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The whole time my daughter rambled, I held Walker’s gaze, trying to give nothing away. However, I sometimes wondered if the man could strip back my layers and see everything I was feeling. If that was true, he now knew of at least five different sexual fantasies I had about him.
Gratitude didn’t scare me. The opposite, in fact. I felt nothing but sad for ungrateful people. Gratitude was its own kind of joy, and I pitied those who couldn’t see that.
It bothered me I was aware of her. Not merely aware, but … like all the north-seeking poles of my atoms lined up in the same direction whenever she was near, trying to pull me toward her like a magnet. It made no sense. I barely knew her. And I intended to keep it that way.
Good thing I was an expert at compartmentalization. Just because I fantasized about a woman didn’t mean I wanted anything real from her. Fantasy and reality were easily separated. I could force myself to forget coming to the fantasy of fucking Sloane Harrow. And I knew I could because I’d been doing just that for the last nine months.
“Talk until you’re hoarse. It doesn’t bother me.” I liked Sloane’s voice. I liked her laughter best but didn’t seem able to provoke it like others could.
Sloane laughed. A small, breathy laugh. I felt about nine feet fucking tall as her eyes glittered, the sadness temporarily chased away.
I won’t live my life angry. I can’t. I have to live life in the light. With hope. With optimism. For Callie’s sake. I won’t be a bitter, unhappy mom.”
Her eyes flared, lips parting as she stared at me like I was worth something. I wanted to disabuse her of that notion. I didn’t ever want to disabuse her of that notion.
I glared as I turned to Brodan, knowing he’d see my wrath. “He could have killed her.” Brodan’s expression hardened and he murmured, “But she doesn’t want the police involved?” I shook my head. A dangerous look lit Brodan’s eyes. “Then I suppose it’s up to us.” Satisfied, I nodded. “Lachlan promised her he’d take care of it. But I want in.” “I’ll talk to him. I want in too.”
Brodan snorted as he cupped his wife’s head. “Sunset, remember Walk isn’t a hugger.” Sloane shot me a bewildered look as Brodan pried Monroe away. I knew what she was thinking. I’d willingly held her in my arms. No awkwardness. It felt natural to hold Sloane Harrow against me. And wasn’t that a giant fucking problem?
Walker made me feel safe. I couldn’t remember the last time anyone had made me feel safe.
Finally, I turned to face Walker. Butterflies erupted in my belly. Because Walker Ironside was full-on grinning at me. I’d never seen him smile like that. One corner of his mouth tugged up higher than the other, and his eyes crinkled attractively at the corners. It was a sexy goddamn smile.
He hadn’t told me he’d be gone from the estate. He didn’t know that his leaving made me feel less safe. He didn’t know because he didn’t want to know. In fact, I suspected it would agitate him to know he made me feel safe. He didn’t want to be that person for me. We weren’t friends, me and Walker. We weren’t anything.
Anger churned low in my gut. “Is she all right? Did he hurt her? Where is she?” Brodan was silent for too many seconds. Then, “She’s fine. She pepper-sprayed him in the eyes and he took off.” “Good girl.” I relaxed marginally. My friend snorted. “I beg you not to say those words to her. No, on second thought, do it. Preferably in front of me.”
“Who were you texting?” I meant it as a casual question, but it came out almost interrogative. Sloane hesitated for a second. Then, “It was a guy on a dating app.” Sloane was dating. It shouldn’t bother me. I should consider it a good thing. She was moving on from whatever infatuation she had with me. And yet the very thought of this faceless fucking guy touching her made me want to knock him senseless. Or fuck Sloane senseless.
Walker’s stony expression cracked a little. “I’m the biggest fucking badass out there, and anyone who thinks they can terrorize you is going to wish they were dead by the time I’m done with them.” It took everything within me not to jump him. To throw myself in his arms and start kissing that hard mouth into softness. I knew it wasn’t particularly modern of me to get turned on by such overt masculinity, but I was a woman and he was all man … and I wanted to taste what it was like to be with him.
His eyes narrowed. “You look flushed. Are you okay?” Flushing even deeper, I squirmed in my seat. Merely having inappropriate revelations in the middle of a threat to my life.
I glanced over my shoulder and grew still. The intensity had returned to his eyes. Was it tenderness or awe or understanding or compassion … or was it all of that? Did it matter? Walker Ironside looked at me like I was worth something, and it should frighten me how much his opinion mattered.
“Well, you’re a bachelor, so I’m assuming your place needs cleaning. I’m a professional. Plus, I brought a collection of baked treats for your eating pleasure.” Eating pleasure. What a choice of words. Steeling myself, I unlocked the door and gestured for her to go inside. “I think you’ll find I don’t need your cleaning services.” But I’ll eat you for pleasure.
“But my priority is my kid. And while you might look at me and see an exhausted single mom who needs to get gently laid and have a so-so, satisfactory orgasm, it’s us single moms who genuinely want a guy to fuck them wild and hard and give us multiple orgasms. And then go home so we don’t have to explain you to our kids or deal with you on top of the millions of other things we have to deal with on the daily.
