Viper's Demands (Ruthless Sinners MC 8)

I was pouring us both a second glass of wine when Cat asked Mia, “Do you ride motorcycles, too?”

“No, sweetie, I don’t.” She glanced over at Thatch as she told her, “I’ve ridden with Thatch a couple of times, but that was when I was much younger.”

“What else did y’all do?”

“I don’t know. All sorts of things.” A smile swept across Mia’s face as she said, “I lived next door to Thatch and his brother, and we were always up to something. He was a bit of a daredevil and always talking me into doing things I would’ve never dreamed.”

“Like what?”

“Like riding a motorcycle,” Mia answered with a giggle. “But that was just one of many things. One time, he’d convinced Camden and me to go with him to the cliffs out by the lake. I’d thought we were only going there to hike, but then out of nowhere, Thatch ran and jumped off the edge of one of the highest cliffs and into the water. Clothes and all! I was completely freaked out, but he kept insisting that we do the same. I remember being totally against it until his brother took off running and jumped in with him. I just stood there on the edge of this crazy cliff watching these two goons laughing and splashing each other in the water. I almost left them there but had no idea how to get back to the car.”

Sounding completely invested in her story, Cat asked, “What did you do?”

“The only thing I could.” Mia leaned towards Cat with a smile. “I jumped in with them.”

“Was it scary?”

“Yes, it was very scary, but it was also a lot of fun.” She glanced at Thatch again. “I don’t think I’ll ever forget that day.”

I knew all along that Thatch had feelings for Mia, but at that moment, I realized she loved him—and it wasn’t the friendship kind of love. She truly loved him back then, and she still loved him now. I had no idea what had gone on between them, but it had to have been something pretty significant to keep them apart all these years.

Thatch gave her one of his nods as he replied, “It was a good day.”

“I want to jump off the cliff.”

Thatch and I both turned towards Cat at the same time and said, “Not a chance.”

Cat pursed her bottom lip with a pout, and Thatch and I both started laughing. I reached over and placed my hand on her thigh. “Maybe when you get older. Much, much older.”

“So, how did you two meet?” Mia asked.

“We have Mr. McClanahan to thank for that,” I answered.

“Mr. McClanahan?”

“He was a friend of Thatch’s and one of my hospice patients.”

I went on to tell her about the day Thatch came into the nursing home and had asked me out. I left out a “minor” detail of how we hooked up and that we’d spent the next few months doing more of the same. Instead, I simply told her that we’d taken our time getting to know one another. When I was done, Mia said, “Being a hospice nurse has to be tough.”

“It is, but I really enjoy it. It’s nice to feel like you’re doing something to help others.” I let out a sigh. “But some days I wonder if I’m making any difference at all.”

“Don’t let her fool ya. She’s incredible at her job.”

Mia’s eyes were trained on Thatch as he stood up, walked over to me, then leaned down and kissed me on the forehead. She continued staring at him as he began picking up empty dishes and carrying them over to the sink. When he returned to grab the remainder of what was left on the table, Cat asked, “Can we have cake now?”

“Sure.” He put everything in the sink, then returned with a knife. “How about you two? You want some cake?”

“No, I’m stuffed,” I answered. “I couldn’t eat another bite.”

“Same,” Mia replied.

“Suit yourself.”

After he cut Cat a piece, Thatch cut one for himself, and they both dove in. Mia and I were sitting there giggling at them when she leaned over to me and said, “Cat is an absolute doll. You’ve done a wonderful job with her.”

“Thank you, Mia.” Cat looked up at me with frosting on the tip of her nose and smiled. “I think she’s pretty great, too.”

I watched them for a moment longer, then got up and walked over to the sink. When I started working on the dishes, Thatch called out to me, “Hey, what are you doing over there?”

“You cooked.”

“Yeah, but I invited you and Cat over to celebrate her birthday. Now get over here and have another glass of wine.”

“I’m just getting things started.”

“I’ll help.”

Mia got up and started gathering all the dirty dishes, causing Thatch to shake his head with a sigh. We both ignored him and continued to clean the kitchen while he ate his cake with Cat.