Page 87 of Retribution
CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
Dakota
Two weeks later
Philipsburg, Montana
Dakota hummed asshe rummaged through the picnic basket she’d bought at the Dollar Store the day before. Several maple and birch trees provided ample shade in the small park located near the center of town. Wooden benches, a small pond, and a couple of dirt paths around the edges of the park made up the space. The east corner had a swing set, a slide, and a jungle gym for the children. Flower beds lent color to the expanse of grass.
A light breeze tousled her hair, and threads of sunlight filtering through the canopy of treetops warmed her skin. Dakota pulled out a bottle of water, twisted open the cap, and took a sip. She stretched out her legs in front of her and leaned back on her hands. It had been years since she’d gone on a picnic. When Dakota was a young girl, her family had gone on picnics at least once or twice a week during the short summer months, and she’d loved it. That had all changed after the day Taylor had raped her.
Dakota tilted her head back, welcoming the sun’s rays on her face. At one time—not that very long ago, that day had been her constant companion, but since Cobra had come into her life, she thought less and less of it.I’ve finally let it go.It felt life-affirming and freeing to throw off the chains of the past, and her loving relationship with Cobra was the key that set her free. Never would she have imagined that one day she’d trust her heart and her life to a man.
Dakota had asked Cobra to meet her, and she’d bought his favorite sandwich—an Italian sub with extra pepperoni, salami, and hot peppers—a six-pack of Pabst Blue Ribbon, a jar of pimento stuffed green olives, and a bag of Doritos Fiery Habanero chips. Her honey loved it hot and spicy, and she tried to give it to him with food and in the bedroom. A thread of desire ran through her as she remembered how much fun they’d had that morning before they had to leave for work. A rush of heat spread through her as her heart swelled. Now that Cobra was in her life, Dakota couldn’t imagine him not being there.
“Hey, sweetheart.” His voice tingled over her.
Dakota straightened up and smiled. “Hey.”
Cobra plopped down beside her on the blanket then leaned over and kissed her. “Have you been waiting long?”
“Not really. Did you get tied up at work?”
“Yeah. Jim was a no show, so that only left three of us to do a shitload of yards. Glad it’s Friday.” He glanced at the basket. “You got some beer in there?”
Giggling, she nodded and pulled out a can then handed it to him. “Drink fast because I bought a cheapo basket and it’s not insulated.”
“I can manage getting through the six pack before any of them get warm.” He took a long gulp.
“I brought sandwiches too. Are you hungry?”
“Not yet.”
Cobra pulled her to him and kissed her again. She slipped her tongue into his mouth, tasting beer and mint. “You taste good,” she said against his lips.
“So do you, darlin’—all over. Fuck, I could taste you all day.”
“Sounds like a plan for this weekend.” Just then her stomach growled. “Shit,” she muttered under her breath.
Cobra chuckled then flipped open the lid of the picnic basket. “Let’s see what you got in here.”
“An Italian sub for you from Ghinelli’s Deli, and a sausage and pepper sub for me with extra provolone, of course.”
He tweaked the tip of her nose. “You’re so fuckin’ cute.” He pulled out one of the sandwiches wrapped in a red and white checkerboard pattern. “Is this yours?”
“Yeah—the green one is yours.” Dakota undid the paper then dug into her sub. “So good,” she said under her breath. She pulled out a small bag of Cheetos and the jar of olives.
“Watching you eat is making me hungry.” Cobra took out his sandwich and unwrapped it.
“Did you used to go on picnics when you were a kid?” she asked, skewering an olive with a plastic fork.
“Nah. We’d go to the park sometimes when my old man was deployed, but mostly us kids thought of ways to stay away from the house as much as possible when the bastard was home.” He took a big bite.
Whenever Cobra would talk about his father, sadness filled her heart.
“Don’t,” he said between mouthfuls.
“What?” Dakota put several olives on a paper plate and set it down in front of him.
