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)
I nodded. “I will.”
Then she brushed past North without another word.
The actor turned his head to watch her go, and, if I was not mistaken, his eyes were on her curvy ass. When Aria disappeared, he looked back at me. “She’s a tough nut to crack.”
I tried not to laugh at him using the same phrase Aria had used regarding Walker.
Anticipation fluttered in my belly as I strode out of the staff entrance toward Walker’s SUV. I’d started paying attention to what I was wearing on trips back and forth to work and taking my hair out of its ponytail once my shift was over.
Today I wore yoga pants that did excellent things for my butt and a sweater that hung off one shoulder. I’d fluffed out my hair before leaving the staff room and pinched my cheeks to add a flush of color.
Walker leaned against the Range Rover, arms crossed, long legs crossed at the ankle, and for the millionth time since we met, I longed to climb that man.
I didn’t know why Walker was so against my advances. My instinct told me it was because he was allergic to commitment and he thought I wanted more. I was trying to show him through my actions that I didn’t.
Grinning as I approached him, I watched his eyes flicker down my body and back up again. A thrill ran through me at the slight heat that filled his expression before he banked it. I’d noticed a shift in Walker. There were times I caught him looking at me in a way a man looked at a woman he wanted. His eyes would linger on my breasts or my mouth.
Yup, I was pretty sure he wanted me too. I hadn’t been certain before, but now I was.
“Good day?” I asked with cheer as he pushed off the vehicle.
“Usual. You?”
I nodded as he opened the passenger door for me like a gentleman. “Thanks.”
Once he was in the driver’s seat, I told him about the encounter with North. “It was good to finally say thank you. He and Aria seem to have issues, though. Do you know what that’s about?”
Walker shook his head. “No clue. He seems like a decent guy. He offered me a job.”
My heart practically stopped. “Oh?”
“I turned it down. I like it in Ardnoch.”
More relief than was healthy flooded me.
I reached over and placed a hand on his thigh. “Good. We’d miss you around here.”
Walker glanced down at my hand as I slowly removed it … but he didn’t respond.
Stubborn, stubborn man.
“How’s Callie’s tae kwon do classes coming along?” he asked instead.
“Good. She’s still loving it.” I pulled down the mirror above my head as I stared at my roots. I had dark blond hair with lighter blond highlights, and they were growing out on me. “My hair is not. I’m using what extra I have, including my salon money, on the classes. Does it look bad?”
Walker shot me a quick glance. “You look fine. I told you I’d mentor her.”
I look fine.
Ugh.
“We’re good. But thanks. Better my hair than Callie’s ability to defend herself. Plus, she’s getting extreme enjoyment from whooping Lewis’s butt.”
Walker’s lips twitched.
I wanted to kiss those lips until we couldn’t breathe.
“Do you want to come in for tea before I go see Monroe and Lennox?” I asked a little while later as we drove onto Castle Street.
“I have to get back to the estate.” He frowned. “Is Jamie taking you to see them?”
“Brodan’s picking me up in an hour. He cleared it with Jamie,” I explained, trying not to be disappointed by Walker’s rejection. “I haven’t seen Roe in a while, and I’m feeling like a terrible friend.”
“You’re not a terrible friend. Is Jamie watching you until then?”
“I’ll be fine for an hour,” I insisted as we slowed to a stop outside the cottage.
Walker gave me a cool look as he switched off the engine. “I’ll call Jamie to come watch over you. Is Brodan bringing you home?”
“Yeah. We’ll collect Callie from Regan’s after dinner.”
He nodded and then stared at me. Wanting me out of his SUV.
As anyone could see, my seduction of this stubborn Scot was going so well.
Smiling through my frustration, I leaned across the console and pressed a quick kiss to Walker’s cheek. “Thanks for watching over us.” Then I slipped from the car before he could scowl me out of it.
Less than an hour later, I heard a car pull up and went to check if it was Brodan. When I opened the door, I saw not only Brodan but Walker driving away from a parking spot across the street.
He’d sat outside, watching the cottage, protecting me from a distance, rather than join me for tea.
Damn the man.
Maybe it was time to give up.
Crushing disappointment followed me to the passenger side of Brodan’s SUV.