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)
Then Chloe shoved Walker, and he staggered, taken by surprise again.
The sight of big, strong, formidable Walker Ironside stumbling did something to me.
I saw red.
I pushed between them as Walker righted himself, and I shoved that stalker right back with all my might. “Back off!” I growled.
Chloe stumbled before quickly steadying herself, as if ready for a fight. It was entirely against my nature to have an embarrassing public showdown, but for Walker’s sake, I’d draw on my best acting skills. The blond had a few inches on me and looked like she could pummel me into the ground. She also had crazy eyes, unsurprising for someone who harassed a guy because he didn’t want to be with her.
And I’d always believed in fighting crazy with crazy.
“So, you’re the asshole stalking my man!” I yelled.
Chloe’s eyes flared. “Your man?”
I felt Walker step up behind me, his body brushing mine, clearly understanding my game. Needing not to feel the heat of him, I stepped into Chloe’s personal space. “Yeah, my man. We got a kid together,” I lied.
Chloe gaped at Walker over my shoulder. “You’re married?”
He stayed silent while I shoved my face in hers. “Yeah, we got a kid. We were on a break. Now my man tells me you’re harassing him. He told you he wants nothing to do with you.” I jabbed a finger in her direction. “So, what? You think if you act insane enough, wear him down, he’ll want you back.” I pushed into her, and she stepped back, off the curb, looking wary. Hiding my triumphant smirk, I lowered my voice. “You think you’re crazy, Chloe? Well, my man has a type. You ain’t seen crazy … but you will if you ever put your hands on Walker again. If you ever contact him again.” My face was now almost touching hers, and I know I looked nuts as I whispered, “You ever shot someone, Chloe? Because I have.”
Fear flared in her eyes, and I almost felt bad as she stepped back again, looking freaked out. “I didn’t know he was with someone.”
“Doesn’t matter if he’s with someone or not. A person tells you to leave them alone, you leave them alone. Harassment isn’t fun. You want me to prove it to you? Because I got time. I can haunt your ass at your workplace, at your house, in your town. Everywhere you turn, I can be there. You want that?”
Chloe scowled but shook her head. “I don’t want any trouble.” With that, she shot Walker one last wounded look and hurried down the street toward the Gloaming.
I watched as she got back in her car, aware we had an audience across the street outside Flora’s, but I ignored them. Chloe whipped out of her space as if the hounds of hell were nipping at her exhaust pipe. She sped past us without looking our way.
Finally, I turned to face Walker.
Butterflies erupted in my belly.
Because Walker Ironside was full-on grinning at me.
I’d never seen him smile like that.
One corner of his mouth tugged up higher than the other, and his eyes crinkled attractively at the corners.
It was a sexy goddamn smile.
I flushed from head to toe but forced a smile back.
“Were you an actress in another life? Because I almost believed you were nuts,” he joked.
Laughing, I shrugged. “I don’t know where that came from. But it was fun.”
Walker’s shoulders shook with amusement, and I tried not to gape in wonder at the sight. His smile had softened, but his expression turned almost tender. An ache flared in my chest at that look. “Why did you do it?”
“Monroe might have mentioned a one-night stand was giving you a hard time. I guessed that was the woman in question, and I didn’t like that she shoved you. She did it knowing you wouldn’t hit back.” I’d known that, too, with absolute certainty. “And I owe you.”
Walker’s trademark scowl slotted right back into place. “You don’t owe me anything.”
I grinned. “Now I don’t.”
His lips twitched again.
That warmth flooded me, and the distance I’d felt between us the past week was forgotten. “Callie is going to a birthday party this afternoon, and I have extra cupcakes. Do you want to come over for a coffee and some cake while she’s gone?”
Just like that, Walker’s entire demeanor changed. It was like a wall slamming down as his expression blanked and his body stiffened. “No,” he replied bluntly. “I’ve got shit to do.”
It took me a second to don my armor, to hide my wounded feelings. But I did it. I smiled through my hurt. “Of course. Well, have a good day.”
While Callie was at the party that afternoon, I drove to Monroe’s to tell her everything. Swearing her to secrecy. And she wanted to rip Walker a new one. But I told her I’d be no better than Chloe, then. Punishing Walker for not wanting what I wanted.