Total pages in book: 91
Estimated words: 84250 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 421(@200wpm)___ 337(@250wpm)___ 281(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 84250 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 421(@200wpm)___ 337(@250wpm)___ 281(@300wpm)
I pull in several deep breaths as I stare at myself in the mirror. I’m not trying to be a hero, and no one has ever been able to accuse me of being a martyr, but Walker has no business getting stuck in this mess with me.
I don’t know how he could help, but I’d never take money from the man. Especially not after sleeping with him.
I shiver at the thought of him leaving my bed and putting cash on the bedside table.
To each their own, but it would make me feel too much like a prostitute.
I’m halfway dressed when I hear the roar of his truck outside of my little duplex, and I’m glad he chose to leave rather than sticking around and demanding that I let him help me.
We’ve crossed too many lines as it is.
I leave the bathroom, and the second I go to grab my purse so I can pick up Larkin, it hits me.
I left my car at the Graves Estate last night and rode back here with Walker.
I rush to the front of the duplex, knowing I have no hope of catching him, but when I pull the front door open, he’s sitting there in the parking lot, the truck idling as he watches the front door.
I pull it closed and lock it before hanging my head and walking toward him.
The passenger side door is locked when I go to tug it open, and instead of him hitting the unlock button, he rolls down the window.
“Hey,” he says, laughter in his tone. “What’s up?”
I glare at the man. He knows what I need, yet it seems he’s going to make me ask for it anyway.
“I rode with you last night.”
“You did.”
I lick my teeth in irritation as I glare at him.
“Can you give me a ride back to my car?”
“I think I can handle that,” he says, the lock clicking open.
He waits for me to climb inside and put my seatbelt on. The warmth in the cab wraps around me as I sink into his butter-soft seat.
He doesn’t say anything until he pulls out of the duplex parking lot, and even then, I have no idea what to do with what he says.
“I’ve learned a lot about you in the last twenty-four hours. It changes a lot of things for me.”
He doesn’t say another word after that as he drives across town. I feel a little relief in that and at the sight of several other cars that were left behind after the wedding reception last night.
“I had fun last night,” I say. “It can’t happen again.”
He watches me, but there’s no confusion in his eyes. His smile doesn’t fade, but I don’t get the feeling that he’s accepting what I’m saying either.
Instead of being upset and accusing him of not being able to accept no as an answer, it makes a thrill of possibility skate up my spine.
I don’t double down. Instead, I thank him for the ride and climb out of his truck. Like a Southern gentleman would be expected of doing, he waits until my car starts and I begin to back up before pulling away.
Chapter 25
Walker
“Sadie,” I tell the clerk when I step up to the counter. “Did you have a nice weekend?”
“I did,” she says with a huge smile as I slide the bank deposit bag across to her.
The First State Bank of Lindell is the only bank in town, and the declaration of “Convenient Banking” on the sign on the wall couldn’t be further from the truth. A drive-thru would be convenient. An after-hours drop box would be convenient. There isn’t a single thing convenient about having to come inside every time I have to make a deposit.
I shuffle through the bowl of suckers on the counter while she unzips the bag and pulls the cash and deposit slip out. After selecting one of the mystery flavors and hoping for pina colada, I can’t help but frown when I pop the thing in my mouth. I can’t tell exactly what flavor it’s supposed to be but it sure as hell isn’t my favorite.
“Mr. Pritchard came in earlier,” she says conversationally. “He said that he noticed Claire Kennedy’s car left outside the Graves Estate Saturday night.”
I blink at her when she lifts her head as if trying to figure out why I’m not going to stand here and gossip with her.
“I sure hope she made it home safely,” she continues when I stay silent.
“Thank you,” I tell her when she hands me my deposit receipt. “Have a great day.”
I don’t have to look over my shoulder to know that the woman is scowling at me the entire way out of the bank. I have no doubt that Sadie knows exactly how safe Claire was Saturday night. If it wasn’t her neighbor gossiping about her on Sunday about what they heard through the very thin walls, then it was Corbin’s grandmother who waved at me while I sat in the truck waiting for Claire to realize she didn’t have her car there.