Chapter 20
“Penny for your thoughts?” Walker squeezes my hand, drawing my attention.
“Are your parents going to be there?”
“This isn’t a trial by fire. You know Ava and Riley. It’s going to be fine,” he says, rubbing circles into my palm.
“I know, still nervous.” He slows, turning left unto a rural highway. “I don’t think I’ve ever been out this far.”
“Yeah, this area is great. One direction, beach for as far as you can see. The other direction, farm country everywhere.” He slows to make another turn.
“Were you raised here?”
“Uh, no. We moved here when we were younger. My father capitalized on the surging real estate market and made an amazing living.” He comes to a stop at a crossroads. “That’s my parents’ home.”
He points to a sprawling mansion nestled behind iron gates. The fence line runs as far as the eye can see in each direction. As he turns, I get a better look at the house and the ten adjoining acres. A four-car garage and what looks to be a pool with an additional smaller house.
“Who lives in the place behind the pool?”
“It’s a pool house, set up as an apartment. Riley and I both have taken turns staying there. I prefer my place for now.” He eyes me.
“Are you moving?” Just as I ask the question, we make yet another turn. A white house within the iron fence sets in a clearing.
“Not anytime soon but someday, yes,” he says.
“That’s Riley and Ava’s home.” He inclines his head toward the house.
“Wow. Killer place.” I try to keep my mouth from hanging open. “Such a big place for the two of them.”
“Andi’s here a lot and I’m sure they want more kids.” He glances at me as he drives by their home.
“Who’s Andi?”
“Andi is Ava’s daughter with Brannon. She’s ten and probably my most favorite person in the world.” His eyes sparkle as he talks about the little girl, making my heart pound wildly.
“What does she call you?”
“Uncle Walker.” He looks over at me like I’m insane. “She’s my niece.”
“Of course.” I gape, pointing at my chest. “Family issues.” He pulls in the front of the house. My knee starts bouncing.
“You ready?” He winks.
“Yeah, I can’t wait to see Ava.”
Walker slides from the truck, and I reach for the handle. “Don’t you dare.” He stops, glaring at me from the front. I cross my eyes at him, sticking out my tongue. He opens my door, taking my hand. “Thanks for waiting.”
“Always.” He pulls me into his chest. My knees go weak as his lips brush mine with a kiss.
“What the hell are you doing? Let that girl breathe for the love of all that’s holy!” Riley yells from the porch. We laugh, turning toward him.
“Shut the fuck up. Damn,” Walker grumbles.
“Every time I see her, she’s being groped by you.” He shakes his head with a chuckle.
“Again, fuck you.” Walker flips him off.
“It’s all good. I’m getting used to it.”
Walker tugs my hand. I stumble into him and he wraps me in his arms. “Good. There’s more fondling where that came from.”
“Promises, promises.”
He bends down, growling into my ear, “Keep it up, baby. You’ll regret that later.”
“Please,” I mewl, which garners me a deeper growl.
“I’ll remember that, Miss Morgan.” He locks his arm around me, bending me backward. When his lips take mine, I fist his hair, not caring who sees it. The harsh sweep of his tongue is all I need to melt into his arms, fighting a moan. Walker releases me to a round of catcalls.
“Dude! Leave that girl alone for five minutes,” Riley goads Walker.
“Should we leave?” Ava laughs, tangling herself around Riley.
“What? Y’all are the ones pushing this, so live with it.” Walker smirks, and my belly turns flips.
“Like you’re not loving every second?” Ava rolls her eyes. “Come on, it’s cold out here.”
“Thank you for having us,” I say as we step through the door. “Oh, wow. Your home is beautiful.”
“Thank you for coming. We’re happy to finally have you over.” Ava locks her arm with mine.
Walker tugs my hand when Ava tries to pull me into the living room. “I don’t think so, Ava.”
“She’s going in the next room. She’ll be fine.” Ava glares at him, eliciting a giggle from me.
“Let’s get the grill started. Ava’s starving.” Riley tosses Walker a beer.
Walker’s brows knit together. “You okay?” His thoughtfulness has my heart racing.
“I’m good.” He leans in for a sweet kiss.
“Let her breathe. Dang,” Ava says with a chuckle. Walker and Riley head through the back doors to where I can see the grill. He turns so he can watch me. I know he’s worried about me. “How are you?”
“Good.” I bite my lip. “To be honest, nervous.”
“About?” She turns to me, leaning against the counter.
“Would I sound ridiculous if I said everything?”
“Reese, you’re talking to me. Not at all. Would you like a drink?” She reaches for the refrigerator door.
“Water?”
“I’ll have one, too.” She grabs two bottles and motions to the couch. “Let’s sit down. They’ll be a while. Southern men and their grills, it’s like an altar to them.”
