If We Dare - J.H. Croix Page 0,39

slashed through me, burning hot and then icy cold, the kind of cold that stings. I lowered my mug before I’d almost taken a sip. “A friend of hers raped her?” My words were low and laced with fury.

“Pump the brakes, man. No. At least, not that I’m aware of. They were just hanging out at a bar, and one of the waitresses saw him spike her drink when Jade went to the bathroom. He was arrested at the bar. So, nothing happened, but Lucas says she hasn’t dated since. She’s pretty open that she’s not interested in dating. That’s all I know.”

“Do you know who the friend was?”

Jackson took another sip of coffee before he replied, “I can’t recall. I don’t think it’s going to do you a damned bit of good to go down that road. I don’t think Jade will appreciate it. Especially from some guy who’s supposedly not interested.” His gaze held a knowing glint.

I forced myself to take a deep breath, letting it out slowly. Although I was still fucking furious, there wasn’t a single thing I could do about what happened to Jade. Not now and maybe not ever. “Fair enough,” I finally replied.

Jackson gave me another assessing look before he dipped his head in a nod. “You’re a good man, Walker. I may not have known you all that long, but I know that. Proceed with caution is the only advice I have.”

Chapter Seventeen

Jade

I felt a bead of sweat roll down between my breasts. Restless, I reached for the glass of ice water Dani had just handed me and took several gulps. I hoped, rather pointlessly, that no one could see how flushed I was. Considering how hot my cheeks were, I prayed no one was paying attention. It was crowded at the table, and I was seated between Walker and Valentina.

It was all Valentina’s fault that I was here to begin with. My soon to be sister-in-law had invited me to have dinner and drinks with “the girls.” Ever since Valentina moved in with Lucas, she’d become a dear friend. Which was awesome because I loved my brother and my niece. It would have been mighty inconvenient, and it might’ve possibly come to blows, if my older brother had fallen for a woman I didn’t like.

Not that I had a right to dictate what happened in my brother’s love life, but I sure thought I did. Valentina hadn’t been aware this wasn’t just a girls’ dinner. She’d thought the guys were going out to the bar. Instead, the guys, including Walker, decided to grab dinner at the lodge before heading out to the bar.

As it was, now I was stuck with Walker practically plastered to one side of my body because the bench was crowded. That was definitely a minus to the whole bench seating option. When there were actual chairs, people could only get so close.

“Oh sorry!” Valentina said, her red curls bouncing when she faced my way. She cast an apologetic smile after elbowing me in the shoulder while she was attempting to serve herself from a platter of herbed roasted potatoes.

“No problem,” I replied. “I’m sure I’ll return the favor.”

Walker’s knee shifted, nudging my thigh. That subtle touch sent fire licking up my leg. “Sorry.”

His low, sexy drawl set my body alight. My belly did a slow flip with flutters spinning inside. I took another gulp of my ice water before replying, “Just like I told Valentina, I’m sure I’ll return the favor.” In Walker’s case, I couldn’t resist nudging my knee against his thigh.

“That didn’t seem like an accident,” he murmured, low enough that no one else could hear.

Considering the murmur of voices around us and how many people were talking, it was unlikely anyone would notice if we had a semi-private conversation. Minus the actual expectation of privacy, of course.

Beyond Valentina and Lucas, we were surrounded by other couples. Dani and Wade, Shay and Jackson, and Dawson and Evie. In fact, the only single people at the table were myself, Walker, and Skylar, the vet tech. I told myself it was a relief not to be the only single person at the table. Of course, Walker’s presence beside me had me so stirred up, I could barely think.

I resisted the urge to lift my ice-cold glass and rub it over my neck. Instead, I served myself some food and unintentionally bumped Valentina with one elbow and Walker with the other.

“Proving your point?” Walker teased.

This time, I gave