Page 6 of Viper

“Amen,” I replied, looking at Carly. “Will you be alright?”

“Yes, thank you for everything. Feel free to visit anytime you want. And if that crazy man starts lurking around, come here. I’ve got a gun in every room and know how to use them.”

“I will. Goodbye, Carly. I’m glad we are friends now,” I said as I turned to leave but was startled when I saw Cole leaning against the tree, watching us. It seemed like he’d been there for a while.

He glanced at Carly and asked. “Did that bastard Jim Harlow hurt you?”

“That’s none of your business,” she replied before hugging Cole. “I’m sorry you were held in that awful prison, and I’m relieved you’re alive.”

“Thank you. Carly, I’m sorry about Toby. I’ll be staying at Bailey’s until we catch that crazy guy.”

“You’re not staying with me. I can take care of myself, and I have only one bedroom. I’d become the talk of the mountain. No, you can’t stay with me.”

“We can pretend to be engaged. That way, they won’t gossip,” Cole suggested.

“Is he crazy?” I said, looking at Cole. “They’ll gossip even more.”

“Not if they think we are getting married,” Cole reasoned.

“I only met you today,” I protested.

“They don't know that,” he replied, looking at Carly. “Next time you go into town, you can tell them you met my fiancée, and she’s not only sweet but she’s stunning as well. Come on, Sugar.”

“Stop calling me sugar! Listen, you need to consider your actions. If people think we are engaged, you’ll jeopardize your chance of finding your real fiancée. What if you fall in love with someone, and she thinks you are with me?”

“I’ll never be foolish enough to fall in love; all that does is bring misery. Isn’t that right, Carly?”

“Yes, he’s right. I told you about my life, have you ever been in love? Hey, maybe you’ll fall in love with each other.”

“No,” we both said at the same time. I found myself gazing at the handsome man with those beautiful, sexy eyes. His dark hair tumbled over those sexy eyes. Before I knew it, I walked over to him, ran my fingers through his hair, and pushed it back from his eyes.

“There, that’s better.” But then my hand froze, and I realized what I’d just done. What the heck is wrong with me? I met Cole’s intense gaze, which seemed to mirror my own desires. I knew this could be a colossal mistake. He looked like he wanted me naked under him, and since that’s how I felt, I knew this would be a big mistake. “No, you can’t stay with me. There is no room,” I insisted, though he appeared to be ignoring me.

“Come along, fiancée,” Cole urged, ignoring my protests.

“I’ll go into town tomorrow,” Carly said. “Goodbye, you two.”

He held my hand and pulled me along. “It’ll be dark soon, and I don’t have my flashlight. We should get to your place before it gets dark.”

“Listen, Cole, I don’t even know you.”

“You know me as much as I know you. Tomorrow you can meet my family. That way, they won’t be too shocked when they find out we are getting married. We’ll have a fake engagement until this guy is caught. You can trust me; I won’t try to make any moves.”

“Yes, but can I trust myself?” I muttered under my breath, for my ears only. I heard a chuckle and hoped Cole hadn’t heard me.

“This is just what I needed to keep Ryan out of my hair,” Cole said as we kept walking. He still held my hand, and it felt surprisingly reassuring.

“You are not staying with me,” I declared with my foot stomping the ground. Cole stopped and glanced back at me.

“Alright, I’ll stay tonight, and tomorrow, you and Carly are going home with me.”

“Well, we’ll see,” I muttered under my breath again. I heard another chuckle.

3

Viper

“I haven't eaten anything in ages. Do you have anything in the fridge?” I asked.

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