The Forever Girl (Wildstone, #6)(36)

“So, so, so, so stupid,” Cat repeated, sounding tearful. “I love you, you stupid, stupid girl, and I know damn well you love me back.”

Maze shrugged. “Maybe. When you’re not yelling at me or trying to strangle me.”

Caitlin pushed her away with a teary laugh. “Okay, fine. But seeing as you do love and adore me, it turns out there’s something you can do to make me feel better.”

“Anything except hug you again.”

“Haha. All you’ve got to do is answer one question.”

“Oh boy,” Maze said warily.

“No, don’t be scared.”

Maze laughed a little. “Right. You do know you’re scary as hell, yeah?”

“One question, Maze, and you can’t lie.”

Oh, but she could. And had . . .

Caitlin looked her right in the eye. “Is there something going on between you and Walker? And before you answer, I want you to know it’s a nonjudgmental question. I’ve always thought the two of you would bring out the best in each other. He’d help you realize how amazing you are, and you’d—”

“What? Scare him off women entirely?” she asked dryly, pretending her heart wasn’t pounding.

“No,” Caitlin said, not joking. “You’d soften him.”

Maze snorted, because she could attest to the fact that there wasn’t any softness to Walker, not a single inch of his leanly muscled bod. The man was a rock.

Inside and out.

“You know what I mean,” Caitlin said earnestly. “He’s always had a soft spot for you. Different from what he feels for me or Heather. He takes care of the two of us. But with you, he . . .” She shook her head, smiled. “It’s like he admires your strength and knows he can stand at your side. He doesn’t have to watch your back all the time, he can just . . . enjoy you. If that makes sense.”

If that had been true, he’d never have let her go. But he had. “You’re wrong.”

“Maybe,” Caitlin replied in a tone that said she didn’t believe that for a hot second.

“Pick another question,” Maze said flatly.

Caitlin nodded so easily that Maze felt certain she’d been tricked.

“I was thinking,” Caitlin said, “maybe while you’re here, you could stay . . . open. Like really open. And don’t even bother looking at me like I’ve just suggested a gyno exam in the middle of Main Street. You know what I mean by open.”

Yes, but she wished she didn’t. “That’s not a question.”

“Will you stay open? Just for the week?” Caitlin asked. “And thank you. It’s a lovely present. I won’t even regift it.”

“How about this?” Maze asked. “I will if you will.”

Some of Cat’s smugness left. “Maze—”

“I will if you will,” she repeated softly, and Cat slowly nodded.





Chapter 9


Maze’s maid of honor to-do list:

—Call the caterer to add alcohol for the bride’s dressing room ahead of the ceremony.

That night, Maze didn’t have a nightmare, but she did have one hell of a weird dream. Elvis was chasing her around the lake, and she was in a wedding dress. She sat straight up in bed with a horrified laugh. It was certainly an improvement over her last nightmare, but no thank you.

It was still dark. A glance at the clock told her it was four thirty in the morning. What the heck? She peeked over the side of the bed, but Jace was out like a light. So she stepped over him, stole the sweats he’d left on the floor, and left. In the hallway, she paused in front of Walker’s room. His door was ajar, so she took a peek.

He lay on his back in the center of the bed, breathing steadily and evenly. She knocked lightly on the doorjamb, but he didn’t move. Biting her lower lip, she squeezed in and shut the door behind her. “Hey,” she whispered.

Nothing. The sheet was pooled dangerously low on his hips, revealing a mouthwatering chest and abs that she suddenly wanted to lick.

“Walk.” This time she added a poke to his chest.

“Shh. He’s sleeping,” he murmured.

“It’s almost morning.”

He cracked an eye and looked at her before smiling. “You’re right. We should hurry. Come here.” And he lifted the sheet in open invitation.

He wasn’t wearing anything except testosterone and pheromones, and her heart stopped. “Oh my God.”

“It bodes well for me that you’re already saying ‘oh my God.’ But I’m going to need you to lose your boyfriend’s sweats first.”

“You and I are not going to—” She drew in a deep breath. How did he always derail her? “I’m only here to tell you that I’m going to sign the papers.”

He paused a beat. “Okay.”

“I just haven’t yet because I want to read through them first.”

“Don’t worry. I’m still leaving my vinyl collection to you.”

“You think this is funny?” she asked in disbelief.

“Your reaction to it is.”

“You know what? I’m going now. People are going to hear us.”

“They’re not awake. They’re lucky enough to be sleeping.”