Total pages in book: 119
Estimated words: 112762 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 564(@200wpm)___ 451(@250wpm)___ 376(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 112762 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 564(@200wpm)___ 451(@250wpm)___ 376(@300wpm)
Walker caressed my hip as if to comfort me. “I spent almost a year under his roof being treated to cold silence until I couldn’t stand it anymore and I left to join the marines. I haven’t seen my parents since.”
In other words, his father had planted the seed that Walker had failed Iona. By his cold treatment, every day for almost a year. If the man was in front of me, I’d tear him a new one. “He was wrong,” I repeated vehemently. “He took his grief out on you. But he’s the one who bears the brunt of his actions … because he lost two children.”
“I … I know rationally, it wasn’t my fault.” Walker looked exhausted as he leaned his forehead against mine. “But no matter how hard I try, I can’t seem to shake the guilt.”
“You don’t have to. I’ll shake it for you.” I kissed his cheek tenderly. Then his other, and his nose and his mouth. A soft brush of my lips, as if every touch could extract the pain from him. “You tried to save her. She died knowing that. You’re a hero, Walker.” Tears slipped down my cheeks, my voice quivering around the words. “You try like no man I’ve ever met. Everything you feel is in everything you do. No one has ever made me feel so safe and essential as you do. I … I love you.”
His eyes blazed with emotion, his grip on me tightening until it almost bruised. Walker raised a gentle hand to swipe away my tears with his thumb. Then, as if something snapped, unleashed inside him, he slid his hand beneath my hair to clasp my nape. And he crushed me to him in a devastating kiss. As if to prove my point, he poured all his feelings into the kiss. Until I was breathless and panting and completely consumed by him.
We didn’t hear the knock at the bedroom door, but at the sound of a throat clearing, Walker reluctantly released me. We turned to look at the intruder at the same time.
Jock.
He wore a smirk and a raised eyebrow. “I’m sorry to interrupt but, Walker, we need all hands on deck. The paps have arrived.”
Walker turned to me and, seeing my confusion, he explained, “A story about a club member broke in the news and he came here to hide. Paparazzi are at the gates.”
“Oh.”
“I’ll tell you everything.” He squeezed me. “Can I come over later?”
It was Monday, so Callie had tae kwon do after school, something I’m sure Walker remembered. “Of course. Will …” I shot a look at Jock and lowered my voice. “Will you be okay today?”
His expression softened. “Do you love me?”
A shy smile prodded my lips. “Yes.”
“Then I’m more than okay.”
Walker didn’t need to tell me about the scandal. Everyone at the castle was talking about how North Hunter was splashed across the papers and being ripped apart on social media for his involvement in the death of a homeless man years ago. There were lots of different takes on the wider story, but no truth from what I could see. I would not participate in the gossip. North had helped me, and I wouldn’t repay him by assuming the worst. The world was doing enough of that. Rumors were that he’d already been sacked from an upcoming blockbuster movie.
The security team was on high alert at the estate and had been deployed several times today to stop paparazzi who’d tried to break onto the property. The buzz of it wasn’t enough to distract me from Walker. I was still heartbroken for him, but so relieved he’d finally confessed the truth. That he’d trusted me. That I didn’t have to spend the next lonely, miserable months trying to get over him. And I was thankful I hadn’t gotten up the nerve yesterday to tell Callie we’d broken up.
Now I didn’t need to.
Walker hadn’t told me he loved me back, but I felt it in his kiss. And I could wait for him to say the words. I knew now that those kinds of emotions couldn’t be easy for him. He’d avoided a relationship so that he never had to feel the failure he’d felt when he lost Iona. When he lost his parents. I could be patient with him while he came to grips with working through his fears.
Thinking the paps would totally preoccupy him, it was a surprise when Walker met me after my shift.
“Don’t they need you?” I asked.
He shook his head, his palm on my back as he guided me toward our cars. He’d parked next to me this morning. “They’re handling it, and I wanted to escort you off the estate. Those arseholes are clambering at every car that comes out.”
“What about my car?” I asked as he guided me to his SUV.