Page 15 of Viking (Dixie Reapers MC #24)

“There are worse places to lay low,” Leah said quietly as we filled cups with ice. “The Reapers take care of their own.”

“Are we ‘their own’?” I asked, genuinely curious. “I’m just the sister of Viking’s old friend.”

Leah’s eyes, shrewd and kind at once, assessed me. “Honey, Viking gave you a place in his house without even talking to his President. Got the Prospects to child-proof the entire place in under thirty minutes.” She smiled. “You’re his, which makes you ours.”

I felt my cheeks warm at the implication in her words. “He’s just being kind. Honoring his friendship with my brother.”

“Mmm-hmm,” Leah hummed, clearly unconvinced. “Well, there he is. You can judge for yourself.”

I followed her gaze across the way to where Viking stood beside a massive grill, laughing at something one of the Prospects had said.

The afternoon sun caught in his blond hair, turning it golden as it fell loose around his shoulders.

Without the constant vigilance I’d seen in his face at his house, he looked younger, more like the man I remembered from years ago.

As I watched, he took the spatula from the Prospect’s hand, demonstrating the proper way to flip burgers without losing juices.

His massive hands, capable of violence I could only imagine, moved with surprising delicacy.

When he handed the spatula back, he clapped the younger man on the shoulder -- encouragement, not dominance.

“Uncle Viking! Uncle Viking!” A small boy, maybe five or six, came racing across the grass and launched himself at Viking’s legs. Without missing a beat, Viking scooped him up and settled him on broad shoulders, the child’s delighted giggles carrying across the courtyard.

“Is that…” I wasn’t sure what I wanted to ask. Couldn’t be his child, and I knew he didn’t have any nephews, but I found myself unable to tear my eyes away from the sight of this giant, dangerous man gently steadying a child’s legs against his chest.

“No blood relation,” Leah said. “That’s Amity’s boy. Viking’s just good with the kids.” She gave me a pointed look. “All of them call him uncle.”

I tried to imagine Athena comfortable enough to call anyone “uncle,” let alone race across grass with such abandon. My heart ached at the contrast between that laughing child and my silent niece, still pressed against my leg as if afraid she’d be swept away.

“Ohhh, look at your pretty hair,” a small voice piped up beside us. A little girl with pigtails stood there, clutching a stuffed unicorn nearly as big as herself. “It’s like fire!”

“This is Junie,” Leah said. “Savior and Dessa’s daughter.”

“This is Athena,” I supplied when Athena remained silent. “She likes your unicorn.”

“You can hold her,” Junie said, thrusting the stuffed animal forward. “Her name is Sparkles.”

I braced for Athena to shrink farther behind me. Instead, to my amazement, she reached out one hesitant hand to touch the unicorn’s rainbow mane.

“Go on,” Junie urged. “She’s really soft.”

Slowly, like approaching a wild animal, Athena took the unicorn. The corner of her mouth twitched up -- nearly a smile.

“Why don’t you girls go sit on the blanket over there?” Leah suggested, pointing to a quilt spread under a nearby tree where a few other children played with trucks and dolls. “Karoline and I will bring you some juice.”

I expected Athena to refuse, but after a moment’s consideration, she allowed Junie to lead her toward the blanket, the unicorn clutched against her chest alongside Hopper.

“Well, I’ll be,” Leah murmured. “Viking said she hadn’t warmed up to anyone yet. Although, she hasn’t really had a chance to meet kids, has she?”

“She hasn’t,” I admitted, watching as Athena settled cross-legged on the blanket’s edge, carefully arranging her stuffed animals. “This is the first time she’s gone anywhere without me.”

“Kids are resilient,” Leah said. “More than we give them credit for.”

As I poured juice into plastic cups, I found my gaze drawn back to Viking.

He was still by the grill, looking relaxed for the first time since I came here.

But I had a feeling he still knew exactly where I was, and where Athena was.

He might not look vigilant at the moment, but I’d learned from Kris that men like him tended to be constantly aware of their surroundings.

As if sensing my attention, his gaze found mine across the yard. He raised a hand in greeting, then -- to my surprise -- winked at me before turning back to his conversation. That single gesture sent my stomach into a flutter of teenage butterflies, ridiculous for a woman my age.

I delivered the juice to the children, crouching to make sure Athena was truly comfortable before returning to the food tables. As I passed near the grill, I overheard a snippet of conversation between Viking and the young Prospect.

