“I’m not anybody,” he insisted. “I should’ve known.”
She just kissed his chest again, wishing she could sneak her hands beneath his shirt and feel his skin. But she didn’t know if that’s what this was now. After he’d shown up, she’d cried herself into such a mess that she’d kicked him out so she could shower. She’d stood in there for what seemed like an hour, letting the water wash away her tears, then she’d gone to his place to crawl under his covers and hide.
He’d joined her after his own shower. Even though he hel
d her, she didn’t know what it was. Even if it was only pity, she didn’t care. She’d been so alone all week. So utterly alone. Now she wanted to crawl inside him and feel safe. Thank God he seemed happy to play the part of protector for a little while.
When Rayleen had first told her he’d be gone for a week or two, Charlie had felt relieved. She wouldn’t have to face him or apologize or even explain. But then things had gotten intense. And scary. And she’d gotten so tired.
After she’d played the audio of her conversation with Keith for the editor of the paper, there’d been no turning back. A reporter had made a copy of the audio and contacted the D.A. right away to find out if they had a comment. Charlie had known that would happen. The point hadn’t been to keep the law out of it, but to get the truth in the public eye so Keith’s connections couldn’t sweep it under the rug or paint her as the bad guy.
But of course, her past had come into it. And then the interviews with police and attorneys. The phone calls from the paper. She’d been afraid then, and she’d wished for Walker. Just as a friend. Just as a presence who brought her a little peace.
“I should have told you earlier,” she said. “About Tahoe. I’m so sorry I didn’t. I just—”
“Stop, Charlie. You don’t need to apologize.”
“I do. Because I kept it from you on purpose, Walker.” Her throat burned and tried to close. She hoped he wouldn’t feel a few extra tears on his shirt. She’d already cried so many. “I wanted you to see me the way I used to be, before everything went so wrong. I lied to you. Even about this place. I had a room at the resort, but I didn’t want to tell you I was being bullied and harassed, because I didn’t want to be a woman who’d put up with that.”
“Hush. It doesn’t matter. I called you a thief. I think we’re even.”
“You think?” she asked, smiling past her tears.
“Damn close, at least.”
His chest rose beneath her and then he blew out a deep breath. She raised her head to look at him, but his hand guided her head back down. “Since we’re telling truths...”
“You don’t have to tell me anything else. You should sleep, Walker. You haven’t gotten any sleep, and your father—”
“Let me say it before I lose my courage. While you were in the shower, I called the Ability Ranch.”
“Oh,” she gasped, then covered her mouth to stop herself from interrupting again.
“I talked with my brother this morning. About my dad. About my issues. And I can’t let the man keep beating me now that he’s dead.”
Her fingers stroked his skin. “I’m so sorry.”
“I almost let him make me into what he called me. I see that now. Thanks to you. So I called the ranch. I talked to Marlene. I told her I needed to get my GED, but I’d like to help out while I worked toward that. Once I take the safety certification training and get my GED...I think I’ll have a job.”
“Oh, Walker. You... I’m so proud of you. You have no idea. I know how hard that was. I—” God, she was crying again. Sobbing, really, when she’d thought herself all sobbed out.
“Come on, woman. It’s not that big of a deal. You can just say ‘I told you so,’ and move on.”
“Shut up,” she choked out as he laughed at her. “It’s a big deal. A really big deal.”
He tucked in his chin and smiled at her. “Now you’re just bragging. You and my brother can crow about your victory tonight. If you’ll stay. I’d like you to meet him.”
“Really?” Something warm and scary bloomed inside her chest. Something she didn’t want to feel and told herself not to. “You want me to meet your brother?”
“Yes. Only if you want to, I mean.”
“Of course I want to.”
He smiled at that, but then he let his head fall back to the pillow. “But there is one complication about working at the Ability Ranch.”
“What’s that?”
“I just thought... I mean... I want to try to do this right.”