“There never was, so I got tired of subjecting myself to the grossness of it all.” I let out a deep breath. “Seeing Clayton that night reminded me of all the creeps I’d dated throughout the years.”
“And then when Walker came in?” She cocked her head.
“It was different,” I confessed. “Of course, there’s the excitement, the spark, the wondering, but it’s all different now. I know better. I won’t be fooled.”
Ashley frowned and shook her head. “Maybe my cousin has changed his ways.”
“It sounds to me like he’s firmly grounded in his ways if Fireweed is supposed to be the place he’s getting away from it all.” I grinned. “Translation: women.”
“Good point.”
I shrugged. “Anyway, I’m sure it will all sort itself out. I’m sure he’ll get bored and hightail it off Fireweed in the blink of an eye.”
“You haven’t yet.” She played with the pink fringe on one of my pillows. “Speaking of, have you decided whether you’ll be living on Fireweed or Hound?”
“Fireweed.” I nodded, smiling. “It just feels right.”
Ashley laughed. “Does it, now?”
“Not because of your cousin,” I assured her. “Having to commute on a ferry from Hound to Fireweed would get tiresome at night.”
“And you’re clearly not one for late nights.” She laughed sarcastically.
“Point taken.” All my friends knew that it was somewhat of a culture shock for me, coming from Portland and late nights out with my friends. “But I’ve managed to settle in quite nicely.”
“So, are you ready to buy something?” she asked.
“I am. Now, I just have to find the place.” I laughed nervously. “And I have a little over four weeks to do so.”
“That’s not stressful or anything.”
“Not at all.” My gaze landed on the envelope from Walker. I’d tried hard to put the contents of it out my head, but that was proving to be easier said than done.
Ashley followed my gaze. “Is that from Walker?”
“What would make you think Walker gave me anything?”
She blushed.
“He told you that too?”
“Well, we’re close, especially now that we’re older.”
“Great.” I gave her an evil eye. “You’re not going to report to him, are you?”
“Your secrets are safe with me.”
“Promise?”
“Pinky swear.” She waved her fingers in the air, and I smiled. “So, what did he say in his note?”
“He didn’t tell you?”
“No. Walker just told me he tracked you down at your work and dropped off a note for you.”
The image of Walker walking into my restaurant brought a smile to my lips, which I quickly tried to hide.
“Just Walker’s sense of humor.” I stood up and stretched before walking over to the envelope and handing it to her.
She tugged out the piece of paper and laughed.
“Certainly sounds like my cousin.”
I sat back down and nodded. “Doesn’t it?”
“A checklist comparing Clayton and himself.” I shook my head. “It doesn’t take a genius to know there’s no comparison.”
Ashley brought her gaze to mine. “You sure you don’t have feelings for him?”
I nodded and let out a silent breath. “The note was cute and clever and not at all modest.”
“Just like Walker.” Ashley rolled her eyes.
She walked the note over to me, and I glanced at the comparative checklist.
Good looking: Only a check by Walker.
Good in bed: Only a check by Walker.
Bland: Only a check by Clayton.
Funny: A check by both names.
The jury’s out on that one, I thought to myself.
Loyal: Only a check by Walker.
Sorry: Only a check by Walker.
I looked up at Ashley and smiled. “The checklist is obviously skewed in Walker’s favor.”
Ashley laughed. “Why wouldn’t it be?”
I nodded and slid the paper back in the envelope.
“What’s your cousin up to, anyway? Does he work? How can he be on the island for such a long time?”
“You don’t have any of the tiniest bit of interest to ask him yourself?” She grinned.
“Days ago, my best friend made it clear to stay away from her cousin. I intend to do that, especially since your cousin is Walker Malone.”
She nodded and sat quietly. “He owns several businesses.”
“Ah.” I sucked in a deep breath. Walker always told me he would run his own business someday. “That was his dream.”
She nodded and glanced at her phone. “And on that note, I should probably head out so I don’t stand him up. I promised him dinner at Mud Flats before I leave town.”
“You’re leaving early to go back to Montana?”
Ashley nodded. “He seems to have settled in pretty easily, and I know my friends will take care of him if need be. Plus, I miss my guy.”
“Fine. I forgive you.” I stood and hugged her before walking her to the door.
“Harmony, I don’t know all that happened between you and my cousin, but I don’t want to get in the way of it. If there’s unfinished business or anything, don’t feel like you can’t see him because of me.” She smiled and softly patted my arm. “Seriously. Don’t let me get in the middle.”
I chuckled. “No, not seeing Walker is completely my own decision.”
Ashley nodded and walked onto my porch as I hung on the door.
“The truth is that I don’t think I can trust myself around Walker.”
She smiled, giving me a knowing look before she hopped down the steps, and I closed the door.
And that was the truth. Even Walker’s note brought back a flood of memories. He always used to leave me funny and cute notes when we were dating. I’d almost forgotten.
Almost.
Chapter Eight
“Walker Malone, what are you doing here?” I asked through my front door.
