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)
"You'd be right," he says, smiling down at me, and it makes my stomach turn.
He runs his hand down my arm when I go to step around him.
"Here she is."
I stare down at the phone when he holds it out to me for a long moment before I shoot a questioning look up at him.
"It's Madison," he says. "She tried calling you first."
There are a million things happening in so few words, but concern for my daughter wins out over wondering what he's been saying to people for her to know that we're together right now.
"Madison?" I say when I lift the phone to my ear.
My heart is racing a million times a minute, and I can tell she's talking, but the pulse in my head is too loud.
A sense of calm washes over me, and it takes a few breaths to understand that Walker is rubbing circles on my back much the same way he did last Sunday when I was making my confessions about my marriage to Hux.
"Claire?"
"I'm here," I tell her when her voice becomes clearer.
"I'm calling to let you know that if you have plans to go anywhere other than home after you pick Larkin up, you'll need to bring her a change of clothes. I was in the kitchen for less than two minutes throwing together a quick snack and one of the boys drew all over her cute pink top with markers. The package said washable, but I can tell you, they most certainly are not. As soon as I get off the phone, I'm going to send a very strongly worded email to the company and I'll place an online order for a new shirt."
"You don't have to do that."
"They need to know that what they're saying isn't true."
"I mean the new clothes. You don't have to do that."
"But you'll bring her a change of clothes? She's in some of the boys' right now, but they just swallow her right up."
"We're going home right after I come to get her," I assure her. "It's no big deal. I'm more surprised she didn't have stains on that shirt already."
"So no plans?"
"Exciting life we lead, huh?"
"I'll set an extra plate at dinner then."
I narrow my eyes, feeling like she just set me up because I can't backpedal and say I have other things going on.
"Madison, that's not necessary."
"I know it's not. Will you tell Walker to bring the beer?"
"Excuse me?"
"To dinner," she says as if I'm not very quick on the uptake.
"I'm sorry, what?"
"To dinner. Chase asked if Walker could bring the beer."
I turn to face the man in question. "Can you bring the beer to dinner?"
The man at least has the wherewithal to look a little confused before nodding.
"That new IPA he was talking about the other day," Chase says.
"I'll let him know."
"See you in a few hours. Have fun!"
The call ends, and I hand it back to Walker before spinning around and walking away.
"Want to explain the instant attitude?" he asks as he follows me back down the hallway toward his office.
"It's one thing to pretend we're dating while eating lunch, but it's a whole other situation when you tell other people we're dating."
"I haven't told anyone but you that we're dating."
I spin to face him, and there's something about the grin spread out on his face that makes my anger stutter a little.
"Why in the hell would Madison call your phone to speak to me if you hadn't been talking to either her or Chase about me?" I growl. "I don't doubt that the Kennedys have already gotten wind of what has gone on between the two of us. Nora all but said something about it two weeks ago after what happened here."
"I don't know how to rephrase it in a way that you'll understand," he says, his voice calm and free from irritation. "I haven't said a word. She said she tried to call you and when you didn't answer, she called me. Probably because she knew you were working here today and I own the bar."
I try to hold on to my anger, but it quickly fades when I pick my phone up from the desk and see the two missed calls and numerous apology texts from Madison.
"Shit," I mutter. "I’m such a bitch."
"I like it when you're feisty," he says, the warmth of his body covering my back when he steps up to me. "But full disclosure, Madison and Chase know you left your car at their house, and I bet they saw me drop you off Sunday morning as well. Both of them know me well enough to know that casual dating isn't my thing."
"What are you saying?"
"I'm saying that I didn't have to tell them that we're dating for them to know that we are."
"Walker," I grumble.
"It's true. How many women have you seen me with in town?"