Chapter 22
Twenty-Two
SLOANE
Ignoring Frannie’s worried glances, I pushed on with my work that morning just as I had done every day since the cottage was trashed.
Some people might think me crazy, but I felt trapped on the estate.
I was living in a beautiful coastal house with incredible views, yet all I wanted was our cottage back.
The police had taped off the house and dusted it for prints.
We were still waiting on word if they’d found anything.
Two detective inspectors interviewed me again.
They also interviewed Walker and Brodan.
I only knew that because of a quick exchange of words with Walker when he collected the cakes I needed delivered.
Callie was still on mid-term break for the rest of the week but Walker thought it was better she stayed on the estate.
That meant no tae kwon do until this was over.
I hated that.
I hated how trapped we both were.
Even if Aria was being super cool about it all. She wasn’t around a lot because she worked long hours, but when she was, she was extremely sweet to Callie.
One person who was not being sweet, at least not to me, was Walker. Other than the cake delivery, he was avoiding me. His texts were blunter than usual and did not encourage conversation.
It made me furious. Hadn’t we agreed that if one of us didn’t want to do this thing anymore, we’d talk about it?
Also, why did he suddenly not want to? Was I proving to be too much of a hassle?
If so, why continue to protect Callie? Why not let someone else do it?
I knew Brodan and Monroe would have someone watching over us in a heartbeat.
My best friend had driven out with Lennox to see me last night, and the baby cuddles made me feel a little better.
Seeing Monroe had, too, of course. I tried to paste on my brightest smile to prove I was doing okay, but the woman saw right through me.
“I wish there was something I could do,” Monroe had said, worry written all over her.
“You’re doing it,” I’d promised her. “Callie and I were so alone until we came here, Roe. You changed that. You gave us a family again.”
“Oh, God, I’m so hormonal, and that was so sweet,” she sobbed, and it was so adorable, she actually made me truly laugh for the first time since the break-in.
Monroe’s boost to my spirits didn’t last. The following Monday morning when Walker arrived to collect Callie to take her to school, he wouldn’t meet my gaze when he gave me that annoying chin lift before bundling my daughter into his SUV.
He didn’t want me anymore? Fine. I wanted him to be a man and freaking admit it.
It seemed the universe did, too, because as I left Frannie in the staff room to make my way toward the cafeteria for lunch later that day, I bumped into Walker.
His expression was granite as he went to veer around me with a nod. As if we were merely strangers passing in the hall.
“Are you kidding me?” I snapped at him.
Walker stopped and looked back at me. “Problem?”
Glancing around to make sure we were alone, I stepped toward him and hissed, “You’re really going to treat me like you’ve never been inside me?” I didn’t care if it was blunt. I was past diplomacy.
His expression remained impassive, but I was learning Walker’s tells. His hands had clenched into fists at his sides. “What the fuck does that mean?”
“It means you’ve treated me like I barely exist since the night at the cottage. If you don’t want to do this thing anymore, fine by me.” Lie, lie, lie. “But at least have the goddamn decency to tell me instead of treating me like I have the plague. In other words, grow the hell up.”
Anger flashed across his face, and he leaned into me with a growl. “Does it not compute with you that you’re in danger?”
“It’s pretty much turned my life upside down, so yeah. What the hell does that have to do with us?”
“I am supposed to be guarding you. And Callie.” His glower was ferocious. “I cannot be distracted by sex with you when I’m supposed to be protecting you. So, aye, we’re not doing this thing anymore.”
Disappointment crushed my chest, making it slightly hard to breathe.
Being with him was the only time I felt free of all the darkness surrounding my life at the moment.
And he was ripping it away? “What about what I want?” I hissed.
“Because the only time in the last few nightmarish weeks that I haven’t thought about the danger we’re in is when we’re having sex. ”
Walker’s lips pressed tight as he searched my face, almost frantically. As if trying to determine the truth in my words. His fists clenched tighter. “I won’t fail you because I can’t keep my hands off you.”
So he cared more about doing what he thought was his duty than being with me? I huffed bitterly. That said a lot about how much he wanted me, right? Rejection stung, and I lashed out immaturely. “Fine. I’ll find someone else to get me off.”
Walker stepped toward me, eyes narrowing. “Don’t make this ugly between us, Sloane.”
“I’m not making it ugly,” I replied flatly. “I’m being honest. You’re not the only one with a working dick, Walker. You were just convenient.” I turned on my heel to march away, but I’d caught the flicker of something awful in his eyes before I did.
Guilt slammed through me, and I stopped with the force of it. He was still standing there. “I’m sorry,” I said over my shoulder without looking at him. “I didn’t mean that.” But I walked away before he could respond.