Page 45 of Protecting Her Secrets

“Can’t say I’m not nervous that you basically dared him to come to Culver Springs. I don’t want to see anyone get hurt.” He folds his arms, which pushes back the lapels of his jacket and reveals the badge and gun he’s never without. “But she’s yourwife, which makes her one of us, and we protect our own. Plus, they’re big-city boys who play a whole different ball game than us small-town folks. They have no idea what they’re up against.”

“You’re gonna tell the Geezers, aren’t you?” I ask.

“Hell yeah. They’re better than any community watch program. They keep their hearing aids way up high, and the second any of them even hears the roar of a motorcycle, we’ll know and be prepared.”

Chapter Sixteen

Skylar

Dee answers the phone.“Who is this?”

That’s my best friend, direct and unapologetic. “It’s me.”

She turns breathless and anxious. “Jesus Christ, Sky. You said you’d call me back later, but it’s been days.”

“I’m sorry. Walker and I had a lot to sort out.” I flop down onto the unmade bed, right next to Sprocket, who followed me in here. I didn’t try to stop him, since I’m certain I’ll need some comfort to get through this call.

“And did you get it all sorted out?”

“Yes. Dee, I’m not coming home.”

“I’m sorry? Did you just say you weren’t coming home?”

“I did. Walker and I want to give our marriage a second chance—not that we ever really got a first.”

“Skylar.” She sighs.

“I know. Trust me, I know.”

“I’m just worried about you. When you left, you were determined to do whatever it took to get your house back. Nowyou’re leaving an abusive asshole for someone I don’t even know anymore? You can see why this scares me.”

“I do, but keep in mind all the things I’ve ever told you about Walker because all of them still ring true. Once we got past the hurt and anger, the man I fell in love with reemerged, only this version of him is somehow better.”

“Better how?”

“I don’t know. He’s more protective and confident, and holy hell, the man is sexy. His muscles look like they’re chiseled from stone. It’s insane.” There are more pressing matters to talk about, but before things get serious, I just want to gossip with my girl.

“I knew it!” she shouts.

I grin. “Knew what?”

“You fucked him, didn’t you?”

“Oh my god, Dee, you have no idea. When we were teens, we just fumbled our way through sex. Don’t get me wrong, it was good, but we were still discovering what sex was. It was secret moments and learning what made each other tick. But this. . .” I smack a palm to my forehead. “This is something else. He’s confident and experienced, with this dominant edge that seriously turns me on. I told you he’s abnormally large, right?”

“Elephant trunk. Yeah, I remember.”

“Well, he figured out how to use that thing, and let me tell you, he hit places inside me I didn’t even know existed. It was, hands down, the best sex I’ve ever had.”

“That doesn’t say much, babes.”

“Low blow,” I say through a laugh.

“Besides the elephant trunk that knows how to hit a home run, what else did you find out about him?”

“He has a farm, he owns a hiking business, and he’s part of the local search and rescue. He has this amazing home with a dream bathroom and a piece of shit truck, even though he couldafford a new one. He has a good group of friends who are just as protective as he is.” I run my hand through Sprocket’s fur and hit a spot that has him leaning into the touch. “Oh, and he has a sourdough starter name Mardough. No joke.”

She cackles loudly. “Holy shit, that’s funny. It’s even funnier that he’s your complete opposite. You can’t cook, you hate being outside, and you won’t even pet my dog because you say she’s dirty.”

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