Beautifully Broken Pieces (Sutter Lake, #1)(54)

By the time he returned, I was fully clothed. His gaze raked over me from tip to toe. “I liked the other get-up better.”

“Most guys do prefer naked.”

Walker climbed onto the bed, backing me up against the pillows. “We need to make sure we’ve got a few things straight.”

I sucked in a breath. “Okay…” My head spun at what he might be about to lay on me. This was a one-time thing, never to happen again? He wanted me to move to Oregon permanently and have a million of his babies?

Walker’s eyes bore into mine. “You and I are going to see where this thing leads.” I pressed my lips together. “We’re not going to worry about all the possible what-ifs. We are going to roll with things. I’m going to have you. Often.” My lips stretched into a slow smile. I liked that plan. “I’m also going to be here for you.” My heart stutter-stepped. “No matter what does or doesn’t happen between us in the bedroom.” Another skipped beat.

“And you are going to talk to me. Let me into what’s going on in that pretty little head of yours.” He tapped a finger on my temple and then let it trace down around my ear. I shivered. Walker pressed his mouth to my forehead, then to each of my eyelids. The gesture was so sweet, so tender it made my heart ache. “Do you think you can do that for me?”

I took a deep breath. This was it. Could I roll with this, with him? Not knowing where we might end up? Having a good idea that the outcome might hurt a hell of a lot? There was something I needed to get out into the open first. I sank my teeth into my bottom lip before speaking. “Jensen told me about Julie.”

Walker’s expression gentled, and then he sat next to me on the bed. “I would have told you about her myself, she just hadn’t come up.” He traced the hem of my sleep shorts with his finger. “She was my first love. If she’d lived, I think she would have been it for me. But what we had,”—his eyes met mine—“it never got the chance to grow out of that puppy-love stage.”

My heart hurt for him, for the loss of what might have been. “I’m sorry you lost her.”

Walker brushed his lips against mine. “Thank you. Life doesn’t always take us on a path we understand, but I know that even with the moments you think will break you, there’s always something beautiful waiting. If you keep pushing on.” He tucked a stray lock of hair behind my ear. “So, you think you can risk taking this journey with me? See where we end up?”

I stared into those green irises rimmed in blue. There was fire in them. Flames that singed my soul. Something that was too tempting to leave alone. Even though I knew I’d likely end up burned. “I can do that.”

Walker released a breath I hadn’t noticed he’d been holding. “Thank fuck.” I giggled. Freaking giggled. It was girlish and very unlike me, but I couldn’t help it. Walker’s eyes playfully narrowed in my direction. “Oh, funny is it? Hilarious that you’ve got me tied up in knots, my dick hard enough to pound nails whenever you’re around?”

I bit down on my bottom lip and shrugged. “Sorry?”

“You’re not sorry,” he growled and then dove in to tickle my sides.

I shrieked with laughter until he touched a tender spot from my tumble down the ravine. I froze and sucked in a pained breath. Walker immediately pulled back, frowning. “Shit. I completely forgot. Are you okay?” He pawed at my tank top. “Let me see.”

I let out a frustrated sigh. “I’m fine. Just a little sore.”

“I’ll be the judge of that.” Walker gently lifted my shirt. “Turn around so I can see your back.” I did as he instructed, knowing it would go quicker if I just gave in. “Fuck. You’ve got a real nasty bruise and a few deep scrapes.”

“I cleaned the scrapes last night,” I said, trying to put him at ease.

“Well, I wasn’t exactly gentle with you this morning, so you need to let me clean them for you again.”

I pressed my lips together to keep from laughing. “All right, Dr. Cole. Do your worst.”

He placed a kiss at the base of my neck that sent tingles down my spine and slipped off the bed. When he returned, he had his boxer briefs and tee on and held a large first-aid kit.

“Was that here?” I asked.

“Yup, in the kitchen, beneath the sink.”

“Good to know.”

“Planning on injuring yourself in the future?”

I snorted. “Well, I am trying to teach myself to cook.”

“Are you now?” I felt a cold alcohol pad touch the small of my back and jumped. “Sorry about that.” Walker blew on my skin to ease the sting. “You know, I’m a real good eater. I eat just about anything, so I could be your guinea pig while you’re trying to learn.”

This time I snickered. “You might regret that offer.”

“I promise you, I won’t.” He kissed the top of one of my shoulders. He was careless with his displays of affection. Not in a bad way, just in a way that said he had a deep well of love and care in him that was so full, it was overflowing. It wasn’t surprising when I thought about it. He had amazing parents, a hilarious grandmother, a protective sister, and a precious nephew, who all loved him deeply. Not to mention, a town that adored him. He had a lot to give.