Chapter 7 Walker
WALKER
Despite Sawyer’s brilliant advice, I’m no closer to figuring out what to do with Lacey in my house and in my bed than I was before.
I don’t normally bake—that’s Sawyer’s gig—but I managed to find a sugar cookie recipe that didn’t have a million steps and got to work.
The kitchen is a mess and it’s a stark reminder why I’m behind the scenes at Coastal Eats while Sawyer, as grumpy as he is, runs the front. The guy is talented and heavily sought-after, but he’s content with what we’ve built.
And so am I.
My phone buzzes on the counter, and I rest the spoon in the bowl as I pick up the device, my heart jumping into my throat as I read the message.
MURPHY: Why is my sister at your house?
How the hell does he know that?
MURPHY: We were supposed to go home together
MURPHY: She’s not picking up her phone
MURPHY: I was about to send a search party
WALKER: She didn’t say why she left early to come here but she’s fine
WALKER: The roads were bad when she got to Starlight Bay and she got stuck in the snowbank near my house
MURPHY: Why isn’t she answering me?
WALKER: She’s taking a nap. I’ll get her car taken care of when the weather clears but it might be a few days
MURPHY: That’s lucky you were so close and could help
WALKER: It was definitely unexpected
MURPHY: Will you tell her to call me when she gets up?
WALKER: Definitely
MURPHY: Thanks again man—I’ll see you next week
WALKER: You got it
Guilt claws at me even though I didn’t completely lie—at least not about anything important. It’s not my business to tell Murphy why Lacey left the city early.
Murphy would be on the road with only the clothes on his back to make sure his baby sister is all right.
And no one needs that.
“Pretty sure you have to use the spoon to mix that. You can’t just will the dough into submission.”
Dropping my phone onto the counter, I can’t help the way my mouth hangs open at the sexy smile on Lacey’s face, the word submission bouncing around my skull.
Because in this exact moment, I’d give anything to have her submit to me, and I’m terrified about what that could mean. Yesterday, Lacey had just been my friend and Murphy’s sister.
But today?
She’s the only present I want to unwrap this year, and dammit all to hell, I don’t care if I shouldn’t.
I just want her.