Page 60 of Perfect Alpha

I jump into the truck and turn the music down as I start the engine and begin the drive to the airport. “Victory–”

She reaches over and turns the volume up. I turn it back down, and she immediately cranks it to an ear-splitting level.

“Jesus,” I snap, clicking the radio off completely and grabbing her wrist, which sets my palm on fire. “Stop acting like a child.”

“Me?” Victory demands, anger pouring off her. Hey, at least she’s talking to me. “That’s rich considering you have the brain of a fucking toddler.”

“Can we–”

“No!” she snaps, resuming her ignoring me position. It’s only when I turn onto a dirt side road that she finally looks at me. “What are you doing? Are you lost?”

I shake my head. “Nope.”

“The airport is the other way,” she reminds me.

“I know. I’ve lived here my entire life.”

“We’re going to be late.” Her teeth are grinding so loud that I wince.

It’s a terrible habit she’s had since childhood, and she wears a retainer at night to prevent waking up with a killer headache and aching jaw. I’ve spent so many hours with this woman that I’m convinced no one knows her better or loves her more.

Especially not some chump named Vince.

“We have lots of time. I changed your flight,” I explain.

“Youwhat?” Victory sputters. “Are you insane? I need to get to Seattle. I have a conference and need time to acclimatize. Plus, I’m scheduled into a bunch of networking events that I can’t miss.”

Victory is a nightmare to travel with if it involves a plane, taking days to adjust to any new place before she finally finds her groove. I’d still kill to go on another trip with her, even if she would drive me absolutely nuts.

“You’ll have lots of time, don’t worry. I got you on the red-eye so we could take the scenic route. It saved you some money, and I wanted the chance to talk to you.”

And to force her to soak in the beauty of Montana so she falls back in love with being here. Being with me.

She’s only exposed to highway views while rushing back to a life I don’t understand, and it needs to stop.

“You had zero right to do that, Cade.”

She’s correct, but I still bristle. I’m used to having the reins and her loving it. I’m about to tell her that I have every right when she gasps.

“Oh, I forgot that spot is down this road,” she exclaims.

Our Montana is all big sky, smoky mountains, endless forest, and hardworking ranchers. Victory and I had favorite spots we went to again and again, but we also loved to explore unknown places together.

Her sense of adventure and childlike excitement over basically everything are two of the things I love most about her.

“Remember when we went there?” I place my hand on her knee and prepare to dodge a slap, but she’s so enraptured with our surroundings that she doesn’t bother pushing me away.

“Yes.” She doesn’t elaborate, and I’d pay any price for the superpower of being able to read her mind.

It was one of the best camping trips of my life, partly because it was the first time Victory gave me head. Hopefully, she’s thinking about that part of our weekend together, the memories of which have me shifting uncomfortably in my seat.

When we drive by a familiar river, she laughs just like I was hoping she would.

“Remember when Bobby tipped our canoe?” she asks, sparing a glance in my direction. It pleases me to no end that her eyes are shining.

I chuckle. “He’ssucha prick.”

It was shallow enough that I could raise the canoe over my head to dump the water out before carrying it back to shore. The view of a soaking wet Victory in a tight white T-shirt and booty shorts was heaven.

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