Beautifully Broken Pieces

by Catherine Cowles

  I gave myself a mental shake. Get it together, Taylor. “I’m, uh, not sure how well it turned out. The color’s not exactly right.”

  Walker squeezed my hand. “It’s not about how it looks, it’s about how it tastes.”

  “All right…” I wasn’t overly optimistic about the taste either. I’d already set the table, so while I dished up bowls of pasta, Walker poured us both drinks. My stomach churned as we both sat.

  I watched with no small amount of anxiety as Walker took a bite of the pasta. His eyes widened a bit, and then he let out some sort of mmm sound. “This is good, Taylor. Really.”

  He almost never used my actual name. I eyed him skeptically and took my own bite. It stayed in my mouth for a total of two seconds. Just long enough for me to taste a combination of salt, charred tomato, and something that was way too spicy for a pasta sauce. I spit it back out into my bowl, coughing and spluttering. I frantically chugged my water, trying desperately to rid my mouth of the horrible taste. “I can’t believe you swallowed that. Or were able to say it was good with a straight face!”

  That was all it took for Walker to burst out laughing. “I’m sorry. I really wanted to like it. I want to be supportive.”

  “No one would like that!” I shrieked. Walker only laughed harder. “It’s not funny. I’ve probably poisoned us both. We’ve only got hours to live.”

  “Oh, quit your dramatics and come here.” Walker reached out a hand for me to come to him, but I just shook my head like a two-year-old. “Come on.”

  I huffed but rose from my chair. As soon as I was within arm’s reach, Walker tugged me into his lap. He brushed his lips against mine, and I scrunched up my nose. “What?” he asked.

  “We both need to brush our teeth or use some mouthwash or something. I can’t kiss you when you taste like that awful spaghetti.”

  He chuckled and squeezed my waist. “Okay. We’re going to use some mouthwash, and then I’ll take you out to dinner. How about that?”

  I stared down at my lap. “I really wanted to do something nice for you.” The words were almost a whisper. My heart ached at how painful and unfamiliar it felt to be vulnerable with someone like this. It had been so long.

  Walker placed a finger under my chin, lifting it up and forcing me to meet his eyes. “You did. You tried something new, something you’ve been wanting to learn, and you let me in on the process. So it doesn’t taste like a gourmet meal. You gave me the gift of letting me into your world, which is everything I’ve been asking for. The only thing that would be a disappointment to me is if you shut me out or gave up trying. You’re not going to do that, are you?”

  I pressed my lips together because I had the urge to do both of those things. Walker squeezed my side again. “Promise me now that at least once a month you will try a new cooking experiment, and that you’ll let me be here when you do. We’ll taste-test it, and if it works, great. If it doesn’t, I’ll take you out to dinner.”

  My cheeks heated at his sweet thoughtfulness. “Okay,” I whispered, suddenly shy.

  “Good. Now, let’s go get some burgers or something.”

  I climbed off Walker’s lap and pulled him to his feet. “Anything, as long as it’s not spaghetti.”

  31

  Walker

  My office chair squeaked as I leaned back, typing out a text.

  Me: Dinner tonight at my place? I’ll swing by and pick you up on my way home.

  Within seconds, three little dots appeared.

  Taylor: As long as you’re not going to force me to assist with the cooking.

  I chuckled to myself. In the weeks that had passed, Taylor and I had fallen into a routine of sorts. Typically, it involved me cooking, and Taylor doing everything she could to avoid the oven or stove.

  Me: The only thing you need to do is pour the drinks, Short-stack.

  Taylor: Sounds like a fair trade. I might even reward you for a meal well done…

  My pants suddenly felt a little bit tighter. I shifted in my seat. My need for Taylor was insatiable. I’d fucked her in the shower mere hours ago, yet here I was, dying to have her again.

  I scrubbed a hand across my stubbled jaw. We’d kept our word to each other and not spoken about where this thing was headed, but Taylor hadn’t mentioned plans to return to LA at the end of her lease. I had every intention of making it as difficult as possible for her to leave, and as easy as saying the word yes to stay.