I follow her over, sitting on the opposite end, so I can see Walker out of the window.
“So, you and Walker? I think it’s a good thing.” She smiles at me, curling up in a blanket.
“You do? I mean, you don’t think it’s strange?”
“Strange. How so?” She sits back on the couch.
“Look at him. And he comes from money. I grew up as poor as they come.”
“You’re beautiful.” I grimace. “What? You are. Walker thinks you’re damn near perfect. And I was raised without much. My parents died when I was young and my grandmother hated me. Brannon and his family raised me. But this family, the Pennington’s have never treated me differently.”
“I thought you grew up with them?”
“I did but I didn’t have much. They’re not like that.”
A feeling of warmth sweeps over me. “How did you and Riley end up together?”
“That man. He’s too good for me.” She watches him out the door.
“He loved me for a long time and after my million mistakes in life, still found the strength to love me. He’s a helluva man.
But I have a feeling, you know the pull the Pennington men have.
Wait until you meet Ian.” She winks with a grin.
“Oh, is that Andi?” I spot a picture on the table behind her. The little brunette is beautiful.
She spins, picking it up and handing it to me. “It is. She’s mine and Brannon’s. She swears she’s gonna marry Walker.”
“I can see why she’d say that.” I return her smile. “She’s perfect.”
“She’s her mother, a hurricane on steroids. They ready, babe?” Riley leans in, kissing Ava.
“Yeah, in the Tupperware.” She pats his hand before he lets her go. “And she is her mother.” Ava laughs.
“Leave my baby alone,” Walker says from the kitchen.
“Which one?” Ava grins.
“Both!” He saunters over, leaning down to kiss me. “Don’t let her scare you. She’s all talk.”
Ava smacks him on the head with a pillow. “You keep walkin’, asshole.”
“I’m goin’. Riley, get your woman.” Walker takes the pillow from her and tosses it back.
“Hell, no. That’s your problem.” Riley smirks and steps out the door with Walker following him. I sit, shaking my head with a huge grin on my face.
“What?” Ava tilts her head, watching me.
“I can’t believe this. He has my head spinning.” I hold my stomach to keep from losing it as the butterflies’ flop around.
“Is that bad? I mean, these boys are intense. I can understand any hesitation you might have.” The corner of Ava’s eyes crinkle.
“No, nothing like that.” I suck the side of my mouth in, chewing on it. “When I first saw him, my mouth went dry for obvious reasons. And then he drove me insane, and I thought he was the biggest dick. But then, I saw a different side of him. Almost vulnerable.”
“You’re right. He is.” She gazes out the window at the pair. “They understand sorrow and pain. It’s as if they feel your broken heart, all because they have one. This family loves unconditionally, and judging isn’t in their vocabulary.”
“He talked to me about Thayer.”
Her head whirls around, putting me immediately on edge. I bounce my knee, hoping I didn’t say something out of confidence.
“He did? Good.” Her eyes narrow, and all I can do is look for the nearest exit, so I can run. “How do you feel about it?”
“Honestly?” She nods. “It’s not who he is but I also know I have a lot to learn about him. There’s a deep seeded reason he wanted to protect her and an even bigger reason he tried to hold her.”
Her eyes bug out. “Wow. He really did tell you everything, didn’t he?”
“I feel like he’s told me the worst of it. I mean, I’m far from perfect. My family life is insane, Alden’s closer to me than anyone. I love my mom, but she pushes in all the wrong ways. And my dad, he’s an asshole.”
“People can change. I’m proof of that.” She pauses. “Does he scare you?”
My heart hammers in my chest. Without a doubt, it’s for the wrong reasons.
Well, maybe not. “He does. But not for what you might think.” I peek over at him before gathering the nerve to go on.
“I know this sounds all sorts of fucked up but I feel like we have a connection that goes beyond comprehension. Yes, we have chemistry. The way he draws me to him, it’s magnetic.
“And I know what most people think, there’s no such thing as insta-love, like in romance novels but isn’t there?
You know when someone has your emotions in a whirl, your panties in a twist and your heart on a string as soon as you meet them.
The first time you see them, you know you’re attracted.
But then you talk to them, and sometimes it’s instantaneous and others… it’s a slow pull.”
She glances at Riley. “Yeah, I can understand it.”
“I might be crazy. I just know this is where I belong. With him.”
“Why is that crazy?” Her eyes widen.
“I have never wanted this with anyone. I learned at a young age love doesn’t exist, not lasting love.” I clasp my hands to keep them from shaking.
Ava leans over, touching my hand. “Walker’s a good man and as soon as he’ll allow himself to be exactly who he is, you’ll never doubt its existence again.”