It was nine o’clock in the morning, and I hadn’t even slid into bed until three, so to say I should still be sleeping was an understatement.
“I brought you breakfast.” His voice was low and mildly scratchy, which told me he hadn’t woken up all that early, either. “And more importantly, I brought coffee.”
A flutter of excitement zipped through me, but I wasn’t sure if it was over the coffee or Walker.
I breathed on my palm and clenched my eyes shut. “Give me a sec. I’m not quite up for opening the door.”
“Uh, okay.”
I dashed toward my bedroom down the hall and looked in the mirror. My hair looked like it had been involved in a tornado while the rest of me looked as if a semi-truck had run over me twice. I slipped my camisole off and tugged a large black tee over my head as I tried to balance on one foot while tugging on a pair of jeans.
As I was buttoning them, I ran toward the bathroom and brushed my teeth with one hand while I tried to wipe away the mascara and eyeliner from under my eyes. I didn’t even bother trying to comb my hair, so I just put it in a messy bun before spitting out my toothpaste and running to the door.
I swung open my front door to see Walker holding a tray of coffee in one hand and a paper sack in the other. He handed me the tray and bent down to pick up a large flower bouquet.
“Wow. This is unexpected.” I stared at him, and he glanced over my shoulder.
“Are you going to let me in or . . .”
I chuckled, realizing I was just standing at the door staring.
“Oh, um . . .”
“Do you have someone over?” Walker asked softly.
I gasped, quickly ushering him inside. “God, no. I’ve been on my own for years and years and years.”
“Is that so?” His voice lowered, and I realized I probably didn’t need that last years.
“Come on in. I’m only renting this place, so I
haven’t made it completely my own since I’m leaving.”
Walker stopped in his tracks. “You’re leaving?”
Surprise etched his expression, and I tamped down my delight.
The last thing I needed to do was read something into this situation that wasn’t there.
“Just this house,” I explained. “My lease is up, and I’m planning on buying a place.”
“Is that so?” He handed me the large bouquet of flowers.
I sniffed and smelled the sweet fragrance of roses. “These are beautiful. You really didn’t have to do this.”
“I wanted to.” Walker smiled. “I wanted to apologize for barging in on your date and for walking in on you during your workday. It’s a bad habit.”
“Which part?” I asked, walking to the kitchen. I placed the tray of drinks on the counter. “Always getting what you want or—”
“I don’t always get what I want.”
I laughed and shook my head as I reached for a vase in the top cabinet. When I couldn’t reach it, I felt Walker’s body nearly wrap around mine as he hovered over me and simply grabbed the vase for me.
He went to the sink and filled the clear vase with water while I tried to recover from being so near Walker.
All it took was a few inches between us, and every ounce of logic and sense evaporated into nothingness as I imagined bringing him into my bedroom.
“This enough water, you think?” he asked.
I nodded without even looking as I unwrapped the brown paper from the flowers and noticed a card. I knew better than to read it now.
“You stopped by Natalie’s on the way here?”
“Who’s Natalie?” he asked, puzzled.
“The florist.”
“Oh, right.” He nodded. “Yeah. She’s open pretty early.”
I took a breath and began arranging the flowers in the vase. “She is. She’s such a sweetheart.”
“That’s good.”
“Yup.” I nodded, glancing at the bag of goodies. “So, what did you bring me?”
“Your favorite.”
I folded my arms and looked at Walker.
There was no doubt about it. The man was attractive. Every square inch of him had me nearly salivating over him years ago, but I wasn’t going to make that same mistake twice.
“What’s my favorite?” I asked.
“Bear claw.” He grinned.
Damn. He still remembered.
Walker opened the bag and pulled out tissue with a scrumptious bear claw inside.
“Still my favorite.” I smiled and took a bite. “Already trying to win brownie points, huh?”
“I’m guessing I need as many as I can get.”
I nodded and smiled, wishing things weren’t so easy between us.
“You’ve got a little toothpaste . . .” His thumb swiped the corner of my mouth, and my entire body trembled.
“Thanks,” I whispered, wondering what came over me.
I shut my eyes and tried to imagine Clayton, which immediately took away the sexy shivers.
“You okay? Should I be going?” he asked.
My eyes blinked open, and I quickly shook my head. “No. You’re fine. Sorry. Have a seat.”
I grabbed our coffees out of the tray.
“Still like yours dark, I hope?” he asked.
I nodded and took a sip, washing away the sweetness of the bear claw.
“It’s been a long time, Walker.” I let out a sigh as I took a seat at the table across from him. “A really long time.”
He nodded, tapping his index finger against the table. “And seeing you again makes everything seem like just yesterday.”
“Does it?”
Walker grinned, and my mind flashed back to the first time I’d seen him. Everything about him seemed so unattainable, so cool, so sexy . . . so full of teenager stuff.
“I notice you get this look when I’m around you.” He pressed his lips into a thin line. “I can’t place it.”
I shrugged. “I don’t know what to say.”
Walker nodded and took a sip of coffee.
“So, what brought you to Fireweed?”
He laughed. “Ashley didn’t tell you?”
