distance, she watched two men walk out of the barn. No doubt the animals were fed and looked after for the night.

“You good?” Dallas asked. He reached for her hand, his grip warm and strong.

“I will be, when I get this over with.” She’d called her brothers Cal and Ryland, as well as her sister Scarlett, and had asked them to meet her at the ranch. Thankfully, none of her siblings had asked why or even bothered to poke into her reasons. They were here, and now she was outside looking in, a familiar stance for the black sheep of the family.

“Take your time. You’re driving this bus, Viv. Let me know when you’re ready, and we’ll do this.” They’d been sitting in Dallas’s truck for a couple of minutes, and still, her stomach was full of anxiety. Full of the past. It was time to let it all go.

She exhaled, and Dallas squeezed her hand. The two of them exited his truck and made their way up the stairs, then walked inside.

The house was warm, and somewhere, a lemon-scented candle burned. She heard voices coming from the kitchen. With a shaky breath, she doffed her boots and hung up her winter coat while Dallas did the same.

With his hand at the small of her back, she headed toward the kitchen and paused in the doorway as she took in the scene.

Benton had a plate of muffins in his hands and wore a pink-and-white apron with a rose pattern down the front, the words Mama Bear across his chest. His handsome face was smiling down at his daughter, who in turn rocked Lily as if she were a baby. The scruffy furball was asleep, which was a miracle considering the noise produced by the pack of Bridgestones.

Cal sat on the island, eating from a bowl of chips, while Ryland, so much like Cal in looks, stood beside him, hands sunk into the front of his jeans while he listened to whatever it was Cal was saying. Over by the sink stood her sister Scarlett, long hair streaked with pink, pretty face alight as she explained something to Benton—who, of course, wasn’t paying attention on account of his daughter.

This was her family. Her blood. They looked so easy together. Like they belonged. Would she ever?

A lump formed in her throat, and she would have taken a step back, but Dallas’s hand was still there, keeping her anchored. He leaned close.

“You’re not alone.”

She nodded and moved forward, then cleared that damn lump from her throat. “Hey,” she said, trying to smile as they all turned her way.