Page 112 of Locked In Ice

“Son!”Ophelia’s father called out.“Dinner is nearly ready!Five minutes!”

Lark flinched.In that moment, as he stared into her eyes, he could see their past.Dark.Bloody.Painful.

Lane exhaled slowly and gave Velma another pat.

The past was over.“My sister is here,” Lane called back.“Can’t wait for you to meet her.”

There was an excited yell from the kitchen.Ophelia’s yell, he knew.She’d talked with Lark on the phone, but meeting in person would always be different.Lane figured he had about twenty seconds, maybe thirty, before Ophelia exploded on the porch.

“This is Velma,” he told his twin.“And she’s a really good judge of character.”

Lark’s hand extended toward the black cat.“I always wanted a cat.”

“I’ll get you a dozen of them,” Oliver instantly promised her.

Lark laughed.Her green gaze lightened and the shadows vanished from her eyes.Yes, Lane knew that Oliver loved Lark.His sister was happy.As for Lane—

Ophelia exploded on the porch just as he’d expected.She zoomed to his side.Gave Lane a big hug, then immediately focused on Lark.Ophelia stuck out her hand.“I know we chatted already but…I’m Ophelia.Your brother’s partner.”

Lark took her hand.Stared at her with open curiosity.

“She’s also my fiancée,” Lane added.“As of last night.”

He’d waited until the case of the Forget-Me-Not copycat was officially closed.Waited until he could get down on one knee and present Ophelia with the biggest ring he could find.

A ring that currently glinted on the ring finger of her left hand.

“I love him,” Ophelia announced simply.

Lark’s lower lip trembled.Then she was pulling Ophelia in for a tight hug.“I adore your house,” he heard Lark tell Ophelia.

Oliver offered his congratulations.

Memphis asked for champagne glasses.

Velma darted back inside the house with an excited meow.

They all eventually spilled inside—they went in the house that was home for Lane—and Ophelia’s parents came out of the kitchen to meet them all.Ophelia’s parents…and even Beau.Because, yeah, Lane had become fast friends with the cagey bastard.Easy to do, when you had so much in common with someone.

And Lane was even currently helping Beau with a very special case.A case that would wait for another day.

Right then, everyone was laughing and talking and…celebrating.The engagement.The future.

Lane had let the past go.

After all, it was too hard to carry the past when you were holding tight to the future.

Lane took Ophelia into his arms and kissed her.

The End