“How’d I do?” Walker asked.
It was just a question, a question that had nothing to do with me. But still, a shiver chased over my skin at his drawl and the rough edge to his voice that I was coming to love.
Restless, I uncrossed my legs and crossed the other one over the top. “Quite well,” I managed, my voice coming out a little breathy.
“I think my duties are officially done, right? Or did I miss a rule? There’re so many unspoken rules to weddings that I don’t even know what the hell I’m really supposed to do.”
Walker’s question was earnest, and I almost laughed. Although Walker came across as a completely confident man, it was becoming clear to me that when someone was important to him, he wanted to make sure to do the right thing even if he didn’t know precisely what that was.
I nodded. “As far as I understand it—wedding etiquette, that is—your duties are officially done. I don’t even think the toast was a given, but many best men do offer a toast. Dave means a lot to you, doesn’t he?”
I wasn’t quite sure why that question slipped out, but it did.
Walker was quiet for a beat, and the teasing glint in his eyes faded. With a single, decisive nod, he replied, “Absolutely. He is truly my best friend. He’s like a brother to me.”
“Do you have any brothers and sisters?” I asked, forgetting for a second that I’d asked him that question on our drive here.
With the direction of the conversation, that was a logical question. Yet, the moment it passed across my lips, I suddenly knew that it was somehow loaded, and that Walker’s cursory response during the drive wasn’t the whole story. Of course, I didn’t know why.
After a moment that felt jammed up by my question, Walker replied, “I didn’t mention it when you asked before, but I had a little brother who died. It wasn’t that I wanted to lie. It’s just easier not to dive into it. You know?”
I managed, just barely, to contain my gasp and nodded jerkily. “I’m so sorry. I didn’t know. I understand why you don’t usually mention it to people.” My mind spun in circles with the implication that he’d chosen to share this personal and sad detail with me.
His hand tightened incrementally where it was resting on my shoulder. “Of course you didn’t know. How could you without me telling you? Thank you, though. He died when he was a baby. Apparently, he had a breathing disorder, but it wasn’t diagnosed until he died in his sleep. It was a long time ago.”
Unsure what else to say, I nodded and repeated, “I’m so sorry.”
I felt the pads of his fingers press into the skin of my shoulder when he squeezed again. “It’s okay. Really.”
Someone else said something on Walker’s opposite side, and he turned to reply. I reached for my champagne and took a gulp, savoring the fresh, bright burst of flavor. The waiter stopped by with a tray of glasses filled with champagne. I shook my head, and Walker leaned back, asking, “Can we have a fresh bottle, please?”
My chest tightened. Even though I’d commented to Walker last night about why I didn’t prefer to have guys buy my drinks, it seemed his perception ran deeper. Somehow, he’d picked up that I didn’t prefer to take a drink unless I knew exactly where it came from. The fact he made sure to take care of that had tears stinging at the backs of my eyes.
That led to me reminding myself, yet again, I was an emotional wreck over nothing.
Chapter Twelve
Jade
A few hours later, I walked at Walker’s side up the stairs. This inn had only one elevator since it was an older building. When we noticed the line of people waiting for the elevator, we elected to take the stairs at the end of the hallway. It was only two flights.
Although I’d had a few glasses of champagne over the course of the evening, I wasn’t drunk. If I’d ever been tipsy, that had worn off. As it was, my entire body felt as if it were fizzing like champagne—alive and bubbling from the sparks of need Walker elicited.
His hand was warm where it rested at the dip in my waist. I wished it would slide down over my bottom, and I was a bit startled at that. I wasn’t prone to craving a man’s touch, but Walker was proving to be the exception to many rules. We crested the landing between the second and third floors, and one of my heels caught on the carpet. When I stumbled slightly, he tightened his grip on my waist and steadied me.
“Easy there,” he murmured.
Glancing up, I was instantly trapped in his gaze. My mind whirled back to my reckless and impulsive kiss this morning. Kiss him again.
I was practically taunting myself. My pulse was racing along madly. It was quiet in the stairwell. After hours of voices and noise, it felt as if we’d stepped out of reality for just a moment.
Walker’s gaze was darkening, like clouds burgeoning before a thunderstorm. He turned slightly, taking a step closer. I reflexively stepped back, not realizing the wall was right there behind me. My hips bumped against it. With my knees going wobbly at the look in Walker’s eyes, I was relieved for the support. I couldn’t look away and took a shallow breath as I swiped my tongue across my bottom lip.
“I need some clarification,” he said, his tone gravelly and sending tingles spinning through me like hot flares.
“About what?” My question came out raspy. I mentally rolled my eyes at myself. All this time I’d been so confident no man could ever get to me.
My confidence was turning out to be so foolish. I’d been stupid enough to think I would never be tempted. I also knew ever since I’d first met Walker that he was like flint to stone for me, striking sparks all around me just for being close.
I vividly remembered the night I met him. I’d seen him in person here and there when I covered shifts at Lost Deer Bar before we officially met. He was usually hanging with my brother and the other guys from the first responder crew. I’d thought him handsome, but I’d bet anyone who could see probably thought that. One night, he’d given me a ride home after I got a flat tire in bad weather. I’d gotten up close and personal with the potency of his presence on that drive.
Even knowing the electric power of my body’s reaction to him, I hadn’t thought I would fall prey to a desire that practically glowed with heat. Yet, here I was. I knew my cheeks were flushed. The heat was intense, suffusing my entire being.
The only relief I could find from it was to dive straight into the heart of the fire. As these thoughts chased in circles in my mind, Walker’s eyes searched my face.
After a long moment, he asked, “When you said we only have two nights, what did you mean?”
Oh God. He was going to make me say it out loud. I hated the sense of vulnerability this desire kindled inside of me. Pushing against it helped me get a hold of my gooey self. I felt like I was about to melt into a puddle at his feet. With his arm wrapped around my waist, and his strong body pressed close to my side, all of it was overwhelming.
Narrowing my eyes, I scrambled for some control and told myself I wasn’t going to be a coward. “Just that. I won’t pretend I don’t want you, although it annoys the hell out of me. But we’re here, and we’re sharing a room, so let’s take advantage of the circumstances. Let’s not make it anything more than that.”