I take her hand, holding on to it. “Whatever this is, it’s bigger than anything I’ve ever known.”
“Is he going too fast?” Her eyes drop to our hands.
I watch Walker follow Riley through the door. My chest tightens when his eyes land on mine, my pulse racing. My eyes dart to Ava. “I’d ride with him anywhere.”
“For the record, it may feel overwhelming at times, but I’ve made few good decisions. Andi and Riley were the best. Walker’s worth the chance.” Her face glows as she turns to Riley.
Walker’s face comes into full view, his eyes sparkle deep blue. “Can I get you anything?”
“Hmmm, is this a trick question?” I think my panties may burst into flames.
He bends, brushing against my ear. “What can I do for you?”
“I refuse to answer on the grounds of incriminating myself, counselor.”
“I hear ya. I’m gonna handle it.” He sweeps his lips over mine, and I swoon.
“You hungry, baby?” Riley looks over at Ava. “A few more minutes and we can eat.”
The guy’s head back out, and Ava stands. “Wanna help with the rest of the food?” she asks.
“Sure, I love to cook.” We walk to the kitchen and turn on the additional food. She pulls vegetables from the refrigerator for a salad and I wash and cut.
“So do these boys and they can like nobody I’ve ever seen.” She giggles.
“Walker cooked for me the other night, and it was good. I have a feeling he does everything good, though.” Ava’s eyes grow round with a pop of her mouth.
“I didn’t mean that!” I bite my lip. “Okay, I did. He’s holding out and I’m dying here.
I know we haven’t known each other for long but geez, people have one-night stands. What’s the big deal?”
“Girl, Riley waited so long. It just about killed me but damn, if it wasn’t worth it!” We squeal at the same time the guys walk through the door.
“Hey, hey, hey. Don’t believe a thing she says, Reese.” Riley winks at me.
“Don’t fucking wink at her.” Walker punches Riley in the arm.
“From the asshole that proposes to my girl on the daily.” Riley glares at him.
“Oh, you do? First, Andi and now her momma? Wow, I’m not sure there’s enough room in this relationship for me and all of your women. Candy alone is enough for me.” I pretend to gag and roll my eyes.
“I don’t have women.” He uses air quotes, glaring at me.
“I’m sorry. You’re right.” I step around him, putting distance between us. “You have two, Candy and the rest of us.”
His eyes bore into me. “I do not have Candy or other women.”
“True. You do only leave with Candy.” I leer at him, my lip curling.
“Oh, hell, no. She didn’t.” Riley howls with laughter.
“Yeah, she did. Damn, she did.” Ava’s mouth hangs open.
“Maybe you should’ve brought the hammer of justice, so we could put this to bed.”
“We’re gonna put it to bed, all right.” Walker tugs my hand, drawing me into him. “And I think I may rename that damn hammer.”
“What the ever-loving fuck is ‘the hammer of justice’?” Riley holds back a chuckle.
“Not your business.” Walker narrows his eyes. “And you,” his low growl elicits a tug in the bottom of my belly, a delicious pull of desire, “we’ll talk later.”
I whisper, “Yes, sir.” The fire behind his eyes burns a path down my body, sending chills everywhere. My nostrils flare with need.
“Remember those words. You’ll need them later.” He releases me on unsteady legs. I reach for the counter to help right myself.
“Always throwing me off balance, Mr. Pennington.”
He presses into my back, reaching for his drink. “From the woman who tests all my boundaries.”
“They’re meant to be pushed.” I look up at him, and his piercing gaze knocks the breath out of me.
“This is good,” Ava says, drawing our attention.
“I was thinking the exact same thing.” Riley kisses her.
“Y’all have no clue. She can handle herself.” Walker narrows his eyes at me.
“You don’t scare me, Mr. Pennington.” I poke him in the side.
“Good.” He bumps me with his hip. “Now, let’s eat.”
We take our plates, settling in to enjoy the rest of the evening. By the time we’re ready to leave, my nerves are once again rattled. Somehow, Ava settles them. “It was so good having y’all.” She hugs me tightly. “Let’s make plans before Christmas.”
“I would love that.”
Riley wraps me in a bear hug. “Good because you’re all right, Reese Morgan.”
“Why thank you. Now, to convince your brother.”
“Brother’s positive he likes you.” Walker gives Riley a bear hug. I think I swoon at the simple gesture. “Love y’all.”
“You, too, brother.” Riley pats his back and winks at me. “She’s a keeper.”
“Yeah, she’s pretty damn amazing.” Walker slips his arm around my waist. We give a final wave before climbing into his truck. The ride home was quiet. His hand in mine, we sit and enjoy the simplicity of it all.