I shook my head. “I tried, but she said I had to ask you.”
“It’s complicated.”
I folded my arms over my chest. “I’ve got time.”
“I thought you were super busy . . . had laundry to do, errands to run . . .”
“If the story is interesting enough, I have time.” I grinned as his eyes stayed on mine.
“I’ve missed you.”
“Since when?” I asked, genuinely curious.
He didn’t answer.
“You might miss the idea more than the real deal. I’ve changed, Walker. I’m sure you have too.” Even though I knew Walker Malone was still the same man with the same ghosts haunting him and the same expectations plaguing him, I wanted him to believe I’d give him the benefit of a doubt.
“I don’t believe for a second that you think I could change.” He smiled. “But I am a changed man.”
“Tell me more.”
He shrugged. “Words only go so far. You’ll just have to find out.”
I shook my head. “I’m not sure what that means, but—”
“Don’t overthink it. I promise. I’m just an old friend dropping by to catch up.”
“And you knew the only way I’d open the door was through caffeine and sweets.”
He nodded. “Why don’t you tell me what brought you to Fireweed?”
I laughed. “We don’t have enough time for all that, Walker. I can guarantee it.”
“You’ve been busy.” He nodded. “I’d read articles about you in the paper. I even saw that episode where Food Network came to interview you.”
My cheeks blushed, and I looked away.
It was something I’d rather forget. What should have been a fantastic opportunity had turned into a great chance to self-sabotage.
“It wasn’t my finest hour,” I confessed.
“How so? I thought you were great, and the dish you made had me salivating.”
I smiled. “I never went to bed the night before, had stayed out all night drinking with friends and celebrating, and I didn’t even remember doing the segment until I saw it on TV.”
“Wow. I never would have guessed.” His eyes looked concerned.
“Yeah, a perk of the job,” I explained.
“Or a hazard.” His eyes locked on mine, and I felt him reading me. I knew what his eyes searched for, and I looked away.
“It was a turning point, for sure.” I nodded. “I didn’t want to spend my days not remembering anything any longer.”
“And that’s what brought you to Fireweed?” he asked.
“Partially,” I confessed. “But I came to that realization over several years.”
He nodded. “Yeah. That piece was on about six years ago.”
“What else brought you here?”
I shrugged. “Life stuff. I realized I wasn’t living my dream any longer.”
Walker looked stunned. “Those are some harsh words.”
“An even harsher reality.”
Walker parted his lips but closed them quickly.
“What?” I asked.
His eyes dropped from mine, and a hint of a smile touched his lips before he brought his gaze back to mine.
“I should probably head out. Let you get to your day.”
The thought of his suddenly barging into my life and exiting just as quickly fired me up.
“Too much reality for one sitting?” I asked, pushing out my chest.
He stood and took a deep breath. “Something like that.”
I stood and shook my head as disappointment filled me. “I guess we don’t change that much, after all.”
“It’s not like that.” He reached out to comfort me, but I pulled back.
“We’re not like that, Walker. You don’t need to try to be something you’r
e not.”
Walker glanced at the flowers, and his gaze connected with mine. “When are you off?”
“Tonight? The restaurant closes at ten, but I’ll probably be there until at least eleven.” I stared at him. “But all I want to do is go home and sleep.”
“That’s fine.” He nodded. “But I’ll see you tonight.”
“Walker.” I stood firm. “I don’t have the energy for games.”
“And neither do I.” He smiled and took his coffee cup with him as he left the kitchen.
I heard my front door close quietly, and I let out a sigh.
It wasn’t only my mind that felt frazzled. Every part of me felt drained and confused. As I made my way to the living room with my bear claw and coffee, I stopped in front of the mirror, and horror filled me as my gaze fell to my tee. You could see everything under this shirt, and I hadn’t bothered to put on a bra.
I chuckled to myself and shook my head.
Was that what Walker thought was too much reality?
I chuckled some more and suddenly felt in control.
Maybe, for once in my life, I could hold my own with Walker Malone and give him some of his own medicine.
With that last thought, I happily ate my way through the pastry he left for me and daydreamed about how to mess with the man who’d shattered me and never returned to pick up the pieces.
Until now.
Chapter Nine
The last table had been cleared after the last couple left. Tonight had been painfully slow for me. I’d been on pins and needles the entire night wondering if Walker was going to show up.
He never did.
I stared at the quaint little restaurant I’d taken so much pride in since I’d arrived and let out a slow breath. The tulip arrangement sat on a circular table by the hostess’s podium, and soft grey velvet benches lined the walls. They were usually filled with patrons waiting to come inside for our creations. It made me feel good. I’d been a part of building this business, and I loved every second.
I glanced over at Staci as she went from one table to the next, extinguishing the tealights.
The cooks came out from the back, and the dishwasher waved from the kitchen.
“See you tomorrow,” I told the group as they slowly trickled out of the restaurant, leaving only Staci and me.
“What are your thoughts about what went down with Todd and Tanya?” I asked.
Imagining Love on Willow Road (Island County Series Book 13) Page 6