Beautifully Broken Pieces (Sutter Lake, #1)(27)

I reached out, taking my grandmother’s papery hand in my own. She would know. She’d lost a child at a young age, and a husband in her prime. She knew grief better than most. “I’m sorry, Gran.”

“Thank you, hon. But this isn’t about me. I just hurt for her.”

I tipped my rocker back and forth, staring out at the dark fields in front of me. “Her mom died a few months ago.”

My grandma’s face crumpled. “Poor thing.”

“And her dad is a fucking loser who abandoned her.” I sucked in a harsh breath, the cool night air burning my lungs. “She has almost no one.”

“I was worried about that.” Gran paused again. “Someone needs to be there for that girl.” She eyed me meaningfully. “Knock down some of those walls. If she doesn’t let someone in, and soon, those barriers will petrify, and nothing and no one will get through.”

My stomach tightened. “I don’t know if I’m the right—”

“Of course, you are,” my grandmother said, the words forceful and resolute. Her tone softened. “I know you have your own weight to carry, but that’s exactly why you are the perfect person to get through those walls Taylor’s put up.”

I listened to the blades of the rocker as they made contact with the wood planks below. “She’s most likely leaving in a year. Her friends want her to move back to LA. It’s taken me weeks to get her to share even one thing with me. I’m not sure there’s enough time.”

Gran squeezed my hand. “No one knows what the future will hold, Walker. Just be her friend. Don’t let her push you away. Be there when the breakdown happens so you can help turn it into a breakthrough.”

Be her friend. I could do that. I just needed to dull this simmering attraction. As we were around each other longer, it would surely begin to fade. I just had to ignore it until then. “All right, Gran. I’ll do my best.”

“I know you will.” She smiled, her white teeth shining in the moonlight.

My phone buzzed in my pocket. Pulling it out, I grimaced at the screen.

Caitlin: I’m sorry I overreacted. Please answer my calls. We can work this out. We are so good together.

I typed out a reply.

Me: I don’t think there’s anything left to talk about. You’ll find the right guy. It just isn’t me.

I silenced my phone and shoved it back into my pocket. I couldn’t deal with Caitlin tonight on top of everything else.

Grandma eyed me curiously. “Everything okay?”

“Yup. Come on. I’ll drive you home.”

“I wish you’d just let me take the golf cart.”

“I’m a cop. I’d have to arrest you for driving without a license.”

“Who knew I’d raise a grandson that would turn out to be a narc.”

All I could do was chuckle.





16





Taylor





A horn sounded from my driveway, and I slid my lip gloss into my clutch. Ready to go. I grabbed my keys off the hook by the door and headed out.

Jensen let out a wolf whistle through her rolled-down window. “Girl, you look hot! Ready to meet some of the local talent?”

I grinned as I opened the SUV’s door and hopped inside. “You know it.”

Jensen executed a flawless three-point turn, saying, “I’m driving us there but leaving my car. Bryce said he’d drive us home.”

“Bryce, huh?” I knew there was love brewing there.

Jensen’s cheeks pinked. “We’re dating. God, it still feels weird to say that. It’s pretty new. I haven’t introduced him to Noah as a boyfriend or anything.”

“He’s definitely sweet on you.” Warmth filled my chest. I was happy that Jensen had someone who made her blush at the mention of his name. “This also means I get my pick of all the guys tonight. You really are the perfect wing-woman.”

She chuckled. “You’re so lucky to have me in your corner. And since I’ve lived here my whole life, I know everyone’s dirty little secrets. I’ll pick you out some winners.”

“You’re an angel sent to Earth just for me.”

“You know it. I may not be looking to hook up, but I am looking to have a couple cocktails. I even wrangled Walker into feeding my horses in the morning so I don’t have to get up early.”

“Your horses?” I’d seen various horses in the fields as I drove between my cabin and the ranch house but hadn’t thought much about them. They were pretty to look at, but as a vertically-challenged person, climbing on top of large creatures and galloping at top speeds didn’t really appeal to me.

Jensen’s eyes lit with a passion and love I’d rarely seen. “Haven’t I told you? I have rescue horses.”

“Rescue horses?”

“Yup. There is a herd of wild horses not far from here, but sometimes, horses need to be brought out of the wild for health or injury reasons. I take them in. I help rehab them if I can, and I’ve even trained a few to be ridden.”

“Wow. That’s amazing. How many do you have?”

“Right now, twenty. But I may be getting another in a few weeks.”

“Twenty horses? Who helps you take care of them?”