Irma cleared her throat. She was studying me in the same way her grandson did—like she recognized something in me that I didn’t want identified. “Walker, why don’t you follow Taylor home. Make sure she gets there all right.”
My shoulders stiffened. “That isn’t necessary.”
Sarah stood from her chair, crossing the space to take my coffee cup. “Actually, that’s a great idea. The roads on our property are so dark. It would make me feel a lot better if I knew you got home safely.”
I was powerless against Sarah and her pleading eyes. I pressed my lips together and nodded.
I said my goodbyes to the rest of the family and headed for the door. A hand pressed against my lower back, and heat flared to life, my body tightening in response. How was it that my brain knew Walker was nothing but trouble and heartache for me, but my body yearned for his touch? There was a magnetic pull between us that had me fighting against leaning into his hand, curling into his side, and nuzzling his neck.
I dug my nails into my palms, hoping the pain would break the spell Walker wove around me. “Let’s go.” His voice was a low rumble, sending vibrations through my ear, and weaving his hold tighter around me.
I sucked in a breath and moved forward. I tried to rush without looking like I was doing so. I wanted to create some distance between us. I didn’t want the heat of his palm kissing my skin. The problem was, I was about a foot shorter than Walker. No matter how fast my little legs moved, they couldn’t seem to escape Walker’s long, forceful strides.
The walk to my car felt like an expedition up Everest, but we finally made it. I beeped my locks, and Walker opened my door. “Thank you.” It came out as a whisper.
His gaze was intense on my face. “You’re welcome. Do you want me to lead or follow?”
“Lead.” I was worried I’d drive off the road if I knew he was behind me, evaluating my driving, analyzing my face in the rearview mirror, seeing into my soul.
“All right.” He gently shut the door.
I tried to force myself not to hold the steering wheel too tightly. The night was almost over. As I followed Walker’s truck through the winding gravel road, I imagined the long, hot bath I’d take when I got home. How I’d let the steaming water relax the muscles that had wound tight from Walker’s stare and his touch.
I clenched my thighs together in an attempt to relieve some pressure. This was ridiculous. I probably just needed to get laid. Maybe I’d find some tourist to heat up the sheets with when Jensen and I went out on Saturday. A tourist wouldn’t stick around, so there was no risk of anyone getting too close. Now that sounded like a good plan.
Walker pulled into an open spot at the front of the cabin, and I hit the remote on my visor. The garage door opened. I prayed that Walker would stay in his car. But, of course, he didn’t. By the time I’d shut off my engine, he was opening my car door. I jumped in my seat.
“Geez, give a girl a heart attack, why don’t you.”
Walker let out a chuckle. “Just trying to be a gentleman.”
I narrowed my eyes at him. “Sure, you are.” He was trying to rile me. That’s what he was doing. He seemed to get some perverse pleasure out of pushing my buttons. I tightened my hold on my keys, the metal digging into my palm. “Can you please move so I can get out of my car?”
He stepped back, but barely. And when I had to squeeze by him to get to the door, our entire bodies brushed. My eyes shot to his. There was heat blazing in his green depths. My heart quickened, and my breaths turned shallow. “I need to get inside.”
He blinked a few times as if coming back to himself and then shook his head. “Sorry.” The one word had a bite to it, and his jaw tensed. He stepped back even farther, his fists opening and closing.
His change in demeanor had my brows furrowing. I managed to nod but didn’t say anything, just ducked my chin and rushed inside, wondering what I’d done to piss Walker Cole off.
15
Walker
Islammed my truck’s door with enough force to send the entire vehicle rocking. I adjusted my jeans, attempting to relieve some of the pressure. My dick was hard enough to split wood. Fuck.
I started the engine and hit the extra clicker to shut Taylor’s garage door. The attraction I felt for her was only growing, and I had no idea what to do about it. When her tight little body had brushed up against mine in the garage, I’d felt flames lick my skin.
Honestly, it was freaking me out. What Julie and I had shared was a pure, innocent love. We were each other’s first everything. Bumbling and fumbling hands and bodies. Learning what each other liked and didn’t. It was perfect. But it wasn’t this fiery, living, breathing energy I felt coming to life with Taylor.
It pissed me off. It was ridiculous for me to be angry at someone for turning me on in a way my dead girlfriend never had, but I was. I rolled down my window and let the chilly night air ease my temper and cool my overheated skin.
I inhaled deeply. None of this mattered. What Taylor needed right now was a friend. And I wasn’t even sure she’d let me be that, let alone have more than friendship.
Pulling up my gravel drive, I saw the darkened windows of an empty home.Was this how it would always be? Empty and dark?
I switched off the engine and hopped down from the cab to make my way up my front porch steps. “Pull up a rocker, would ya?” The voice had me going for my gun on instinct. But I relaxed when my brain processed that it was my grandmother.
“What in the world are you doing sitting here alone in the dark? And how in the hell did you get here?”
