Page 114 of Tragic (Lark Cove 3)

I had the huge band back in place as I came down the hallway.

Kaine was grinning as he stood by the door. He had his winter coat on and a beanie over his hair. He wore knee-high snow boots that laced all the way up his calves. They made his already bulging thighs look even beefier.

A shiver ran down my spine as I walked into hi

s arms. He wrapped me up, kissing my hair before whispering in my ear, “Marry me.”

“No,” I whispered back.

He grunted. I’d decided it was his way of cussing without words.

It had been a month since he’d told me about his brother and asked to marry me the first time. He must have asked at least three hundred times since.

And each time, I’d turned him down.

I stepped out of his arms and looked up at his handsome face. “Please watch out for creatures with big teeth.”

“It’s winter. Most of them are asleep.” He patted the holstered pistol on his hip. “But I have this just in case.”

“Stop worrying, Piper. We’re not going far.” Logan walked over from the kitchen, wearing attire similar to Kaine’s. Though his pants didn’t have a dark stain on the knee from the wood shop, and his coat was rip-free.

I looked back up at Kaine. “Make sure my boss doesn’t get lost in the woods.”

“You say that like you’d actually miss me.” Logan feigned shock. “Does this mean you’ve finally realized how much you need me?”

“Only to sign my paychecks. But I’m this close to perfecting your signature.” I held my thumb and index finger an inch apart. “After that, you’re dispensable.”

Logan laughed and rolled his eyes. “Let’s go, Charlie!”

His daughter came running out of the guest bathroom, zipping up her black snow bibs. Thea followed behind her, carrying a neon-green winter coat that matched her snow boots.

“Happy hunting, guys.” The three of them were heading up toward the ridge to cut down a couple of Christmas trees.

“Logan Kendrick, I’m begging you to get a reasonable tree this year.” Thea tugged a gray stocking cap over Charlie’s head. “Six feet. Seven, tops. I can’t have another ten footer like last year’s.”

“Sure, baby. We’ll get a smaller one.” Logan winked at Charlie, who winked back. He’d be coming back with a nine-and-a-half-foot tree, no doubt.

“Don’t do that winking thing with each other.” Thea crossed her arms. “I won’t decorate anything over the seven-foot mark.”

“I’ll do it,” Charlie chimed in.

“Problem solved.” Logan kissed Thea’s cheek and shuffled Charlie outside into the snow.

“I’m doomed.” Thea laughed, going to check on Collin and Camila, who were playing in the living room.

“Do you have any requirements?” Kaine asked.

“Green.”

“Done.” Kaine brushed another kiss on my lips. “Love you.”

“Love you too. Be safe.”

About three weeks ago, he’d seen signs of a mountain lion around the area during a hike. I liked cats, but cougars were not on my list of animals to see up close and personal. Kaine had called the game warden to come up and see if they could relocate the animal, but their search had turned up empty.

There hadn’t been any signs since and it was unlikely the animal would come anywhere near us, but Kaine wasn’t taking any chances. Which meant any time I went outside, even to check the mailbox, he was my escort. He’d also decided we were getting a dog—one the size of a wolf.

But for now, Kaine carried his pistol with him everywhere and they weren’t wandering far from home.