Page 39

B right afternoon sun glints off the metal beams of the Ferris wheel, the buckets rocking with the gentle turn of the big wheel. Lily tugs my hand, eyes wide and head swinging from side to side, taking everything in.

The festival is staged near the entrance to the orchard. A large Ferris wheel and a few smaller rides take up one area. Near the main drive, food trucks line the gravel, serving customer after customer.

Over by the barn, a big yellow tent has been erected. Inside, visitors can try different beer, wine, and hard cider.

And, of course, people can pick their own apples or enjoy a hayride with Jean-Luc. Hopefully, he remembers to smile.

Hoards of people mill about taking part in different activities. We only opened an hour ago, and already, there are more people here than I get in an entire season.

Viktor wouldn’t let me help with the setup over the past week, something about still wanting everything to be a surprise, even though he showed me his master plan. My vampire is a romantic to his core, and this is his grand gesture.

“Look, Momma!” My daughter points a little finger at a bright blue food booth. “Cotton candy! Can I have some?”

Not only does the harvest festival coincide with our opening weekend, but it’s also Lily’s sixth birthday. So, to her, this is all a giant party in her honor.

Deciding to let her indulge, I follow her to the attendant, and she picks out a light-pink cloud of candy fluff. I’m sure I’ll regret it later, when she’s bouncing off the walls and refusing to go to bed. Viktor can fight the sugared-up birthday girl at bedtime tonight.

Speaking of… “Where is Viktor?”

Cool arms slip around my waist, pulling me into an equally cool but hard chest. Sharp teeth nip at my earlobe before a rough voice whispers, “Having fun, country girl?”

Spinning in his embrace, I find Viktor, with Vanessa trailing close behind. She volunteered herself and some of her spa employees to work in the beer and wine tent for the day.

I hook my fingers under his suspenders and drag his lips to mine in a quick peck. “Everything is perfect, Viktor. Thank you for this.”

With a tilt of his head, he smiles. “Anything for you, Maggie. ”

He takes a step back, slipping his hand into mine as we stroll past the food trucks.

Dark, pressed jeans hug his lean thighs, accentuating the bulge between his legs.

My gaze heats, scanning his perfectly fit pale-green button-down.

When I reach his face, fangs peek out from behind his smirking lips, and crimson eyes flick to my mouth.

Gripping his suspenders again, I tug his mouth to mine.

This time, the kiss is slow and drugging, but I find the will to pull away before things turn indecent. We are in public, after all.

Ever since the night of the gala, it’s been like this. Insatiable need courses through me every time I lay eyes on my vampire.

After telling Lily about Viktor and me, he’s slotted into our lives effortlessly. From helping to get Lily ready for school in the morning, to sleeping in my bed every night. It’s what I dreamed my life would be like.

Even the constant ache over missing Roman isn’t unbearable anymore, because I have a partner who helps me through when a wave of grief hits.

Up ahead, Jean-Luc stands next to his idling tractor, arms crossed over his barrel chest. Impatience ripples off him as people settle on the hay bales in the trailer.

God, I hope he remembers to at least pretend to like these people so they give us a glowing review and, just maybe, come back next year.

“Who’s that?” Eyes darkening, Vanessa’s gaze locks on the minotaur, and her tongue skims the tip of one fang. “That’s one bull I’d like to ride.”

“Ness!” I scold. “He’s my employee! ”

Her eyes roll, but the smirk on her lips stays firmly in place. “So? I don’t work for you. Come on, Lily girl. I think we need to go on a hayride!”

“Can I, Momma?” Lily clasps her hands under her chin, lips pouting.

“Go on. It is your birthday. Go big, or go home.”

Ness cheers. “And it’s your birthday?”

Lily nods, taking Vanessa’s hand. “Feels like my birthday, too,” she murmurs, eyes never leaving Jean-Luc.

Curly blonde ponytail bouncing, Lily is all too happy to tag along, none the wiser to Vanessa ogling my foreman.

Viktor chuckles, wrapping his arms around me again. “Could you imagine? Those two together?” He shakes his head before nuzzling his favorite spot, where my neck and shoulder meet. My pulse spikes, but before we can get too engrossed in our PDA, I spot Cyrus and Annie exiting the beer tent.