  I shook my head and returned my focus to the papers in front of me. A final report from the medical examiner’s office on our two murder victims. It gave me nothing I didn’t already know. I’d been holding out hope that Carly might find some clue that would give me a direction to run in, but there was nothing.

  The entire case was stone-cold. We’d combed through every piece of evidence at least twice, in some cases, three times. Tuck and his Forest Service team had searched the woods for places a demented killer might be hiding, but they’d had no luck. The chief was getting antsy, and the town was freaked. I totally understood. I was frustrated as hell.

  A knock sounded on the frame of my open door. “What’s that angry look on your face for, big brother?”

  I stood, ushering Jensen in with a wave of my hand. “What are you doing here, Little J? You hate visiting me at the station.” My eyes narrowed. “Is everything okay?”

  “Everything’s fine.” Jensen shut the door behind her and sank into an empty chair. “Can’t a sister come pay her favorite big brother a visit at work?” Her smile was mischievous, and I didn’t trust it for a second.

  “You want something.” I sat back in my chair, waiting for her to lay it on me.

  “Maybe…” she said, drumming her fingers across her lips.

  “What is it?”

  The drumming paused. “Well. I’ve noticed that you and a certain resident of the guest cabin have both been unnaturally chipper lately. Especially given all the crazy happenings around here.” I straightened at my desk. Taylor and I hadn’t been hiding our relationship, but we hadn’t been flaunting it either. The last thing I wanted was to scare her off by having the townspeople or my family start asking when we were getting married. Jensen kept right on going. “That wouldn’t have anything to do with a little hanky-panky, would it?”

  My face scrunched. I did not want to talk to my sister about who I was sleeping with. “Jensen, who is or isn’t in my bed is none of your business.”

  A huge smile spread across her face. “I knew it! If you weren’t sleeping with her, you’d tell me straight out. And if you were sleeping with her, but it was just some harmless fun, you’d tell me that straight out, too. You like her. And I mean really like her.” She clapped her hands together with glee. “You two are perfect for each other!”

  I raised a hand as if to ward her off. “Hold on there. Do not freak out, go crazy, and call up Taylor, telling her you need to start planning a wedding. I do not want you to scare her off. She’s still gun-shy.” Understatement of the century.

  Jensen’s face softened. “I’m not going to do anything to screw this up. Why do you think I’m here, at the place that smells like stale coffee and gives me the creeps, giving you the third-degree instead of bringing a bottle of wine over to Taylor’s and trying to pry the truth out of her?”

  She exhaled, seeming to gather her thoughts. In a quieter, more serious tone she said, “I know she’s still scared. She’s better overall. She opens up more, spends more time with the family without me having to con her into it. But I can still see the fear in her eyes.”

  My chest tightened at Jensen’s words. She was right. Taylor was letting us all in more and more each day, but she had a long way to go before her walls were entirely down. J leaned across the desk and squeezed my hand. “I like her, Walk. I really like her. Don’t let her shut you out.”

  I gave my baby sister a gentle smile. “I won’t.”

  Jensen released my hand and leaned back in her seat. “Good.”

  “Now, tell me what’s new
with you. How are things going with Bryce?”

  A faint blush tinged my sister’s cheeks. “They’re good. We’re taking things slow. Super slow. That’s good, for the most part.” A shadow of doubt crossed her face as she scrunched her nose in that adorable way she always did when she was unsure of herself. “I just hope that’s not a sign that he doesn’t actually like me all that much.”

  I hated that Jensen had this kind of self-doubt. It made me want to pummel the asshole who had left her high and dry as soon as he found out she was pregnant. Alone and pregnant at nineteen, she’d been terrified, and it had done a number on her self-confidence. It was rare that she allowed those doubts to show to anyone, and I was glad that Taylor wasn’t the only one letting me in.

  I cleared my throat, bringing Jensen’s gaze away from her hands in her lap and back to me. “Taking things slow just means that he respects you. I think that’s nothing but a good sign.”

