Beautifully Broken Pieces (Sutter Lake, #1)(59)

My cheeks heated at his sweet thoughtfulness. “Okay,” I whispered, suddenly shy.

“Good. Now, let’s go get some burgers or something.”

I climbed off Walker’s lap and pulled him to his feet. “Anything, as long as it’s not spaghetti.”





31





Walker





My office chair squeaked as I leaned back, typing out a text.

Me: Dinner tonight at my place? I’ll swing by and pick you up on my way home.

Within seconds, three little dots appeared.

Taylor: As long as you’re not going to force me to assist with the cooking.

I chuckled to myself. In the weeks that had passed, Taylor and I had fallen into a routine of sorts. Typically, it involved me cooking, and Taylor doing everything she could to avoid the oven or stove.

Me: The only thing you need to do is pour the drinks, Short-stack.

Taylor: Sounds like a fair trade. I might even reward you for a meal well done…

My pants suddenly felt a little bit tighter. I shifted in my seat. My need for Taylor was insatiable. I’d fucked her in the shower mere hours ago, yet here I was, dying to have her again.

I scrubbed a hand across my stubbled jaw. We’d kept our word to each other and not spoken about where this thing was headed, but Taylor hadn’t mentioned plans to return to LA at the end of her lease. I had every intention of making it as difficult as possible for her to leave, and as easy as saying the word yes to stay.

I shook my head and returned my focus to the papers in front of me. A final report from the medical examiner’s office on our two murder victims. It gave me nothing I didn’t already know. I’d been holding out hope that Carly might find some clue that would give me a direction to run in, but there was nothing.

The entire case was stone-cold. We’d combed through every piece of evidence at least twice, in some cases, three times. Tuck and his Forest Service team had searched the woods for places a demented killer might be hiding, but they’d had no luck. The chief was getting antsy, and the town was freaked. I totally understood. I was frustrated as hell.

A knock sounded on the frame of my open door. “What’s that angry look on your face for, big brother?”

I stood, ushering Jensen in with a wave of my hand. “What are you doing here, Little J? You hate visiting me at the station.” My eyes narrowed. “Is everything okay?”

“Everything’s fine.” Jensen shut the door behind her and sank into an empty chair. “Can’t a sister come pay her favorite big brother a visit at work?” Her smile was mischievous, and I didn’t trust it for a second.

“You want something.” I sat back in my chair, waiting for her to lay it on me.

“Maybe…” she said, drumming her fingers across her lips.

“What is it?”

The drumming paused. “Well. I’ve noticed that you and a certain resident of the guest cabin have both been unnaturally chipper lately. Especially given all the crazy happenings around here.” I straightened at my desk. Taylor and I hadn’t been hiding our relationship, but we hadn’t been flaunting it either. The last thing I wanted was to scare her off by having the townspeople or my family start asking when we were getting married. Jensen kept right on going. “That wouldn’t have anything to do with a little hanky-panky, would it?”

My face scrunched. I did not want to talk to my sister about who I was sleeping with. “Jensen, who is or isn’t in my bed is none of your business.”

A huge smile spread across her face. “I knew it! If you weren’t sleeping with her, you’d tell me straight out. And if you were sleeping with her, but it was just some harmless fun, you’d tell me that straight out, too. You like her. And I mean really like her.” She clapped her hands together with glee. “You two are perfect for each other!”

I raised a hand as if to ward her off. “Hold on there. Do not freak out, go crazy, and call up Taylor, telling her you need to start planning a wedding. I do not want you to scare her off. She’s still gun-shy.” Understatement of the century.

Jensen’s face softened. “I’m not going to do anything to screw this up. Why do you think I’m here, at the place that smells like stale coffee and gives me the creeps, giving you the third-degree instead of bringing a bottle of wine over to Taylor’s and trying to pry the truth out of her?”

She exhaled, seeming to gather her thoughts. In a quieter, more serious tone she said, “I know she’s still scared. She’s better overall. She opens up more, spends more time with the family without me having to con her into it. But I can still see the fear in her eyes.”

My chest tightened at Jensen’s words. She was right. Taylor was letting us all in more and more each day, but she had a long way to go before her walls were entirely down. J leaned across the desk and squeezed my hand. “I like her, Walk. I really like her. Don’t let her shut you out.”

I gave my baby sister a gentle smile. “I won’t.”

Jensen released my hand and leaned back in her seat. “Good.”

“Now, tell me what’s new with you. How are things going with Bryce?”

A faint blush tinged my sister’s cheeks. “They’re good. We’re taking things slow. Super slow. That’s good, for the most part.” A shadow of doubt crossed her face as she scrunched her nose in that adorable way she always did when she was unsure of herself. “I just hope that’s not a sign that he doesn’t actually like me all that much.”