“-- sweet on the redhead, aren’t you?” The Prospect was saying, his back to me. “Haven’t seen you fuss like this over a woman since… well, ever.”

I slowed my steps, pretending to adjust my shoe while straining to hear Viking’s response.

“Watch your mouth, Prospect,” Viking rumbled, but there was no real heat in the warning. “She’s not just any woman.”

“Kris’s sister, I know. Off-limits and all that.” The guy flipped a burger. “But the way you look at her, man. The whole club’s talking.”

“Let them talk,” Viking said, his voice dropping lower. “Just keep her and the kid safe. That’s all that matters.”

He didn’t deny it, I realized with a jolt. Didn’t laugh off the teasing or make excuses. Just “let them talk.” The implication settled warm in my chest, a dangerous tendril of hope taking root despite all the reasons it shouldn’t.

“Caught you eavesdropping.” Leah’s amused voice nearly made me jump out of my skin. She handed me a plate with a burger and pasta salad. “Don’t worry, your secret’s safe with me.”

“I wasn’t…” I began, then sighed at her knowing look. “Was it that obvious?”

“Only to another woman who knows what it’s like to fall for a man in a cut.” She nodded toward the blanket where Athena sat with the other children. “Go on, take a plate over there and sit with your girl. Enjoy the afternoon. Whatever’s between you and Viking will sort itself out in time.”

I nodded, grateful for her kindness but not convinced by her certainty. Nothing about our situation was simple. Not the danger that had brought us here, not Athena’s trauma, not my feelings for a man I’d once known and was only beginning to rediscover.

But as I watched Viking laugh with his brothers, checked on Athena with her new friend, and felt the sun warm on my skin, I allowed myself to hope -- just for a moment -- that Leah might be right.

* * *

“You are my sunshine, my only sunshine…” The lullaby flowed from my lips without conscious thought, a melody embedded in muscle memory from my own childhood.

My mother had sung it to me. I had sung it to my preschoolers.

And Kris had most likely sung it to his daughter.

I kept singing, watching Athena’s eyelids grow heavy as she clutched Hopper in one arm and the unicorn in the other.

Junie had insisted she keep it. The day’s excitement had finally worn her down, her tiny body fighting sleep even as exhaustion pulled her under.

I smoothed a stray copper curl from her forehead.

“You make me happy when skies are gray…” The words caught in my throat.

Kris should be here, singing his daughter to sleep.

Not me, this accidental guardian thrust into motherhood overnight.

I swallowed hard and continued, determined not to let Athena see my grief.

“You’ll never know, dear, how much I love you… ”

A soft creaking drew my attention to the doorway. Viking stood there. The hall light silhouetted him, casting his face in shadow, but I could feel the weight of his gaze. How long had he been watching?

I finished the song, my voice barely above a whisper. “Please don’t take my sunshine away.”

Athena’s breathing had deepened, her grip on her stuffed animals relaxing as sleep finally claimed her.

I carefully arranged the unicorn and Hopper on either side of her pillow, then pulled the comforter up to her chin.

When I turned, Viking was still there, watching with an expression I couldn’t quite read in the dim light.

“That was beautiful,” he said, voice pitched low to avoid disturbing Athena. “Kris used to sing that.”

“You remember?” I was surprised he’d made the connection.

He nodded, stepping back from the doorway to let me pass. “He sang it that Christmas when you were sick with strep throat. You were about twelve, I think.”

The memory surfaced -- Kris sitting on the edge of my bed, singing off-key to make me laugh through the pain of swollen glands. I hadn’t realized Viking had witnessed that moment.

“Beer?” he asked as we moved toward the living room.

“Yes, please.” The evening had cooled, but the day’s tension still clung to my shoulders. A beer sounded perfect.

Viking retrieved two bottles from the refrigerator, popped the caps with practiced ease, and joined me on the couch.

Unlike my small loveseat at home, his couch was oversized leather, deep enough that my feet barely touched the floor.

We sat with a cushion between us, but the space felt intimate nonetheless.

“She had fun today,” Viking said, nodding toward Athena’s room. “Saw her smiling with Savior’s kid.”

“I know. I couldn’t believe it.” I took a sip of beer, savoring the cold bitterness. “That’s the first time she’s been around another child since I got her. I’m not sure if she had friends before this or not.”

“Kids are resilient.”

“That’s what Leah said.” I traced the label on my bottle with my thumb. “I hope it’s true.”