  J sighed. “You’re my big brother, of course, you love that he’s not trying to get in my pants.”

  “Too much information, J.”

  She let out a giggle. “All right.”

  “I do want to get to know him better, though.”

  Jensen eyed me skeptically. “That’s fine, as long as you don’t threaten him with bodily harm.”

  I grinned. “Not unless he deserves it.”

  She shook her head. “Why don’t we go on a double date?”

  Warmth filled my chest at the thought of taking Taylor out on a proper date. Showing everyone in Sutter Lake that this gorgeous girl was mine. “I’ll ask Taylor if she’s up for it.”

  Jensen beamed. “Awesome. All right, big bro, I’m outta here.”

  As she stood, another knock sounded. “Come in,” I called.

  The door swung open hesitantly. Ashlee poked her head in. “Sorry to bother you,” she said, dipping her chin, a blush on her cheeks.

  “That’s all right,” I assured.

  “Hey, Ashlee,” Jensen greeted. “How are you?”

  “I’m just fine. And yourself?”

  “Doing great. Just paying the knucklehead a visit, but I’ll get out of your hair. See you later, Walk.”

  “Bye, Little J,” I called after her as she headed out. She looked back at me and stuck out her tongue, showing her disapproval of the nickname. I chuckled and turned my gaze to Ashlee. “What’s up?”

  “Barry Stevens is here to see you. He wanted to get an update on Caitlin’s case.”

  I instantly sobered. I couldn’t imagine what the poor man was going through and hoped I never had to experience it myself. “Show him on back.”

  Ashlee nodded and escaped down the hall.

  I put away all the sensitive files on my desk and locked my computer screen. Just as I shut a desk drawer, Barry’s harrowed face appeared in my doorway. “Come on in, Barry. Can I get you anything to drink?”

  He moved slowly as if he had aged decades in the past few weeks. “No, thank you. I just wanted to come by and see how things were progressing. We got a call that they were finally releasing Caitlin’s body to the funeral home.”

  Sympathy filled me, but I fought against the urge to let it show on my features. A man as proud as Barry Stevens wouldn’t want to see that now. “Unfortunately, there’s not a lot I can tell you at the moment. We are pursuing every avenue available to us to find out who did this.”

  It was true, we were doing everything we could. There just wasn’t much to show for it. Tuck and I had finally tracked down Frank Pardue, but after hours of questioning, there was nothing we could hold him for. He was still the number one suspect in my mind, but he claimed that he had been off hunting dozens of miles away when Caitlin was killed. With nothing to prove or disprove his story, we’d had to let him go.

  Barry gave a stilted nod. “Well, I just had to check.”

  “I understand. You come by anytime you like, but I promise I’ll call as soon as we have anything we can share.”

  He stood slowly. “Thank you, Walker. You’re a good man.” My chest hurt at those words, guilt swamping me as I remembered my last encounter with his daughter. “You’ll come to the funeral, won’t you? It’ll be this weekend.”

  I swallowed against the sudden dryness in my throat. “Of course, I will.”

  Barry gave another nod. “I’ll see you then.”

  “See you,” I replied, leaning back in my chair as I watched his pained footsteps lead him out of my office. I had to find the monster who destroyed this family.

  32

  Taylor

  I eased myself back on the double lounge chair on Walker’s back deck, tucking my feet under the wool blanket he left out here just for me. The view was amazing. During the day, you could see all the way to the town below. Tonight, I could see rolling hills and fields in the twilight as glimmering stars began to appear in the sky.

  Inhaling deeply, I soaked in the crystal-clear night air. It was amazing just how relaxed I felt here. How at home. If I was honest, it freaked me out a bit. But I pushed those thoughts aside, deciding instead to focus on gratitude for this night—this moment.

  A plank in the deck creaked. “What are you thinking about so hard over there?”

  I turned my head to see Walker striding towards me, two open bottles of beer dangling from his fingers. “Just thinking how much I love this spot.”

  He settled next to me on the lounge, handing me a beer and casually throwing an arm around my shoulders. I snuggled into his side, soaking up his warmth. “I’m glad you like it. I had the architect orient the house so the back deck and master bedroom would have this view.”

