Rage pumped through my veins at the thought of how terrified Caitlin must have been. “But that wouldn’t have killed her.” I forced the words out.
“No. It didn’t. I would say the killer caught up with her and snapped her neck.” Blood roared through my ears at Carly’s words. “It’s similar to the way a hunter would snap an animal’s neck if they wounded it but didn’t make a kill shot.”
Tuck’s and my eyes immediately clashed. “Pardue,” we said at the same time.
I searched the forest around us. “We have to find him. And fast.”
30
Taylor
“’Make spaghetti,’ she said. ‘It’ll be easy,’ she said.” I mumbled to myself as I stirred furiously at a pot of sauce. It wasn’t the right color. It looked more brown than red. I sighed, attempting to blow the hair out of my face since I didn’t have a free hand.
I’d called my bestie for help when some evil spirit had overtaken my body and forced me to text Walker and ask him to dinner. Carter had squealed with glee when I told her about my plans. Or should I say the evil spirit’s plans, because I didn’t know what I’d been thinking. Carter had immediately shot off a link to a recipe she promised would be so simple, evenIcouldn’t screw it up. As I glanced down at the brown sludge, I wasn’t so sure.
I peeked at the clock on the stove. Shit. Walker would be here in twenty minutes. I turned off the heat and dashed towards my bedroom, peeling off clothes as I went. Stepping under the shower’s spray, I nearly shrieked. It was freezing. I gritted my teeth and forced myself to power through as quickly as possible.
My attempt to get ready in approximately fifteen minutes resembled a cross between a hurricane and that Tasmanian devil cartoon. I rummaged through my closet, throwing everything I wasn’t looking for on the bed. Finally, I found my little black dress. It was that ideal dress every girl had to have in their closet. It was the perfect combination of sexy and sweet. You could style it down or dress it up. It was my go-to in times of tremendous stress. I.e., now.
After pulling on a matching set of black lace lingerie, I tugged the dress over my head. I’d have to settle for having my hair up in some sort of messy bun because I had no time to do anything to it. With a quick swipe of eyeliner, a couple of coats of mascara, and some sheer lip gloss, I was as good as I would get. And just in time for the knock on my door.
I blew out a long breath. Everything would be fine. Just as long as my attempt at dinner didn’t kill Walker, everything would be okay. This wasn’t a big deal. Just two people having dinner and, hopefully, some really hot sex afterward.
Another knock sounded, and this time, it was followed by a deep voice. “Stop freaking out, Short-stack, and let me in.”
I let out a huff of exasperation at Walker’s psychic powers and strode to the door. Pulling it open, I asked, “Are you ever going to stop calling me Short-stack?” The exasperation was forced. I loved when he called me that.
Walker shot me a devilish grin that set off a shiver somewhere deep inside me. “But you are short. Short and fucking adorable.”
His words made my cheeks heat. “Come in,” I invited, opting to avoid the nickname business altogether.
Walker stepped into my space, grabbing me around the waist and bringing me flush against his muscled form. “Gonna kiss me hello?” His eyes twinkled, but there was something underneath the gleam. Sadness or anger, I couldn’t quite tell.
I stretched up on my toes and brought my lips to his. He smelled of soap, some woodsy cologne, and that thing I couldn’t quite name. Someone needed to bottle the combination. They could make millions, no…billions. I inhaled deeply as Walker deepened the kiss, tangling his tongue with mine. He groaned as he pulled back.
I studied his face, my gaze trailing over the lines of stress and that unidentifiable emotion in his eyes. “What’s wrong? Is it the call you were out on?” My mind had been toying with that thought all day, imagining millions of horrible scenarios.
Walker’s eyes focused on mine with an intensity that scared me just a little. “Promise me if I tell you what happened, you won’t run on me.”
I tensed in his arms. It was bad. Really freaking bad from the look in his eyes. “I won’t run.” My voice was stronger than I felt.
“It was Caitlin. Some hikers found her body not far from where we found you yesterday.”
My body felt hot and then ice-cold. I shivered, and Walker’s arms tightened around me. “So, the person that shot at me was probably…” I couldn’t even finish the thought, it made me nauseous.
“We don’t know anything for sure, but it’s a strong possibility.” I nodded numbly, and Walker squeezed me again, bringing my gaze back to his. “Please don’t run. But I do want you to be careful. Keep these doors locked. No activities by yourself. Even swimming at the ranch house, I want you to make sure someone’s around.”
I swallowed against the lump in my throat. “Okay. Are you okay? I’m so sorry, Walker, I know Caitlin was…” I didn’t know quite how to finish that sentence.
Walker’s jaw tightened. “We weren’t,” he started. “It was never serious. At least it wasn’t for me. It was more so for her. And I feel a hell of a lot of guilt over that now, but there’s nothing I can do about it. The only thing I can do is find this son of a bitch and lock him away. That, Iwilldo.” The vehemence of his words left no room for doubt.
“I know you will. Walker, if you’re not up for this tonight, we can do it another time.”
He shook his head and pulled me tighter against him. “This is exactly what I need. You and food and laughter. It’s the perfect distraction for the shit swirling in my head. Plus, I want to taste what you’ve cooked up.”
Anxious butterflies took flight in my belly, and I twisted my ring around my finger. Before I could say anything, Walker took hold of my hand, bringing it to his mouth and placing a kiss where my fingers met my palm, right on the ring. Of course, he would notice the nervous habit, the psychic sorcerer. “Come on, lead the way,” he instructed, linking my fingers with his.
How long had it been since someone had held my hand like this? A long freaking time. I hadn’t dated since my mom got sick the first time, and before that, I had been on one seriously long dry spell. It felt strange, but at the same time, comforting. My heart rate kicked up a notch, and those butterflies flared to life again. It was like I was in the seventh grade all over again, and Mitch Allen was holding my hand for the first time.