Decided, he lifted his chin toward the staircase. “Then get upstairs.” Thrill filled me even as nervous butterflies fluttered wildly in my belly. “Are you going to be this bossy all the time?” “Did you think I would be anything but in charge when we fuck?” No. No, I guessed not. The man was a dominant, sexy bastard. And I realized that was part of his appeal. I’d spent my whole life making decisions for my daughter, for myself. Everything came down to my choices, my actions. It was exhausting. But with Walker … I trusted him to take charge in the bedroom and make me feel good doing it.
At that moment, he reminded me of that Scottish flower—the thistle. There were all these prickles on the stem and leaves before you could get to the pretty flower. That was Walker. You had to look beyond his gruffness to see he was a caring, good man.
Heat and hunger and a desire to fuck every good and bad feeling into her destroyed any rational thinking. Control went out the window.
Fuck, nothing felt better than this woman.
One of the worst things in the world is waiting by the phone for someone to bring you good or bad news.
“Do you know how beautiful you are?” My eyes flew to his in surprise. He’d shown me in actions that he was attracted to me, but he’d never complimented me outright. He observed my reaction, and as if he knew my thoughts, he frowned. At me or himself, I didn’t know.
“You know this all feels a little like you’re peeing around your territory.” Walker’s eyes narrowed as he understood my comment was in reference to Haydyn asking me out. He strode over to his dresser and pulled open a drawer. “And if I am?” My gaze took in the black ties he pulled out of the drawer, and my pulse leaped. “Well, that would make you kind of an asshole,” I replied distractedly. Walker returned to the bed, his erection as proud and fierce as him. He braced his hands on either side of my head, his delicious scent tickling my senses as he brought our faces an inch apart and murmured
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“You’re too rugged and sexy to be my boyfriend.” I let out a small huff of amusement. “I think you mean I’m too old.” She turned more fully into me. “How old are you?” “Thirty-eight.” “Do you really think you’re too old for me?” “Aye.” I reached out to stroke her cheek. “But I’m a selfish bastard, so that won’t stop me.” “Good,” she whispered back.
“Walker,” she breathed, tears brightening her eyes and slipping slowly down her cheeks. “You are. I do. You make me feel like even if bad things happen, they can’t touch me. Not really.”
“I’m going to work my ass off to make sure I get to keep you forever, Walker.” His lip curled slightly at the corner. “Woman, you don’t need to work your ass off. I have no intention of going anywhere.”
Those flutters moved to my belly as Walker grinned, big and slow and sexy. “What things do we need to talk about that we can’t sort out right now?” “Marriage, babies.” I threw them out there, trying not to be worried I’d scare him. He shrugged. “I never thought I’d get married or have children …” Walker glanced at me. “Until you.” My breath caught. “So, you’d want those things?” “Aye.” His voice was gruff. “I’d want those things with you.” “Good.” The word sounded squeaky, even to my ears. I cleared my throat. “That’s good.” He grinned again, and I wanted to jump him right there. “Then I guess
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“Guess we found a new trigger for me.” He grinned, sexy, and … free in a way I’d never witnessed before. His whole face lit up. “I guess I’ll need to say it more often, then.” “It’ll get easier if you do.” “It’s already easy,” he promised
And I realized Callie was where Sloane drew her strength. It was awe-inspiring. The woman amazed me. How one person could carry the weight of what she had to carry and do it with such optimism and hope, I’d never know. She looked at me like I could save her from anything, but the truth was, she saved me. Every damn day.
She turned back to stare up at me with so much love, I could barely stand it. I’d never know what I did to deserve her. But I knew I’d never walk away from this.
“Let’s face it, Walker’s like a Mento. Hard on the outside but soft on the inside. Anyone paying enough attention can see it. Lewis’s mom said Walker’s the reason Monroe and Brodan even got back together. So …” She gestured between me and her mum. “None of this is surprising, really.”
“Ooh, maybe we should have a Mento wedding cake.” “I’m regretting every choice I’ve made since I woke up this morning.” Sloane snorted as she handed me an apron. I glared at it. “You said you wanted to help. I got a bigger one made just for you.” She waved it at me. “Do you need one with a Mento on it?” “I know several ways to kill a man.” “Does it involve Ment—” “Don’t finish that sentence.” She beamed gleefully up at me. “I love you.”
He snorted at my abrupt response and glanced down into the glass cabinet filled with Sloane’s creations. “I’ll take one of the chocolate sensations.” “That’ll be ten pounds.” Brodan scowled. “It says four quid.” “She underprices everything.” “Walker!” Sloane admonished, laughing at my side. “It’s Brodan.” “You’re right. He’s loaded. Fifteen quid.”
“Does this mean you’ll be adding to your wee tribe, then?” “You’re worse than a fucking woman.” “Walker.” I turned to find Sloane giving me wide “don’t curse in my new bakery” eyes. “Shit, sorry.” She looked at Monroe. “I give up.”
Sloane threw her head back in laughter, the bright, sunny sound filling the bakery. Her body moved against mine with the force of it, and I couldn’t hold back my grin. I vowed in that moment to make sure I heard her laughter every day, and I’d make it happen. Because I’d promised her that I’d stay by her side for the rest of our lives. It would be the easiest promise I’d ever kept.
