If We Dare - J.H. Croix Page 0,65

two dark slashes for brows, a bold nose, sculpted cheekbones, and a sexy chin. Dear God, since when did I think a chin could be sexy?

Everything about Walker is sexy, my snide voice offered up quickly.

I bit my lip, contemplating his startling announcement last night. Just thinking about it sent my heartbeat off to the races. It unsettled me. I was afraid I felt the same way. My mind kept getting caught on one word—think. I think I’m falling in love with you.

Thinking wasn’t the same as knowing. While he had said he hadn’t expected any of this, it wasn’t just that I hadn’t expected it. I’d promised myself I would never care so much that it mattered.

As if he somehow sensed my state in his sleep, Walker’s legs shifted, and he opened his eyes. When he found me staring at him, his eyes came fully open. “Good morning. I think.”

The slow smile that curled his lips sent my heart tripping and stumbling. I swallowed and actually managed a breath, mentally willing myself to stay calm.

“Good morning.”

The temptation to kiss him was almost overwhelming. When I felt myself starting to fight it, I consciously decided not to worry so much. I leaned forward and brushed my lips over his, far too gratified when his hand slipped down my spine, and he pulled me closer.

“Mmm. I don’t mind waking up, not like this,” he murmured when his head fell back.

I straightened, tugging the sheet up with me, only to reveal his obvious arousal. I felt my entire body flush, and I bit my lip as I looked back at him. Unabashed, he shrugged. “It’s nearly a permanent condition around you. Perhaps I should be sorry, but I’m not.”

“You don’t need to be sorry.”

I couldn’t say why, but I felt a little embarrassed. My eyes landed on the scar just under his ribs that wrapped around from his back. “What happened here?” I asked, looking for a distraction.

Walker looked down. “Nothing too exciting. I was swinging on a rope into the water one time when I was a kid and it got caught. Gave me a nasty rope burn.”

When his eyes met mine again, the moment felt suddenly intimate. Which I suppose it was. Restless, I stood and let the sheet fall away as I strode toward the shower. “I’ll make coffee after I shower,” I called over my shoulder.

I was just stepping in the shower with steam filling the bathroom when Walker came in. He climbed in right behind me and closed the glass door. “You don’t mind company, do you?”

As if I could say no. Not when he was standing in front of me aroused and dipping his head to press a kiss to the side of my neck.

We did manage to shower, but Walker also imprinted himself on me. He pressed me up against the tile when he sank inside of me and brought me to a shattering climax.

We did have coffee after that, and it all felt rather mundane. Meanwhile, I felt like a little fish dropped in a new pool of water. I was swimming around madly trying to make sense of it all. I wasn’t unhappy, more like unsettled and uncertain.

After he left to go to work, I was relieved when Dani called asking for some urgent help to cover the bar at the Lodge restaurant after one of their bartenders called out sick. I seriously needed the distraction of being busy.

Chapter Thirty

Walker

I wiped sweat off my brow and turned off the miter saw. Lucas and I had finished the flooring in the other cabin yesterday. I’d left him to put a coat of finish on it and moved onto the next one. As it was, I was alone when my phone blew up with texts and then a phone call.

“It’s Walker, what is it?”

“It’s Dave. He’s going to die.”

“What? Who is this?”

“It’s Steve, Dave’s brother.”

My brain felt fuzzy, and I couldn’t think. I nonsensically asked, “Are you sure? What happened?”

“He had a stroke and sustained brain damage. He’s on life-support, but it’s not looking good. If you want to see him, you’re gonna want to come now.”

I didn’t even think. I went through the rote motions of putting away my tools. I walked through the trees to my truck. I wanted to talk to Jade.

I tried calling her, but there was no answer. I couldn’t bring myself to leave this kind of message on a voicemail. I texted her instead. I have to go see