Beautifully Broken Pieces (Sutter Lake, #1)(29)

My eyes opened as Bryce said, “I will. Precious cargo.”

“You got that right.”

Walker ushered me towards the exit, and I called over my shoulder, “Bye, J! So. Much. Fun.” I punctuated each of the last words with a fist in the air. I could hear Jensen’s laughter even over the crowd.

Walker propelled me forward. “Come on, let’s go.”

The cool night air was a jolt to my system, sending any desire for sleep fleeing. I shivered. Walker must have felt the movement because he slipped off his jacket and wrapped it around my shoulders.

I inhaled deeply. The scent of the coat was a mixture of his woodsy cologne and something uniquely Walker. “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.”

Walker opened the door to his truck and helped me into the seat in silence, but each brush of his hand sent tingles shooting across my skin. When he leaned across to buckle my seatbelt, my entire body trembled.

“Still cold?” he asked.

I shook my head, not trusting my voice.

He studied my face but said nothing, just shut the door and rounded the truck.

The ride home was silent. I spun my ring in circles on my finger and nibbled at the corner of my lip.

Walker pulled into the cabin’s drive, then shut off the truck and came around to open my door. “Come on, let’s get you inside so you can catch some shuteye.”

He helped me down, and we made our way to the front porch. Two steps up, I turned, leaving me face-to-face with Walker and his gorgeous eyes. “Thanks for taking me home.”

“Anytime. I’m glad you let your guard down enough to have a little fun.”

“I don’t have my guard up.”

Walker’s head fell back and he let loose that same laugh I’d heard that day at the saloon, back when I didn’t even know his name. “Oh, honey, your guard is up so high, you can’t even see over it.” His face grew serious. “But, maybe one of these days, you’ll lower it enough to see that letting people really know you isn’t the worst thing.”

My breaths came in shallow bursts. Heat flared in Walker’s eyes as his gaze dropped to my mouth. Fuck it. I closed the distance between us.

My lips met his in a hesitant caress that soon turned hungry. His tongue parted my lips, and I tasted a hint of bitterness left behind by a beer. My lower belly clenched as his hand drifted to my neck, tangling in my hair. I pushed my body flush against his, needing more contact, more of his body, more of anything to do with him.

Suddenly, the hand on my neck was gone, and there were two on my shoulders, pushing me back. “I can’t. This is a bad idea.”

I blinked rapidly, still a little dazed from the mixture of booze and lust. “Why not?”

Walker roughly ran a hand through his thick, dark hair. “For one, you’re drunk.” I’m not that drunk, I thought petulantly. “And two…” His voice trailed off as if he were searching for the right words. “The timing isn’t right.” My spine stiffened. “Don’t get me wrong, you’re gorgeous.”

I bit the inside of my cheek, tasting blood. “I get it.” I turned on my heel and headed up the stairs.

“Taylor…”

“Thanks for the ride,” I called without turning around. I quickly fumbled for my key, unlocking the door with a speed and dexterity I should not have possessed given how much tequila I had consumed that evening. I was through the door before Walker could say another word.

I knew an excuse when I heard it. I knew when I wasn’t wanted.

I flipped the lock and then sank to the floor, my back against the door. The cool wood was a balm to my overheated, traitorous skin. I hugged my knees to my chest.

I was alone. Just like I was meant to be. Everyone left, whether it was by choice or not. It was better to be alone from start to finish. Tears tracked down my cheeks. “I miss you, Mom.” The words were the faintest whisper. “I miss you so fucking much.”





Pound, pound, pound. The noise at my door mirrored the beating in my skull. “Hold your freaking horses, I’ll be right there,” I bellowed in the direction of the front door.

I rolled to a seated position on the couch where I had fallen asleep the night before. Apparently, my bedroom twenty feet away was simply too far. I was still wearing my outfit from my night out, and I was sure my mascara had run down my face. Shit. I got to my feet, steadying myself on the back of the couch when the world turned on its axis a bit.

When the living room had righted itself, I headed towards the front door. “Who is it?” I called when I was two feet away.

“It’s your partner in crime,” Jensen yelled through the door.

A grin stretched across my face, and I pulled open the door. Jensen stood there, holding two cups of coffee balanced on top of what looked like a box of donuts. “Thought you might need a pick-me-up,” she said as she brushed past me, making a beeline for the kitchen.

I followed her and the scent of caffeine. “You really are an angel sent from Heaven.”

Jensen waved a hand in front of her face as she opened the box of goodies with the other. “I know, I know.” She took a bite of a glazed donut as she studied me. “You look like shit,” she said while chewing. “What happened to you?”

The color drained from my face as it all came flooding back. Tequila shots. Dance floor. Walker. Walker’s lips. Oh, shit.