Kickstart My Heart (Burgers and Brew Crue #1) - Lacey Black Page 0,35

get it for you.” I jump up off the couch like it were on fire and grab my purse. There’s a slight tremble in my fingers as I pull today’s tips from my wallet. I wasn’t able to store them in my hidden jar yet, which is convenient.

When I turn and hold out my hand, he stands up and approaches. He doesn’t make any moves to take the money, so I extend it out even farther, until my hand is practically against his chest. “Are you safe here?” he asks, his eyes never wavering from mine.

“Yes,” I reply instantly. “It’s old and rundown, and the neighbors are loud, but I’ve never felt unsafe here. I wouldn’t have Lizzie here if I did.”

He absorbs my words and nods. “Okay,” he replies, turning and heading for the door.

I follow, still holding the money. “Wait, don’t forget this.”

He seems reluctant to take the cash, but eventually does, shoving it into the front pocket of his jeans. “You’ll call me if you ever need anything?”

“Yes.” Though I don’t have his number. The only one programmed into my prepaid phone is Isaac’s.

“Do you have my number?” he asks, as if reading my thoughts. I shake my head. “Grab your phone. I’ll put it in there.”

I do as instructed and retrieve my phone. There are only a few numbers saved in the contacts. When I left Gibson, I left my old phone behind, right along with my old life. He adds his number and shoots a text message. The phone in his back pocket dings. “Now I have yours too.”

He hands me back the device. “Thank you.”

Walker steps closer, his body heat warming my skin without even touching me. He lifts his hand again and wraps it around the back of my neck, his fingers dancing against my skin. “Call anytime, Mal.”

“Okay,” I reply.

Then, he moves. His mouth lingers beside my own, and I suck in a gasp of air and wait, anticipating. He doesn’t kiss me though. Well, at least not full-on lip action. Instead, his lips glide softly across the corner of my mouth in the most sensual way possible. “Lock up behind me,” he whispers against my skin.

But then he’s gone, pulling open the door and walking through it. “Wait,” I reply, trying to catch my bearings. “You don’t have a car.”

Walker smiles and shoves his hands in his pockets. “My Jeep is downstairs. Jameson and Isaac helped me jockey vehicles so mine was here.”

“Oh.”

He grins again. “Lock up.”

“I will,” I tell him.

“Now, Mal. I’m not leaving until you’re inside.”

I let out an exasperated sigh. “Fine. Thank you for all your help tonight. The food and the battery.”

“You’re welcome, beautiful. See you tomorrow.”

I toss him a little wave and close the door, locking both the knob and the sliding the chain into place. Only then do I feel like I can finally breathe. Not because he’s suffocating, but because he takes my breath away. He’s gorgeous and attentive and the way he looks at me makes me feel like I’m the only one in the world he sees. Not to mention the reaction of my body when he touches me.

Oh, Walker Meyer is trouble with a capital T.

And I’m certain I’m not strong enough to resist him.

Chapter Eleven

Walker

It took everything I had to walk out that door last night.

First, there was the fact she’s living in a dump. Don’t get me wrong, it was clean and tidy, but you could tell it was old and worn down, just like the building itself. Then, there’s the whole sleeping on the couch thing. I wanted to grab her shit, throw her over my shoulder, and get them out of there. To my house.

To my bed.

But I can understand her desire to prove to herself she can do it. I’m the product of a young, single mom. I totally get it, probably better than most. My mom did everything in her power to raise me, working her ass off at two jobs to make sure I had clothes, food, and a roof over my head. It wasn’t easy, and when I close my eyes, I can still hear her crying late at night when she thought I was sleeping. But we got through it and made it work. My grandparents and Aunt Edna were a big part of the solution.

I pull in, a shiver of excitement sweeping through me as I spy her Escape parked in the lot. Granted, I’ll only be seeing her a few