Page 46 of Protecting Her Secrets

“That’s not fair. There are a few things I make well. And I don’t mind nature, I just don’t like bugs. Also, your dog rolls around in her own shit, so yeah, she is dirty. Walker’s dog isn’t, though. Matter of fact, I’m petting him right now.”

“Okay, whatever. My point is, he lives a very different lifestyle than you’re used to, not to mention in a small town. I’m assuming there’s no popping to the store real quick? Or how about a salon to cover those grays?”

I finger the hair at my temple. “I can live with that. Some things are more important.”

She sobers. “You’re right. I should be asking better questions, like are you safe?”

“Safer than I’ve ever been in my life. He’d never hurt me.” Sprocket rests his head in my lap, curling up to my small bump. “I have something else to tell you.”

“This wasn’t enough?” She attempts to lighten the mood, but I can’t keep this secret.

“I’m pregnant.”

“That elephant trunk worked fast.” She jokes, but there’s no humor. “Fuck, Sky. Does Klutch know?”

“No, and I’m keeping it that way. Under any other circumstance, I’d say the dad deserves to know, but this baby deserves more. They deserve a dad who knows right from wrong, who’ll show up for them, who won’t be in and out of jail.”

“I agree. You need a clean break.”

“That’s actually why I called. After what happened last time I tried to leave him, you aren’t safe.”

“Don’t worry about us, Sky. I’m locked and loaded. I dare that asshole to try that shit again,” she says with the same fierceness she has always had.

“It’s not a fair fight, and you know it. But one of Walker’s friend’s family owns a property in Park City, Utah. He said he’d love for you and the family to take an all-expenses paid, two-week vacation.”

“You’re joking.”

“Just to get you out of town until Klutch has time to throw whatever kind of tantrum he’s going to throw. It’ll make me feel so much better.”

“When you say property, what do you mean?”

“I haven’t seen it, but he mentioned the house is stocked with stuff for skiing and sledding, and there’s a heated pool. There’s a couple who watch over the house and live in a separate place in the back, and they love it when people visit.”

“I don’t know if Chris can get time off work, but fuck it. We never take vacations, and the kids love snow.”

“Good.” I feel all kinds of relieved now that this is sorted. “I didn’t want to worry about you guys too.”

“It’s not going to be easy,” she says.

“I know.”

“Does Walker understand the danger?”

“He says yes, but I don’t know. Apparently, he’s a mountain man now, and mountain men protect what’s theirs. And he has the guns to prove it—oh, and a paranoid friend who rigged his property with all kinds of safety measures.”

“Well, that’s good.”

“I better go, but I’ll text you the information soon. Try and leave tonight if you can.”

“Okay. I’ll start packing.”

I nod, my nose stinging for some reason. “I love you, Dee. Give the girls a hug.”

“Please keep you and your little peanut safe. I can’t believe you’re having a baby. We’ll talk more about that soon.”

“Sounds good.”

After we say our goodbyes, I go back into the living room. The guys are gone, and Walker’s on the sofa, his legs kicked up and a laptop on his lap. His fingers fly across the keys, and he’s wholly focused on whatever he’s doing. It’s such a picturesque scene, the sun glinting off the snow through the huge windows while a sexy man—in wire-rimmed glasses, no less—works on his computer.

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