Beautifully Broken Pieces (Sutter Lake, #1)(60)

I hated that Jensen had this kind of self-doubt. It made me want to pummel the asshole who had left her high and dry as soon as he found out she was pregnant. Alone and pregnant at nineteen, she’d been terrified, and it had done a number on her self-confidence. It was rare that she allowed those doubts to show to anyone, and I was glad that Taylor wasn’t the only one letting me in.

I cleared my throat, bringing Jensen’s gaze away from her hands in her lap and back to me. “Taking things slow just means that he respects you. I think that’s nothing but a good sign.”

J sighed. “You’re my big brother, of course, you love that he’s not trying to get in my pants.”

“Too much information, J.”

She let out a giggle. “All right.”

“I do want to get to know him better, though.”

Jensen eyed me skeptically. “That’s fine, as long as you don’t threaten him with bodily harm.”

I grinned. “Not unless he deserves it.”

She shook her head. “Why don’t we go on a double date?”

Warmth filled my chest at the thought of taking Taylor out on a proper date. Showing everyone in Sutter Lake that this gorgeous girl was mine. “I’ll ask Taylor if she’s up for it.”

Jensen beamed. “Awesome. All right, big bro, I’m outta here.”

As she stood, another knock sounded. “Come in,” I called.

The door swung open hesitantly. Ashlee poked her head in. “Sorry to bother you,” she said, dipping her chin, a blush on her cheeks.

“That’s all right,” I assured.

“Hey, Ashlee,” Jensen greeted. “How are you?”

“I’m just fine. And yourself?”

“Doing great. Just paying the knucklehead a visit, but I’ll get out of your hair. See you later, Walk.”

“Bye, Little J,” I called after her as she headed out. She looked back at me and stuck out her tongue, showing her disapproval of the nickname. I chuckled and turned my gaze to Ashlee. “What’s up?”

“Barry Stevens is here to see you. He wanted to get an update on Caitlin’s case.”

I instantly sobered. I couldn’t imagine what the poor man was going through and hoped I never had to experience it myself. “Show him on back.”

Ashlee nodded and escaped down the hall.

I put away all the sensitive files on my desk and locked my computer screen. Just as I shut a desk drawer, Barry’s harrowed face appeared in my doorway. “Come on in, Barry. Can I get you anything to drink?”

He moved slowly as if he had aged decades in the past few weeks. “No, thank you. I just wanted to come by and see how things were progressing. We got a call that they were finally releasing Caitlin’s body to the funeral home.”

Sympathy filled me, but I fought against the urge to let it show on my features. A man as proud as Barry Stevens wouldn’t want to see that now. “Unfortunately, there’s not a lot I can tell you at the moment. We are pursuing every avenue available to us to find out who did this.”

It was true, we were doing everything we could. There just wasn’t much to show for it. Tuck and I had finally tracked down Frank Pardue, but after hours of questioning, there was nothing we could hold him for. He was still the number one suspect in my mind, but he claimed that he had been off hunting dozens of miles away when Caitlin was killed. With nothing to prove or disprove his story, we’d had to let him go.

Barry gave a stilted nod. “Well, I just had to check.”

“I understand. You come by anytime you like, but I promise I’ll call as soon as we have anything we can share.”

He stood slowly. “Thank you, Walker. You’re a good man.” My chest hurt at those words, guilt swamping me as I remembered my last encounter with his daughter. “You’ll come to the funeral, won’t you? It’ll be this weekend.”

I swallowed against the sudden dryness in my throat. “Of course, I will.”

Barry gave another nod. “I’ll see you then.”

“See you,” I replied, leaning back in my chair as I watched his pained footsteps lead him out of my office. I had to find the monster who destroyed this family.





32





Taylor





I eased myself back on the double lounge chair on Walker’s back deck, tucking my feet under the wool blanket he left out here just for me. The view was amazing. During the day, you could see all the way to the town below. Tonight, I could see rolling hills and fields in the twilight as glimmering stars began to appear in the sky.

Inhaling deeply, I soaked in the crystal-clear night air. It was amazing just how relaxed I felt here. How at home. If I was honest, it freaked me out a bit. But I pushed those thoughts aside, deciding instead to focus on gratitude for this night—this moment.

A plank in the deck creaked. “What are you thinking about so hard over there?”

I turned my head to see Walker striding towards me, two open bottles of beer dangling from his fingers. “Just thinking how much I love this spot.”

He settled next to me on the lounge, handing me a beer and casually throwing an arm around my shoulders. I snuggled into his side, soaking up his warmth. “I’m glad you like it. I had the architect orient the house so the back deck and master bedroom would have this view.”