She rolls her golden eyes at something he says and smacks his chest, but the corner of her mouth quirks into a small smile. His boisterous chuckle fills the air as they walk toward us.

Plastic cup in hand, Cyrus waves his arm around the festival. “This is amazing, Mags!”

“Thanks, but I can’t take all the credit.” I peer over my shoulder at Viktor.

“I couldn’t let you lose this place, sweetheart. Not after everything you’ve been through.”

“Lose this place? What’s he talking about, Maggie?” Cyrus’s brow buckles.

Shit! I never told him about the debt and being behind on payments .

Guess it’s time to clear the air. I blow out a breath before meeting his crystalline-blue eyes, so similar to Roman’s, it’s like a punch to the gut. “I may have gotten a little low on funds over the past year and been on the verge of foreclosure.”

Now, his dark-blonde eyebrows climb up his forehead. “Why didn’t you tell me? I would have loaned you the money.”

“That’s exactly why I didn’t tell you.” Breaking out of Viktor’s embrace, I step up to my brother-in-law and clasp his hand in mine. “It’s been four years, Cy. I can’t keep relying on you to save me. It’s time for me to stand on my own… without Roman. This was my burden to bear.”

He squeezes my hand. “You’re not a burden, Mags. Never. I understand that it hurts your pride, but tell me in the future. Okay? Even if it’s just to be there as your support system. You’re not alone. You’re still my family.” Then his big arms are around me, enveloping me in a warm hug.

Tears blur my vision as I sink into his body. “I know.” When I pull back, swiping away the tears, I manage a smile. “And I do owe you a thank you for hiring a nanny.” Glancing over my shoulder, I throw Viktor a saucy wink. “Who knew things would play out so well?”

Cyrus’s chuckles and knocks his shoulder with mine. “It’s good to see you happy again, Mags. It’s what he would want.”

Before I can say anything else, a menacing growl splits the air like a lightning bolt. “You’ve got some nerve showing up here!” His body blurs past mine so fast that my eyes can barely keep up. When they finally do, Viktor stands toe-to-toe with his father, of all people.

Okay, I was not expecting to ever see Kasmir Bielski again .

“Excuse me,” I say, leaving Cyrus and Annie to enjoy the festival while I break up the Bielski family feud.

All three vampires tower over me, but I roll my shoulders back and get ready to support Viktor.

Evie elbows her husband, and he clears his throat, dark eyes swinging to me .

“Ms. Wilcox. I believe I owe you an apology. The way I treated you at the gala was completely unacceptable. My wife has put some things into perspective for me.” He pats her hand where it rests on his forearm.

“You make my son happy, and that’s all that matters. I hope you can forgive me.”

Dumbfounded, I simply nod.

Next thing I know, a business card is thrust into my hand. “If you ever need a backer, I would love to help fund this place. It seems you’ve brought the whole community together.”

Clearly finished with me, he turns to Viktor.

“I’m sorry, Son. I know I’ve been a shit father.

And I shouldn’t have put my beliefs and my dreams on your shoulders…

or your sister’s. It wasn’t fair to either of you.

Thanks to your mother, I see that now.” His eyes flit to his wife, who smiles and leans closer to him.

“Keep going, Kas. Just like we practiced,” she encourages him.

His face softens, and his thick throat bobs with a swallow. “I-I’m taking some time away from work to repair my relationship with Vanessa… and your mother. I know I don’t deserve it, but I hope you’ll forgive me, too.”

Next to me, Viktor’s jaw tenses, the muscle jumping under his skin. I thread my fingers through his in a silent show of support. His eyes never stray from the older Bielski male, dripping with fury. “I need some time, Father. But maybe someday,” he all but growls, chest heaving.

Kas nods. “That’s all I can ask.”

Suddenly, Viktor’s lips curve into a mischievous grin. “You can start by enjoying the festival. Spend lots of money.”

“Viktor!” I smack his chest as they walk away.

One dark eyebrow lifts. “What? They can afford it. Think of it as the first step to an apology.”

I roll my eyes. “Fine. Are you okay after all that?” I wave a hand at his retreating parents.

Hand in mine, he shrugs and guides me toward the Ferris wheel. “His opinion doesn’t matter when it comes to you and Lily. As long as I have the two of you, nothing else matters.”