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“I married a journalist from Seattle who used to yell at me for tracking her through the woods. I’ve earned hobbies.”

She laughs softly under her breath, shaking her head while we head toward Phantom River through the trees.

The trail glows silver beneath moonlight, fresh summer air warm against my skin while crickets hum through the woods around us. Devil’s Peak feels different this time of year. Softer. Wilder. Alive in a quieter way than winter.

Nora squeezes my hand suddenly. “You realize Margie told all five kids tonight that they were conceived in sinful mountain passion.”

I nearly choke laughing.

“Jesus.”

“She’s out of control.”

“You love her.”

“I absolutely do not love that woman.”

“You cried when she brought casseroles after Savannah was born.”

“She emotionally manipulated me with cheese.”

“That’s fair.”

Nora nudges my shoulder lightly. “You know she’s already planning for our daughters to marry your friends’ sons someday.”

I stop walking immediately.

“No.”

She laughs harder now. “Oh, there he is.”

“That’s not happening.”

“You literally growled.”

“I’ll kill Archer myself if one of his boys looks at my daughters wrong.”

“You are such a hypocrite.” She grins up at me. “You practically kidnapped me.”

“I protected you.”

“You bid on an auction in front of an entire town and then informed me I was staying with you.”

“Worked though.”

Her eyes soften instantly.

That still catches me off guard sometimes.

The way she looks at me now.

Like I hung the damn moon.

I pull her closer without thinking, my hand sliding around her waist as the river finally comes into view through the trees below us, moonlight dancing across black water.

Phantom River.

The place where she first kissed me after nearly falling into the current because she refused to admit she needed help climbing down the rocks.