  I tilted my face up towards Walker, drinking in the shadow on his cut jaw and his sharp features in the moonlight. “I don’t think I knew you had this built.”

  “My parents gave me and my sister each a couple hundred acres to build on, hoping it would be lure enough to keep us close.” He absentmindedly ran his fingers through my hair as he spoke, sending small shivers down my spine.

  “But Jensen lives at the guest house next to the ranch house,” I said, thinking of the adorable two-bedroom cottage Jensen and Noah lived in.

  “She just keeps her horses on her land for now. It was easier when she got pregnant and while Noah’s still young. She’s close to my parents and Gran so they can help out. But you never know. If things keep progressing with Bryce, she might be building a house before long.”

  I shot up, spilling a little of my beer. “Are things getting serious between them? She hasn’t said anything to me.”

  Walker grinned. “Don’t go getting too excited. They’re taking things slow. Jensen did say she wanted us to go on a double date with them.”

  “You told her about us?” I fought the urge to duck my head, feeling suddenly shy about it all. He hadn’t pushed for us to go public in any way. I hadn’t been sure if it was because he didn’t want to rush me, or if he wasn’t sure we would last. There was even a small part of me that worried he was somehow ashamed of me.

  Walker must have sensed my thoughts like the psychic sorcerer he was, because he tugged me to him, taking my beer and putting it next to his on the side table. He positioned me directly on top of him, wrapping his arms around me in a tight hold. “I love that you’re mine.” I relaxed the smallest bit. “If it was up to me, I’d be screaming it from the rooftops. I just haven’t wanted to ask for too much, too soon.”

  I let the beat of his heart and the warmth of his words ease the rest of the tension in my body. “We can tell people.” My stomach flipped. That meant his family would know. The town. People would want to know my business because he was one of Sutter Lake’s golden sons, one the entire population claimed as their own. “What if people don’t like me?”

  Walker’s arms tightened around me. “I think everyone will adore you. But if anyone’s mean to you, I’ll beat them up.”

  I snorted. “You’re a cop. You can’t beat up someone just because they don’t like me.”

  “The hell
I can’t.” I rolled my eyes heavenward, which he, of course, couldn’t see. He held me even tighter. “So, you want to go on a proper date with me?”

  “Well, I’ll have to think about it, Deputy Chief. I might need to wash my hair that night.”

  “You little minx.” Walker’s arms turned from offering a comforting cocoon to becoming tickling monsters.

  I shrieked like a hyena as I squirmed and rolled, trying in vain to escape his grasp. “All right! All right! I’ll go on a date with you.”

  The tickling subsided. “That’s what I thought.”

  His smug tone had me vowing retaliation, so I did the only thing I could think of with my hands pinned to my sides. I bit him right on the pec.

  “Fuck, Short-stack! That hurt.” His voice was a mixture of shock and humor.

  “That’s what you get for being a smug bastard.”

  Walker released his hold on my arms and dipped his hands beneath my shirt. “Smug, huh? I’ll show you just what I’m so smug about.”

  My heart rate kicked up a notch, and my breath came quicker as he unhooked my bra. “Oh, really? All I hear is a lot of talking. I’m not seeing much action to back up your claims. I guess, sometimes, you just have to do the heavy lifting yourself.” I peeled off my top as if to prove my statement, letting my bra fall to the ground next.

  Walker’s eyes zeroed in on my breasts, his hands following suit. “God, I love your tits.” His thumbs brushed over my nipples in tandem, and I sucked in a breath. Walker, always the consummate student of my body, noted the reaction. He began tracing patterns around the buds, varying his tempo and pressure. It wasn’t long before I was panting.

  I tugged at his shirt. “Need this off.”

  Walker rose up to allow me to pull it up and over his head. “Patience, Short-stack. I like playing with you,” he said as he lay back down, his hands coming to my breasts again. No matter how many times we were together, he always wanted to take his time, and I was forever in a rush to feel him inside me.