Page 55 of Countdown

She shrugged. “I don’t know. I think about what my friends have been through over the last couple of years. Penny and Holt had to deal with a serial killer, Julianna with someone who wanted her dead, and then Grace and Sam and everything they dealt with when it came to his father.” Her eyes narrowed and she shook her head. “I think I’m going through a questioning phase right now. Like I believe God is who he says he is. I do. I guess I just don’t understand why some people seem to have perfect lives where nothing bad ever happens, and other people seem to walk under the proverbial rain cloud.”

He leaned back, thinking about her words, wondering how to put his own thoughts into something that would make sense. “No one has a perfect life, but I agree, some seem to have it easier than others. I think a lot of things come down to choice. People make choices that have consequences. I’m not even necessarily talking about bad choices. Sometimes good choiceshave lousy consequences. You do something you think is right and wind up with it coming back to bite you in the end. Then there are the bad choices. Those consequences usually aren’t great either.”

“Like the drunk driver who chose to get behind the wheel and killed my dad.”

“Exactly. It didn’t just affect his life, but it sent yours and your mother’s spiraling as well.”

“Like ripples on a pond.” She drew in a deep breath. “Tell me about your life, Vincent Covelli. We’ve certainly talked enough about mine. What choices did you make that came back to bite you?”

????

Raina caught his micro-flinch and frowned. “I hit a sore spot, didn’t I? I’m sorry.”

“No, you don’t have to apologize. You’re right. I haven’t shared much of my past. I’m like you in that regard.”

“Playing your cards close to the vest?”

“Yes.”

“Why?”

“It’s not something I like to revisit, mostly because it hurts to talk about it.”

A breeze could have knocked Raina over at that point. She’d never known a man so open with his feelings, so willing to admit to something that could be construed as a weakness. “Does it have to do with your sister?”

“It does.”

“What happened?”

“Let’s eat and I’ll tell you in the boat.”

Raina wondered if he was avoiding talking to her, but went along with his wishes. She was hungry, so it didn’t take long to finish off the burger and fries and half the water bottle.

Vince finally stood. “Ready?”

“Sure.”

Five minutes later, Vince sat behind the wheel and she’d chosen the seat next to him. With steady hands, he steered them toward the middle of the lake. The wind whipped the strands that had escaped her ponytail around her face.

“If you get cold,” he said, “the blankets I mentioned are in that storage bench.” He pointed to it and she shook her head.

“I’m fine right now.”

Once they were a good distance from the shore, he turned off the engine and the world went silent. Peaceful. Chilly.

“Raina?”

“Yeah?”

“You’re cold.”

A shiver swept over her at just that moment and she laughed. “I am.”

He rose and grabbed a blanket from the box and wrapped it around her, his head dipping close to hers. For a moment, their eyes clung, then he smiled and pressed a button. A whirring sound reached her, and she realized he was closing them in with the canopy. “For warmth. I know you hate to be cold.”

His kindness touched her. “Thank you.” She cleared her throat and moved to the table under the canopy with dessert that neither of them had wanted after the burgers and fries. “You were going to tell me about the choice that came back to bite you in the rear.”

“I guess I was.”

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